Free Republic

NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 16, 2004--An as-yet unknown number of Amateur Radio operators remain in emergency mode today as Florida recovers from the devastating blow landed August 13 by Hurricane Charley. Authorities ordered the evacuation of an estimated two million people ahead of the storm. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams have been supporting relief agencies and--with phone systems overloaded or out of service--also bridging the telecommunications gap. The storm--which blasted into the Charlotte County community of Punta Gorda on Florida's Gulf Coast and killed at least 17--is being called the worst in more than a decade. Damage is expected to...

August 17, 2004 -- PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Survivors of Hurricane Charlie, many of whom lost their homes and all their possessions, had a manmade scourge to contend with yesterday — heartless looters. The fear of looting was so widespread, many victims were staying in their damaged homes — without electricity, water or in some cases, even roofs — to protect what's left. At the Harborview Park mobile-home community, Peter Fernandes said the lock to his mom's home had been jimmied. "Sons of bitches," Fernandes told the St. Petersburg Times. "They have no respect of people, even in times like...

TAMPA, Fla. - With a "scary, scary" Hurricane Charley zeroing in on Florida's west coast Friday, state officials urged almost 2 million tourists and residents to evacuate and avoid the path of a storm that could submerge parts of this city's downtown and other neighboring areas. Charley's expected 120 mph top sustained winds and massive storm surge could devastate coastal and low-lying areas in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Everything from waterfront condominium towers to vulnerable mobile homes were in danger on the Gulf Coast. Charley's center was expected to pass west of the Florida Keys early Friday before hitting the...

ALL FLORIDIANS, PLEASE COMMENT ON CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON SOUTHERN WEST COAST I'm inland from Tampa Bay about 25 miles. Dear God, I'm scared. I lost it all in Andrew in '92 and left South Florida after a year and a half to come to this area. Please keep me and all those going through this storm in your prayers. I'm alone here, and this storm's probably going to be very damaging and destructive. I'm picking up branches, objects lying about. I've filled the tub with water, I'll bringing in my dog and my birds, I haven't taped the windows...

000 WTNT33 KNHC 131655 TCPAT3 BULLETIN HURRICANE CHARLEY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 17A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 1 PM EDT FRI AUG 13 2004 ...CHARLEY STRENGTHENS AS IT HEADS TOWARD FLORIDA WEST COAST... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE DRY TORTUGAS TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE NORTHWARD TO THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE FLORIDA AND GEORGIA...

The National Hurricane Center has now upgraded Hurricane Charley to a CATEGORY 3 storm with SUSTAINED winds of 125 MPH. The storm is moving NNE at 20 MPH, and the center of the storm should reach Charlotte Harbor (about 2 hrs. SOUTH of Tampa) late this afternoon. This is good news for Tampa, as the worst of the storm will be to the south of Tampa Bay. The CAT 3 storm will come ashore in the Naples and Ft. Myers areas late this afternoon.

HURRICANE CHARLEY GOES BLACKWATCH PLAD

KDAB 131943Z 132018 15008KT P6SM SCT030 BKN080 OVC250 TEMPO 2022 16025G40KT 2SM +TSRA BKN020CB FM2200 14020G30KT P6SM SCT040 BKN060 OVC100 TEMPO 2224 16030G50KT 2SM +TSRA FEW015 BKN030CB FM0000 13040G60KT 3SM RA BKN020 OVC030 TEMPO 0003 13045G65KT 1SM +RA OVC010 FM0300 14050G70KT 2SM +RA BKN010 OVC020 TEMPO 0306 14055G75KT 1/2SM +RA OVC006 FM0600 17055G75KT 2SM +RA BKN010 OVC020TEMPO 0609 17060G80KT 2SM SHRA BKN020 FM0900 20045G60KT 3SM RA BKN020 OVC030 TEMPO 0912 20050G65KT 2SM +RA BKN015 OVC030 FM1200 23035G50KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 OVC100 TEMPO 1215 23040G55KT 2SM +RA BKN015 OVC030

FORT MEADE -- Polk County's 44 years without a major hurricane ended emphatically Friday when Charley roared in from the south. Roofs disappeared, lights blinked off and trees crashed to the ground as the storm's eye moved in a northeasterly direction across the county. Charley was a raging mix of howling wind and blowing rain. Even for veterans of Hurricane Donna in 1960, Charley was a storm to remember. Fort Meade was the first community in Polk to feel Charley's power. The storm's eye crossed the county line about 6:45 p.m. Bert and Ginger Blackwelder of Fort Meade spoke by...

Hurricane Charley Whips Fla.; Three Dead 20 minutes ago , Associated Press Writers PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - The worst hurricane to hit Florida since Andrew a dozen years ago left at least three people dead, caused widespread damage to oceanfront homes and trailer parks and knocked out power to a million customers. Hurricane Charley's eye passed directly over Punta Gorda, which took a heavy toll Friday. The town of 15,000 on Charlotte Harbor was left without power, and at least 40 people were injured. Photo AP Photo Canadian Press Photo Canadian Press Slideshow Slideshow: Hurricane Charley Related Links • Tampa...

By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - Once Hurricane Charley is gone from Florida, it's a safe bet President Bush (news - web sites) will sweep in. Natural calamities present political opportunity, and many crucial electoral votes are in the path of Charley's howling winds. Bush swiftly issued a disaster declaration to expedite federal aid as Charley tore into the Florida Gulf Coast on Friday. He was acting on a request that had come from his brother Jeb, the governor, even before the ferocious storm made landfall. The president was expected to visit the area in the aftermath. Officials...

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Hurricane Charley (search) killed at least 15 people in Florida and flattened oceanfront homes, making thousands homeless before it roared north and struck the coast of South Carolina on Saturday. Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County's director of emergency management, said there were 10 confirmed deaths in the county, but an exact total was not available. "Not hundreds. I would hope that it would be limited to dozens, if that," Sallade said. Five people were killed elsewhere in the state. Charlotte County (search) deputies were standing guard over bodies because the area was inaccessible to ambulances. The strongest...

An interesting conversation was on Fox News this morning. Stuart Varney (sp) mentioned that for the two months after Hurricane Andrew hit Florida the National GDP actually dropped. Then, when recovery efforts really kicked in, the national economy benefited. Many feel this drop was one of the reasons Bush I lost the election. The monetary costs of Charley will probably get close to, or exceed, the 27 billion dollar price tag of Andrew. This may cause the national economy to stall before the rebuilding efforts start in earnest and trickle into the economy. Might not be soon enough.

SEATTLE President Bush will head to Florida tomorrow to look at the damage from Hurricane Charley. He's already declared a major disaster in the state. Just two hours after the storm hit, Bush ordered federal aid for the recovery effort. A spokesman says Bush now wants to get a "first-hand look at damage" -- and to make sure people are getting the help they need. There are no details yet on just what areas Bush will visit, or whether his brother -- Florida Governor Jeb Bush -- will join him. The announcement came in Seattle, as President Bush finished a...

Another great example of the importance of the 2nd am Notice the shotgun on the green deck chair...

What happens if the two storms collide? I am not sure there is a chance of that but what would happen if they did?

For weather bug users, to watch the winds, pressure, temp etc, the Ft. myers zip code is 33901. Put that in the "options" button and watch the wind. Peak wind so far is 43 MPH.

Florida has been declared a state of emergency and the National Guard put on alert due to a pair of so-called "hurricanes" sources claim are going to hit the state sometime in the near future. Named "Bonnie" and "Charlie," the storms are supposedly entering the US from Cuba, a declaration some see as a prelude to a declaration of war against the dicta... er, beloved president-for-life Fidel Castro. Many prominent Democrats see the storm threat as being hyped for political purposes. "I think there has been an exaggeration," Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry said when asked whether President Bush and...