Power is on, phones are back, but the neighborhood is a MESS!

[Lorien]

The media being what it is, not many people knew (even my friends and family) that Orlando was hit fairly hard by hurricane Charley. No, most people only heard about Punta Gorda, but Arcadia and Lake Wales suffered equally severe damage, and even those in Daytona Beach are still digging out from under massive trees and collapsed roofs this weekend.

Friday August 13th was one of the most terrifying evenings of my life. My neighborhood took a direct hit. The roar of the wind was unbelievable, the earth shook from the weight of falling trees and wind shot the floorboards of my 1920's home as I took refuge in my bedroom closet. When I thought the worst was over, my neighbors and I came outside to view the damage with our flashlights. It was dead calm until we saw exploding transformers in the distance, then the OTHER side of the hurricane bore down on us. We had been standing in the eye. It was a seemly endless night.

My neighborhood is known for it's brick streets, historic homes and magnificent oaks, the later of which is now greatly diminished 11 days without electricity or a phone (I don't have a cell...or screens in my windows, which is worse during August in Florida without power) made it shockingly clear how energy dependent we are. Not an experience I care to repeat.

It will take decades for our area to resemble what it once was. Most of the home owners are more upset about lost trees than damaged homes. Roofs can be replaced, but 150 year old oaks cannot.:-(

Here's some images from my neighborhood (none of my home; can't give the Freeps too much info).
View at first light:



Day 5, and a path is cleared down our street

There's a house under that tree (but no one was hurt)

[MrSandman]

1. Glad you are allright...

I only have to worry about floods and thunderstorms, luckily I live on top of the mountain.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. looks like either

Winter Park or College Park.

Im in the area too and those look like my pictures and my neighborhood. Weren't those transformers crazy?

[Lorien]

5. You're close

More the Delaney Park/ Downtown area. Strange how it's fairly undamaged a few blocks west, but just as messy miles east of us. There seems to be a distinct path of destruction in our area. Maybe a spinoff tornado hit us too? There's no telling.

How's your home? Mine has some damage, but like my neighbors, I'm more unhappy about the trees. But we're all safe and grateful for that, of course.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

10. house unscathed

truly a blessing. of course Im not going to get into how bad some of our neighbors have it but thankfully no serious injuries that I know of. there was a real spirit of comraderie here in the Maitland/Winter Park area, and everywhere that i've been to check out around Orlando.

[UrbScotty]

3. How did you make it through?

I cannot imagine making it through that.

[Lorien]

9. My knees were still wobley two days later

I can't imagine what those in Lake Wales, Polk County, Punta Gorda,Ft. Myers and Arcadia went through with the hurricane at and closer to full force. Winds were clocked at 111 mph sustained winds in my neighborhood, but at 155 or higher further south. Big difference in terms of damage. Those areas look like they were scoured by a giant Brillo pad!

Finding ice and a decent meal afterwards was the toughest part, plus staying cool, of course. I had to shave my Maine Coon's belly just to keep him from passing out from heat stroke, poor boy!

[freetobegay]

4. Hey! That looks just like my neighborhood (N. Fort Myers)

Glad to hear your ok. I don't think we will ever get our mess cleaned up!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

7. what up Fort Myers?

i hate to hear you guys got slammed. Captiva and Sanibel and Ft Myers are my favorite places for weekend getaways. I dont even want to think about how Captiva beach looks right now, or if it even exists.

[freetobegay]

8. Captiva has been split in two.

Sanibel is still without power. Fort Myers Beach will never be the same! :cry:

[Lorien]

11. Very sad

I haven't seen photos or film because I haven't had power, and my cable still isn't back. I never even got around to visiting Captiva. Sanibel was lovely :-(. I hate to think of others still being without power, especially in this heat!

How is your home? is everyone you know OK?

[freetobegay]

12. I have to replace my roof, garage, 1 bedroom

Punts Gorda was ground zero, I am 15 miles south of Punts Gorda Being on the south side of ground zero hit us even worse. I got power 3 days ago. I fear I may not be able to recover from this.

On edit: not to diminish what happened to you, when it hit us it was a strong catagory 4, by the time it got to Orlando, it was barely a catagory 2. You see the damage it caused in your area, I can't even begin to explain what it did here.

[Lorien]

16. I can't imagine it!

My friends in a town west of me had winds that were 20mph less than ours, and they barely had damage. You guys had winds that were 50-60mph MORE, plus the gusts...I just can't get my head around that! You must have been scared nearly out of your skin (or had nerves of steel).

Have you talked to your insurance company? Can you stay in your home, or are you with friends/ family now?

BTW- I just got power three days ago too. I'm glad they were able to get to it as quickly for you, especially given that the damage was much more severe.

[freetobegay]

18. My Insurance company (State Farm) has put me up in a hotel

They are paying for it. I was one of the lucky few, with all the relief workers here & most of the Hotels out of commission on the beaches, you can't find a hotel room in S.W. Florida right now.

They concentrated on getting the heavily damaged areas powered up quickly so the clean up could begin in Earnest. I also have to tip my hat to the American red cross & the Florida National Guard for the help they gave us till we were put in a hotel.

[Lorien]

24. Saw the U.S. Army headed your way, too

along with fleets of bucket trucks on I-4. Another good reason not to spread our Army and National Guard too thin; sometimes we need them right here at home!

[Lorien]

14. Something I keep wondering about

why don't the lumber companies pitch in? I mean, maybe they're just to busy lobbying congress to open up 100% of our National parks to logging, but here's millions of tons of old growth timber laying around, and everyone is just cutting it up to be burned! Why not send Georgia Pacific down here with some cranes and chainsaws, and get these trees off the homes and roads? There's some beautiful furniture inside many of the downed trees on my street, if anyone out there is reading this who could help. Also, there's tens of thousands of homeowners across Florida who can't afford to have the work done, what with deductibles being so high.

[The Traveler]

6. I have friends there

They had a scary time. Their office (they run a small data processing firm) took a big hit. But all are well ... tho my bud Bill was in the lobby 5 minutes before the storm shattered the glass and buried shards in the cinder block walls ....

I am glad you and my friends are well.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

13. anybody seen any updates on that

other one that may be heading for us? It may be that I'm a little gun-shy right now and its just a rumor going around, but I thought i'd ask.

[lpbk2713]

17. Here's a link for Frances.........

Projections show it headed this way but it is still far away so I suppose anything could happen.

Link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_astorm6+shtml/280253.shtml?

[jackieforthedems]

15. Jen, We've Heard Some Rumors

First of all, glad that you're all right!!! We've heard some rumors regarding the hurricane - mainly that there are more than the 19 dead that the media is reporting. We've heard it could be more like 400+, but that Jeb Bush didn't evacuate some of the areas properly and is afraid that if the real truth gets out, that it could hurt his brother, George in the upcoming Presidential election. What's your opinion on that, since you live in Florida? You're there and apparently can see alot more than those of us in other states who haven't got a real clue. Thanks for the pictures, too. God Bless!!! :)

[Lorien]

20. Rumors is about it

two days afterwards, an old neighbor down the street said he had friends in the Punta Gorda/ Ft. Myers area that said they saw A LOT of body bags and that there were thousands dead. I don't know this neighbor very well, so I take what he's said with a grain of salt, but as I mentioned earlier, I just can't imagine living through the storm when it was a category 4 (as opposed to a 2, which we experienced here). I don't know how so many people could have survived in such a densely populated area. It's a miracle that so few died, if the official numbers are correct (about 24 to date).

One thing that concerns me is FEMA. They keep asking undocumented aliens to come forward, and they promise that they'll take no legal actions against them-they just want to help. Yeah, right.

[jackieforthedems]

27. REX 84-FEMA

I know what you mean. Thanks for the info.

[freetobegay]

21. Being very close to ground zero

Those numbers are hog wash! For starters you can't haide that many deaths with out family & friends knowing (think about that?)

If there is anyoneto blame we need to blame the National weather service! They dropped the ball big time, They had it a a catagory two on it's way to hit Tampa, When our local weather men were telling us not to beliueve them that it was a four & heading for S.W. Florida!

[jackieforthedems]

28. Firsthand Accounts Are What Matters

Thanks for the info!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. I'm concerned about a friend in Heathrow....

Do you know if they have power yet?

[Lorien]

22. It's impossible to say if they have power

or not. It's being restored street by street, and if your house is damaged, then you have to have it repaired and the electrical work certified by a state inspector before they'll reconnect you, so streets that are hooked up may still have many homes without power. I hope your friend is one of the lucky ones!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. I'm glad you're ok...

I'm sorry about your neighborhood, though. I love liveoaks...:cry:

[Lorien]

26. Thanks GOG!

:hi:

I just hope that people around here will replant, instead of just doing the now predictable thing of wanting to destroy what frightens them (i.e. "let's cut down all those scary trees").

[SoCalDem]

23. Geez o Pete...what a mess.. Thank goodness you are ok..

Mother Nature can be a real (you know what)..The trees that are still rooted, and not too devastated, will recover somewhat.. but what a horrendous mess to clean up..

Glad you made it through the worst of it :hi:

[Lorien]

29. Thanks SoCalDem!

:hi:

OMG-that GIF of yours-OUCH! Lol!

[Tigerlily]

30. Relieved to know you are OK., Jen6.

Sounds so terrifying. :hug:

[Lorien]

32. Thanks Tigerlily!

My heart goes out to our Ft. Myers DUers (I know that Freetobegay is one of several on this board). What Orlando went through was like the teacup ride at Disney World compared to what they experienced. It just boggles the mind! This was my first experience with a hurricane/tornado (we still don't know about that concentraited area of destruction), and I hate any kind of storm with lots of wind to begin with. I just don't know how people in places like the keys, which seem to attract more than their fair share of hurricanes, manage.

[harper]

31. Wow Jen, amazing pictures

Looking at them, I'm so glad you're OK. What a frightening situation. Best of luck putting everything back together.
Julie