Tampa Bay Friends..

Sue and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of our friends in the Tampa Bay area...

We hope they all make it through this storm unscathed! Hurricane Charley may bring a storm surge of up to 10 feet that if it comes along with it could be devastating..

Thanks so much Paul. We have the best coverage on local stations you would ever want. At this moment, the storm may make landfall a little south of Tampa Bay. It is almost unbelievable that downtown Tampa could be under water. A 10'-15' water surge may be taking place.

The time frame is now between 6-8. Hopefully those residents in the evacuation zones have left town. Bridges to the island are being closed as I type. From the TV, right now, Key West is getting pounded with rain.

No school today, my husband just came back home from his office. Trying to get things done for the next couple of days, if we loose power. We will have to wait and see if we are having school on Monday...due to the damage in the areas.
Derith

My sister, her husband and young son live in St. Petersburg. I talked to her last night. They have not been advised to evacuate and, in fact, have taken friends in from beach areas.

Glad to hear Derith is doing OK. Let's keep all our friends in the path of Charlie in our prayers.

Thanks John. My husband is busily duck taping our windows. We are trying to stay as optimistic as possible by making jokes about the tape. It is a camaflogue(sp) design. So far, we have decided that Charley will not be able to see the windows and will steer clear...the one I like the best.."this is passover tape". But, the track is now right up Interstate 75 once it leaves the bay.
Derith

My thoughts go out to all the folks along the west coast of Florida.

I have a friend who lives in Tarpon Springs. I got an email from him yesterday morning. I haven't heard from him since (perhaps he evacuated).

My mom lives about 1/2 hour south of Ponce Inlet. I talked to her this morning, and she is ready to hunker down if necessary. They are predicting tropical storm force winds by her.

The latest announcement says the path will be landfall near Sanibel Island. That puts three lights in harms way. Boca Grande, Gasparilla Rear Range, and Sanibel. Can't remember if the Port Charlotte light met it's demise during a hurricane or not. They are predicting 150mph winds now.
Derith

Am certainly thinking of you Derith and all other folks who may be in the path or environs of Charley and hope you will be kept safe.

May the Lord keep you safe from harm!! Our thoughts will be with you and maybe all of our thoughts will help shield you from the storm. Let us know that you are all safe once the storm is over and your computers are back up! :rolleyes:

Eskilady

I'd appreciate it if you folks could throw up some prayers for my mom and the people in Central Florida too.

Just got off the phone with my mom, and they are predicting that the path of the hurricane will pretty much go right over her house with over 100 mph winds. She was out finishing putting put the hurricane shutters on the house.

Needless to say, I'm very worried. And slightly panicked. She has lived down there since '87 and has never had a direct hit of a hurricane (usually it brushes just north or south).

We also have friends from the lighthouse society that live in the Fort Myers area.

Thoughts and prayers to all who are in the path of Charley.

Charley is very unpredictable. Now, he is heading north of Sanibel and the weather folks don't know...means God is still in control. Boca could really get a big punch right now. Weather man just said the path is changing by the minute. Folks who live in inland moble home parks are really targets. Shelters are filling up and that is a good thing.

Many prayers for all in the path.
Derith

Heading down to the OBX in a few hours...hoping it doesn't come our way. We've never had to evacuate, and I don't want to know how it's done.

Thoughts and prayers out to all those in FL...keep safe!

The storm's outlying rain is coming down outside. We feel extremely blessed to have missed the brunt of the storm. We are watching damge in the Charlotte County area and have just heard of damage in Arcadia. Charley is weakening and is headed Northeast thru the state. The weatherman just let us know there is another front south of Cuba that looks like it is on the same track.

Thank all of you for all your prayers.
Derith

Just got off the phone with my mom (who lives in Deltona, about 1/2 hour south of Daytona Beach/Ponce Inlet).

The hurricane went right over the house...she said it was "scary." Her hurricane shutters held up to the 100 mph winds, except for the ones covering the garage doors--they came down. And boy, is my mom mad about it! She's already planning on calling the company she got them from to complain tomorrow.

She said their power went out at 9:30pm and they can't tell how much debris is outside the house since EVERYTHING is dark. She thinks they may have lost trees or some large limbs.

My thoughts are definitely with the folks down in the Punta Gorda area. Sounds like things were very bad there.

We're praying for everyone in the affected areas. I've tried several times this morning to contact my parents and brother who live in the Daytona Beach (Port Orange) area and am not getting any answer. Will keep trying and are hoping that all is well!!

Dan

Dan - I know there are widespread power outages. The only reason I was able to speak to my mother is that she doesn't have a cordless phone.

My thoughts are with your parents and brother.

I heard from my brother late yesterday .... all was well with him and my parents. The eye of the storm passed real close to them with sustained winds of 85-90 mph gusting to over 100 mph .... said Fri. night at about 10:30 PM was the worst. Had lots of tree damage and heavy debris laying around. My brother's house will probably have to be reshingled .... quite a few shingles were broken off and blown away. His power had been off and on, but had been restored. It helps to have a couple neighbors who work for Florida Power. My parent's power was off and their prognosis was 4-5 days before restoration.

I guess it could have been a lot worse for them. Thanks to all who prayed for those in the affected area.

Dan

Dan -- sounds like your brother sustained the same damage my mom did. As of yesterday morning she still didn't have power and had no idea when she was going to get it back.

At my sister's in St. Petersburg, they only got 1/4" of rain and very low winds. The Hurricane came ashore farther south in the Tampa Bay area than they originally thought it would.