Posted on 08/12/2004 10:14:32 AM PDT by PinnedAndRecessed
APALACHICOLA, Fla. — A disorganized Tropical Storm Bonnie (search) came ashore near the central Florida Panhandle on Thursday afternoon, bringing with it lighter-than-expected wind and rain.
By noontime Apalachicola looked as if nothing happened. The sun was shining, the surf was calming with the Bonnie having bypassed the area, heading east.
Meanwhile, some 380,000 Tampa Bay area residents have been asked to evacuate from coastal or low-lying areas because of Bonnie's stronger brother, Hurricane Charley (search). It was the largest such evacuation in the history of Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg.
As a strengthening Charley neared southern Florida with 90 mph winds, Bonnie's disorganized center came ahore with winds near 50 mph. Bonnie was expected to bring the possibility of heavy rains and flooding to already-soaked areas of the Panhandle, which was under a tropical storm warning.
The bridge across Apalachicola Bay to the barrier island of St. George remained open. The island was mostly deserted of tourists, though some businesses and restaurants remained open. Owners of many oceanfront homes and businesses decided not to board up windows as the storm approached.
The prospect of the back-to-back storms — the first since 1906 — led Gov. Jeb Bush to declare a state of emergency for all of Florida. Schools and government offices also were closed, and Bush activated the Florida National Guard. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (search) regional operations center in Atlanta was also put into operation Thursday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
When Floyd was threatening, thousands of people were trying to leave Jacksonville. Some were in traffic for 8 hrs or more and the storm didn't even hit. I think that there is a bit of caution in the air regarding ordering folks to leave. The best thing for those folks to do would be head to Miami or somewhere southeast Fl and 'not' head north. Guaranteed the traffic is a booger.
Plant City should be safe. I'm on the outskirts of Temple Terrace and feel safe. One of my daughters is in Riverview and the other is in north Brandon and we all feel fairly safe.
If you've been ordered to evacuate it means no search or rescue, no ambulance service, no electricity, no gas, no water or sewage for the area.
Andrew was a mess. Had friends in the Natl Guard pulling duty down there against the looters. I don't think Charley-boy will get that bad, but we'll get lots of sloppy wind and rain.
I am in Rockledge right now...over in Brevard..SEVERE THUNDERSTORM outside right now...massive lightning and winds..a band from Bonnie came down. Amazing stuff. Plant City is expected to be within the eye field tomorrow..I guess you were just talking about flooding wise...the Tampa Bay area is gonna get flooded like never before.
We are under a tornado watch until 9 pm
Yesterday I was considering leaving Islamorada for Palm Coast, where my mom is. Glad I decided to wait until this morning to make a final decision!
Exactly Correct.But those on the barrier Islands and exposed keys are at greater risk.
Ops4 God Bless America!
I had brothers in the FL Guard dealing with Opal, a few years ago. They got decorated with the Meritorious Service Medal, for pulling kids out of a sinking house.
My sister is in Brandon. She was blogging me with info unti an hour ago - wireless laptop. She might be at work now...
McDill AFB and CENTCOM staff are already gone, so my sister reports.
Normally she hosts a hurricane party in her house - not this time; she's rattled....
I'm 17 miles north of Key West on Sugarloaf Key. Charley supposed to slide north just west of Key West tomorrow. 105mph now and expecting category 3 of 130mph or so by the time it comes through here tomorrow morning.
Last time in 1998 when Georges was a direct hit here with 120mph and gusts to 145mph, it was a total mess. Don't want ot see a repeat of that.
Cleaned up the yard, trimmed the trees, got gas for the generator, closed the storm shutters and am hunkered down.
Winds are picking up now from 10-15mph this morning to 25-30mph now.
Will post a blow by blow account here as the storm makes it's way here, supposed to get a bit hairy by 4am tomorrow or so.
Everyone and their mother is now calling for a landfall in and around Tampa tomorrow afternoon or early evening...with the exception of 1...YES ONE lone loser on CBS out of Orlando who is saying the storm is going to go intot he Big Bend area and into the panhandle and that no turn to the east will happen.
Uh huh...right pal.
I was 13 when Hurricane Betsy hit New Orleans. I don't remember there being any trouble with drinking water( you drank tap water then, no choice) but there was no power for 2 weeks and ICE was the thing everyone needed. Food spoiled and it was stifling hot. My father, like many others, stood in line at stores or ice houses or relief trucks, to buy ice.
Really, the media is sensationalizing nothing storms like Bonnie. We've all seen stronger winds and rains in thunderstorms. Just because it's 'named' it's news.
Anything 100mph and under I would sit on my carport and enjoy the breeze.
Weather people want camera time, so they play every storm up. One day they're going to be sorry they used exaggerated language for the minor storms- people won't believe them when there is a serious storm like Betsy or Camille.
I wish you luck my friend. I will be without computer tonight and tomorrow until I get back over to here in Melbourne. It is really coming down up here right now from Bonnie.
You sound like you have done all you can do...just do what the ELO song says "Hold On Tight" and Charley will be out of there in 8 hrs.
Couldn't agree with you more! Bonnie was crap and I knew it all along. However, Charlie has the makings to be a real solid punch in the chest to Florida. Especially if it crosses the coast and gulfstream at 125-130 mph.
In Islamorada it's sunny and breezy but extremely muggy and hotter than blue blazes. We have a few more things to do around here too. Hopefully we'll all come through fine. Crossing my fingers for you....
Yep. I'll be riding it out at home. Let me know how you do when it's all over.
you know it is always hot as the blazes before the storm comes and usually much worse after it passes. After Georges in 1998 we were without power for 27 days. Talk about miserable.......UGHHH
I have a feeling this one may be a bit of a false alarm as it looks to go west of Key West by 30 mles or so, but a twitch to the east could be bad news.
I was just watching a thing before on TV about how Tampa Bay has no clue what to do during Hurricanes and how all of the glass buildings are going to be left in shambles as well as 10-20 feet of water coming in land? Jesus Christ!
They had an estimate that a Cat 1 in Tampa would cost between 50-100 million in damages minimum. A Cat 2 between 250-500 million and a Cat 3 storm 500-1 billion.
Umm..don't look now..but a Cat 3 is looking very likely.
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