FLORIDA DISers! Please check in here!

[Miss Jasmine]

Central South Brevard County checking in.

Just a lot of wind (gusts up to 60 mph) and some rain. A small tree in the front of the house is now bent.

Prayers for those who were affected by the hurricane.

 

[gshoemate]

SW Seminole county

We're o.k. here. Had alot of bad wind but the worst of it hit downtown Orlando. Things are pretty ugly down there. No power, tree's down everywhere, the executive airport lost some hangers and there were plane's that were just tossed everywhere, they looked like little toys thrown about. Our complex didn't lose power but everyone around us did. I am just about to venture out to see if I can find a store open. It was our first and I hope it is our last for a while. It was amazing how strong the winds were blowing and as soon as the eye was here....everything just stopped.

 

[julie_yet]

Another Lakeland resident checking in. We were extremely lucky. I couldn't believe how close the eye came to us and how mild the weather seemed.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Sorry to say I received an e-mail from a fellow Dis-er who lives in Orlando. They wrote they have no power, and may be without for days.
This was a very most traumatic experience for them, as their neighborhood looks like a war zone. They have intermitment phone service and their cell is not working.
They e-mailed me from a place they stopped in to access their e-mail (and I would guess to clean up a little).



At least her and her family are safe now! I am thankful for that.

 

[Feralpeg]

Checking in from Windermere. We are fine. No damage to our home. Some trees down in the neighborhood. Drugged the dog so he slept through the whole thing! DD did really well considering.

We had lunch at Downtown Disney today. Many trees down and broken both on the highway going to Disney and on Disney property. The traffic lights were out until we reached Disney property. They are working fine there. The buildings didn't appear to have any damage. I was very glad to see Genie sitting up there smiling! The Disney ground crews were hard at work cleaning things up.

 

[Tiziminchac]

St. Luice County - We just had some rain and light wind. It wasn't nearly as bad here as the weather guy said it could be. When I left for work yesterday the hurricane was just a weak one. When I got home it was a cat.4! I cleaned up the porch, put all the loose stuff away and got ready. Better safe than sorry. My prayers go out to all those in the path of the real storm.

Originally posted by MJames41
Heard from my dad (near Ocala) but haven't heard from my sister (Okachobee).

I belive you mean Okeechobee. My boss lives out there. He said they had some heavy rain and winds but nothing too bad. I hope your sister is well.

 

[kylara]

Another from South Broward and as was said, we didn't get anything but some wind.

They showed a reporter about 5 miles east of here, near Celebration and the 192/I4 interchange....lots of damage in that area with trees down, huge business signs down etc.

I noticed on the reports last night that it seemed to be going right over where I use to live (until just up to 1 1/2 months ago) and this shows it was. I lived right at the interchange! I do hope my old neighbors are okay.

 

[gshoemate]

I feel guilty because life goes on. We have power and were talking about going to Disney today. Then I ran to the store and witnessed for the first time such devastation. Trees torn out of the ground, power lines just hanging, people in the store looked so sad, the shelves were empty and one lady a spoke to said she could be without power for 4 days. Then driving home I just broke down. It finally hit me how serious this all was. I'm glad you Disers pulled through.

 

[chyam]

St.Pete/Tampa checking in, we are extremely lucky here.........was prepared for the worst for 2 days and actually I think we had more rain here today then waiting for the storm to hit. I am so thankful that we dodged it but also so sorry that many others were not so lucky. Was watching the news last night and they had the rain gauge and wind gauge from the Dolphin Hotel, the rain gauge looked like a gas pump it was going so fast, at that time they had over 11 inches of rain in an hour and I think when it was through there it was over 14 inches! I did find a refugee though.............a cockatiel who is now perched on my shoulder. I will run an ad and watch the papers since I am sure it is missed by someone if not it will just join the rest of my menagerie! Don't know if it is male or female. The last bird I found I named Disney since I didn't know if it was male or female either, he's been here now 11 years! Well I am praying that the storm out there now does not head this way!

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by gshoemate
I feel guilty because life goes on. We have power and were talking about going to Disney today. Then I ran to the store and witnessed for the first time such devastation. Trees torn out of the ground, power lines just hanging, people in the store looked so sad, the shelves were empty and one lady a spoke to said she could be without power for 4 days. Then driving home I just broke down. It finally hit me how serious this all was. I'm glad you Disers pulled through.

Life does go on. Four days without electricity is really nothing. Pretty normal for a category 1 or 2 storm. I know it sounds like a long time but it will soon but a memory. After Andrew my neighbors across the street were without electricity for a month. We were without it for 2 weeks because the grid we were in supplied the 2 local schools. Had a powerline down in my yard and it took out the fence between my neighbor and I. I felt lucky that it didn't hit either house.
Be happy that most of the damage seems to be property and not people in your area. It could have been far worse.

 

[PigletsPal]

Originally posted by dizny4us
Same here. Now we just need to hope that Tropical Depression #5 turns out to be a dud!

Ditto goes for me

 

[currycook]

I live in SW Florida and just got our power back. Out about 30 hours or so. We made it fine with just some palm trees down. We were on the left side which is the good side. The town 30 miles the east of us was devestated. Hurricanes are funny, we are looking so good and so many people just a little bit away were so hurt. Thanks to all for their prayers.

 

[Buzzlvr31]

I live in Delray Beach in Palm Beach County on the east coast of FL and like TalkingHands, all I received was some gusty winds, but only up to 30 mph. Boy was I lucky to be spared the worst!!!

The only problem now is Tropical Storm Earl. The last thing I need is to feel more anxiety soon after recuperating from Charley!!!!! Yeesh!!!!! Please Earl, stay away from Florida!!!! You're NOT welcome here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tiggerfanz]

Checking in from BWV

Arrived in Orlando Friday morning - we beat the hurricane here, although our luggage didn't - still waiting for that.

Was pretty intense last night at the hotel. All the parks closed at 1:00 and all food/beverage service was shut down at 3:00. Disney hosted box lunches in the lobby of the hotel from 5-7 with characters to keep the guests occupied.

Looks like most of the damage was downed trees, and a few light poles knocked over around the resort. We sent to MGM today and everything looked okay there - Epcot tonight all looked fine as well aside from fsome tree limbs still sitting sideways.

All in all we were very lucky - especially when I think of the poor individuals that suffered all the damage to their homes. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Hopefully our luggage will show up soon, and we can continue to enjoy our anniversary trip.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Western Orange County. No serious damage here, but much little damage. Trees down all over, and I do mean all over with some slight home damage (although a couple of homes did get some serious damage).

I hope I never have to experience anything like that again. Ever.

Hoping to hear from friends in Punta Gorda and Fort Myers. I lived in Fort Myers and worked in Punta Gorda until just recently. Cannot believe the devastation that they have suffered.

Hoping that Earl fizzles and dies before reaching hurricane status!

 

[Tigger&Tink]

Checking in from HOMESTEAD and TITUSVILLE....


IN Homestead,, just a bit of wind and a little rain,,not one tree branch touched (THANK YOU GOD)!!!

In Titusville the lights were out over night,,but were restored at 9 this morning,,there were some tree limbs down,,very minor things,,(THANK GOD again),,,,, we will be heading over to FT. Myers, with a truck load of water and tea, and candy for the kids in the morning ohyeah and toilet paper (no one brings that LOL)....gotta do what ya can I guess!!!!! I went through ANDREW, I know how they feel with nothing...I hope they get AIDE FAST!!!!

Thanks for this thread--great way to see how everyone is...


STAY SAFE

Tink

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Okaloosa County here in the panhandle. Charley missed us completely. Bonnie did swoop by but only minimal damage if any at all in Panama City. I'm glad this one missed us and I hope the other FL DISers are doing okay who were affected.

 

[bd-celebration]

We made it through much better than expected, but Celebration lost thousands of trees. On the main road from Celebration to World Drive, we counted over 250 palms that were either blown down, ripped apart or snapped in half. Many of the streets are not passible. Luckily, for a Category 2 hurricane (90-110 mph winds) very few homes sustained severe damage and we did not lose power.

There was very light damage at WDW. A few downed palms and a couple of signs that we torn apart. Luckily for Disney, the eye wall path went east of the parks.

 

[Disfan1]

Jacksonville again...we slept through the whole thing! Things went WAY better here than expected- just thunderstorms. We actually had more damage in Jacksonville from a tornado spawned by Bonnie than anything else.

 

[ms1]

Reporting in for Topper in Ft. Myers. They are fine, have no power or phones. Says there is a lot of damage around him.

He did suggest folks make donations to Red Cross...it is going to be needed.