Assesing the Mess of Tropical Storm Frances in Gainesville, Florida

[sidestreamer]

I've been out of power from 4:30 pm yesterday until about 10 am this morning. During the outage, a large oak tree fell over the driveway, blocking the residents of the western phase of my complex from any exit except by foot. By 10pm I was beginning to hear what sounded like fireworks, but instead saw green and white flashes. I believe those were electric lines going down, but I've never seen that kind of green before... it was unreal.

Being the kind of person I am, I decided around midnight to take a bicycle out in the storm and ride around, but was quickly warned by an officer to return home or go to jail. Couldn't see more than a few feet ahead anyway, so I took the caution.

By 2am I had nothing to do. Read all the books I cared to read (not much), couldn't sleep with that other tree near my building swaying 45 degrees in my direction, nor could I call my family, who I assumed were sleeping through it back home in Polk County.

Around 4 am, I decided I'd just call the local BushBot radio station here (I was mad bored), and ended up on the air. Figured I'd share the story of that downed tree and all the people that were climbing it as if it was some kind of frat party. Mildly entertaining, although I got annoyed when a few calls after mine had a guy who brought up global warming and the announcer decided to cut the guy off.

By around 6am I decided to go to bed. Couldn't stay up anymore.

Woke up at 10 am to my alarm clock and power, and thought I was rather blessed to have power this quickly. Parts of Gainesville is still down, as well as Marion County and much of Central Florida.

By 4pm today, I took a spin around town to see what was going on. Hogtown Creek is now Lake Hogtown, and some trailers are in the flood. The residents are standing outside, observing the weather and the passerbys. Over at the University of Florida, Lake Alice has claimed portions of Museum Road, and the street was closed to traffic. One fraternity house had several windows smashed in by a fallen tree, and a car below is trapped under the tree, also with its windows out and its interior rainsoaked. Structural damage however appeared minimal.

The few grocery stores that are open (but will be closed by 6:30p) are jam-packed with people looking in vain for ice, or gathering all kinds of non-perishables. Rarely at the Publix do I see all 10 lanes in use, but today, that was the case, and they were all slow-moving.

By 8pm, the curfew will be in effect again, although unlike yesterday, the trees won't be swaying that badly over here, and parts of Gainesville might be lit.

I'm doing well though; I have 3 cases of beer at my disposal.

That's all I've seen so far.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. As long as Ed's BBQ is still standing...

You are doing fine. :D

Oh, to get my face around a rack of that man's ribs again! With the "Super Saber" sauce.