Posted on 08/14/2004 6:30:21 PM PDT by summer
HEY, FR! Don't Let the Media "Spin" Hurricane Charley Against FL Gov Jeb Bush and GW!
Here are the TRUE facts!
by summer
I have to say I chuckled when I read My Favorite Headache's editorial about people he knows spinning this hurricane disaster against Gov Jeb Bush.
But, tonight on COUNTDOWN on MSNBC TV, I saw a "political analyst" doing the same thing in his interview with Keith Oberman.
Folks, don't let such false "spinning" continue in this important election year. I will tell you the truth here, and anyone in this area who also watched the weather reports right up to the last minute also knows the truth.
This hurricane was predicted by all the experts to make a direct hit onto Sanibel Island, and this prediction was being broadcast by the area's weathermen right up to less than an hour or two before the hurricane hit.
However, at literally the last minute, the weathermen I saw on WINK TV and WBBH TV, the local news stations in this area, suddenly went wild, saying this hurricane has now unexpectedly turned NORTH.
Consequently, instead of slamming into Sanibel Island, which was under a mandatory evacauation, the hurricane proceeded north to Punta Gorda. There were mandatory evacuations all over FL's west coast, but no one thought this hurricane would suddenly turn directly to Punta Gorda, including the expert weathermen tracking this storm just minutes before it it hit land.
Here are some news reports from WINK TV showing you what I am saying is true. This late breaking report still wasn't predicting it would make a direct hit on Punta Gorda, and was instead poredicting "within 20 miles" of that town:
Charley's track will bring it within 20 miles of the coast of Charlotte County, producing 115 mph winds and battering waves, sustained for periods of one hour or more.
They thought it would hit Sanibel:
Critical Police Alert From Sanibel Island Police
All emergency medical and fire services have evacuated Sanibel Island and will not respond until recovery efforts after the storm.
But, the hurricane suddenly swerved and hit Punta Gorda in Charlotte County:
Hurricane Charley struck the Florida mainland at Charlotte Harbor as a dangerous Category 4 storm Friday, pounding west-central Florida with 145 mph winds and a wall of water expected to exceed 10 feet.
People on this forum probably have more news reports and other info they can add to this true sequence of events.
But the evidence with the greatest impact may be the live weather reports as the hurricane was approach in its final hour, with weathermen on tv going crazy seeing their predictions were wrong -- as the hurricane was suddenly turning north at the last minute.
Just be aware that such evidence exists.
Don't let these tv pundits spin this as if Gov Bush was not prepared for this hurricane. He constantly attends hurricane preparedness seminars and he was ordering evacuations up and down the west coast.
As he correctly said in the NYT, a hurricane's path is unpredictable. And, that's what happened here.
PS The response has been quick and thorough. The AP is reporting the following as of Friday HERE:
AP) President Bush declared a major disaster in the state of Florida and says his prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Charley. Bush, who was campaigning in the Northwest, ordered federal aid for the recovery effort just two hours after Charley hit the mainland.
Federal funding will be available to Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties. People affected by the storm in those areas are eligible for temporary housing grants and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to aid in their recovery.
State and local governments can also receive 75 percent federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures. FEMA says more counties and forms of assistance may be designated after the storm's damage is assessed.
The Office of the Governor has declared a Major Declaration for the entire State of Florida for disaster relief as a result of the direct effects of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley. These events have produced, and are expected to produce, significant damages associated with coastal storm surges, high winds, torrential rainfalls, and inland flooding. This request is for direct federal assistance and emergency protective measures.
The following counties affected are: Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, DeSoto, Monroe, Hardee, Manatee, Polk, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, Lake, Citrus, Marion, Levy, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamiliton, Gilchrist, Alachua, Putnam, Flagler, St. Johns, Clay, Bradford, Union, Columbia, Baker, Duval, Highlands, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler, Nassau
They are also asking for the individual assistance program for those counties listed above which are expected to experience hurricane or tropical storm winds. They are also requesting other additional programs.
Also see www.myflorida.com for many more links to info about Hurricane Charley and its aftermath.
We were talking about Kerry and I mentioned that his anti-war scam may have cost the lives of many returning vets who eventually decided to end it all.
He told me that there is a continuing inquiry project on this and thinks it is connected to the Travelling Wall Exhibit. He also said the last he heard the Project collected the names of thousands upon thousands of vets who committed suicide through the years since the war ended.
Can that be correct????
Summer, this is off topic, but certainly of interest to you.
Florida Court Declares State Voucher Program Unconstitutional
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=11&u=/ap/20040816/ap_on_re_us/florida_school_vouchers_1
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