Weathering the Storm - Charlie

[madphilb]

Well, Charlie is about on us here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, and it's going to keep this weekend very interesting.

We haven't seen a storm like this in this area in a long, long time.... and I've heard reports yet this morning that say it may pick up speed before it gets here, going from Cat 2 to Cat 3! :eek:

We should see rain comming here soon (a band of rain swept the area before daybreak, I wasn't awake for that), I'm sure that wasn't anything too special.

Below are a couple of pictures (got to love those digital cameras)... the 1st one is the front of my house (hope it still looks like that when it's over). I moved the truck in front, normally I'll park it to the side, but there's a tree there and I didn't want the truck under the tree.

The next picture is South-SouthEast of my house, showing the calm before the storm (picture was taken just before 8am).

I'm going to see if I can get some shots from inside the eye when it goes over (without putting myself in any danger). If I'm able to stay online at the time I'll add to this thread with the new photos and whatnot... otherwise I'll post them afterwards.

Part of me is very nervous about this... and part of me figures it'll be no big deal and a great chance to see the inside of a hurricane.... but we'll see.

[Link Antilles]

You know what? I say we all put a vote in for madphilb to be CAA's weatherman! I'll look forward to seeing the pictures if you can shoot 'em.... Just be careful... I'lll pray for your safety, too.

[glitch1501]

i live probably about a half hour from madphilb, since he lives somewhere in st. pete, and i live in palm harbor

im pretty much in the same boat as him, kinda nervous, im going to try to go out with my dad and take some pictures also when the eye is over us, ill probably have to post them later, cause i think they said they are going to cut the power while its over us,
the reports now say that its going to be going straight up the bay, which is bad because of all the storm surge, they are saying that the wind might be up to 120-130 mph, which is scary, but sounds cool,

i went outside around noon and the sky is full of clouds, no wind or rain or anything right now.

i might be posting in this thread soon, or after the storm

[Raiden no Kishi]

I'm in Naples, and we've got big wind gusts going on, but so far we're OK. Fortunately, our house is one of if not THE highest point in our neighborhood (Golden Gate) so we'll be OK.

Rai

[ZiP]

I hope you all protection, and safety =)

[kaji]

I will pray for all of your safeties, but be sure to have lots of fun!!! ^_^
Its not every day you get to experiance the raw power of Gods creation. How cool how cool!

-kaji

[glitch1501]

hmm...its been bumped up to a category 4 hurricane, which is sustained winds of 145 mph

it has also turned toward sarasota....it might not go up the bay...keep praying

[Kinkosami]

I saw on the weather channel yesterday that Florida was going to be hit with a hurricane and thought, "Gha! There are some people from CAA that live there!" and I was a bit worried about you guys.

Hurricanes, tornadoes and stuff like that scare me. That'a why I'm thankful I get to live where I live, all we have to worry about is the lightning. Which isn't that bad.

But I guess I don't get the excitement either.

I'll be praying for you guys.

[glitch1501]

well, it looks like the hurricane will be no where near i live now

http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/weather/Web_Stats.jpg

i dont know if that picture changes, but right now it is pointed towards the center of the state

[Rev. Doc]

We just got a weather alert on our newscast here in South Carolina saying that Charley may go straight through Florida and into the Atlantic. Should that be the case there is a good chase it will then strengthen once more and possibly hit South and North Carolina. If that is the case I may disappear for a few days as I am manager of the local evacuation shelter for the American Red Cross. My prayers are with you in Florida. Let's pray that this storm fizzles out quickly.

[Sam*ron]

I will pray for all of you guys, that sounds really scary, I have always been scared about storms and stuff, so you are all very brave! I will pray for everyone in Florida, and in the other places where Charley is going to hit, even Omega Omen.

[blueraven]

I've been watching the Weather Channel off and on today just to keep taps on Charley. I've up in Maryland but things can still get pretty nasty around here, like last year. I think Charley's down to a TP but think it'll pick back up to a Cat 1 soon enough before making land fall in SC. Of course, I was just watching the Weather Channel about an hour ago so many things have probably changed. I'll be praying for, well everything really. Hurricans are very icky - I'm glad I don't remember the one we had to go though when I was little.

[Omega Amen]

I will pray for everyone in Florida, and in the other places where Charley is going to hit, even Omega Omen.

Actually, this whole week, I have been in Atlanta at the Georgia Tech campus getting ready for my first semester as a grad student.

However, my parents are back in home in Florida, but I believe our home is not in the path of the storm. So they should be fine.

I appreciate the prayers, regardless. Now cleaning up the damage has to be done.

[antefurem]

Even though Charley's headed our way, as well... I'm not too frightened.

We always get hit by hurricanes.

Maybe it's because this state juts out into the Atlantic, and hurricanes like that?

I don't know why North Carolina's usually a target... however, being in a state that is number one on the list of hurricane landfalls has made me not too afraid of them (unless it's like, a category 5 O_o).

Anyhoo, my prayers go out to y'all down there!

[Kannaqueen14]

Ill pray for everyones saftey, and I hope it dosnt come our way :-( Im not much for storms. If the sky gets dark then I gess its coming

[termyt]

I've seen some of the devastation here on the news. How are all of our Florida members? Updates, anyone?

[glitch1501]

there was no damage to where i live, but my youth pastors stepfathers house is flooded to the roof, and his moms front end of her house is gone, its really bad down south, and we are getting a group together tomarrow to go down there and help out

[Yojimbo]

I hope all you people in Florida and on the coast are alright.

[glitch1501]

some of my youth group and i went down to port charolette and punta gorda today to help clean up some of the mess, (that is were "ground zero" of hurricane charley was)
and it is crazy, im going to post some pictures up tomarrow night sometime maybe, but the damage is crazy, i was shocked really, i couldnt imagine if it had hit where i live, ive gotta go right now though

[Vash is a plant]

Even though Charley's headed our way, as well... I'm not too frightened.

We always get hit by hurricanes.

Maybe it's because this state juts out into the Atlantic, and hurricanes like that?

That just might be a reason.

The eye came through about 20 miles S.E of where I live. God protected us, but Punta Gora and Port Charolett are in really bad shape. So is Ft. Mead. School is closed in my county for the next week so they can use the schools for shelters for the people who lost houses down there. I'm glad school's out, but I wish it was for a different reason..

[glitch1501]

these are the pictures we took when we went down on sunday to help cleanup

http://the-difference.net/stuff/Hurricane%20Charley%20Relief/

[termyt]

I'm glad you're OK glitch and that you missed the brunt of the storm. I am also joyful at the news of you going to help those who were affected. My God bless your efforts and may He bless you personally for your willingness to help out!.

I know there are still power outages and what not, but has anyone heard from madphilb - who started this thread?

[glitch1501]

i havent heard from madphilb, but he says he lives in st. petersburg, which didnt get any of the storm, its about a half hour from where i live, and we had to drive for 2 hours to get down to where the storm hit, so i think he is fine,

but most people dont have power down there i think

and we are going back down in 2 weeks to help finish up some cleanup

[Sam*ron]

I hope hes okay.

[Sam*ron]

Oop's....Sorry.

[Madeline]

So we've got alot of Floridans here, hmm?
I'm thanking the Lord that we survived the storm and didn't suffer damage.
He answered prayer, just like he always does. ^_^
Is everyone okay, and do you have any damage?
I need to read the thread...

[madphilb]

Sorry folks.... been away since Tuesday night with a trip to Disney and had some trouble getting on before that.

The Orlando area and whatnot where hit with the storm, I saw quite a bit on the Disney property where trees blew over or where cracked.... in one area a bunch of short evergreen trees (all about 6-10 ft tall I guess) where all leaning in the same direction.

The hotels looked in pretty good shape, but you could see some of the tin roof was ripped off the Wilderness Lodge and some panels on the top of the Contemporary look like they where either blown off or taken down due to damage.

The parks themselves seemed to be in pretty good shape.

Downtown Disney where we went to Cirque Du Soleil looked in pretty good shape, there where a few places where windows where damaged, and lots of the glass signs that light up where broken. The Canvas sections that covered part of the Cirque's theater where ripped down (when they're up it gives somewhat of a look of a tent to the place).


The whole issue of power outage and whatnot was the topic of the local news stations up there, covering a good portion of what they spent their time on. I'd say close to 100,000 people are still without power in the central Florida area, and lots of people are either homeless or have a big mess to deal with.


The trip back we saw quite a bit of damage that hasn't quite been cleaned up. Fences blown over and a trailer park that we passed had several of the newer modern mobile homes damaged (though they where actually in good shape for the most part). However a bit down the road they either had a repositary of destroyed mobile homes or the ones we saw where poor quality old ones in a park.... most where smashed beyond recognition.

Lots of broken and blown over signs, plenty of broken and blow over (and uprooted) trees.... and residential areas that we drove down that had been cleaned up all had piles of tree debris waiting for trash pickup.

I feel seriously blessed that this storm missed me... I'd be without a home and most likely would have lost my computer and other personal belongings had Charley come on land where it was supposed to. I feel for and pray for those who where in the path of the storm.

Scary stuff, scary indeed.