My lively adventure with Hurricane Frances

[jab105]

I've lived in FLorida all my life and never seen a hurricane...well, I'm 200 miles from the center of the storm, so the winds are about 65 miles per hour...but, check out what we've been through (and I'm sure everyone else has it so much worse!!)...

This was the first of the damage...big limb...


This happened about 30 minutes ago...half of a 30 foot tree is now in the driveway...thank goodness for the carport or it woulda been on the car!!


And, now we have no fence here...guess we'll have to meet the neighbors??


Good news is that I dont think there are many limbs left to fall?!?!
ANyways, my best to everyone who is experiencing the full brunt of this thing...its not something to mess around with!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. You still have a carport!

Amazing! Glad you're ok...
Have a cold one. :beer:

[jab105]

2. LOL...just had another go down...this time a whole tree...

in the backyard...news just said there is a tornado coming this way now...

Its interesting in the light, but scary in the dark...its like sonic booms when those trees crash down...

Dont count out the carport yet, it could still go down!!

[graywarrior]

3. What part of FL are you at?

[jab105]

4. Alachua county...

the north part of the storm is the strongest...the tree limbs are covering everything now...winds seem to be getting worse...I just am in awe if this is 65 mph winds what double this must be...my goodness!! I hope all the DUers down state are safe!!

[graywarrior]

5. Hang in there. We're getting slammed here in Sarasota

It just never ends. This will be going on all day tomorrow, too.

[jab105]

7. I wish you the best...you are in the middle of it compared to us...

weeather guy said about 8 more hours (of the really bad stuff) now of it...

can't believe we still have power!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Be safe.....

Dont forget, the bathroom is often the safest room in your house. There's less to cave-in.
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

10. Hang in there

My wife's grandparents just headed back down to Fla for the winter a couple of days ago (what an unfortunate time to go!) Pretty scary stuff.

We don't get too many hurricanes here in Illinois so forgive my ignorance :), but is it just me, or is this the worst hurricane season in a very long time?

[jab105]

11. Yes.

two in one year bad...two bad ones in one year is worse...

thinking that a third is coming is freaking me out at this point!!

[jab105]

6. more pics...rain is much heavier now, wind too...

Dont get me wrong, its not "dangerous" where we are, except for the trees...just interesting to document...

neighbors car just got the leaves from that big limb (luckily)...


this is my fence from that one tree I was talking about...


this is the porch on the backyard...covered in branches...


and the small tree that just tipped over...

[jab105]

9. Shit...30 ft. tree just fell on the house...can't get out the back door...

tree is blocking everything...ugh!! can see roof damage but nothing inside...can't get outside, and its dark anywyas...this is getting a bit more scary...the ground is saturated, trees are falling all over...

[graywarrior]

12. How's it going? You ok?

[jab105]

13. Pics...

one sliding glass door...


the other sliding glass door...


the window, and you can see some of the damage to the roof at the top...

[slutticus]

14. Holy cow!

:scared:

Hope everyone's ok.....

[jab105]

15. Wind going down a bit...

they are calling it a lull...I'm hoping that its the beginning of the end...was fun...but that one tree really scared me...