Posted on 08/22/2004 8:31:14 AM PDT by BigWaveBetty
Woo hoo! Our cable service was restored late last night! We were very lucky to get our power restored last Sunday just about 48 hrs. after the power went out as Hurricane Charley blew through our town.
We were about a mile and a half from the eye of Charley as it passed over us. My husband, son, father-in-law and I gathered in the main hallway of our home as Charley approached and remained there for about an hour. We peered out as it seemed that the eye was over us because the winds had died down and thought the back end of Charley would come soon. But it never did. Near as we could tell the back end of Charley had dissipated and we left the hallway 15 minutes later.
What a mess! But our family was extremely lucky, no damage to our house just one good size limb hit the truck and added a good sized dent to the passenger door panel. For us just a big mess to clean up and no power. Although the damage was terrible for those poor folks in Charlotte County and beyond, many hurricane veterans say that it could have been worse had it moved slowly and dumped more rain.
Pictures from locals around town:
Charley on it's way to Orlando.
Here's the scene Mr. B and his dad faced on their way back to the Tampa area, normally an hour and a half drive, on Saturday became a five hour drive home. We picked up his dad on Thursday because Charley was supposed to hit Tampa but by Friday we realized we uprooted Mr. B senior only to put him directly in the path of the storm!
So many wonderful people came to help, the power companies had the biggest job. 700 miles of electrical wire had been destroyed and some transfer stations were completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt. The power guys are big heroes in our town these days, they've been working non-stop since Aug. 14.
Damage around town.
Before
After. House not damaged.
It's been 44 years since a hurricane has hit this close to Orlando so many very large trees got the worst of the storm. Have been listening to the sounds of numerous chain saws for the last week.
Whew, glad that's over! Also glad to be back with my friends at The Guild! :-)
It's a wonderful morning!
Incredible photos. Glad you're back. Thanks to alerting HLL as to your well being. It took a load off of everybody's mind.
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Just glad you & yours are well!!! |
Thanks for worrying about us. I called HLL right after we surveyed the neighborhood and I couldn't believe we didn't end up with a tree on our house. One family had two 30 foot oaks on their home!
Awwwww, those are beautiful. Thanks Fintan!
Oh, BWB, those pictures are so sad. When Hurricane Frederick hit Mobile in '79 it was months before all the trees and debris had been picked up. When it was all over we realized even the "light" in town looked different...the loss of trees made a profound impact on the look of the city. My parents lost 17 trees in their yard alone! 6 were undamaged.
It was surreal to drive down streets formerly lined with majestic oaks...streets which now looked like a just-built subdivision. Everyone agreed that it was the loss of the trees that hurt the most. It was very tempting to plant fast-growing trees, but they have shallow roots and would be susceptible to future storms. The city replanted all the oaks on the streets and supplemented with crepe myrtles to fill in while the oaks grew. Twenty five years later those streets are once again shaded by admittedly younger oak branches. Mixed with the crepe myrtles, they look beautiful. Moral: Plant trees NOW!
Glad you're all OK and have your power back. Thanks for the post. J.
We dodged the big bullet here, and are doing all that we can to assist with the recovery efforts for our neighbors south and east. Take care, and let me know if there is anything I can do.
I wish I owned a nursery about now ;-) there will be furious planting going on around no doubt!
Props to Stewart! What time is he playing today?
It's been so hot! Luckily Sat. and Sun. of last week were overcast and cooler but later in the week the temp was 97.
All the neighbors are helping the older folks in the hood and we just about have everything cleaned up. Our county has already been by with the pick 'em up crane to remove the large tree debris. I love Seminole County.
I think the lightning got my cable Friday night. My TV reception is covered with snow-like little white dots...unfortunately I'm trying to follow one particular little white dot after every tee shot! Very frustrating.
My broadband connection is also erratic. I may not be able to post much this afternoon. It seems OK for the moment.
USA Today has a very nice article.
Stewart Cink pumps his fist after making birdie on the 18th hole during the third round. Cink holds a five-shot lead.
Ugh on your cable problems! After being without any for more than a week I can say, "I feel your pain!" Hopefully it will behave during Stewart's play.
Glad to hear you're okay there near Orlando. Your area may have been the most surprised of all. I live in Sarasota County about 30 miles up the road from Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte. We thought it was coming to us.
Living without electricity really stinks, doesn't it?
So glad you're back and everyone in your family is well. Great pics - wow, that must have been an amazing experience.
Now we know why TaRayZuh is always cringing.
BTW, does anyone else think of Bela Lugosi when they hear TaaaRaaaaayZuh speak. "I ammm Count Drrrrrrracula. I vaaant to drrrrink yourrrr blooood." (Get those 'drag and trill' accents working, folks.)
Did the storm get you at all? Boy it's hot here, but it must be unbearable down in Sarasota County.
It was quite an experience.
By Tuesday evening we got tired of no tellie and bought a small tv with an antenna. What was one of the first things I saw?! Kofi Annan unveiling this plaque with the names of the 22 UN victims of the bombing of United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.
How many people in the Sudan are being starved and murdered??!!!!! But this the UN has time and money for. Blech!
Ewwwww, skin crawling, must look away!
Wonder where Teresa was, too busy to come and comfort the little people?
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