6 months ago...

[southerngale]

lol Brent

It's ok, jax. I'm sure Mark thought you would be able to read the locations given for each picture. I guess I could have originally put an outline of Texas by most of the pics and the Louisiana boot on the last few pics, then those who have trouble reading could see that most of the pics were from Texas, and the last few were from Louisiana.

Most of the pics weren't of the same tree. hmmm, perhaps the problem is worse than I thought. Anyway, there were trees down everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Thousands of trees in every neighborhood. I haven't counted how many I lost but almost all of them in my yard and most of the little section of woods that served as a "border" between me and the neighbors on each side. Now I can see everything that goes on over there.
My parents live in North Beaumont and they lost 33 trees in their yard. They don't have a ton of land, just a normal, nice-sized yard. Everything looks so weird now, bare. It cost them a fortune as insurance only covered a few of them. There were a LOT of trees on houses, not only in Beaumont and around here, but all the way up to Jasper and that area. That "same tree" that fell in multiple counties causing massive damage also caused my family and friends' houses getting crushed. Your smart-alec comments are getting old. This isn't a game to people who were affected.

I guess I could say that Katrina only blew some leaves around in Pecan. Would that make it true?

[Normandy]

Wow, those pics show some severe damage...yea i def dont think this was a 95-100 mph cat2....some of those pics are Charley-esque.

[brunota2003]

most of those picks are of the same tree and the others are
from Louisiana...

I wonder...who said most of those are from La? the media? if so...they are liers from _____ ...(fill in the blank with whatever you choose) and how can it be the same tree if the location on the house the tree landed/the type of tree is different? why must people refuse to see true wind damage? yes...a major city got hit by a hurricane...but other places have been affected by other hurricanes...Mississippi and NO are NOT the only places that got effected this year by hurricanes...
EDIT: forgot to add: if Rita didnt happen, then Katrina was just a small breeze, maybe only 10-15 MPH with no surge, no homes being destoryed, those people flooded their homes to get attention ...

[george_r_1961]

i didn't think Beaumont was really affected all that much.

Much more of a LA storm... no surge and cat 1/2 winds in your area...

Huh??? Perhaps you should think a little about the people that were affected by Rita and are still trying to get their lives back in order before you post. A good friend of mine was in that area that "really wasnt affected all that much". From what ive seen and heard Rita was pure hell there.

[rainstorm]

lets all calm down. to those affected, rita was a traumatic experience, as was isabel here

[george_r_1961]

lets all calm down. to those affected, rita was a traumatic experience, as was isabel here

Helen there was no comparison. You and I had power outages and some missed time from work. Nothing more. We didnt lose property nor were we still cleaning up our homes 6 months later.

[rainstorm]

we didnt, but many homes were destroyed in record tidal flooding. and the winds terrified me. it was traumatic

[sunny]

we didnt, but many homes were destroyed in record tidal flooding. and the winds terrified me. it was traumatic

BINGO Helen. When it's you suffering, that's all that matters. I wish others could understand that. It doesn't matter if it's a cat 1 or a cat 5. When you are the one that has been affected, it just does not matter.

I just wish we could all agree that the Northern Gulf Coast was just absolutely hammered this past season. The number of people affected is staggering. This one-upping is old. For someone to say "it doesn't look that bad to me" is clueless. And a little heartless. I wish some would just think about that before they post. As you said Helen, it is traumatic, and we don't need someone saying "it doesn't look that bad to me". Just my two cents.

[Lindaloo]

we didnt, but many homes were destroyed in record tidal flooding. and the winds terrified me. it was traumatic

BINGO Helen. When it's you suffering, that's all that matters. I wish others could understand that. It doesn't matter if it's a cat 1 or a cat 5. When you are the one that has been affected, it just does not matter.

I just wish we could all agree that the Northern Gulf Coast was just absolutely hammered this past season. The number of people affected is staggering. This one-upping is old. For someone to say "it doesn't look that bad to me" is clueless. And a little heartless. I wish some would just think about that before they post. As you said Helen, it is traumatic, and we don't need someone saying "it doesn't look that bad to me". Just my two cents.

[george_r_1961]

I think we can all agree that some sensitivity training should be given to some of our members.

[Lindaloo]

I think we can all agree that some sensitivity training should be given to some of our members.

I second that!!

[sunny]

I think we can all agree that some sensitivity training should be given to some of our members.

I second that!!

And I third.

So, where and how do we start? We have another season upon us in two months!

[george_r_1961]

Its simple..use common sense. Before you post that "it wasnt that bad" stop for a second and think. Look at the damage pictures and put yourself in the position of people that have to wake up every day and deal with what you are seeing. Then ask yourself if what you are about to post would offend or upset you if you lived in a storm damaged area. If the answer is yes then dont post! Lets not add to the anguish and despair of the people affected by last years storms. Nuff said.

[sunny]

Its simple..use common sense. Before you post that "it wasnt that bad" stop for a second and think. Look at the damage pictures and put yourself in the position of people that have to wake up every day and deal with what you are seeing. Then ask yourself if what you are about to post would offend or upset you if you lived in a storm damaged area. If the answer is yes then dont post! Lets not add to the anguish and despair of the people affected by last years storms. Nuff said.

PERFECTLY SAID. Wish there was someway of putting this where everyone cannot help but see and read it.

[Ixolib]

BINGO Helen. When it's you suffering, that's all that matters. I wish others could understand that. It doesn't matter if it's a cat 1 or a cat 5. When you are the one that has been affected, it just does not matter.

I just wish we could all agree that the Northern Gulf Coast was just absolutely hammered this past season. The number of people affected is staggering. This one-upping is old. For someone to say "it doesn't look that bad to me" is clueless. And a little heartless. I wish some would just think about that before they post. As you said Helen, it is traumatic, and we don't need someone saying "it doesn't look that bad to me". Just my two cents.

Fortunately, we can count those members on not much more than one hand. Unfortunately, they are so persist in their "one-upping" and associated verbiage that they continue to sing the same song time after time after time... It's almost as if you can see it coming before they even post!!

[Rainband]

You know as a staff member here, I have to set the example. But as a Friend of Kelly and alot of the other members that lost so much during the 2005 season, I must say I have not, in my 3 plus years on S2K seen such an ignorant post. Either you are blind or trying to start trouble. You are obviously not blind. So it must be the later. We don't feed trolls here.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Wow, those pics show some severe damage...yea i def dont think this was a 95-100 mph cat2....some of those pics are Charley-esque.

None of that wind damage is anywhere near the level of Charley's wind damage at landfall. I would have to say that those pictures look a lot like the damage seen in the Orlando area after Charley; excluding the flooding/surge damage (Orlando saw Cat. 1/2 force winds). As I have said before...I think that west Beaumont saw Cat. 1 force winds....east Beaumont to Lake Charles saw Cat. 2 force winds...and RIGHT AT the coast there were may be some Cat. 3 force winds. Of course, as with every hurricane, there are exceptions. Things such as a down burst or tornado can cause local damage a category or two higher.

[ROCK]

Wow, those pics show some severe damage...yea i def dont think this was a 95-100 mph cat2....some of those pics are Charley-esque.

None of that wind damage is anywhere near the level of Charley's wind damage at landfall. I would have to say that those pictures look a lot like the damage seen in the Orlando area after Charley; excluding the flooding/surge damage (Orlando saw Cat. 1/2 force winds). As I have said before...I think that west Beaumont saw Cat. 1 force winds....east Beaumont to Lake Charles saw Cat. 2 force winds...and RIGHT AT the coast there were may be some Cat. 3 force winds. Of course, as with every hurricane, there are exceptions. Things such as a down burst or tornado can cause local damage a category or two higher.

I have to agree. Looking at those pics do back up your reasoning. True sustained cat 1- 2 winds with gusts can cause that sort of damage. One of those pics look like maybe a F0-F1 in there.

[Normandy]

Wow, those pics show some severe damage...yea i def dont think this was a 95-100 mph cat2....some of those pics are Charley-esque.

None of that wind damage is anywhere near the level of Charley's wind damage at landfall. I would have to say that those pictures look a lot like the damage seen in the Orlando area after Charley; excluding the flooding/surge damage (Orlando saw Cat. 1/2 force winds). As I have said before...I think that west Beaumont saw Cat. 1 force winds....east Beaumont to Lake Charles saw Cat. 2 force winds...and RIGHT AT the coast there were may be some Cat. 3 force winds. Of course, as with every hurricane, there are exceptions. Things such as a down burst or tornado can cause local damage a category or two higher.

I suggest you look thru the pics again, because some of the structures shown in a few of those pics are nearly completely destroyed (Ill point them out for you If u need me to). Im not saying that Rita had Charley's winds, but I am saying the Rita was a major hurricane I believe...and Id venture to guess that Rita probably gave Port Arthur, Lake Charles, and Beaumont higher winds than Charley gave you, since those cities are quite a bit closer to the initial point of landfall then Orlando was with Charley. Jmo.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Wow, those pics show some severe damage...yea i def dont think this was a 95-100 mph cat2....some of those pics are Charley-esque.

None of that wind damage is anywhere near the level of Charley's wind damage at landfall. I would have to say that those pictures look a lot like the damage seen in the Orlando area after Charley; excluding the flooding/surge damage (Orlando saw Cat. 1/2 force winds). As I have said before...I think that west Beaumont saw Cat. 1 force winds....east Beaumont to Lake Charles saw Cat. 2 force winds...and RIGHT AT the coast there were may be some Cat. 3 force winds. Of course, as with every hurricane, there are exceptions. Things such as a down burst or tornado can cause local damage a category or two higher.

I suggest you look thru the pics again, because some of the structures shown in a few of those pics are nearly completely destroyed (Ill point them out for you If u need me to). Im not saying that Rita had Charley's winds, but I am saying the Rita was a major hurricane I believe...and Id venture to guess that Rita probably gave Port Arthur, Lake Charles, and Beaumont higher winds than Charley gave you, since those cities are quite a bit closer to the initial point of landfall then Orlando was with Charley. Jmo.

Yes, I think that areas right at the coast and to the east of the system saw winds higher than I did, but to the west in places like Beaumont, I believe they saw about the same. The tree damage looks very similar to what I saw. Most yards in my area had numerous, large trees uprooted, or snapped. Also, looking at the pictures of some of the roofs of homes in Beaumont, I notice only minor shingle damage...where as in Orlando, MOST homes lost numerous shingles or parts of roofing. There were also weak structure failures in the Orlando area too...just like some of the weak structure failures I am seeing in those pictures. Overall I still believe, as does the NHC, that MOST places in SE Texas and SW Louisiana did not see major hurricane force winds.

BTW, here are a few pictures of Charley damage in the Orlando area for comparison:









http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/13 ... .jpg.image