Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#166055 08/12/04 04:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 97
T
OP Offline
T
I've spent 2 days busting butt getting the yard and house ready. Threw my back, but I'm mostly ready. First serious storm I've ever been in the track of here in SW Florida. Got all of the important papers and family stuff packed and in the car.

Charley is getting mean under Cuba and is up to 105mph. This could mean serious intensity when he hits the Gulf Stream by the keys after emerging from Cuba. He's a tight-eyed bugger!

Only have to pack food, put the shutters down, turn off the water main, and shower. Charley could leave the house as matchsticks. I'm heading east towards Miami as an evacuation. Island is under civil emergency with mandatory evacuation and 7:30 curfew. 10 foot overwash of island likely. SW coast waters very shallow like Bay of Bengal. Offical estimate 110mph at landfall.

I'm out of here. I'll check in if the house is here when I get back!

#166056 08/12/04 04:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 97
T
OP Offline
T
Ooops, didn't mean to make that a separate topic. I'm spent from all the preparations I've been doing...

#166057 08/12/04 04:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 8,868
S
Offline
S

#166058 08/12/04 10:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,059
Offline
Oh MY Tradewind. best of luck in staying dry and safe. I know how weird you feel, packing up a few items, and leaving the rest behind. Good thoughts and blessings coming your way.


Dare To Deviate
#166059 08/13/04 07:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,251
Offline
We hope to hear from you as soon as possible.
You are in my thoughts.

#166060 08/13/04 10:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 97
T
OP Offline
T
Over in Miami safe. Charley did a preshore intensification to category 4 145mph.

He was a very strange hurricane structure wise. Reminds me of Iris which hit Belize. His windfield was tight at 30 miles wide. He was headed dead on for our island and veered 10 miles offshore as he passed and then veered inland right after.

30 miles away in Ft Myers they only had 50mph winds. 10 miles up island I have preliminary reports of total devastation and many houses destroyed.

I am having difficulty getting information. Phones in are all dead including authorites.

I suspect the causeway bridge is condemned cutting off the island.

I'm assuming we were probably blown down. I've seen pictures of cinder block/concrete structures strewn at Punta Gorda. You can web search serious damage like shelter and hospital roofs blown off and a steel framed Walmart flattened.

After I wrote the last message, as I prepared to leave, the main electric shutter jammed leaving our french doors exposed seaward. I spent 2.5 hours with an approaching hurricane bearing down taking plywood from the attic and doing a sloppy nailing job. It was probably shredded anyway and hurricane blast blew in on the worst side.

Evacuation traffic was light to Miami. People didn't take it seriously. Fortunately he was an unusually narrow storm confining his damage to a limited area. Unfortunately we were 10 miles from the eye.

I'll have to wait for media overflight videos tomorrow. It's driving me crazy...



After I wrote the

#166061 08/14/04 06:45 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 381
C
Offline
C
Good luck, tradewinds! Narrow miss up here in Savannah.

#166062 08/14/04 09:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,059
Offline
Thanks for letting us know you are safe. Maybe you will be the lucky one, and your house is undamaged. Not knowing is so stressful, for you.


Dare To Deviate
#166063 08/14/04 11:23 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,251
Offline
Central Florida, north of Orlando had some hits.
Trees, big huge old oaks down around my Mother's house. Her house was spared.
Charley took a path.

The last time it was a Tornado and it was destructive within a mile of her home, her friends then weren't so lucky.

Natural disasters are just that DISASTERS, no matter where they are and to whom they affect.
Loss is Loss.......... frown

My thoughts are with you, your home and all of those within this DISASTER.

#166064 08/17/04 07:51 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 186
Offline
hope all is well... been through our share here, Lily was a party compared to Andrew......good luck to you .....

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Cayo Espanto
Click for Cayo Espanto, and have your own private island
More Links
Click for exciting and adventurous tours of Belize with Katie Valk!
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 289 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums44
Topics79,199
Posts500,011
Members20,460
Most Online7,413
Nov 7th, 2021



AmbergrisCaye.com CayeCaulker.org HELP! Visitor Center Goods & Services San Pedro Town
BelizeSearch.com Message Board Lodging Diving Fishing Things to Do History
BelizeNews.com Maps Phonebook Belize Business Directory
BelizeCards.com Picture of the Day

The opinions and views expressed on this board are the subjective opinions of Ambergris Caye Message Board members
and not of the Ambergris Caye Message Board its affiliates, or its employees.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5