An apartment building is exposed to nature after its roof was ripped off by Hurricane Charley, Friday, as the storm roared through Port Charlotte, Fla. (AP Photo/J.Pat Carter)
Posted on 08/14/2004 9:26:55 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Hurricane Charley (search) killed at least 15 people in Florida and flattened oceanfront homes, making thousands homeless before it roared north and struck the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.
Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County's director of emergency management, said there were 10 confirmed deaths in the county, but an exact total was not available.
"Not hundreds. I would hope that it would be limited to dozens, if that," Sallade said. Five people were killed elsewhere in the state.
Charlotte County (search) deputies were standing guard over bodies because the area was inaccessible to ambulances.
The strongest storm to strike Florida in a dozen years knocked out electrical service to an estimated 1.3 million homes and businesses as it crossed Florida from the southwest coast to the Atlantic at Daytona Beach, causing widespread damage to coastal areas and mobile home parks.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"I have been in a horrible mood all day long because of these creeps on these threads.
People are in distress; people have died; people are scared.
And still they carp."
For me, my bad mood started yesterday with the live thread on the hurricane. There were some real creeps on that thread, and more seem to be showing up in the aftermath.
I wonder, sometimes, just how those folks manage to live their lives. They must be in a constant state of anger. Too bad.
In the meantime, I'm still trying to contact my Sister-in-Law in Cape Coral. I'm sure she's OK, but there's no way to get through.
I'd enjoy having her meet a couple of the "nice" Freepers who are trashing those who live there. She might have some choice words for them, or worse.
As for infrastructure, I'm not sure why,in an area like the Outer Banks, for example, the federal government should pick up the tab to repair large bridges and roads that exist mainly for the convenience of those who are on vacation. That, of course, is only my opinion.
Yeah, it's something that needs to be looked at but not right now IMO. After every major storm changes are made. Where I live , only certain mobile homes that meet storm requirements can be sold and brought into this county. There are still a lot of older ones and I don't know if this applys to individual sells. My husband built our home about 7 years go. We had storm requirements we had to meet before we could move in. Common sense stuff like roof ties, etc. which I believe all should do but I don't believe should be regulated. It all comes down to leaning of insurance companies and money IMO. We had a freak hail storm last year. It messed up cars and roofs. My insurance company paid promptly and then turned around and hiked our rates. They aren't going to lose. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the government not padding the claim payout.
Assuming they are close to the major damage, how do you expect them to post those pics?
+Quote: You sound like a liberal!
You sound like a "superior" ignoranimus. You for banning smoking too? You're the liberal mindset ruining many of the freedoms in this Republic. Why not "ban" everything that causes you discomfort? What a maroon.
FMCDH(BITS)
To all: Not once did I say I was against trailers.Maybe I should have not used the word banned but "regulated in certain areas". BTW, if I was for big gov't and a liberal I would want the gov't to build everyone a 2 story brick home so your comments are not sound.
"Howlin" I actually live in Ohio near the Ohio river, not Ca. I've seen people along the river get flooded out every 7-8 years and the gov't rebuilding their homes with freebee money and throwing it around like candy. A friend of mine lives on Wheeling Island and has been flooded 3 times since I've known him. Of course he has no flood insurance but receives grant/freebee money from the gov't to help him rebuilr/cleanup every time. If the gov't was really smart they should build him a new home on higher ground and bulldoze the old one and they will be ahead money wise down the road. Another example in my area is they spent $330,000 to build a concrete wall around a $50,000 house out on a rural gravel road due to hillside slippage when they should of just gave the landowner 100k and moved him somewhere else and been way ahead.
Actually "nothing new" I am not for banning everything. I'm actually for smaller and a SENSIBLE gov't(se above). You can see that from reading my threads from other post.
That being said I'm also a realist who realizes the gov't needs to ban/regulate certain areas of our life... TO A DEGREE or situations would be out of control. Who here would want a toxic dump to be built in their neighborhood by a private company excersing their private property rights on their land..but wiping out your proerty values at the same time or hurting you physically? You need a gov't agency to say "Hey that is not allowed"
BTW for those that made me out to be a rich elitist I'm not. I'm not rich, I live in a very small one story house and my wife finally was able to get rid of her 1985 model worn out OLDS(that her mom gave her) last year for a newer car.
Stop digging, man.
We're not in the mood.
Stop digging, man.
We're not in the mood.
So it o.k to be flamed but not to defend yourself on this site? You sure are tolerant!
OK, good luck to you. Some of your comments came across that way, however.
Thank you for the post and the link.
While it is never a good time to prepare for hurricanes there are questions that need to be asked. They should not be asked after devestation occirs.
The state needs to decide what they will and will not do. Insurance companies need to get their groove and be reliable. In the end I feel this hurricane will be paid by all Americans. imho
I agree there is more to do then bicker about who pays what, it really does come down to one thing, the almighty buck.
This imho is a time for prayer and giving. I am sure every bit helps.
It does doesn't it. I stepped away to make pesto and returned and scrolling down the thread I saw the photo's again, it was like I had just seen them for the first time.
Shocking!
>>This happens every time there is a disaster. Some Freepers just can't help but make jokes or denigrate the people who have gone through it. I do hope those people are on the other end of the stick one day.<<
I read your frustration. Might I add one thought? Some folks handle stress, disaster with humor. That is their way to vent what is on their mind.
It is a thought, no proof.
I just returned from Punta Gorda and I have to say that the people there are great. Everyone has some destruction of their own to deal with, but the people were in good spirits and ready to help one another. While I did not have time to tour all of the areas affected, I can tell you that FEMA is there as well as national guardsmen.
There is no electricity and probably won't be any for a long time. I saw street after street with power poles toppled. Some were snapped in half and still hang precariously over the roadways. At intersections that use to have traffic lights the motorists are behaving as if there were four-way stop signs. Everyone is courteous and considerate of others.
While these people have suffered greatly, and will continue to feel the effects of Charley for some time, it is uplifting to observe how Americans meet hardship head-on with a positive attitude.
Keep your prayers coming for these Americans. Their hard times are not over yet.
My heart goes out to those who are suffering the loss of their houses and businesses but more so for those who are suffering the loss of a loved one.
Buildings and homes will be rebuilt. Cars and trucks replaced. Beaches put back in pristine condition. Life will go on, yet the scars left on those who lost someone they love to Charley will not heal easily.
For those people, I offer extra prayers.
Andrew caused the market to go up. This is due to the large amount of construction material bought during rebuilding.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.