Best Quote Ever

[gpickett00]

I remember at about 1 P.M. the day that Charley made landfall, Dr. Steve Lyons said "Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda your lives are about to change dramatically" He said this in response to Charley not hitting Tampa as predicted. Just think, you are sitting in your living room, and a category 4 hurricane just decides it's coming right at you. Crazy.

[Wnghs2007]

I remember at about 1 P.M. the day that Charley made landfall, Dr. Steve Lyons said "Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda your lives are about to change dramatically" He said this in response to Charley not hitting Tampa as predicted. Just think, you are sitting in your living room, and a category 4 hurricane just decides it's coming right at you. Crazy.

Tell me about it. I would be freaking out that would be horrible.

[Anonymous]

I was told by somebody on S2K after Charley that they would always remember a quote from me after Charley's eye crossed the coast. Over the broadcast of landfall I said, "August 13, 2004..a date that will live in weather infamy."

[tracyswfla]

I was in Charley's path and will never forget it. My daughter turned 4 during a cat 4 hurricane. Poor baby was lying in a fetal position, covering her ears, crying. Since Charley was my first hurricane, I never, ever want to go through that again.

[jes]

Those of you who went through the very severe storms this year may find that counseling helps. After all you did go through a life threatening situation - some of you lost your homes AND jobs. Post traumatic stress syndrome is real. Some people do develope it and other stress disorders after hurricanes. Your communities may be offering this service at no charge. It was available to all state workers after Frederick.

[LSU2001]

I am not trying to talk badly about anyone and I certainly am not discounting any of the traumas the Charley inflicted upon port charlote residents but, I am curious how anyone on the fla west coast could have been really suprised. I understand the rapid strengthening and the fact that Charley hit 70 miles from where he was forecast, but here in Baton Rouge I was closely watching Ivan and Matthew just in case there was some error in the forecast. It really would not have suprised me greatly if either storm demonstrated behavior that was not forecast. I learned a long time ago while living on the Mississippi coast that Hurricanes rarely go or behave exactly like the mets forcast.
Sorry if I have offended anyone that is not my intent.

Tim

[hurricane1020]

i think everybody was so surprised because for so many years hurricanes have always came so close to the area but we really never got anything

[Ixolib]

I was told by somebody on S2K after Charley that they would always remember a quote from me after Charley's eye crossed the coast. Over the broadcast of landfall I said, "August 13, 2004..a date that will live in weather infamy."

Gotta give credit where credit is due.....

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=37336&highlight=infamy

[Scorpion]

I dont know, I would have been expecting it. I mean, the area was under a hurricane warning, and it was in the cone of error. I would have been fully prepared for the worst. Especially with this great site here, if I lived in that area I would probably know 6 hours before other non-Storm2kers knew where Charley was headed. But I guess since the storm was so compact and powerful, you could think of it as a large tornado.

[The Big Dog]

...I am curious how anyone on the fla west coast could have been really suprised..

Years of not getting hit, on top of years of being told that you're going to get hit, and then not getting hit. Forty-plus years of no major storms, and more than 50 years in Palm Beach, will do that to you. I think we all lost our innocence this year, though. After this, we're all going to be the watchdog marching the fence line. Every wobble will count from now on. I don't see nearly as many people blowing off storms in 2005.

[Wnghs2007]

...I am curious how anyone on the fla west coast could have been really suprised..

Years of not getting hit, on top of years of being told that you're going to get hit, and then not getting hit. Forty-plus years of no major storms, and more than 50 years in Palm Beach, will do that to you. I think we all lost our innocence this year, though. After this, we're all going to be the watchdog marching the fence line. Every wobble will count from now on. I don't see nearly as many people blowing off storms in 2005.

I agree

[Cat5survivor]

Those of you who went through the very severe storms this year may find that counseling helps. After all you did go through a life threatening situation - some of you lost your homes AND jobs. Post traumatic stress syndrome is real. Some people do develope it and other stress disorders after hurricanes. Your communities may be offering this service at no charge. It was available to all state workers after Frederick.

Please don't hesitate to take this advice. I know I even needed zoloft after Andrew (and I am not ashamed to say I did). And after I mentioned my semi-mental breakdown, alot of other people same through with their confessions. Never be afraid of getting help!

[Wnghs2007]

Those of you who went through the very severe storms this year may find that counseling helps. After all you did go through a life threatening situation - some of you lost your homes AND jobs. Post traumatic stress syndrome is real. Some people do develope it and other stress disorders after hurricanes. Your communities may be offering this service at no charge. It was available to all state workers after Frederick.

Please don't hesitate to take this advice. I know I even needed zoloft after Andrew (and I am not ashamed to say I did). And after I mentioned my semi-mental breakdown, alot of other people same through with their confessions. Never be afraid of getting help!

Glad to hear you did get help my friend it is always better than letting sit on your mind for a long time. I hope many more people take this advice.

[Derek Ortt]

charley wasnt a surprise at all to me. What did surprise me was that the EC of Florida did not have on official hurricane warning until late that afternoon, giving no time for evacuations near Daytona.

what also was a surprise that for reasons even I cannot figure out, I shifted the landfall forecast from punta gorda to tampa just 7 hours before landfall, after being so consistent for 2 days, only to have to shift it back 2 hours later

[Wnghs2007]

charley wasnt a surprise at all to me. What did surprise me was that the EC of Florida did not have on official hurricane warning until late that afternoon, giving no time for evacuations near Daytona.

what also was a surprise that for reasons even I cannot figure out, I shifted the landfall forecast from punta gorda to tampa just 7 hours before landfall, after being so consistent for 2 days, only to have to shift it back 2 hours later

Well heck Derek dont beat ya self up over it. Ya did better than I could ever do. You are the MOM now dont ya know We are so happy to have you here

[gpickett00]

charley wasnt a surprise at all to me. What did surprise me was that the EC of Florida did not have on official hurricane warning until late that afternoon, giving no time for evacuations near Daytona.

daytona didnt need evacuations. i went there the week after charley, and there was definitely nothing close to devastation

[Derek Ortt]

mobile home evacuations were still needed, as they are for anything more than a moderate tropical storm.

[Guest]

yes true. I dont think any floridian will ever forget this hurricane season, I mean 3 majors, one hurricane (ivan damaged fla more than ala) is enough to last me eternity.

[Anonymous]

Well, during my broadcasts, i only mentioned once that Charley could become a weak category 4. I did not expect it. Plus, Charley was not even your average category 4, it was a STRONG category 4...I mean 150 mph, come on.