94 replies to this topic

[Marvel]

Glad to hear you are better protected now, Jill. Maybe you'll get lucky & it will die down before it reaches you.

Jenny & I took a little drive over to my house- we got back a little while ago. The seas look so incredible! Waves are about 10 feet with seaspray doubling in height. The waves were starting to break over the pier by the time we left. You can see the sets breaking on each of the three reef lines out there- simply beautiful but, I know that a lot of damage is being done to the reef & it's just getting started.

Winds are definitely much stronger- up to 70-80 MPH gusts at times & the tide was coming in so waves were occasionally coming up to the seawall where we access the beach- by high tide, it will have reached the road past my house. Honestly, if we hadn't had the Hermitcrab with us, we would have stayed a while longer. We took some pictures (film). With the prior damage that was done to the pier, I'm not really sure that it is going to make it. One of the buoys from north of the pier was pulled loose & was being washed south by the current.

The wind has picked up considerably out here with sporatic rain. We've already had a hiccup of a power outage so, I think we can expect to lose it relatively soon- I hope not- I'm such a sd.com addict.

Anyway, here's hoping that Frances starts picking up speed again soon- this 5-6 MPH movement is what is really going to cause a lot of the worst damage. Better for it to be moving quickly so that it passes over & goes away. Right now, per the latest advisory, it has stalled & may sit there for up to 6 hours. The eye has reformed, not a good thing. Frances is so very large- the size of Texas- that the entire state, with the exception of Key West (can you believe that?)& up in the Panhandle is under watch or warning...

Well that's the latest report from your not-so-roving puveyor of doom & gloom located in Florida! Really cool looking out there- going out to watch some more, now... :marvel:

[nextariel]

Marvel - I can't believe you went out in that. We just had our second feeder ban. The meterologist said to expect the gust and there it was. Charley occurred at night and didn't see much, but I've seen plenty now. My goodness can it rain. My guess is close to an inch in that squall. Time to dump the pool again, trying to stay ahead of it while I still have power. It's nice of Jenny to let you use her PC. It looks like you guys are about half way through, cause it started to move a little again. Waiting for the 5 pm report.

Stay safe.

[Marvel]

Dump that pool, girl!

Don't think we are any where near the halfway mark yet- the eye is still about 130 miles out. We're just getting the outer bands. It's not going to make landfall until late, late tonight....

Funny, we've lost phone but not DSL connectivity, which uses the phone line...

[DandyDon]

Marvel & Jenny drove to the sea in 70 mph gusts?! That blonde hair runs deep, eh?

Hope all we know come thru this big, bad storm surprisingly intact. I know that not everyone can, but I'm selfish. I want my friends okay.

And what's hell on this end, you guys are gonna' lose power, and we won't hear how great you're doing for days.

Damn - next time, just head for Denver early, will ya'?! The nose bleeds will stop after a few days at a mile high.

Edited by DandyDon, 04 September 2004 - 10:27 PM.

[nextariel]

Frances must be a redhead, very stubborn storm. I am stlll on the northeast side of the eye, which decided to rebuild about 3 hours ago. 65 to 75 mile hour gusts here and expected to last until 3:00. Can't believe Marvel and Jenny went out in this. I'm been thanking my builder most of the day. I am not seeing any shingles flying. I did see my neighbors strip on the top of his roof peel about 1/2 back a few hours ago.

I am so lucky to still have power. Hope the right of you Floridians are doing as well.

Stay safe!

[zendiver]

I hope ALL of you are safe in FL. This is a recent photo that I just received and ALL of FL is in trouble. An awesome but very scary image.

Please all of you stay safe and by all means DO NOT venture out anymore.

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[Walter]

Conditions are mild here in Fort Myers. I just walked to the grocery store and back. We have light rain and it's a tad windy. Nothing to write home about. Other part of the state are getting much worse.

[nextariel]

Winds have now died down here. I have NOT been out since this morning dumping the overnight water from my pool. I only see a few small branches in my front yard and a small tree in a neighbors yards holding on by it's roof. No solar panels, unattached shingles, or trees down. Appears my neighborhood was blessed once again.

I know that is not the case of those who were not able to have the roofs fixed since Charley. I will not be going out until tomorrow. They changed our curfew from 6pm to 6am, but have no need to go out.

We are expecting rain to continue through tomorrow, I know there are still going to be many more impacted by this as it goes to the gulf. Stay safe and follow the suggestions of the media and government.

And now there is Ivan, my vacation in Key West beginning next Sunday isn't looking too good.

[Marvel]

Back home & connected again. No damage to my home, thank the Lord. The big palm tree that was at the entrence to the beach here did not survive- that's all the damage that we found. I just spent an hour or two cleaning up excess debris from around my seawall & am hopping into the shower. I'm not going to bother to unpack a lot- Ivan appears to be headed straight towards us next & is projected to reach here by next Saturday or Sunday. (sigh) Well, at least my landlord will let me board up this next time.

Glad everyone that we've heard from so far has weathered the storm safely. If anyone hears from Blue Angel &/or KBScarlett, let us know- BA was right in the path in Sebring & Krista was in Boynton- got a decent hit there too. My daughter across the state north of Tampa only experienced some wind & rain, for which I am thankful.

Thank you all for all your prayers, offers of shelter, & support (& even the scoldings)- I have so much love for our newly formed sd.com family.

[wannadive420]

Glad to hear you're OK. I haven't been online for a few days so I've been catching up. If Ivan looks like it will hit near you... you have a place to stay here in Georgia.
Stay safe.

[Marvel]

Aw, thanks! Be careful, though- we just migth take you up on it! We're getting awfully tired of this weather- especially Jill & the gang a bit further north, I'm sure....

[nextariel]

Marvel - Glad you are safe and no personal damage. Can you say cabin fever! I am almost finished with my second jigsaw puzzle, both underwater scenes. Since I moved my table in from the lania I had a great place to do jigsaw puzzles. It was like being in Minnesota for the winter again.

I don't think we will be hearing from the members in Melbourne, Daytona Beach and New Symrna Beach for awhile. They really took a hit.

Most of our rain came yesterday afternoon and through the night. Lots of possible tornados all day long today. I am not ready for another one this weekend. At least this one is moving faster, the waiting and sitting and watching it beat us was very tiresome.

[H2Oaddict]

This was the LONGEST storm but luckily I live on a street with lots of friends. We had Hurricane pot luck meals and lots of board games, card games and movies. I lost 2 palm trees and my neighbor had a tree come down on his son's car. Always had electric and phone - feel very blessed.

P.S. We are all leaving up the shutters to see what Ivan is doing. I can't believe I may be foreced out of another weekend of diving.

Be safe.

[Dennis]

My daughter stayed in North Melbourne at her boyfriends parents house. They are all OK. She has returned to her apartment and it has water and her phone works, but no power yet. One of her friends has all utilities. However, I warned them that as power is restored in some areas, it may be turned off in others to fix downed lines, etc. My son should have driven back to Melbourne from Punta Gorda. Florida Institute of Technology has decided to close for the week. Donna will be here until Thursday and then go back to Sebastian. Her condo is just fine, but the car port out front was destroyed.

Hope everyone else is OK, too.

[Marvel]

Glad to hear from a couple more folks that all is well. Funny- we never lost poser at all here, from all reposts.....