Tammi's World

Still Standing

Son of a BITCH. What a nite.

I'm still here. I have power and phone, but don't know for how much longer. From what I can tell the eye is almost over Tampa. I'm in the North East eye wall right now. I'm on dial up but I wanted to let you know I'm talking with Laughing Wolf off and on and he will post updates if I can't get back on.

It was one hell of a night. About 2:30am I gave up the fight and went to the safe room. I have a habit of closing all interior doors just in case a window blows out I won't have extended damage. (Humor me, it sounds like a reasonable thing.) I was in the middle of the house, all doors shut, in a closet with the radio going and the wind kept me awake. Damn...

Around me is damage but I've been lucky so far. My screening is tearing, but still standing. Not so with my neighbors. The roofs are holding up well. Trees - not so good. I keep seeing tops of palm trees flying by my window. Not a warm fuzzy feeling.

My cousin in Sarasota has lost power. She lives east out by 75. She called me from an interior room, because the roar from the Gulf of Mexico was so loud she couldn't hear me.

They are reporting hail in Bradenton and Plant City. That is very unusual.

South of me 3/4 of the county is without power. 1/4 of the county is out of phone service.

It's not close to being over.

In Melbourne a special needs shelter lost it's roof.

Water plants are down. Boiling water alert is on.

I gotta tell you folks. This has not been a good 6 weeks. I find myself listening to the damage reports, hearing the weather updates - who is seeing what - and I breakdown in tears. This is just so much in so short a time.

I heard that West Palm Beach has seen a lot of damage. Prayers to Bou and Bug.

Please pardon the lack of links. Dial up sucks and I don't know how long I'll have a connection.

Anyway - that's how it is for now. They say another 7 hours of crap here. Tornado warnings over this entire area.

Like I said - if you don't see updates here, check with Laughing Wolf. I'll post when I can.

Posted by Tammi at September 26, 2004 09:39 AM