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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | As you can tell... I'm back online. Nice ride.
The center of the eye hit about 35 miles north of me. The eyewall was about 15 miles north of me, as the eye was more or less 40 miles across (huge!).
We had winds of about 100mph they say.... for about 4 hours straight. It was one of the slowest moving storms ever.
Damage report: No damage to the abode. No damage to trees, other than twigs and leaves off to some extent. They're saying this is actually a good thing for trees... gets rid of the weak and dead stuff, lets the new grow better.
We lost power late Saturday nite/Sunday morning, at about 2:30am.. 3:00am.. I dont remember exactly when. We just got it back on at 6:00pm on Monday evening. So... its been quite nearly 40 hours with no power.
Damned hot and muggy. I set up folding chairs outside after the storm, and just layout in the breeze, because inside it was too hot. Came under the small porch awning (it didn't get hurt!) during rain, or came inside.
We DID keep our water pressure. So no boil water was needed, but of course, no hot water. Our fridge was actually still cool inside, but we're weeding out the maybes for the trashcan.
What does this mean? Toilets and showers=YES! Coffee=NO! Such is the irony of life.
No vehicle damage, it was inside. Others had trees fall on theirs. Bummer.
Absolutely no Gibson or Ovation or Fender, or Guild or Tacoma damage!
Travelled to Ft Lauderdale today, about 20 miles, for a hot cup of coffee and a hot toasted bagel at a Duncan Donut. Also got stuff at Home Depot (trash bags and cleanser).
Spent all the day raking leaves today. What a soppin mess. Got the front yard (about 50x100) raked up. It was a good foot deep in live oak twigs and leaves. I ended up getting barrel liners at Home Depot (strength) and we're up to six 55 gal barrel liners of leaves, each so heavy it takes two people just to drag em on the grass over to the street. God help the trashmen.
During this - city and county workers were on the move. God bless them. Ditto, FPL got a STANDING OVATION when they got the power back on. I mean... I was raking... my wife went inside for the box of barrel liners.. and she came out all bubbles...WE GOT POWER!!! Other folks came out on the street...they were cheering... FPL came rolling down the street to a hearty welcome, waving of hands and thumbs up.. and every thing from AWWWLLLRIIIITE... to FUCKIN-A!! It was a moment. Those guys must have felt like NCY firemen at that point.
So, we're in sorta rebuild mode. No damage, but lots of cleanup. Two blocks south are many trees down, blocking many roads. We have no street lighting, no traffic lights. People to the north of me... to the center of the storm are much worse. They are without the basics of water, or power or even food or housing.
IF YOU CAN SPARE even FIVE DOLLARS... please please please... those people are in bad bad shape. They will be without power for a week or so, have no clothing, no food...its bad. PLEASE GIVE TO THE RED CROSS ... just a little. EARMARK IT FOR HURRICANE FRANCES relief. Please.
Guys and gals... I will not see, and do not need one penny of your dontations, and I dont ask for myself. I ask for others... familys... kids... many many retirees... some medically needy. We are an area of many many seniors here. So have a heart.
I myself have given, to help others here locally.
Ok, enough soapbox. I glad and blessed to be here at this point in time. Now tis time to read and catch up on all the messages! | |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | CharlieB
Great to hear your back safely. Help your neighbors and be a good citizen. I, for sure, worried about you. It is one problem with life, the disasters are more important to us if we know sombody that is threatened, we should be sensitive to all who suffer.
Bailey | |
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Frances Chapter 10: A new dawn