[Ax]

We are convinced that a Cat-3 blew through Boynton Beach that morning. We lost a few roof tiles, and our dish got blown out of kilter. The DISH Network vans from Dallas arrived this morning and got our Dish back up in time for the Dolphins' debacle. There was devastation all the way around. It appeared that a tornado ripped all the signs and roof adverts from a 7-11 and deposited them across the street. The marina where we keep our boat looked like someone had opened the roof of the storage barn with a can opener at both ends. Our boat was lashed down outside and suffered not a scratch. We suspect that was a tornado as well. Having the resources, we left town on Thursday morning and the power was returned the following day. Traffic lights were down all over the town and even now they're not all returned to normal; intersections where the lights once regulated traffic are now treated as 4-way stop signs. We WERE prepared. We had plenty of water, canned food, chardonnay. We ran out of gasoline for the generator after three days, and that WILL NOT happen next year.

As Jeb says, this is the price we pay for living in paradise. As we're watching the sleet storms on the news from the north, this will all just be a bad memory.

[Sam Cree]

"As Jeb says, this is the price we pay for living in paradise. As we're watching the sleet storms on the news from the north, this will all just be a bad memory."

Yes, agree!

I noticed that some folk from my neighborhood left town as well after a few days of no power. Not a bad idea. My wife and I might have done the same, but wanted to clean up and repair damage before leaving, as it would have been dangerous to leave some of it.

I believe the worst of this storm was up north, near where you are - my friend in Boca had the roof blown off his office building, though his house is fine. OTOH, the house across the street from him experienced wall failure, which is kind of shocking. Most damage down my way was trees, signs, fences, minor roof, etc. Loss of elec and phone, all traffic lights out, too. An unholy mess for sure, but most houses are fine, so no real problem.

Yes, I think it's a good idea to have plenty of gas and water on hand long before there is even a storm warning. I note though, that if you do have lots of gas, your neighbors who don't have lots of gas want you to share. However, after the last 2 years, I think hurricane preparedness is going to be more the norm than it was in the past. To think that as Andrew, the wake up call of '92, approached, there were many who didn't even own shutters. That's all changed now.

Glad your boat survived...could it have served as an extra source of gasoline?