posted on August 15, 2004 08:09:13 AM new
Greetings from the Grand Strand, finally with electricity! And AC never felt so good (it was hot without it!)!
Sorry to be starting a new thread, but I have been trying to post on "Florida" and keep getting "Page Cannot Be Displayed" error...
Cheryl, I am so glad your father is alright! Very, very happy he fared well, and I know you are incredibly relieved
We were under mandatory evac, but I didn't leave...pretty much the same reasons glassgrl mentioned. I have two dogs that are like children, and no way would I leave them. The news media made it sound like the evac went really smooth here. Truth is Hwy 501 is basically the only way out other than 17, and it's only 4 lanes. They did have all 4 lanes heading out, but it was bumper to bumper and a fiasco (as it always is in evacs). I stayed through Hugo, and swore after that I would never stay through another one, but just couldn't leave.
My heart just goes out to everyone in Florida. Our sustained winds were only 85 mph - some gusting of around 100 - but absolutely nothing compared to the hell Florida endured. Actually the front end of the hurricane was very mild; then the eye passed with no gradual building of winds - just bam! And then it was pretty rough for a few hours. But we were very lucky.
I only have minor damage - the back length of my fence looks like a tractor-trailer drove over it; and I lost a good bit of shingles on the house and workshop, so nothing major at all. I was stressing a bit over the sunroom - the entire back wall is windows to the floor; and even though I live four blocks off the water, it looks like I have waterfront property now (the dogs refuse to go out!) LOL
As soon as Charley had passed, all you could hear was chain saws - trees down everywhere. The people across the street had a crane over there to help with a huge willow that had been completely uprooted. They got it set back in the ground and have it tied to other trees, trying to save it.
toasted - I sincerely appreciate your thoughts. I have to admit, I was scared. Really scared. Especially because of how quickly Charley strengthened before actually hitting Florida, and a few of the weather forecasters here were predicting that. I was sitting here thinking "okay, what next?! The fire last year, and now Charley - so what's the third thing going to be since bad things happen in threes?!" But then I caught myself, and thought "yeah, it's tough; but a lot of people have it a lot tougher". No matter how bad it seems, if you look around you can always find a better perspective. Character-building is the first thing that comes to mind LOL And then I look at horrible devastation in Florida; and what I have been through isn't so bad after all. I learned after losing everything last year that things ARE just things and can be replaced. Lives can't. My heart just aches for them.
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"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." - Richard Bach
posted on August 15, 2004 08:58:47 AM new
Thank you, rich - thinking about it logically now, it was actually only about hour and a half; but I tell you, it seemed like 4 or 5 hours LOL!
I have great neighbors, which is comforting since it is just me and my little boy. I don't think anyone in our neighborhood left, come to think about it. All the homes here are brick, which is good. Other than losing AC, the one thing I absolutely hate the most about losing electricity is the total blackness. It's one thing to be is dark house and have some light from outside coming in; but it's another when everything is black.
I don't live in the city - I live on the southern end of the Grand Strand; and from what I understand the city fared exceptionally well. It was most definitely a blessing that Charley came in at low tide.
And it was absolutely gorgeous after the hurricane - but woke up to heavy rain this morning...just what we need after getting 6" of rain from Bonnie and Charley combined. Bright side? I won't have to water the yard the rest of the year
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"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." - Richard Bach
posted on August 15, 2004 10:23:56 AM new
Whew ! Glad to hear ya made it through safe wgm !! Ugh no AC in this heat had to be ruff.I understand how you felt about leaving your pets behind. The one storm we had to evac on 4 or 5 years ago. We took 2 cats ,a ferret and a bird with us lol the bird was one we were watching for a friend....it squeaked and squawked for 5 hours straight while we were in bumper to bumper traffic.Made a note to myself never to own a bird that day lol.I'm trying not to look at to many pictures of Fla. as it makes me feel so sad.So many people without anything.Really makes you realize how truly blessed we are and how life can change in just a few hours. I just pray that help gets to those who need it fast in Fla. and those who feel so hopeless now can find the strength to keep going.
