I've started this post about 10x this morning. I keep deleting it and just sitting here looking at the monitor.
I walked around the neighborhood and we were very, very lucky. Especially when you consider that Haines City, just 8 miles down the road from me was slammed.
I live in Polk County and it got hit pretty bad. This is a link to Bay News 9 and it has some pictures.
Punta Gorda was just destroyed. And the body count is growing. I keep hearing that no one understands why people were still in the trailer park that got wiped out there. (So far, they believe there are 60 bodies about in that area.) Keep in mind, everyone thought the storm was hitting nearer to Tampa, there was very little notice that it would take a turn and hit there, and no one expected the strength that it held.
I don't know how bad it was in Orlando yet. I do know Kissimmee and the Disney area took a bit of a hit, but it's not so bad, from what they are saying at this point.
I've talked with everyone but my one cousin in North Port, just south of Sarasota. We're still trying to contact him and his wife. Amazingly enough, I saw more of the ugliness than they did along the coast there.
I've called and left a message for my boss, letting him know I'm alright. I've also left messages for several of my team mates that were in the path of this monster. Haven't heard back yet.
I'm watching FOX and MSNBC and can't stop crying. The destruction is overwhelming.
Lake Wales, the home of Florida Natural OJ, is destroyed. Sebring, hit hard. Haines City, bad.
This is a link to the Orlando Sentinal. It's a timeline that is being constantly updated, and the only real information that I can find for this area. The news is centered on Lee and Charlotte Counties. Polk County is getting some coverage, but not enough for my taste.
I'm torn. My little area is fine. The woods behind my house got hit pretty hard. I stand out by my pool and see the snapped trees and debris over there, yet on this side of the gully everything is fine. I don't want to go out and get in the way of the clean up. Just 3 miles down the road the real destruction begins. So, I'm making phone calls and staying put.
I am very emotional today. I feel grateful that things are so fine here, and so very guilty for feeling that way. Thousands of people are homeless. As many as 100 people have lost their lives. I need to help.
And help is needed. WATER. Water. Water. Call your local Red Cross. Find out how to help. Blood, Water. But don't try and donate THINGS. What is needed now is the money to fill the needs of the victims. I'm hearing on the radio where to go and get gallons of water, but I'm telling you - it won't last long. The water plant in Haines City has been hit, and a notice to boil water is in effect. I can do that, I have power. Most of the people that are in that area don't, so they have nothing to drink. It's hot here today. There are children here, senior citizens. People need water.
OK - I'm rambling, and most of that is because my emotions are strung out. So I'll stop now. But I really want to thank everyone that left comments and stopped by yesterday to see how things were going. I mean it when I say it helped to keep me from feeling like I was all alone in that mess.
Posted by Tammi at August 14, 2004 10:00 AM | TrackBackCall the Red Cross and make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund if you want to help. They don't want "things" because no one has a place to store them. Please just make monetary donations and they'll be passing that money along to the people who have been devastated by Charley. They'll make sure they get a place to stay, money to buy food and to start to rebuild. This is going to take a while to recover.
If anyone has family or loved ones that are missing or have not been able to get into contact with, remember phone lines are down and cellular service is very spotty at this moment. Phone the Red Cross at 1-866-GET-INFO.
If you have loved ones who need help, call the same number. Here is the link to the American Red Cross for any and all information. http://www.redcross.org/
Again, right now all they are asking for is money. They'll secure water and other needs, but its going to take money to get people to somewhere safe and begin to heal.
Stay safe, hug your loved ones and when your told its a good idea to evacuate your home, do it! "Things" are replaceable, people are not. It's that simple.
Posted by: Lee Ann at August 14, 2004 10:08 AMGlad it is okay where you are, so sorry for all the rest. Keep letting us know what to send and where -- I am working to get your site out as a point to find out such information so each of us can get what is needed to where it is needed. Stay safe!
Posted by: Laughing Wolf at August 14, 2004 10:10 AMTammi - I'm so glad you're okay! I leave the house early on Saturday and I thought you might be without power, so I decided to wait until I got back to check in.
Remember - in storms, there is no "why" - things just "are". It's like having a tornado and your house isn't touched, but the one next door is destroyed... Who knows, it's just the way the cards fall.
It's really sad that after all the years we've been dealing with hurricanes, they still haven't gotten into the mindset of evacuating the mobile homes of every place that could possibly be hit!!! My heart goes out to the families of those people... *sigh*
Take care of yourself - if you need to talk it out (cause it takes a lot of talking to get through something like this) let me know!
Posted by: Teresa at August 14, 2004 11:58 AMWas looking for information and found your blog. Feel blessed and let the pain go. I'm in Tampa and am feeling similarly to you ... just trying to work through it. As for the people who didn't evacuate as ordered, I feel compassion for them but the mandatory evacuation for mobile homes had been in effect for all of our west coast counties for more than 24 hours. Even if you wonder what the odds are ... you shouldn't play the odds in a mobile home.
I know that sounds cold but I've been in Florida for 30 years ... the one thing you learn here is to NOT play the odds when it comes to stormy weather. Even moderate and mild tropical weather can yield pockets of devastation. ALWAYS play it safe ... if for no other reason than to set a good example for your loved ones.
Posted by: Kathy at August 14, 2004 12:13 PMI was thinking about you. Glad to know that you're okay!
Posted by: Blackfive at August 14, 2004 02:26 PMWith Roamin, and The Fog, who are in South Florida with you (on the east side, near Ft Lauderdale) we were glad to see you west siders were ok. Especially me, suffering through a weekend of 60 degree rainstorms in Germany, where we had to take the kids to the INDOOR pool, rather than the outdoor one. Go and volunteer to help those less fortunate if you have the ability this weekend! Hope things go well for you folks in the storm!
Posted by: stuttgartcad at August 14, 2004 03:56 PMMy wife and I have a college friend that lives RIGHT on the guld in Punta Gorda. We have sort of lost touch over the last few years - We hope that she and her family are OK
Posted by: kc2ixe at August 14, 2004 05:22 PM