CHARLEY BECOMES A (CATEGORY 4 Now!!) HURRICANE (18 ft. storm surge)

NHC ^ | 08-13-2004 | Forecaster Lawrence

[RightWhale]

When the fledgling reporter or reporterette is flying sidewise from a lightpost, then we will know the eyewall approaches. Would that make or end a career in broadcast journalism?

[Catspaw]

You know they're in trouble in Fort Myers--Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel is reporting from there.

[eyespysomething]

Thanks for the info.

They said all 3 bridges may be lost, so that is what they were talking about. What about Sanibel Island? (somewhere I've always wanted to go!) It'll be completely awashed won't it?

[ContemptofCourt]

Well, they had just voted to double the fee on the causeway to fund a new one...I guess that Charley is going to make that a moot issue.

[Howlin]

Do you have a projection map?

[AVNevis]

In Sacramento the top story on the ABC station is Julia Childs. Wasn't reported until the third story. Apparently Fort Myers facing immenant devestation isn't as importand as Childs.

[RayChuang88]

It will be very interesting to see what the stock of the Walt Disney Company (DISN) is right now. Walt Disney World is a MAJOR moneymaker for the company and if the hurrican hits anywhere near full force it could cause tremendous damage to the resort, which could result in huge losses in revenue to the company. :-(

[lugsoul]

Don't count on it. When Opal hit at Destin, it was still at hurricane strength when it got to metro Atlanta.

[nmh]

Great post!

We lucked out. We had tickets to Fort Myers TODAY. Our flight was to leave at 10:45am. Thank God when we checked at 6am it was canceled. Had we canceled we would have had a penalty but since the airline canceled we were able to reschedule at the reduced fare we started with.

My husband's sister is terminally ill and living with her husband in Fort Myers. They chose to not evacuate. We just spoke to them and the winds are picking up. Luckily they are on higher ground. They are in a retirement community called FIddlesticks and the houses are fairly well built but still these winds are HIGH.

Pray for those in danger. This is a BAD one.

[ContemptofCourt]

Watching nbc-2.com. They are using their fancy computerized doppler radar to pinpoint landfall.

[Mo1]

Weather channel saying Fort Myers has an hour and half to get off the streets

[Riley]

When the fledgling reporter or reporterette is flying sidewise from a lightpost, then we will know the eyewall approaches. Would that make or end a career in broadcast journalism?

Only if their hair doesn't budge.

[nwctwx]

You know they're in trouble in Fort Myers--Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel is reporting from there.

lol. Usually wherever he goes becomes destined to get missed. He actually lucked out this time.

[Fair Paul]

Even Jim Cantore looks scared.

[JennysCool]

Would that make or end a career in broadcast journalism?

Depends on whether the implants survive.

[AVNevis]

Only down .28%. I'm glad because I have their stock.

[Dog]

Where is landfall?

[Normal4me]

Aw crap! Sitting here on the east coast north of Melbourne. Done as much as I can do here. Hope it slows down before I get it. If not, It's been fun being a FReeper...:-(

[Betis70]

Stay safe everyone. This looks pretty bad. I've only been through a Cat 1 (Hurricane Gloria) and that was bad enough. We were without power for a week and we had to cut our way through all the fallen trees to get out of our driveway.

[eyespysomething]

Sheesh, Opal.

THAT was a mess here in GA! We sure don't know how to act in a hurricane!