Posted on 08/13/2004 7:24:06 AM PDT by STARWISE
ALL FLORIDIANS, PLEASE COMMENT ON CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON SOUTHERN WEST COAST
I'm inland from Tampa Bay about 25 miles. Dear God, I'm scared. I lost it all in Andrew in '92 and left South Florida after a year and a half to come to this area.
Please keep me and all those going through this storm in your prayers. I'm alone here, and this storm's probably going to be very damaging and destructive. I'm picking up branches, objects lying about. I've filled the tub with water, I'll bringing in my dog and my birds, I haven't taped the windows as I've heard that can cause worse problems when the windows are broken. I pulled the car right up close to the house on the south side. I've draped the windows with fabric to stop debris or glass .. but in high winds, it probably won't be much help.
I've got old, tall oak trees overhead .. and I don't know how the roof or house or I will fare. There is no inner room without a window, so my location will probably be my shower stall on the south side of the house. It has one typical bathroom window. There is no other place where my dog and I could at least be surrounded with some strengthened walls.
I'm not in an evacuation area, and I wouldn't be able to take my pets in anyway.
Even if I have to get offline because I need to move the computer, there may be some insight and help offered until then and many thousands of us in this area may be helped by some tip.
PLEASE pray Charley away from here .. please pray for my and our safety on the West Central Florida coast. God Bless Us All.
I believe the death toll from the worst hit areas in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda will reach at least a couple of hundred. Very very tragic ... and I'll bet most were from those who didn't leave. There was a hospital employee interviewed who said she knew of about 150 people who were brought in DOA. Prayers for them and their loved ones. What an ugly storm.
Thank you SO much and bless you for the prayers. So sad
to see the descimation.
Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts ... it means a lot.
STARWISE,Most of us were lurking and praying,I can't find the thread of the woman alone in a house and posting and getting ready to get into the shower stall cause her house was filled with windows.It was a thread that was posted the day of yours and I am worried about her.
That was probably me ..LOL .. I made my perch in the shower stall because it at least had some walls of substance. I never got into it .. never had to, thank God. It's still made up with layers of blankets and fleece fabric .. and there's another storm brewing out there .. Earl .. God Help e .. I've aged 20 years in the last day. Thanks so much, again.
Star-Are you alone-not married with dog.
That is I ;-)
God,I was just going to search for an hour for you on Fr.My only regret is I did not post to you before you headed for cover.Myself and many lurkers were worried sick about you.Star never have a regret.I have a tear in my eye as I post to you,Good to see you Star .fatima
Smartass - Say a prayer for my daughter who lives in St. Petersburg, and is going to ride it out.
Loopy Picklefink - My parents still live around St. Pete , they just called and said they have to evacuate...they are going to stay with me, here in Orlando
FrankWild - Just called my uncle in Indian Rocks Beach, five miles south of Clearwater. Nobody home. I guess everyone is evacuating.
My Favorite Headache - I am in Brevard right now but going to stay with a friend in Plant City, 25 mins outside of Tampa Bay...
GOPJ - This time we're leaving and hoping our home is safe when we return.
Old Grumpy - We here in Tampa are battening down the hatches! (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.
Old Sarge - My sister is in Brandon.
Netizen - We have relatives on the gulf side in North Port, Crystal River, Marco Island, Naples and Bradenton.
agrace - My brother-in-law works at Centcom and he and his family live in Tampa. Wonder if they're heading out.
Hillary's Lovely Legs - My father lives on Monte Cristo Island in the Tierra Verde Keys. He has been evacuated
devane617 - I am located in New Port Richey( North Tampa Bay), about 3 miles inland from the Gulf. I am staying put
NautiNurse - My dear cousin, who spent all afternoon boarding up my home just south of St. Pete, is still intending to stay at his home in St. Pete during the storm. I will be bugging out this morning.
PinnedAndRecessed - I have family in Tampa.
BureaucratusMaximus - wife has family in Hernando County (north of Tampa...Brooksville
Joe Brower - We've battened down the hatches here in Sarasota country (Venice, to be exact), and we're just waiting for Charley to arrive
dawn53 - We're in Tampa Bay area. Hubby is on the Emergency Management Team so he won't be here at home, but we're boarded up.
I still care - evac area D in Pasco.
Dubh_Ghlase - My homes south and west side are looking right at this monster. And having gone through the eye of Hugo, Fran, and Isabel, I have no problem going over-board (excuse the pun) in preparing for this event.
Ovrtaxt - I'm in Odessa, about 10 miles inland from Tarpon Springs. exrtreme NW corner of Hillsborough. Afterwards, if you guys don't hear from me, it's because I'm flying out Sun afternoon for 10 days. I'll try to stick around until then, but if the power and cable goes out, I may not have net access.
JamminJAY - Jammer – ST Pete.
Tunehead54 - We're in Dunedin - We're 3 miles inland
Kewz1 - My sis lives in Tampa and folks just north in New Port Richey!
Bobwoodard - I'm watching the Bay from my apt and heading out before manadatory evacuation
Flipyaforreal - Cape Coral
MinuteGal - I'm leaving for the drive to Florida early tomorrow morning. A Freeper who lives in Pasco county freepmailed me last night that all subdivisions and homes west of US 19 are under mandatory evacuation. This includes my house.
Luigi - I've been busy since first light securing everything. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. Where you located? I'm about five miles east of Sarasota Bay.
M Kehoe - We're making final preparations too. Stay safe. We are in a zone D, in N St. Pete
AAABEST - Just brought in all the patio furniture.
small_l_libertarian - I'm in Tampa, about 2 miles north of downtown and 1 block from the river. I'm staying put. Wish me luck!
JesseHousman - We're in Naples, 1 1/2 miles from the gulf. We'll be thinking of you today!
G-dzilla - SE St. Petersburg. I'm staying...
Snake65 - My brother and his wife were evacuated from St. Pete. They're sheltering with my parents in Sarasota (8 miles inland and about thirty feet up).
Rum Tum Tugger - I'm also in Tampa, but up in Carrollwood Village. If I were one block from the river, I wouldn't be there. Good luck.
Snowy - I have in-laws 6 to 7 miles from the water in Sarasota. My mother-in-law is 'defecating masonry' right now.
GatorGirl - Were you able to get water? Everyone is out around here. I have some and I'll fill the bathtubs in the morning.
Severa- Hubby is watching this from NAS Pensacola...I've got family in St Pete, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Palm Coast...
Piasa - I'll let you know when the water gets up to my neck... unless a tree gets me first.
Rwfromkansas- uncle in Hudson north of Clearwater.. No doubt he is gone.
Rapunzel - I live inland Florida but in the path as Charley crosses the state
RightField - My parents have a mobile home in Largo. They are currently in far-western North Carolina, but driving to Tallahassee tomorrow to stay with my sister
Sheikdetailfeather - sister in Lake county
Tubebender - My niece and her husband Leesburg
nwctwx - Ocala. My mother is there
Howlin - I have friends in Tampa and St. Petersburg, plus New Smyrna Beach
Cogitator - I have some friends that have a house right on the Intercoastal Waterway facing Treasure Island
dandelion - My daughter is stationed at Eglin, and they're off duty today because of Bonnie - Hurricane Party ahoy!!
Lorraine - My daughter and son-in-law are both stationed at Eglin
valleygal - My dad's in the Panhandle.
Humbug- 45 miles east of Tampa
EX52D - I have family in Ft. Myers...getting nervous...
Dog - I have family in Bonita Springs....a kid brother.
Constitution Day - My dad's brother is in St. Pete
Marak - We are in Marco Island, Florida.
4ConservativeJustices - Several members of my family are in St. Pete and surrounding area. Lakeland ain't good - I have family there as well.
commish - I have a good friend who owns a golf and Tennis center on Sanibel Island.
nuconvert - I have family in Ocala area.
MineralMan - I have in-laws in Cape Coral.
boxerblues - brother who is in Mulberry/Lakeland.
vabeachrepub - I just got off the phone with my parents in Naples. Raining heavily but the wind hasn't gotten too bad yet and they still had power - although it has flickered several times. I wish they had left yesterday when they had the chance.
TxBec - I know a couple folks in the area.
nmh - My husband's sister is terminally ill and living with her husband in Fort Myers. They chose to not evacuate.
cupcakes - Prayers for those in Florida and my best friend who is in St. Cloud. I went through Andrew--don't wish that on anyone!
angcat - Land O lakes. I have family there?
maggiefluffs - friends in Bonita Springs and Naples
clamper1797My Lady is in Naples Fl. right now ... shes not answering her cell phone
pctech - A friend of my son and his family are down there, but I don't know exactly where. All I know is that they are on island. gulp...
dglang - I'm in Longwood Fl
jayef - My sister is riding this thing out in Bradenton. I must say that I am not to pleased with her decision.
dfwgator - dad in Orlando
IndyTiger - college friend of wife is seriously ill with cancer in Ft. Myers
shattered - My uncle is in Bradenton also. Prayers :)
Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 - I am in Longwood also (Wekiva).
dixie sass - Praying for relatives and friends on the western side of Florida.
MplsSteve - My brother lives in San Carlos Park, a little south of Fort Myers. I imagine he's getting bumped around a bit.
dukeman - I live in Sarasota County
pegleg My sons riding it out in St. Pete also. He ignored a mandatory evacuation notice from his apartment complex. He thinks he's safe because he's on the 3rd floor.
STARWISE - I'm inland from Tampa Bay about 25 miles
silverleaf - have friends all along the Gulf Coast
Cricket24 - I have relatives down there
TheCPA - I am here in Brandon
'Camachee – I’m here in Orlando
Siouxz - I have an elderly aunt and uncle in North Port who have left their *YIKES* mobile home to go to the east coast.
4everontheRight - I have a friend who lives in Tampa...on Richmond Place.
kruelio - I'm visiting family in Palm Harbor, I have a cousin in Clearwater, less than a mile from the beach and she's staying.
ekyjim - I'm watching this with much interest, as my mother and sisters live in Polk County
Dick Vomer - Punta Gorda
The Wizard76 - I'm the little town of Hernando today, south west of Ocala.
MIKEinGA - My Father-in-Law lives on Siesta Key
hemogoblin - Right smack in the path in Sarasota.
CobaltBlue - Tonight is our last night in a rental house on Grayton Beach, 10-15 miles east of Destin, halfway between Pensacola and Panama City
kitkat - My daughter and her family are there, too. She just moved and I don't have the address or phone number. You better believe I'm praying.
ExSES - Sitting here about 20 miles NE of Orlando on a lake
DocRock - Winter Haven - Checking in.
Lifacs – Relatives in Springhill, Brooksville, Clermont, Lady Lake, Ocala, Old Town, Williston. I’m the only one that lives south of Tampa, in Palm Beach County.
Ooh .. God Bless You, fatima. Except for calls from family .. it was a lonely solitude... just worrying and tense. Your prayers and thoughts mean more than I can say.
Wow so many check in's and let us know you are OK.
STARWISE,Do you know how many people read your post and were praying for you .I prayed for you and all on radio.You were not alone.
Maybe tomorrow I'll make a list and ping them all so they can let us know what's going on. Not tonight; I'm tired!
Night.
Howlin,Thanks the best,Good night.
Praying for you and yours. Check in here when you can.
The eye went over our house and the winds were loud. house with water on the second floor from oak tree vs. window and pressure blew out window in breakfast nook.
we're all safe and i'm at work in the ER.... it's a zoo. we lost the 3rd and 4th floor to water and saw a bunch of patients.
everybody was very helpful... had some docs whose houses were destroyed in the ER to volunteer if I needed them..... have paramedics, police, and national guard here with medical teams helping out for all over the country. Man, this country is great... I'm so proud of the way we're all pulling together.... the only thing i didn't see was all the volunteer lawyers.. hahahahahahaha... but I'm sure they're mobilizing somewhere to sue the crap out of us for an EMTALA violation or HIPPA violation.
All the kids, wife, rabbit, dog and neighbors are alive and doing well. Time to get up, dust ourselves off and start rebuilding.
Man, I'm proud of this country.
FReepmail
Thanks for checking in! I just noticed your reply. Glad ya'll are alright!
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