Charley Changing course!! CAT 4 -125 mph - Sanibel island/orlando direct

[Rajah]

Someone else I haven't seen mentioned yet is Becki (Honeywolf) -- didn't she just move to that area?

 

[marlasmom]

It's supposed to come right through here. It rained a couple of times earlier, but right now the sun is shining and all is calm. Very confusing.

 

[John VN]

Dina

Right here in Englewood.

Are we having fun yet?

Our son is staying with us, on his way to Ft. Bliss, Tx. for his new assignment and says this is a piece of cake after being in Afghanistan.

John

 

[JimB.]

NE FL (St. Augustine) checking in.

No weather yet. Just grey skies. Depending on which zig or zag this storm takes it could be on top of us in the early hours of the morning. Peak hours are predicted for approx 2 a.m..

We are "bunkering down" in the fire stations effective 4 p.m. today. A little early for my tastes, but hey, what the boss sez, goes.

I may or may not get to go home in the morning, will find out then.

Kinda' wish I was home with the family during this. We will probably be ok, because the storm has to cross the state before it gets here, but it may actually exit SOUTH of us, which wil result in a storm surge hitting us on the way out.

 

[phamton]

Winds are 145 MPH approaching a category 4 hurricane. Orlando is in the eye. Hurricane eye is supposed to pass right down Interstate 4.

Wish us luck! It is 100 miles away--winds are now starting with heavy rains. Mandatory evacuation for low areas and all mobile homes in Orlando. Weathermen are saying it is one of the top 50 storms of all times. Chief of police saying "this is a major threat to Orlando and this is not a drill. Stay inside and hunker down."

Bev

 

[luvindisneyworld]

My prayers are with all in its path.Please keep us updated.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Poohnatic
Guess I have good timing, moved to this house (from Maryland) two weeks ago!

The family prankster was Uncle Charlie-we are having a good laugh at him 'causing' such grief.

Suzanne

Suzanne

When Hurricane Isabel was in the Atlantic last fall I commented that we never get hurricanes here. HA! Famous last words and I guess maybe that was prep for today for you?

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
So, Barry knew ahead of time. I knew he knew more than he puts on.

Stay safe, good wishes, everyone.

The way Barry likes thrill rides my bet is that would have wanted to be home for the storm.

Everyone, stay put and stay safe! Must be very scary for those in the direct path.

T&B

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, one trip to the closet earlier due to a tornado warning for Orange county. Funnel clouds spotted, but nothing touched down. We've had a little rain but it is quiet now. They are saying that it will pass over Orlando at 11pm. It is moving quicker than expected so the worst should be over for Orlando by midnight. We are waiting for the next rainband and the next round of tornado warnings. I drugged the dog! I'm considering drugging DD. Just kidding! She's pretty nervous. All of a sudden, she's thinking Missouri looks pretty good. Sorry, Kendall! I'll post on conditions in between storms.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by Beauty
I have been praying all day.

Could someone tell me what is expected in the Tampa area. I have 4 very very close friends there and am worried sick about them.

They all post here,

Christine (Mickey's Sunshine)
Michelle (Princess Michelle)
Bet (Bsnyder)
Leila (Leila Beila)

Could you all please send up a prayer for them and their family and of course everyone else in the path of this storm!!!!

Beauty, they should be fine. The Orlando news have a red area that shows the hurricane direction and the areas that are in danger. Tampa is not in the red zone. They first thought that Tampa would get a direct hit but Charley changed directions and came in through Ft. Meyers headed toward Orlando on interstate 4. Tampa is in less danger than Orlando right now.

Many people for Tampa were evacuated yesterday when they thought the hurricane would hit there so maybe that is why you haven't been able to get ahold of them. What's ironic is many came to Orlando which is now expected to be hit harder than Tampa.

 

[Beauty]

Yep I talked to Christine and Leila about an hour ago and everything is fine there. She said they were getting some rain but not much wind at all.

Still praying for everyone in the path of this thing.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Could ya'll say a little prayer. My BIL, SIL and Nieces are in Cape Coral. BIL is a big city official so he cannot leave to be with his family. Im so worried right now. I cannot reach SIL and I am hoping they left the area. As of 11:00 AM this morning I got an email stating they were staying but thats before the turn. Now I cannot reach her. Im going to have DH call his brother as soon as I get home. I hate to bother him during this time but I want him to know we are there for them and to find out where my SIL and nieces are.

 

[UncleKyle]

Talked to Nikki_Nikki this morning. She lives in Tampa/St Pete. She was very worried and nervous but her and her friends were hunkering down at her apartment. Hope others are doing well in FL too. Pixie Dust and prayers for everyone.

 

[yensid1071]

Just got off the phone with my mother, who lives near Port Charlotte. She said it's really picked up in the last hour (as I've followed on Weather Channel). Other than the usual strong winds and rain, her area is doing well. Let's hope the debris isn't too bad and it passes quickly. Looks like it will make landfall anytime now as it's passed over the barrier islands.
Thoughts and prayers for others with friends/relatives in the SW FL area and for those in the path of Charley as it makes it's way up the state and the east coast.

 

[WDWHound]

They say it seems to be turning more northward again. This would spare Orlando the brunt of the storm if it continues heading that way. Looks like its going to be a very unpredictable storm to try and track.

 

[orvilleair]

NBC Station out of Ft Meyers is reporting structural damage in Punta Gorda. The eye is passing over Punta Gorda as of 4:40 EST. The reporter is saying the roofing is peeling off the Holiday Inn Express and Charlotte Harbor is full of debris. No flooding yet, just wind damage.

 

[Poohnatic]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle
When Hurricane Isabel was in the Atlantic last fall I commented that we never get hurricanes here. HA! Famous last words and I guess maybe that was prep for today for you?

T&B

That wasn't a hurricane, lol! I grew up on Long Island and got a few encounters with the big winds. I was shocked that the Federal Gov't. closed when DC is that far inland! The rain was milder than a typical Florida thunderstorm!

We dodged the bullet here...and lets hope the other two tropical depressions go far, far away.

Suzanne

 

[Buzzlvr31]

Checking in from Delray Beach in S. FL. As it turns, I happened to miss the worst of Charley, thank goodness!!! When I heard that it was a Cat. 4 and making landfall south of Tampa, I started to get nervous. Considering how large it was and how it eerily reminded me of Andrew in many different ways(size, how quickly it grew from a Cat. 2 to a Cat. 4, etc), I had reason to be nervous!!! But as it turns out, the worst of the storm hit north of where I live. So, thanks a lot for all of the PD you sent, it really helped a lot, and my heartfelt prayers go oout for anyone in the Central FL area. I know what it feels like to have a hurricane come upon you when it's dark outside!!! Hop you all come out OK!!!

 

[JimB.]

Sitting here in St. Augustine.............

Looks like we are going to get the brunt of the storm about 2 a.m. with sustained 80+ winds.

The eye is going to go offshore about 10 - 20 miles south of here.

My DW & kids were able to get some wood on the windows.

I am at work. We are still running calls, but when the winds get above about 45 mph, I'm not going across the bridges anymore.

Also not getting to go home tomorrow, at least not at shift change time.

Hope all is well everywhere else. Not bad here yet, but "I don't think the hard stuff is gonna' come in for some time............"

 

[julie_yet]

Checking in again. Well, we survived it. There was tons of wind and rain but there's no damage and everyone's okay.

Now I'm worried about my friend whose right in the eye of it. Last I heard the shingles and siding were coming off his house and he's camped out in the closet with his girlfriend.