That is astounding. Glad to know they evacuated Hutchinson Island. My mother said the traffic leaving the island yesterday was steady.
Reporter timeline: Accounts from Southwest Florida
By Daily News staff
Monday, October 24, 2005
The following are accounts from Daily News reporters stationed around Southwest Florida:
5:45 a.m. _ The eye of Hurricane Wilma approaches the shore of Marco Island and Everglades City.
5:28 a.m. - In North Naples, Daily News Editor Phil Lewis reports the power has gone out in an area off of Orange Blossom Drive. Some popping sounds were heard before the power went down.
5:20 a.m. - In South Fort Myers, reporter Billy Bruce says winds are starting to gust and the winds are blowing toward the west, the opposite direction and not as strongly as occurred with Hurricane Charley
in August 2004. Some popping of transformers can be seen in the distance but the power remains on in areas.
5 a.m. - The National Hurricane Center says the eye of the storm was approaching land off Marco Island and Naples.
4:40 p.m. -- Reporter Larry Hannan reported that the Emergency Operations Center temporarily lost its lights and power. After a few seconds, the backup generator kicked in and the power came back on.
4:35 a.m. – In the Royal Harbor area of Naples, reporter I.M. Stackel says the power was flickering on and off, but the rains had temporarily let up. The wind was building to a howl. Some alarms were
going off in the area. Trees were blowing but remained upright. There was no flooding or storm surge ashore.
4:14 a.m. -- In East Naples, online editor Jay Schlichter reported that power was flickering and winds were becoming very gusty. No large downed tree limbs were observed. Conditions were steadily
beginning to worsen.
4:13 a.m. -- In the Davis Boulevard area of East Naples, reporter Dianna Smith says the power has gone out and the sky is lighting up an eerie fluorescent green from lightning, with winds howling and rain
pounding.
4:10 a.m. -- Situated at the Lee-Collier county line, City Editor Allen Bartlett reports the winds blowing in a steady westerly direction -- from land toward the Gulf -- on the north side of the storm. Trees are
leaning steadily.
4:05 a.m. -- In the Davis Boulevard area of East Naples, reporter Dianna Smith says power has begun to flicker.
3:20 a.m. -- In San Carlos Park, reporter Denise Zoldan says the winds got strong enough to awaken her. Power had remained on so far through the night.
3:11 a.m. -- Situated at the Lee-Collier county line, City Editor Allen Bartlett reports the first power interruption of the night there. About 5 minutes earlier, the strongest rains and wind gusts of the night so far
had arrived with a storm band.
3:06 a.m. – In North Naples, reporter Gina Edwards said winds began howling and objects sounded as if they were slamming against the roof. Power was still on.
http://stormedition.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/24/reporter_timeline_accounts_southwest_florida/