possible terrible news from sw florida

[vbhoutex]

I am so lucky Charley made the Jog North before landfall..

Yes you are!!! How are things in your area? So happy to see you back!!!!

[Eyes2theSkies]

We were living in Palm Beach area when Irene back-doored us. We stayed and we were just a mile from the ocean, but storm surge wasn't going to be a problem because of where she came from. I got a headache and went to bed, slept right through it all. My husband has always been a complete fanatic about weather and I've sort of absorbed that interest, too. I saw my first tornado last night and it's hard to describe the feeling. You know you MUST get cover, but at the same time, you just want to stay and watch. Thankfully, the tornado went over us without touching down, but I'm hooked now. I gotta see that again!

[Stephanie]

I just put CNN on now. This is absolutely horrible! I wish those people did take heed and evacuate.

[Eyes2theSkies]

We got people electrocuting themselves all over the damage area. The Emergency Management Service is telling everyone NOT to mess with downed trees until Power Co. says it's ok. Last count was 4 dead from electrocution. How preventable were those deaths?!?!

[seaswing]

I live in the inland area where Charley was supposed to track after hitting Tampa. We were spared, and all it amounts to is 'luck'. I remember Hurricane Dora, and even being a child at the time, it impressed upon me how violent these storms are. My family never assumed that a storm, even though very close, would track exactly the way meterologists predicted it to go. If you are in a warning area, you get out. If in a mobile home, don't assume it will stand after the storm. These storms contain many tornados. Unfortunately, these poor people didn't have enough time when the storm tracked more their way. I have thought that the Gulf side of Florida was overdue for a storm. Lots of people here have never experienced the violence of this type of storm. My boyfriend, who is from Minnesota (now lives here) was saying before this storm hit that he had lived through terrible midwest tornados and that he didn't feel it would be very bad. It was frustrating for me because he lives in a mobile home, I live in a house. When the warnings were for it to track across Tampa and up over GNV, he then decided to come to my house. This is a wake up call, for all Floridians! After Andrew hit, I kept hearing how hurricanes only hit south Florida and they aren't big when they come into the Gulf anyway. I actually got mad at someone who told me that at work the other day. She was laughing....all I can say is that inland, coast, wherever you live, whatever you live in, it doesn't matter, meterologists only can predicted through science, mother nature determines the outcome. The season isn't over yet.

Godbless all who have lost through this storm. And if you are able, make a donation to the Red Cross, they need you generousity. I know that working for the College of Veterinary Medicine at UF, there will be veterinarians who will go down to Punta Gorda, and areas nearby, to help the animals who have been injured and misplaced. They need help too!

[Stephanie]

We got people electrocuting themselves all over the damage area. The Emergency Management Service is telling everyone NOT to mess with downed trees until Power Co. says it's ok. Last count was 4 dead from electrocution. How preventable were those deaths?!?!

Very!

[Lindaloo]

Had a power line snap here recently due to a tree branch that was rubbing it. When it snapped in two, it hit my neighbors chain link fence and turned it fiery red. Also killed 4 big oaks trees that were at the fenceline.

Power lines kill!!

[ncbird]

I have 2 sisters and a brother who live in Punta Gorda. Still frantically trying to find out if they are ok. I have finally turned off the TV as I just can't bear seeing the pictures and reports from there. From calls I have made I can say it is as bad down there as they are reporting. They have no idea yet how many perished or still hurt and trapped. They are going into the area's door by door searching. All I can do is pray, hope and pray some more.

NCBird

[goodlife]

ncbird....I sure hope you get in touch with them soon or at least hear some word...
Do you know if they planned to evacuate??

[ncbird]

They originally were not going to because like many others, it was going into Tampa and they thought they were safe. By the time it turned and they realized it was more than a wobble and they were in trouble they were being told to stay put as it was too dangerous to go out on the roads. Last I herd they were going to try anyhow but have no idea if they were able to. To make matters worse they are transplanted yankee's and this is the first hurricane for them so really didn't have any idea what they were in for.

[goodlife]

Do they live in a mobile home?? Maybe they left and went to a shelter??
I guess cell phones and the like aren't working either?
Hopefully they will call someone soon to check in....

[Stephanie]

Oh God ncbird! Please keep us updated! You and you family are in my prayers!

[seaswing]

Oh ncbird! my prayers are with you and your family!

[Aquawind]

I am so lucky Charley made the Jog North before landfall..

Yes you are!!! How are things in your area? So happy to see you back!!!!

I have some big trees in the backyard tipped over..Another half striped of leaves..I don't see much structural damage in my neighborhood..though I have heard of some..I thought I had it pretty bad. .Looking at video of up north makes my eyes water up..I got sooo lucky..the angle of the sytem didn't push the surge up the river either..not even close to the flooding Gabrielle did..

[wolffeeder]

Wow this is sad. I wonder when was the last time we lost more than 40 or so in a hurricane. Even with Andrew only 26 died considering that was a Cat 5.

from BBC article on Friday the 13th:
A powerful typhoon has struck eastern China, killing at least 115 people. More than 1,800 others are reported to have been injured after the typhoon hit the coastal city of Wenling, in Zhejiang province.

And if it hadn't have been from reading S2K, I would never have known it.

[seaswing]

I rather doubt that the death toll in Andrew was only 26. The reason for this is because after the storm, the realized that many bodies they removed were illegal aliens from Mexico who were down there to work in the fields. Many had no identification...... they didn't count them

[rbaker]

our prayers are with you ncbird, that they were spared, and our aok. Property can be replaced, lives cannot.

[Swimdude]

That makes me want to throw up... But it is true. As this page was loading, the television was talking about it. *Sigh* Ignorant people in this world...

[Steve Cosby]

They rode it out because they assumed it was going to Tampa and than it became too late.

For gosh sake, the stupid thing was never forecast to be very far off the coast in that area in the first place. All the times the NHC director said "remember, a hurricane is not a point but, rather, a large storm".

Where does personal responsibility come in? I'm reading all these complainer posts and just getting madder by the minute.

[southerngale]

They originally were not going to because like many others, it was going into Tampa and they thought they were safe. By the time it turned and they realized it was more than a wobble and they were in trouble they were being told to stay put as it was too dangerous to go out on the roads. Last I herd they were going to try anyhow but have no idea if they were able to. To make matters worse they are transplanted yankee's and this is the first hurricane for them so really didn't have any idea what they were in for.

I'm praying for their safety ncbird. Please let us know when you hear something.