So worried (hurricane Charlie)

[Pithlet]

My mother-in-law and my husband's aunt live in Ft. Myers and we haven't been able to get in touch with them. Last time I talked to my MIL last night, they were refusing to evacuate. I don't know if they eventually did. I also just heard that a shelter in the area collapsed.

I hope that all of our Florida DUers and their families keep safe and check in.

[KamaAina]

1. That shelter is actually in Arcadia, well north of Ft. Myers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2211149&mesg_id=2211149

and, amazingly, no one inside appears to have been injured. The roof may have been torn off rather than the building collapsing.

[Pithlet]

3. That's a relief

When they broke in on The Weather Channel, they didn't specify at the time exactly where it was.

[amazona]

2. hugs and please don't worry

Last I heard, the roof came off and some people got wet, but no one was harmed in the shelter. It looks like the damage to Ft. Myers is less than predicted...knock on wood.

On edit -- power is out and lines are down, plus some cell phones are screwed up, that's probably why you can't get hold of them at the moment.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Yeah the phones are busy busy busy

Hope all is OK with your family :hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Try to occupy yourself with other thoughts and activities...

Worry won't help anything. I know it's hard not to, though.

I hope everything turns out to be ok for them. I'll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. :hug:

[Sugarbleus]

6. I send my best hopes and wishes to Florida...

:hug:'s to all .... stay safe...

[catzies]

7. With Andrew my parents in Miami set up a nationwide relay to get me

I couldn't reach them from California.

I told my brother in Atlanta I hadn't heard from them, so he and his wife got ahold of her parents in West Palm Beach, who had family in Miami. They were able reach my parents, and the word made its way out West and back to me.

Suggest for next time you set up a phone emrgency tree in advance.

(It would be my turn to invoke it here if we had a big earthquake.)

[B Calm]

8. Lets hope the Hand of God will protect Florida DUers

[Pithlet]

9. She just called

They did leave, shortly before the storm hit, and went to a cousin's house well away from the storm. She'll find out how much damage her home sustained tomorrow, but at least she's okay.

I hope everyone else makes it through okay, too. I know that some parts of Fla are still under the gun.

[antigone382]

10. Yeah, my best friend lives in Cocoa Beach

I know it's on the East side of Florida, so I guess she's safe for now, but there's a 72% chance it's going to get close enough to her to do some damage. I don't have her phone number down there (she just recently moved), but I've sent e-mail. I hope she's somewhere safe. Good to hear that your family is safe now.