Samrc Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I know there will be some TCH family members that will be affected by Hurricane Charley today or tomorrow with the leftover storms. It looks like it will bear down HARD on the Tampa-St Pete area then run throught central Florida and up the east coast of USA. Massive evacuations are taking place and even the happiest place on earth, DisneyWorld is going to be closed (only happened one other time in their history for weather-hurricane Floyd!) in anticipation of the storm. I just wanted to say my best thoughts and prayers will be said for their homes, businesses and families for safety and health. Take care. Be safe. -Samantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Thomas Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) The members will be in my thoughts too. Be safe people and be sure to log in here and tell us that you are ok later. :hug: Edited August 13, 2004 by Jikrantz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woesap Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Take care pple. I hope you get out allright! I've never experienced it and according to footages I saw of previous ones, I hope I never will. Take cover and take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Bruce Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Good luck people. Stay safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deverill Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Thanks for the well-wishes and I echo them to my neighbors to the north. I live in Key West and they thought we would get hard-hit too. Fortunately, the hurricane stayed further out to sea and we just got some pretty heavy winds. Around the place I live there is only a banging door and one tree uprooted. The tree went between trailers so it did no serious damage. I walked out to the street after securing the blown-open door and looked around. I didn't see any real damage, just garbage container doors blown open and a lot of small twigs and branches blowing around. There's almost no rain either which is very good because we were at astronomical high tide when the thing came through. We still have tornado watches (one was sighted earlier but it's gone) and some pretty gusty winds but the worst is over for us. The guys up on the mainland are the ones I'm praying for as the eye is going to hit them with the stronger winds. We had power out for about an hour and my DSL was out for an additional hour but things seem ok now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Rick Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Glad all is well, Jim. We lived near Myrtle Beach when Hugo went through and I'm glad we're further from the coast now. Having grown up in Arkansas with regular tornado warnings, lived in South America and been through earthquakes, and the experiences with hurricanes here I can definitely say that hurricanes are the most nerve-wrenching. Sitting and watching it as it approaches makes it unlike anything else I have experienced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrc Posted August 13, 2004 Author Share Posted August 13, 2004 I'm in Orlando, Florida and thought at the time I started this post that we would be spared all but some thunderstorms... But now they are talking that Charley may take a turn that would take it across our inland Orange county. But even so, I am one of the fortunate ones to be in a strong home, and not near the coast or a lake. My worries go to TCHKevin and his family and several others I know that are in the Tampa/St. Pete/Sarasota areas as that will take a much harder hit than those of us inland. My neighbor has 7 family members in that area and can not leave because of sick relatives... I have cleared the front of the house of loose things that could go flying....now to deal with the back of the house and fill more water containers, just in case our water is interrupted for a short time. I was in Marathon (just before the the 7 mile bridge in the Keys) one year as a major tropical storm (not quite hurricane hit) and it was NOT pleasant to wait it out, especially when the lights went out for a while. TCHJim, I am glad Key West and the other Keys were spared! Leaving cyberworld to enter realworld again..... -Samantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevan_j Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I am currently on vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have family here, and they have been throught a couple of devastating storms recently. Alex earlier this year surprised everyone, including the weatherman, but fortunately most of the damage was to the south of their location, We are just watching the last remnants of Bonney go by, and she stayed to the west of the Banks, so just some rain and a little wind. Vacation ends tomorrow, so we should be getting out between the storms, but hopefully Charley won't stray too far East. I know that is tough on people inland, but at least the storm will die out over land. If it comes over Florida quickly and doesn't weaken much, there is a chance it could re-intensify over the Gulf Stream and cause more damage up the East Coast. Good luck to everyone involved. Be safe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deverill Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Duck Sam! Seriously, keep safe because it's not looking good for the folks in the Tampa/Orlando area. Fortunately the thing is moving quickly which means the damaging winds won't be there as long but they are strong now... 145 mph category 4. The dumb thing of it is that I was supposed to go with some friends to an event in Orlando today. The event was obviously cancelled but one of my friends said he was going anyway - right into the heart of the storm. Like another friend said, if the hurricane is going north - go south! To everyone in South/Central Florida, don't take this one lightly. Do what you have to to stay safe and let us know you're ok when you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Don Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) Jim, Kevin and Sami and all in the path of Charlie be careful and safe. I went through a big one when I lived east of Orlando and it was scary. Edited August 13, 2004 by TCH-Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninepatch Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Sami - You know Baxter & I are holding you and the furbabies in our hearts. Be safe and be well. Let us know as soon as you can that you're OK. Got a candle in the window for you and all of our TCH family down near Charley. Good thoughts are with all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrc Posted August 14, 2004 Author Share Posted August 14, 2004 12:10 pm Saturday: Just got my power and phone lines back after having none since 8:30 last night. Took me a couple minutes to hook up the computer again so I could post that all is well here. 2 of 3 cats didn't even realize there was something special happening. The other was hidden for 20 hours! The worst area was a few small towns (15,000 people or so) that had a large number of mobile homes. Unfortunately after hearing warnings for more than 24 hours, many local residents down there didn't listen to evacuation orders and decided to stay! Now volunteers are helping to find and identify many of them in the rubble. No final count yet. Senseless! It didn't have to happen and could have been avoided. In my area, we got horrendous wind gusts (up to 105 mph) and rain. The storm was still a category 2 when it hit us (according to a local station). But there was a blessing with Charley. He didn't stay long. If he had been a slow mover, the central part of Florida would have FLOODED, but since he buzzed through so quickly, we actually received less rain than our usual afternoon downpours. These hurricanes usually come with many tornados too, but seems that we did not have as many as many hurricanes generate. The wind caused tons of branches and whole trees to break off, or come down whole. Property damage runs the gamit but in Orange County, it could have been far worse if the storm had stayed longer. I've been through other Hurricanes that took far longer to move through so was surprised at the forward speed of this one! The total $ damages might reach a billion, but again would have been worse if the eye had hit directly downtown Tampa, or Orlando with the tall office buildings. Our street has 4 trees down and some LARGE broken limbs, all in backyards with no roof or property damage! Some folks in streets around me have trees and power lines still down and some areas of central florida will be without power for another day or so. Personally, I am thankful that I took out two HUGE pine trees in front of my home last year: one in and over power lines and one 70 foot tall 4ft fron front porch/front door with full canopy over the house! It used to drop limbs on sunny days. Without a doubt, I would have lost my living room to it last night. Went with my neighbor to see if his airsteam trailer (stored in an RV park) survived and saw so many folks trying to clean up. But our weather is not cooperating. There's a large storm coming inland from the west coast again. Thank you for the good wishes sent my way, but now they need to be directed at all the people having to deal with the aftermath of Charley. And keep your fingers crossed that the Tropical Storm #5 (following the early path of Charley) doesn't strengthen too! -Samantha (in SUNNY Orlando) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Don Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Sami, thanks for the update. Glad you and the furrbies are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninepatch Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Thanks for letting us know Sami - I'll take the candle out of the window now, but I'll keep sending thoughts your way for your neighbors and friends. In May, the areas around where I live were devastated by flooding and tornadoes so I can relate. I'm glad the furbabies are taking it in stride. Baxter, as usual, is hard at work demonstrating her gold medal skill of guarding the sofa by sleeping soundly across the back of it in her favorite sunbeam. The quilt beneath her is absolutely secure from any dastardly attack that might come its way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrc Posted August 14, 2004 Author Share Posted August 14, 2004 Your Baxter and my Spaz look soo much alike! My poor Spaz spent 20 hours under the daybed to avoid any weather changes! Atmospheric changes befor thunderstorms send her slinking down the hall on her belly toward my daybed in my computer room. Other than storms, she is the most brave inquisitive cat I have ever been around. -Samantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Bruce Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Glad to hear you made it through the storm Samantha. Well wishes to everyone else too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrc Posted August 14, 2004 Author Share Posted August 14, 2004 Just got word that our office is still without power. Was planning on going in tomorrow to reconnect server and other office equipment I dismantled before the storm, but might not be able to if no power! -Samantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Don Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 LOL Beth, my new kitten Oscar has started to guard something too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrc Posted August 15, 2004 Author Share Posted August 15, 2004 So cute Don.... and great name for your kitten! He is doomed to have a life of curiosity and cuddles like my little Oscar. -Samantha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumplin Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 LOL Beth, my new kitten Oscar has started to guard something too Oh what a cute picture...can I snag it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninepatch Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Don - He's such a cutie - those blue eyes are beautiful! Well, looks like things are well in hand with Oscar on the job. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Thomas Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 LOL Beth, my new kitten Oscar has started to guard something too Automatic signer of documents, Don? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Don Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Go ahead Donna. Thomas, I think he is the manual paper feed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Thomas Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Thomas, I think he is the manual paper feed Ah ok, I thought he might do as Piggie & Gissa, leaving their teethmarks in paper, if any are left when they are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumplin Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Go ahead Donna. Thomas, I think he is the manual paper feed Ok great will title it Manual Paper Feed on the Job<G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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