Report from Ground Zero - Charley destruction

[Think free or die]

My elderly aunt and uncle have a mobile home at Sunshine Village in Fort Myers. Do you know anything about conditions there?

Prayers for all souls affected by this storm. There is a lot of grieving and rebuilding ahead.

[mystery-ak]

She doesn't know....the suspense is killing her and her husband...they have no idea what's left or to expect.....this is their 2nd home...they live in Chicago...

[js1138]

Everyone in Florida will be paying for this storm. Florida has laws preventing insurance companies from raising rates. What this means in practice is that lower premium, older policies will be cancelled, either on some trumped up pretext, or because the company quits insuring Florida.

Your replacement policy, if you can get one, will cost at least double.

[Amelia]

She might want to check the local newspaper webpage. There was supposed to be a meeting tonight but I didn't think they were letting residents back on the island yet.

[nunya bidness]

Here's some pictures from the News-Press:

This is the new pass Charley cut through the southern tip of N. Captiva Island.

[Amelia]

Did you see the one of the Winn Dixie on Pine Island?

Also the boat storage shed at Pineland Marina.

[nunya bidness]

This is the northern tip of Pine Island near Bokeelia.

[nunya bidness]

I didn't see the Winn Dixie. Is it gone? But here's the dry storage at Pineland Marina about 10 miles north of my house:

[nunya bidness]

Palm trees at a Pine Island plantation.

[nunya bidness]

The Collier Inn on Useppa Island between Sanibel and Pine Island.

[Amelia]

Although damaged from Hurricane Charley,Winn Dixie on Pine Island gave free water and ice to all those in need Saturday. (CHOPS HANCOCK/Special to news-press.com)

[Sam Cree]

"These people need to get lives, NOW!"

If religion is what they got, then I wouldn't want any part of religion. 'Course, I figure they are wrong about what they think they've got.

[nunya bidness]

I am blown away at how precise this storm was. Pineland Marina and most of Bokeelia were heavily damaged. And the Winn-Dixie at the center looks bad but the southern end looks to have been spared completely. Also Tarpon Lodge was spared. Have you found any pictures of Matlacha?

[Howlin]

I know right where that is.

[nunya bidness]

Or was. It's the same beach where the sea turtles nest.

[Howlin]

If I close my eyes, I can feel that "bathtub" warm water on my toes.

Are you going soon?

[fatima]

I read these threads and you and a few others had this on track all along.I can say for myself and lurkers we read them in horror because of the elderly the storm was impacting.

[Howlin]

After I found out today that my niece and nephew had gotten along well as Charley passed Wilmington, I felt so sad for the people in Florida.

And I was thinking that next time (next week?....LOL) I hope I remember that these aren't just numbers and abstract things we discuss here during these storm threads; sometime, to me at least, it's like a puzzle or a mystery and I get caught up in the "live" part of it (in case you haven't noticed, live threads ARE my favorite part of FR - I love being with all of you all during an ongoing event); I hope I remember to think next time more about the lives we're talking about.

[fatima]

Howlin and others you helped saved lives,most of us lurked for needed info to get out and you all did a good job.Thank you.

[nunya bidness]

As soon as I can book a flight.