Hurricane Wilma Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 24 October 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Neighbor's boat was still on the lift last time I checked. Maybe he tied it down after all.

[PogySailor]

Checking in from Brandon. Rain and some gust up to 20-25 I'd say. Woke up to my UPS beeping at about 5:00, but the power came back within 5 minutes or so. Temp is DROPPING fast. 71 when I got up, 61 now. Looking at WTVT they show the front is right over Tampa. Things should get better fast. And cooler ;-)

[dirtboy]

Local news types seem to be amazed its still on at all.

I imagine the most vulnerable tree branches were taken down a couple of months ago by Katrina.

[DocRock]

Just heard my first transformer blow up down the street. It won't be long now until the power goes out.

[publiusF27]

He feels bad for the Charlotte/Sarasota county areas because we were down there a couple months back and couldn't believe the amount of businesses, homes, etc that suffered damage in Charley and were still not rebuilt.

What are you talking about? It looks pretty much cleaned up to us! ;-)

You do just kind of become numb to the semi destroyed structures all around. This one won't do much to us, just rinse off some of the debris! ;-)

[NautiNurse]

Glad you still have electricity, and thanks for the local update. Godspeed.

[CholeraJoe]

Got the call about 2 hours ago. Me and the cadaver dog are headed for south Florida.

[Dane]

And I know there's a hurricane because I have a vicious headache. Does anyone else get those?

That's due to the drop in air pressure, I've known people whose knees start to hurt when a storm is coming.

Stay safe and all the best.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte are going to be rebuilding for a few more years.
The Holiday Inn that was on the river has finally been leveled, to make room
for what ever they intend to replace it. I hope it's another Holiday Inn,
they need a medium price hotel in that area. Some of the other local businesses
are still trying to get reorganized after 14 months. Its tough for some of them.

Whats great about this area, they don't sit back and complain (much) with
their hand out, like other areas that won't be mentioned.

[patriciaruth]

If you happen to be in Hialeah, I'll FReepmail the address of my aunt, in case I don't hear from her.

[dawn53]

Yeah, I guess you get desentitized, to the building shells.

Quick question, why were some of those businesses along 41 never rebuilt? Did the folks take insurance money and build elsewhere, or were they not insured?

[NautiNurse]

Electricity still on in Brandon? Will wonders never cease! Y'all lose electricity if a crow lands on a power line.

Thanks for you update, I can see the first hint of daylight...finally.

[jeffers]

This plot puts Wilma precisely on the same track it's been following since 4 pm Sunday, and does not reflect any significant turn at landfall.

What I believe is happening is that the windfield and eyewall precipitation are no longer concentric, as evidenced by this image:

http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/hurricane_field.asp

I don't know what effect this will have on its future track or associated damage paths.

[mewzilla]

One of the news nets yesterday reported on what someone had spray painted on some plywood over a window: Wilma's mad as heck, Fred left her for Barney.

[LBKQ]

Are you hearing anything about Longboat?

[NautiNurse]

Uh oh. Thank you for helping Florida during another difficult time. One of these days, you'll have to visit under better circumstances. Safe travels.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Do you know what they are going to replace the Holiday Inn with?
I always thought that was a perfect location for a hotel. With the view of the
harbor and the bridges, very touristie...

[Capt. Tom]

STATE COLLEGE, PA (AccuWeather.com) -- Hurricane Wilma has made landfall in southwest Florida, and is quickly moving across the state. The eye came ashore at Cape Romano, about 22 miles south of Naples. At 7:00 AM EDT the center of Hurricane Wilma was about 10 miles north of Everglades City.

[patriciaruth]

We used to call it the Florida Power and Darkness Company back when I grew up in Miami Springs.

[publiusF27]

Different stories with each biz. Our former neighbors, Anchorman Marine, had their building destroyed and moved back to New Jersey. The destroyed building is still there, and likely will be for a while. It was condemned, then somehow uncondemned, but we're not sure if that will take. The land is contaminated (really long story) and the building, if it has to be replaced, is a liability.

Most were insured, and in any case, property values are quite high, if you don't have a possibly condemned building on contaminated land.