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As of right now we are in the direct path of Jeanne. I know these things are subject to change. I don't wish it on anyone else either but this would be number three for us in less than two months. I haven't even seen an insurance adjuster from the first one yet!
UUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!
[ September 27, 2004, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Yea, this Jeane is a nut job. I hope it goes whacko and heads east!! Just going by the current updates on the news right now. We'll see what they say at noon!
As if all the hurricanes aren't enough, Robert broke his wrist and as a result lost his new job. My grandma is in the hospital in TN with severe pneumonia and is relying on a ventilator for 50% of her breathing. They drained her lungs which were almost completely full yesterday. My parents went up there yesterday. So if the hurricane does come I have to board up and take care of their house too!
I need to just throw my own pity party!! Could be worse I guess. At least we're all still kicking for the time being. Please keep my grandma in your thoughts and prayers.
[ September 23, 2004, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Amy, I hope it all works out. You Florida folks need a break. It sounds like you need a break in more than one area. We'll pray for Grandma. Good luck, and keep smiling (or at least try) Bob
-------------------- "The 3-4 minute mark of "Freewill" by Rush.
Bob Kaschak Artisan Sign And Design Peru New York Posts: 1873 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2002
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I lost count of the storms Sheila. It would be number three to directly impact my area and number four for Florida. All we can do is wait and watch. These meteorologist don't have a clue! The more sophisticated equipment they get the less accurate they become!
Hanging in there!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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we're geeting to NOT listen to the reporters any more.
I saw a shot about my town with a reporter standing next to a huge oak tree allagedly downed from Ivan. What a croc. That tree fell a couple of days before Ivan got here. Another showed bourbon street barren of all people. A very unusual event. However, they didnt tell you all the people were inside the bars watching the TV report and jeering.. Sheesh.
Then anther showed a man standing in waist deep water right behind Gavins's house. That spot always has water during rain storms.
The only weather track that seems to be accurate is the one issued thru Stennis Space Center. They along with one other forcaster (Gavin can refer this person) predicted the exact path for almost every storm the past year. The commercial stations are all chasing ratings. I hate em all.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Well if there's a few things you learn living here during a hurricane season: 1.Don't count on getting any kind of useful information from a local tv met unless it increases their ratings...even if they differ in opinion alotta times their hands are tied by management on what they can say...we have one here who is good for at least one emotional breakdown during every threatening storm,always on air and always after he convinced the station to preempt all network programming and have him on exclusively, then in between 5min storm position updates where he tells everyone how much the danger is increasing since the storm is now 11ft closer to us than it was 5minutes previous, he rants at everyone from the mayor to the garbage collectors,talks out both sides of his toupeed midget face and squawks like his enema tube has been stuck for a week while reminding everyone of their oncoming horrific death. 2. The weather channel gives its own tracks independent of that which the NHC forecasts and sufficiently dumbs down any storm forecast to its absolute basics therefore should be taken with a grain of salt...steve lyons is worth listening to but the rest are pretty much cannon fodder. 3. Jim Cantore has a magnet in his ass that draws storms to him,if he shows up in your town even if you're outta the strike zone thers a 99% chance you're gonna get hit,he's like typhoid mary.(ex...he was in punta gorda for charley and pensacola for ivan) 4. Accuweather is wrong more than right,they're good for stretching a possible strike zone from north carolina to gulfport miss just so they can say they made the right call on landfall and keep all their mass media contracts. 5.CNN,FOX,MSNBC,CBS or whatever you watch will always over exaggerate the situation with continous coverage either of some idiot on a roof in 139mph winds screaming into his microphone,or in the case curtis mentioned,having the same jackass stand in waist deep water almost in the lake to exxagerate water depths while using phrases like THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM and ITS CHURNING OUT THERE until you want to vomit(Fox had a guy stading almost in the lake over the levee a block behind my house doing this very thing for hours during Ivan) but not giving you anything in the way of actual storm info.
The guy Curtis is referring to, you can go to www.wwltv.com, look at the weather forum and do a search for a user called wxman,he's a professional met with a pvt weather service out of houston for oil companies etc(on wwl you can also look for posts by jgumm,dbenard and cyclogenesis)....so far since Georges in 98 i havent seen him make a wrong call,but now since i posted this he'll probably blow the next 4 ,doubt it though. He doesnt post every day so you have to keep checking,and hes not gonna say alot,hes gonna give his opinion on what the storms gonna do,when its gonna do it and he's not gonna sit around and argue with everybody. He also posts at www.storm2k.org in the hurricane hollow tropical forum under the name wxman57. Storm2k every year has a contest for people to predict their number of named storms etc vs the official forecast,and back in march he wouldn't give a number of storms but he said expect an active season for fla prob starting in august and expect it to get hit more than once, prob with a major at landfall...kinda sounds familiar... and alotta people told him he was nuts....you can read just about everything hes posted on both forums in the last few years if you wanna. I would not take his word nor anyone elses as absolute gospel nor would i not evacuate or anything else because of reading what he or anyone else said... noone is right 100% of the time,obviously play it safe and if you're advised to leave or take precautions or whatever by your city etc follow what they tell you and do it b/c there's always that chance...cheryl lucas has given some great pre-storm lists of things to get and do on here...and you can use some of those links and msg boards to give yourself a little less feeling like you're sitting there blind and clueless about the situation.
The thing to remember also esp reading storm2k is that like every internet message board everyone is a frigging genius and they're all right all the time no matter how half cracked their scenario is......most,like most message boards dont have the first clue about what theyre talking about and they're just talking to see their name up in lights. you'll see alotta amateur forecasts on there that look like official NHC ones so that people can live out their fantasies, but very few if any are right....after a couple of days you can strain thru who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't...as a clue they have several professional meteorologists on there and they have that under their names. On weather forums they also love to bash the NHC,so far this year NHC hasn't done too bad...remember there's a reason the people who work there work there and the reason the internet weather experts don't. Hope this helps
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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Thanks Gavin! Amy hang in there, many of us do care about you, as you got it rough, but, you are a tough bird. Prayers for your family, friends and grandmother, keep us posted.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Remnants of Ivan blew in for another visit earlier in the week. Spawned a few tornado's in Cape Coral and dumped some rain. Unbelievable!
Tuesday, they finally picked up the debris that lined our streets. I suppose you could say, the coast is clear now, for another hurricane.
This week, Jeanne has done quite the whirley-bob off the east coast of Florida. It's crazy! We're in the 'cone' on this one too. Just saw the 11pm weather report and they believe it will pass just north of us, Saturday/Sunday and we can expect tropical storm force effects. Who knows, but for me, tomorrow will be another of them days where I prepare for the worst! Oh Glory!
Sorry to hear about Robert and Gramma. Keeping you in my prayers... Hang in there.
Shelia, the "K" storm is Karl...
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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An update from Hurricane Charley ground zero. I had been "sleeping" on my couch since the storm, with what belongings that didn't get destroyed surrounding me in an organized mess..all the time mold growing on the ceilings and the strong odor of cat urine and mildow/mold in the air. Nasty doesn't begin to describe it.
My landlord called Thursday afternoon to inform me that a "Pod" would be dropped in the driveway Friday morning and I would have to get all my stuff out. There is no place to go. FEMA is arranging for me to live in a travel trailor for two months, and that by then I would have to make other arrangements.
So, the travel trailor thing will take a few days and I'm staying at the Howard Johnson's in Ft.Myers until I get the trailor. This was the closest hotel with vacancy to Port Charlotte...40 miles away. I did find one room in Port Charlotte..last room available there..but it smelled as bad as my home, and didn't stay. Last night was my first night in a bed since august 12. I wish I'd slept better that night than I did...didn't realize how special a bed was at the time.
I may have a job...working at the sign shop that I had quit from last April. The owner will be back from Europe on Monday and I will beg then. Not looking forward to that, but have to do what I have to do.
They're saying that we will get at least some effects, if not worse, depending on Jeanne's path. This is beginning to get ridiculous. I'll be 50 in June, and starting over from scratch is just infathomable for me. Life wasn't perfect before Charley, but it was good. Comfortable home, good, steady job...gone in just a few hours. Only wish I was in better health...I could easily get a job repairing roofs.
Oh, and if anybody was wondering...my nonsmoking thing ended three days after Charley. I tried. So, now I'm homeless, jobless and I stink. lol
[ September 25, 2004, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
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We're already getting Tropical Storm force gusts. Getting ready to unplug all the puter stuff and move to the other side of the house where I'm less afraid of trees falling through the roof. I'll hook the laptop up later and check in until we lose power. Then I'm going to sleep (yea right!).
My grandma is critical but stable in TN now. She's been real bad but is OK for now. My parents are still there. I got their house boarded up yesterday and put back the 4 boards we'd removed from ours today. Just sitting here waiting.
Good luck to everyone in the path of this thing. I still can't believe this is happening again. I'm pooped!
Trying to stay positive!
Hang in there Don. We haven't forgotten about you guys that got it so rough down there.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Good luck down there Amy. I just finished all my preparations (again), and I see the storm has obliged and moved slightly westward, so it looks like it's coming right over us too. I'd hate to feel left out on all the excitement....geez.
I hope everybody fairs well....
Hey Don...maybe they'll sell you that travel trailer, on a rent to own basis ...that would be cool. I don't understand what they're doing to your old house. What is the pod...a modular home, or a disaster unit of some sort? Are they tearing down you house or repairing it? How long will that take ? Is CKH out of business ?
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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It's after 11pm and Jeanne (cat3) has finally made landfall on the east coast, just north of West Palm Beach, near Melbourn. Currently, the track is predicted to run WNW and exit the state near Tampa. Our local TV stations have begun continuos coverage.
Winds here are currently sustained at 35mph and gusting. No rain yet, to speak of, but radar shows it's on the way. The eye of the storm is predicted to pass just north of us. We are not out of the woods, for hurricane force winds, expected to show their nasty selves by 3am.
So far, my makeshift roof and gables are holding up well and not yet banging around. I spent the afternoon hammering in a few hundred more roofing tabs!
Better post this before the chance we lose electric...
Good luck to all...
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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A pod is a portable storage unit that they drop at your location. It's about the size of a medium size UHaul trailor, only is just a big box without wheels.
I got a call Thursday that the landlord is repairing the home, which will take up to three months, but that they were putting it on the market after repairs. My lease is until Dec.1, so I will likely get my security deposite and then that place is history as far as I'm concerned. One of my neighbors says I probably have a lawsuit or should look into it, but I just don't have any fight left in me for that kind of thing.
CKH is still open. They are doing all the computer and vinyl out of their home and using the shop building only for building signs. They had a lot of damage at the shop...flooding...but it's dry now, just a mess from offices screwed up, etc. I'm trying to get back in there, spoke with Mike Burdick, the shop manager, last week and he's going to see what can be done. He says they all want me back, but I had quit them last April for a better paying job and the owners may not want to hire me back on that basis. I'm thinking that maybe I could talk them into offering me a bonus to stay 6 months or a year, so that they could be more confident I won't fly the coop again and help them get through all the work they will surely have i n the next year. Who knows.
Is there any chance you'll have e-mail capabilities? Send me some sort of addy that we can communicate, I've got your cell already, or did I answer my own question?
If you stay positive, life will take care of you. Trust me, no, I'm not saying it's easy (read my addy quote), but will be worth it in future. Squeeze every bit of useful info out of situation and dispose of rest. Buck up, each and every day, live life, no one ever said it was fair. But being honest is formost, and being honest with yourself comes first, like respect, if you know none, life will give you none. Meeting you affirmed my belief that I've met a man that can take what life has to dish out and prosper because of it. I'm honored to have made your aquaintance and as we've already declared, brothers, buck up bro, it gets worse, heh-heh !!
ps: glad it's you and not me....I'd have made some waves...lol BUT!!! totally respect your reasons, sometimes "they" just aren't worth another thought or penny. good luck...write if you get work...
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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Well, we survived another one. Luckily for us it went further west than expected and we only had Cat. 1 winds here. We lost power for about 6 hours but they got it fixed late last night (it was still rockin' when they fixed it and I can't believe it was safe for them to work!). We seem to have very little new damage or trees down. I think Charley and Francis already took care of all that and there is just nothing left to knock down.
I don't think the Tampa area or west coast was as prepared for this as we were. I hope everyone over there is OK. Check in when you can.
My grandma is still critical but stable in TN. They have no idea what is going on with her. Done tons of tests from congestive heart failure to lyme disease and beyond and everything is negative. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. My parents are still there. I need to go check on their house today.
Well I actually have two temporary signs to due as a result of the hurricane so I need to go. Take care everyone.
[ September 27, 2004, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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This storm was a bad one ... the worst yet for our area.
I spent the day and night at my mom's house again. Came home this morning to one helluva mess in my yard and in my neighbourhood.
Amazingly, all 18 of my large trees are still standing. I had my doubts as I approached my home this morning and saw neighbour's trees split and laying in their yards. I have plenty of branches that have fallen, but no damage from any of them. Truly a blessing!
I'm going to spend the day hauling debris from my yard.
I sure hope us Floridians get a break for awhile now. We need a breather!
Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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Came through in pretty good shape. The bay came up into my yard again. Stopped about the same place as Frances. Heck of a lot more wind this time. We seemed to have 50-70 mph wind all day and into the night. Power off at noon Sunday, still not back on. Feeling pretty fortunate.
This is Dennis (goddinfla) didn't realize Roland was logged in
[ September 27, 2004, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: ROLAND PINAN ]
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Glad you made it through another one Amy. My goodness, enough is enough already. I hope you get a nice long break from these disasters. Praying for your Grandma.
Nettie, glad to hear you made it too. If another one comes in, it may be time for a trip to da U.P. eh?
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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,doubt it though. He doesnt post every day so you have to keep checking,and hes not gonna say alot,hes gonna give his opinion on what the storms gonna do,when its gonna do it and he's not gonna sit around and argue with everybody. He also posts at 
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![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
BUT!!! totally respect your reasons, sometimes "they" just aren't worth another thought or penny. good luck...write if you get work... ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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