 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Facing Frances
|
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 09 Sep 04 - 11:48 PM such is life. And Bill - I have some camphor wood for you too! Ever seen a camphor tree with a trunk over 3 1/2 feet in diameter? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 09 Sep 04 - 11:13 PM Oh great! I see the current projected path is straight at Tallahassee. I'm beginning to think it is Mother Nature punishing the Bushes for their misdeeds....At least my roof is ready for another clobbering. BillD can't you use some live oak???? or what about turkey fig tree wood? I'm sorry about your friends, blackcatter. And I'm sorry you're currently out of a job... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 09 Sep 04 - 10:56 PM I did read that various expensive flood control measures have kept this from becoming an even worse disaster in Florida.. Well the water managment districts have been draining all the small lakes into the larger ones and on south or north. They started this prior to Frances, but that water only moves so fast. The St. Johns River which flows north through east central Florida to Jacksonville, moves very slowly and is in fact, still rising, 4 days after Frances. It is expected to crest tomorrow night (Friday), but since it is actually just a giant flood plain ans quite swampy in places, has nuberous shallow lakes tied to it, it is not going to recede very quickly. With Ivan heading this way, the problem will only be exacerbated. I have friends who live in a mobile home 2+ miles from the usual banks of the St. Johns near Christmas, FL. The water is currently over 2 feet high around their home. Their cars are flooded, and their geese, guinea fowl, and chickens are all dead. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Bill D Date: 09 Sep 04 - 06:33 PM this has been a wet, wet, wet year around here (Washington DC), too...2 dehumidifiers running constantly in the 'basement', which is a finished lower level.... The grass and weeds grow faster than we can trim and whack and mow, and there is flooding in nearby areas weekly. I can barely imagine what it must be like to get the first taste of each of these storms. I did read that various expensive flood control measures have kept this from becoming an even worse disaster in Florida... keep your chins up, Floridians! literally.. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: SINSULL Date: 09 Sep 04 - 06:29 PM Frances is dripping into my sunroom through the roof I had repaired last year. Better than having a tree fall on me I guess. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: wysiwyg Date: 09 Sep 04 - 05:29 PM I guess ole gal Frances got rode hard and put away wet-- she's in my basement now and I can't get her out. At least the yard is relatively dry--- now, at least. Cuz that's where she was a couple of hours ago till she slithered in, or was it slithering up from the rock bed. I already knew that's why we have dirt basements here, but it's the first time in 10 years it's been more than a little muddy slime down there and the appliances are all up on cement slabs. She's in my pine-paneled guestroom too, but that's the roof's fault. Last night I had a just-before-sleep chance to show Hardi how to knock down wet acoustic tiles before they come bonking down on you when you ain't lookin'. Cuz Ah hate it when THAT happens! Please, if you see Ivan before you do, tell him the guest rooms are already taken and he should head elsewhere to lay his wet head. ~S~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: catspaw49 Date: 09 Sep 04 - 12:44 AM We have your old room at the NYCFTTS all ready and waiting for you Harpy! Skiff has been doing a good job keeping the place running and the bedpans changed. Uh.....well, not exactly........er,uh........well......ya'see what happened is that awhile back he went a little nutso on the bedpan thing and started putting them all in a sterilizer. That was okay but he went wrong when he started using them fresh from the sterilizer resulting in severe burns to the ass on a number of patients including one guy who was so traumatized by th entire thing that he hasn't been able to shit since....and that was 6 weeks ago. Btw, his room is next to yours. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 09 Sep 04 - 12:07 AM This updated diagram of Ivan's latest projected path looks even worse. I have a bad feeling about Ivan too. If I was living in Florida and it continued to look like it was coming in my direction, I would get out - and soon, while there are still planes leaving and petrol to be bought. Ivan is much stronger than Frances - Geraldo and all those Jenny |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Janie Date: 08 Sep 04 - 11:06 PM We still have not had word from our Melbourne relatives. Anybody know how much damage occurred in Melbourne and on Satellite Beach/Indian Harbor? Janie |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 08 Sep 04 - 10:13 PM Here comes Ivan!Ivan's projected path |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 08 Sep 04 - 09:58 PM Sorry about your soggy bottom, Pat....Mary Lou Orthey lives on the Peace River in Punta Gorda and she just put her house up for sale to return to the NE and then the storm hit. She got demolished! And the storm surge on the Peace River came over her sea wall! The worrying was worse than the damage I experienced. I have a lot of clean up now because I forgot to tell the tree cutter to haul off the brush (actually, I was being cheap) and I've got the top of a forty foot live oak to haul to the curb and cut in four foot lengths. Then I have about a cord of wood to split from the trunk unless I put another add in the paper for free wood. But the last time I had every weirdo, wacko, and NYCFTTS reject in my yard loading wood for a week! That was creepy! I'm going to keep it all to myself this time. But at the rate I burn it, I'll have firewood for another five years! I'm afraid Ivan will hit us full force in about five days...Then I'll just have to check into the NYCFTTS stay tuned....abbynormal |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: catspaw49 Date: 08 Sep 04 - 09:20 PM Harpy? Hey old friend, we're still thinking of you and hoping for the best. Frances is passing through here now and we have had very solid and steady rain for 24 hours with flood watches, etc. I have an inch or so in the basement but things are supposed to stop by noon tomorrow. This is an amazing storm. It is still pretty well formed and stioll almost a massive as ever. The fact that it still carries so much moisture after all this time is impressive. We have had other hurricanes blow what little was left across us this far north, but I can think of noe anything nearly as strong as this one. Hope we hear from Harpy soon! Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: robomatic Date: 07 Sep 04 - 07:26 PM Remember to look out for downed power lines. If the power is out in your house, or likely to go out, turn off delicate stuff like computers, turn off heavy power users, such as air conditioners, so that when power is restored the initial load is lighter, less of a chance for a fuse or a recloser to blow. When in the presence of a downed line, get away and call it in! Maintain a battery capable radio and invest in some of those LED powered book lights. They go on for hours and hours. There are some wind up radios and flashlights out there. They are overpriced and not too efficient, but they do work after a fashion. If your car is in shape, you have a portable generator. You can buy gear to plug into the power terminals (used to be cigarette lighter) inside your car. More of a convenience for radios, music equipment than anything that needs power. In Alaska some folks buy a disconnect device that goes with the power service point of their house. The idea is, if you're going to use a portable power generator to provide live home current on your house wiring, it is vitally important that you disconnect your house from the regular service, otherwise, you back-feed to the main system and you can electrocute a lineman. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: GUEST,Blackcatter Date: 07 Sep 04 - 04:00 PM Nearly everyone is leaving their plywood up on their homes/businesses to wait and see what Ivan will do. Still about 20% of Orange Co (Orlando) is without power, better than Charley, but considering how little damage this time, still pretty bad. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: CarolC Date: 07 Sep 04 - 12:06 PM It's just rain here where we are now. The winds died down some time last night. It definitely looks like a big storm has passed through here, but there's no damage to any of our stuff. Here's hoping Ivan blows himself out in the middle of the ocean and never makes landfall. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 07 Sep 04 - 12:32 AM At this point it looks as if Ivan will pass beneath Florida. I never like to say anything is good news exect for a hurricane going out to the middle of the ocean and disappearing. If it misses Florida, all that means is that it's probably Texas, Louisiana or Mexico's problem. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:33 PM Well, at least it sounds like everyone is safe. Harpgirl, I hope your roof problem is now getting sorted - it sounds like it is, from what you said in the other thread Florida Mudcatters - how are you?! The sort of thing that happened to you is probably going to become more and more common with each storm. I can see an awful lot of trees in the future just pulling out of the ground because of the continual soaking from rain. I don't like the sound of Ivan. If it does head for you guys in a few days, maybe you should seriously consider moving out of its way this time. In the end, personal safety is the most important thing! Jenny |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Bill D Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:20 PM harpy..if there is ANY way to get a roll of plastic sheeting/tarp and some tacks...hardware store...Home Depot, etc....cover holes until work can be done so damn sorry... (the 2nd year we lived here, a huge Oak tree came down in a storm, and just missed the bedroom where my wife was asleep...we were so lucky, and ever since then I have kept a roll of plastic around....I use it for lots of things, and when it gets low, I get more..) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:58 PM Damn, Harpy! Now I feel guilty. You got your house broke and we haven't had more than a stiff breeze over here. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Janie Date: 06 Sep 04 - 07:49 PM Thinking of you Harpgirl, and hoping you are safe. We still don't have any word of my aunt,uncle and cousins. We assume they are safe. Uncle William & Aunt Cat, and one of my cousins all live in Satellite Beach/Indian Harbour. Both families evacuated to another cousin's house on higher ground in Melbourne proper. Guess we just have to wait for power or cell towers to go back up. My aunt and uncle in West Palm evacuated to cousins in Atlanta. The Sarasota contingent are, of course, all fine. So far, it seems, property damage, (thankfully) will be the issue in Florida, and not loss of life. Did my heart good to see so many people have the sense to obey the evacuation orders. The potential flooding as Frances moves up through the southeast is probably a bigger threat to life. Poor southern West Virginia has been devastated repeatedly by floods the last few years (thanks to surface mining.) And it looks like the storm will track straight up through the southern Appalachians in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. The power of flash floods in all those hollows is mindboggling. Annie & I spent the weekend in Williamsburg, Va, and were getting some rain and wind from the East, which was associated with Frances. The power and scope of the forces of nature is as awesome it is awful. Makes ya' feel kinda puny, doesn't it? Janie |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: CarolC Date: 06 Sep 04 - 03:07 PM Get out of there, harpgirl! Go someplace safe till the winds die down. Maybe your neighbor will take you in. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 06 Sep 04 - 03:03 PM I'm so sorry Harpgirl. 3 of my friends lost their homes in Charley. Talk to your neighbors to see what they can do. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 06 Sep 04 - 02:59 PM Everything's a mess at my house...limbs everywhere, smashed roof, forty foot live oak crushed my fig tree as it hit the roof. The roof is beginning to cave in on the edge...I'm a basketcase! Help!!!!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 06 Sep 04 - 02:49 PM Hello all, Lost power for 18 hours. I got lucky this time (7 days for Charley) Everything else is good. Just couldn't believe how long it lasted. We got the first outer band of wind and rain Saturday afternoon and the last one should be here in about 30 minutes. About a 48 hour storm. Unfortunately, even though I have not food for them, every ant in the neighborhood has decided it's safer in my place than anywhere else. Now for the stats from my wind station. Sustained winds were as high as 68mph The highest gust I recorded was 94mph. But the main part of the storm crossed 100 miles south of me. Charley had sustained winds of 90mph and gusts as hih as 112mph. By the way - Sewall's Point was the official point of landfall of the eye. My sister lives on Sewall's Point. She's fine in her $1.2 million hovel. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 06 Sep 04 - 02:17 PM I was snoozing in the den and heard a loud noise...a forty foot live oak just uprooted from my neighbor's yard and smashed through my roof...now I have to get up in the attic and stem the leaks and call the insurance company. I had a feeling I was gonna get clobbered... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: SINSULL Date: 06 Sep 04 - 01:47 PM Kelly's OK too - a little water in her apartment and a lot of wind damage outside but all is well. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 06 Sep 04 - 12:55 PM Glad to hear you're all right hg. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 06 Sep 04 - 12:25 PM Power is back on here. The rain is steady but light and there are a lot of leaves and branches down. It doesn't seem like a bad storm at this point. My mom still has no water in PB county and is using bathtub water for everything. There are gasoline shortages in south florida and lots of damage but I don't have cable TV so I probably no less than most folks. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:55 AM Be careful driving tomorrow Paul. A lot of roads I have seen on the news have been damaged. I'm wondering about some others we haven't heard from - Blackcatter, harpgirl, who said her power was iffy, and those of you with rels living there. Any more news? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: CarolC Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:49 AM P.S. Here's hoping we don't get any trees falling on us. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: CarolC Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:42 AM She's heading this way now (Alabama), but I understand she's been downgraded to a tropical storm. We're expecting heavy rains with winds possibly gusting to over 50 mph. There are flash flood alerts for this area, but we're up on a hill, so that won't be a problem for us. We'll be ok if the winds don't get too bad. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Paul G. Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:28 AM My daughter, Jessica and her husband are inland due west of Daytona in a town call Pierson, Florida. The only industry in the area is fern growing, mostly very poor immigrant farm laborers in the area. Jess and Ben have a small, though sturdy cinder block house. We haven't heard from them and can't raise them by cell phone, but assume they're okay. I'll probably try to drive down there tomorrow taking the back roads. Obie is dead on about the poorer folks who live in old frame dwellings inland -- they certainly weren't spared by Frances. The interstate (95) is backed up southbound from Jacksonville to Daytona as folks from the south try to get home. They are blocking utility crews, and there is no gas being pumped == so the mess is only getting worse. When you're in the middle of this kind of mess, it's easy to become distracted from the hailstorms, fires, by-pass surgeries, and general mayhem going on around the rest of the planet. No one is immune from it, and Frances has been a less than gentle reminder to us about that. Best to all as we each try to rse above it! pg |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: catspaw49 Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:05 AM I have been thinking of you all and reading along here. Like many others too, I have been watching the coverage. My best thoughts are with you all. BTW, did anyone else see the thing on CBS of the family who stayed in their home with their new generator which provided them power when everywhere else had none? They were watching TV, doing video games, eating cheeseburgers.....everything totally normal except that there was a hurricane outside. They said they had put their faith in God to get them through. Kinda' looked to me like they might have placed their faith in Honda................. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: GUEST,Obie Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:04 AM It has been a dozen or more years since I have visited Florida's central Atlantic coast. My memory is one of great contrasts. Extreme wealth on the coastline and deep poverty a stone's throw inland. The TV shows destruction of marinas and and beach areas, but these are mostly wealthy people who can afford to have costly insurance coverage. Unless things have changed the greatest loss may be among the poorer folks who have little protection. Except for any loss of life my thoughts are more with them when I think in terms of property damage. A humble shack may be a far greater loss than any mansion. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: SINSULL Date: 05 Sep 04 - 11:43 PM And California has more fires. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 05 Sep 04 - 11:38 PM Meanwhile, while you guys in Florida have been facing Frances, we in Sydney had a series of hailstorms yesterday here Nice to see the weather getting shared around a bit. It's supposed to be spring now. I can tell you, my little lettuces are not very happy! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 05 Sep 04 - 11:06 PM We're still waiting our turn over here on the western tip of the state. By the time it's all over, this storm will undoubtedly have set some kind of record for how much of Florida it has affected. Almost 100% of the state will have experienced at least tropical storm force winds and heavy rains. A single hurricane just isn't supposed to impact Miami, Jacksonville, Pensacola and all points in between! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Sep 04 - 08:38 PM Watching CNN and saw horrific damage at one east coast marina, with one yatch after another piled on top of each other. Someone else was describing how his 6000 pound Hummer was almost lifted off a causway by the wind. Hang in there, Floridians! Nice and peaceful here in Maine. Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Paul G. Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:29 PM Wind speeds up quite a bit now -- constant at 40, gusts to 60. 40% of Jacksonville is without power now (400,000 folks), and they're finally opening shelters. As we're in the northeast quadrant of the storm, we're told to expect the same treatment until near dawn tomorrow. Watch yourselves up in the panhandle tomorrow! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: harpgirl Date: 05 Sep 04 - 04:47 PM The rain hit here very hard about ten minutes ago. Lots of wind and the power is iffy... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: artbrooks Date: 05 Sep 04 - 03:41 PM I heard from my parents in Pensacola (actually Navarre, at the eastern end of the inner of the 2 barrier islands) this morning. They are packing up and going to a friend's about 100 miles west of Biloxi, Mississippi for the next few days...the reports show the storm moving across Florida with a good chance of hitting them from the east. The forcast is for HEAVY RAINFALL WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA... SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. ISOLATED AREAS COULD SEE RAINFALL TOTALS OVER 10 INCHES. The outer island, where Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach are, was badly hit by a hurricane several years ago. A number of the beach homes were badly damaged or simply washed away...so they are being replaced by high-rise condos. Go figure. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Paul G. Date: 05 Sep 04 - 12:52 PM Steady wind at only about 20 mph with gusts to about 45 here in Jacksonville -- about 15 mph higher at Jacksonville Beach. Can't believe how fortunate we have been compared to our brethren to the south. My daughter and son-in-law about 90 miles south of here (just south of Crescent City) lost power at 1:00 am, but other than that are doing fine. We're expecting the wind and rain to increase a bit here through the day, but nothing like what we're seeing elsewhere. A few tree branches down in the back yard is all the damage so far. Two of my band-mates live within a few miles of Melbourne. Hope they will have homes to return to. Hopefully Ivan will visit Cuba, and leave us the heck alone. pg |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Liz the Squeak Date: 05 Sep 04 - 04:53 AM Sounds like one helluva ride down there! I tried looking up the satelite pictures but there seems to be a problem with one of the transmitters... either that or someone has decided that what you can't see, you won't fret over! Stay safe all of you. LTS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 04 Sep 04 - 05:41 PM Probably because no one here can stand living without A/C, TV and internet. Besides we like the "green lightning" of transformers blowing. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: GUEST,Obie Date: 04 Sep 04 - 04:12 PM As I watch CNN broadcast from Florida they show live downed power lines sparking all around. As a former utility worker I wonder why the main transmission switches were not opened before the storm hit? This simple action would improve safety and actually reduce damage like blown transformers and arc burned lines and also appliance damage to homes. It was known that the storm was comming and when it would hit so this is not rocket science. I find it strange indeed that this was not done. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 04 Sep 04 - 02:18 PM Frances has spped moving as of the 2ppm update. Center of the eye is 80 miles off of West Palm Beach. Winds at 110 mph. The eye is getting a bit stronger and is 75 miles across. It should strengthen a bit before coming on shore. because it is near the gulf stream and is getting nice and warm. yeesh. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: JennyO Date: 04 Sep 04 - 01:02 PM So when are ya comin' Amos? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: SINSULL Date: 04 Sep 04 - 12:57 PM Groan...cell phone call from my niece. She couldn't handle the shelter and went home. Her building is circa 1960 and the police went door to door showing residents the safest place to be. She'll be in a 3'x3' closet. No electricity. A Handicapped sign just hit her front door - it had been cemented in place. She has a life raft at the ready and the police showed her and her neighbors (all elderly) how to get to the roof if they have to. They also marked the street to show that their are people in the building. Great! On the light side - she did her hair and put on make-up so that she'll look good on the AM news. She keeps saying "Never again". She may move to Maine after all. I wish she was not alone through this. Stay safe, people. SINS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Amos Date: 04 Sep 04 - 12:53 PM JennyO, I like that sorta Xmas!! A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances From: Blackcatter Date: 04 Sep 04 - 12:36 PM Sure am. I'll have to learn how to surf bigger wave, though. I'm used to the 3-4 feet surf these days. Gotta look into emmigration issues. Canada is still the leader, but I don't like cold. But if my friends move there, so will I. |
