Ivan Missed

[stumbler]

He is going a little west of me. I'm expecting winds to still be about 100 mph in my backyard. The worse thing of a hurricane is the cleanup. You have to be careful with the critters afterwards (two legged, four legged, and no legged). I'm keeping home protection loaded for all three. We'll see what happens.

[Prezzz]

Missed me too! Going east of me about 120 miles. We will still get 80 mph winds out of it in a few hours. Winds are gusting to about 40 right now. All factors considered, I'll take it! :D

[Wes Janson]

I'd been having a bad feeling that Ivan was going to clobber us, but apparantly the Gulf coast got lucky for once. My friend has the theory that these are the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and the fourth is still coming. Lo, there's a 4th forming out in the Atlantic now. 100 mph winds where I'm at would cause catastrophic damage. I picked up some ammo at Wally World a few days ago, when we thought Ivan would hit here, and the clerk decided to try to sell me on a 12 gauge for anti-looter purposes. I think that sort of feeling, the expectation that our time was up, was pretty widespread where I live. Question is..what will this new one do?

[Prezzz]

but apparantly the Gulf coast got lucky for once. Ivan may be the second most expensive storm in terms of damage, to ever hit the US, and was a direct hit on the heart of the Gulf Coast.

Lucky isn't the word that comes to my mind. :confused:

[Wes Janson]

We live in different Gulf coasts ;) I refer to the Gulf coast of Florida, from Naples to Tarpon Springs or so...

[Prezzz]

We live in different Gulf coasts ;) I refer to the Gulf coast of Florida, from Naples to Tarpon Springs or so...


Ahhhhh......that Gulf Coast. ;) Yep, you guys deserve a break from the storm action.

[stumbler]

Made it!!!. No power. On a laptop that I charge on generator. Have to reshingle roof. Lost fence. I am a lot luckier than other people. I live in Santa Rosa county, FL and it was 100% lost elect power. now we are at approx 95% without power. Still working. Thanks. Stumbler

[Wes Janson]

At least you're safe :) Shingles are cheap, houses aren't. Hopefully you'll have power in a few days..

[stumbler]

Last word on elect power is approx 1 month. We can get gas for generator and cars. FEMA is issusing MREs, water, and ice. We had a couple of tornadoes within 1 mile radius of me. I live approx 18 miles east of Pensacola. Looks like a bomb went off. Reports of looting in downtown Pensacola. Rumor is that they are using refrig semis for morgues as there are too many for the hospitals. A lot of people did not evacuate for the low areas. Sheriff deputies are wearing 2 guns (versus normal 1). National Guard is all over. I hope no one else ever has to go thru this.

-Stumbler

[John]

Glad you all made it through unscratched. Ivan was on the news every evening here.

My best wishes to all of you, for quick recovery and better luck next time.

Rgds

[Wes Janson]

Worse than I thought... We heard the same sort of rumors about Charley, and supposedly massive death toll, but I doubt either set of rumors have any base to them. With any luck that one month estimate is worst-case. Alot of it seems to depend on your physical location from the nearest power plant. I live about 5-6 miles from one of FPL's oil plants, and we never lost power during either hurricane for more than two or three hours. I noticed however, later on, that all of my friends live further west of me, and all live further from the plant. Many of them lost power all night long, and several, downtown, didn't get electricity restored for nearly two or three days. Proximity and level of destruction seem to be the main factors in repair time. Good luck to you!

[stumbler]

Update. Got Elect power last nite. Water heater is elect and it feels nice to have a warm shower (though I miss candle light suppers). I feel lucky compared to others. Thanks for listening to me unload. I just needed to vent some frustration.


Thanks again, Stumbler

[Prezzz]

Ivan is alive and well and didn't miss us on the second go 'round. We're getting some wind and rain out of the revised Ivan. Oh well, we need the rain. ;)