Gah! Frances! Is a comin'!

**KafirChobee** · 09-04-2004, 00:49

Well, shucks. Looks like all of Florida will get a peices of this hurricane - the damnthing is huge. I live near the "Big Lake" (Big Water in Seminole), North end. They said it will probably hit the South End - and drive North, not good if it actually happens. For me, I've done all I could to secure things - put down my storm shutters and awnings, and anchored down the boat (best I could - would have preferred moving it to shore, but I'm an optomist).

A few years a go the news and weather agencies predicted a Hurricane (similar to this one) would hit the W. Palm - Miami area. It ended up going North into the Atlantic - we did get some rain and winds up to 50MPH though. Suppose, I have been through this so many times over the last 10 years (and my parents for 10 years before that) without one actually hitting the Lake head on that I have begun to doubt the sincerity of those hyping these storms. The local stations are 24-7 on Frances (since yesterday), as well they should be, and many of my neighbors have gone to visit relatives in Alabama and such. Would be nice if this one were just hype - doubt it though.

Yesterday, I went to town to get gas (35 gallons) for the generator - really gets old fast sitting in the dark, and a couple other things (booze

, and cigs). I stock food worse than a survivalist, so nothing needed there. The town is pretty much hunkered down. There wasn't a piece of plywood to buy for 100 miles - I keep a few sheets about, but for my neighbors. Most of the "newbs" here (like me) are scared (Me, I'm "What me worry?"). But, the real "Crackers" are like - so, this is Florida - what did y'all expect? A friend of mine is still loading cattle to send north, but that is business - he has yet to put a piece of plywood over a window. Yeah, its been awhile since a major Hurricane hit this area - Andrew did pass thru - but, no major damage here.

For me, this is painful waiting for the Sh_t to hit the fan. I lived in So. Calif. for 25 years, and went through 3 major and a buncha minor earthquakes - they scare the bejesus outta one and can cause an equal amount of damage (or more) than a hurricane. But, the initial shock is over in less than 30-45 seconds - though it seems much longer in the moment (also the after-shocks can shread one's nerves, and they last for weeks). The possitive thing about a hurricane is .... you know it's coming. The bad thing is one is still at its mercy.

Right now the news is reporting severe thunderstorms in my area. As I look out my window I see blue skys with clouds in the distance (E, N, and W). To the South, it is very dark. Well, wish all of us down here in the Sunshine State luck ... and maybe a silent prayer. See y'all soon (er, or later).

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 09-04-2004, 01:39

I saw videos of hurricanes in meteorology class. Very impressive...the people who took the footage must have been crazy, just standing there filming. If I remember correctly most of the lives lost are from the wave that comes ashore with the hurricane, if your far enough from the sea there isn't too much to worry about.

**Teutonic Knight** · 09-04-2004, 18:46

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

I saw videos of hurricanes in meteorology class. Very impressive...the people who took the footage must have been crazy, just standing there filming. If I remember correctly most of the lives lost are from the wave that comes ashore with the hurricane, if your far enough from the sea there isn't too much to worry about.

Of course then you have to worry about winds in excess of 100 mph ripping the roof off your house, that can be a minor inconvenience to some.

As I write this we've just taken the first feeder band squall from the NorthEastern end of the Hurricane here in Tampa, now the sun is out and it's a beautiful day until another feeder band comes along and the sky suddenly darkens and the wind picks up......

Yeah, a hurricane is a unique experience. I wish good luck to all of the Floridian members, but if they just hunker down they'll be fine.

Hang on LOS and Black Ship, don't blow away!

**Kongamato** · 09-04-2004, 22:24

Has anyone ever remembered a hurricane taking it's sweet time as much as Frances has today? It's just sitting there, dumping inch after inch of rain on the east coast of Florida. Sheesh, hurricanes these days! So lazy! No work ethic!!

Let's hope the Floridians pull through this. This has got to be worst-case scenario, the hurricane moving so slowly.

**Teutonic Knight** · 09-05-2004, 17:41

There are 50,000 people in my county without power, I'm extremely lucky to have power right now.

The western eye-wall of the storm is about to strike us. There are small trees and large tree limbs flying down the street, and roof shingles are being tossed everywhere like nothing. Here we go guys!

**KafirChobee** · 09-07-2004, 19:21

The phones just came back on about an hour ago, I'm on generator power at the moment. Power went out here at 3:50PM on Saturday. The winds started about 8:30PM to reach 50 MPH, here. I stayed up 'til around 2 AM, we got hit by the "eye's" winds starting around 7AM - I looked out to see how my dock was doing in time to watch my neighbors aluminum cover to his land on top of my boat house (blew off again around 2PM when the wind changed directions). At some point before dawn one of my 60 foot fir trees got knocked down, but it was nice enough to stay off the road and didn't hit anything. My neighbor lost 2 Palm trees and his home sustained some minor damage, seven trees and a "cactus" garden were knocked down in all.

Have not ventured to town, yet - but, understand there are alot of trees down and that the communities around Taylor Creek were hit very hard. We are still getting wind and rain from "feeders", and have been on tornado alert off and on (presently ON).

If you are wondering, winds of 115-121 MPH were recorded in town. One of my neighbors (on the "airstrip" side of the road) said we had a sustained blast of 110 MPH that lasted an hour of more.

Hope the rest of you Floridians got by as well as most of us did here in Okeechobee. Now if they could just get the power back on, it is hot!

**Teutonic Knight** · 09-08-2004, 00:06

Well we were extremely lucky compared to you, emerging from the storm I observed that 12 foot tree limbs were scattered in my yard (I basically live in an oak forest) and my driveway to be totally covered in branches and green leaves, we're missing a few trees and a few roof shingles, but no one hurt and we astonishingly retained power since my last post, it merely knocked out our internet connection for a few days. I still can't believe we didn't lose power, because we lose power every time a large thunderstorm rolls through anyway.

But I hope you and yours stay safe guys. (ever wonder why we have so many Floridians on this forum? It's up to 4 now!

)

**KafirChobee** · 09-10-2004, 21:06

Many in town have had enough and aren't waiting for Ivan to pick a path - they've headed North to points unknown. "You can run, but you can't hide." Don't blame them, considered scooting out to Vegas for the week-end - but, figure I'll sit it out.

We have power in town, bought gas yesterday - they ran out shortly there after. Here in the boonies we're on generator power, and FP&L says we may not have it restored 'til Sept. 19th. Gah!

Meanwhile the Prez was down here passing out ice and bottled water with his Bro - finally, something he can't screw up. Still, atleast he stopped on down.

I understand there are still people in Punta Gorda (where Charley hit) that still are without power. Seems odd, they made sure all our millionaires in the Palm Beach area have theirs before taking care of people without power for two weeks (plus). Must be the way the power system is set up.