Sorry! Charley

[goofy!]

Motherfletcher and all other Florida DIS'rs

Stay safe! Our thoughts are with you and your families!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Originally posted by Flyfly_Eclipse
I'm watching this closely because we're going to Universal on Saturday and Sunday for it will be my aunt's last chance to go for a long time (she may be moving to Colorado).

However...I have two words: Hurricane Day...?!! Eh, I don't have my hopes up, but I've forgotten how hard these early mornings are, and wouldn't mind hearing school's cancelled on Friday

Goodluck to everyone in the path of Charley, and Bonnie as well! [/QUOTE
Hey FlyFly... I am sure your schools are closed by now... ours are. That now means we will have to go the day before Thanksgiving as our make up day. You may end up closer to the direct hit than us down here...( me & Motherfletcher). My town hasn't had a mandatory evac, but the barrier islands have here in Lee County. I am worried about the storm surge! We will be on the south side of the storm & get the bulk of the surge.... my house is only 7-8 ft above sea level and they are saying anywhere from 4-8 surge if it hits direct in Tampa Bay area & 8-13 if it is south of there... I will be thinking of you tomorrow... forcast is saying it can be anywhere from Ft Myers to Tampa!!

 

[phamton]

All Universal Studios employees and WDW castmembers have been told to call in by 7:00 AM Friday to see if they will be open.

If they do open, they will definitely be closing before 2:00 PM as everyone has been asked to be off the roads by 2:00 PM by the state troopers.

It doesn't look good for Universal or WDW being open on Friday.

 

[Slacking]

Originally posted by HELPDESKGUY
What are they predictign weather wise for Saturday? I never trust cnn or weather channel only the locals!

I'm going to sound like a prick here, so please excuse me.

I know you're worried about your vacation plans, but your above comment seems very selfish to me. When there's a storm like this there is more to worry about that your vacation plans. What about all those people who live in FL who may be affected like this. Lets worry about them and then worry about our vacation plans. For all those DIS'ers affected by Charley (including me, in Tampa) I hope everyone stays safe.

 

[HELPDESKGUY]

Originally posted by Slacking
I'm going to sound like a prick here, so please excuse me.

I know you're worried about your vacation plans, but your above comment seems very selfish to me. When there's a storm like this there is more to worry about that your vacation plans. What about all those people who live in FL who may be affected like this. Lets worry about them and then worry about our vacation plans. For all those DIS'ers affected by Charley (including me, in Tampa) I hope everyone stays safe.

Your theory about how you sound is correct! These boards are created for information sharing and your comments were unjust.



BTW I hope you and your family are safe my prayers are with you.

 

[HELPDESKGUY]

American Airlines is allowing free flight change for all of Florida. Website updated yesterday.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by HELPDESKGUY
Your theory about how you sound is correct! These boards are created for information sharing and your comments were unjust.

The comments may have been a little unjust but just know that many of us are a little on edge right now. This hurricane is looking scary right now and we're all getting a little snippy so please forgive us. Slacking lives in Tampa which is supposed to get a direct hit. I doubt that he is worried about himself but he teaches elementary school children and I'm sure he is worried about his students and their families. Vacations plans being effected just isn't high on our priority list right now. I do understand that vacation plans are important though to those who are disappointed. Liken it to complaining about a broken toe to someone who just got his leg amputated. Most of the locals are not particularly empathetic right now so please understand where our sourly attitude is coming from. I would ask that you be patient with us right now and we will try to understand your worries about your vacation.

Anyway, about Saturday, no one knows for sure. We just don't know how much damage this hurricane will cause, especially if it is upgraded to a Category 3 which is predicted. If there are power outages then the parks won't be open. If damage is minimal, then things will be back to business as usual at the parks. Heavy rains are predicted in the mornings and sunshine in the afternoon. Highs 85 degrees.

Universal and IoA are closing at 2:00 PM today though.

Bev

 

[phamton]

All theme parks closed way before 1:00 PM.

Quick post:

Winds are 145 MPH approaching a category 4 hurricane. Orlando is in the eye. Hurricane eye is supposed to pass right down Interstate 4 which near where we live in orlando.

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

 

[tarmand]

Stay safe everyone! As someone from South Louisiana, I can uderstand what you are going through. Take all necessary precautions.

 

[Figment22]

I'm thinking of and saying prayers for all of you down there in FL. I hope you will all be safe and that somehow property damage will be minimal. Please let us hear from you when you can because we'll be waiting to hear how you all made it through.

I'm pretty nervous myself as our area of SC (near Hilton Head) has also now been put under a hurricane warning. This is my first since moving from NJ. We expected tropical storm force winds and heavy rain but with Charley being upgraded to a 4, it's expected to hit the Atlantic coast as a hurricane too.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by A Mickeyfan

Hey FlyFly... I am sure your schools are closed by now...You may end up closer to the direct hit than us down here...( me & Motherfletcher). :

Yep...we found out during last period yesterday that we didn't have schools Friday.

You're right about having a closer hit........the eye of the storm went through Charlotte Harbor -- about 20 to 30 miles south of here! We evacuated to Fort Lauderdale, a town called Coral Springs. So, we're out of the way, physically...but I'm a bit nervous about my things back home, because we weren't worrying about flooding (we're in a No flood Zone) BUT we were NOT expecting a Category 4...so the "No Flood zone" may not be any comfort on the fate of our posessions. Ugh...scary stuff!!

Stay safe everyone! I wish everyone the best!!

 

[thedisneymom]

I'm sure you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! Stay safe! (No matter how tempting it may be to go to the parks-Motherfletcher )

 

[GeminiMom]

Originally posted by phamton
The comments may have been a little unjust but just know that many of us are a little on edge right now. This hurricane is looking scary right now and we're all getting a little snippy so please forgive us. Slacking lives in Tampa which is supposed to get a direct hit. I doubt that he is worried about himself but he teaches elementary school children and I'm sure he is worried about his students and their families. Vacations plans being effected just isn't high on our priority list right now. I do understand that vacation plans are important though to those who are disappointed. Liken it to complaining about a broken toe to someone who just got his leg amputated. Most of the locals are not particularly empathetic right now so please understand where our sourly attitude is coming from. I would ask that you be patient with us right now and we will try to understand your worries about your vacation.

Bev

Bev,
What a wonderful post! As usual, you have managed to convey the message I know the majority of Dis'ers here are feeling & have done it in your calm reassuring "motherly" fashion! I only wish I had had more time to talk with you when we met in June. Tons of prayers are coming your way from me here in Pittsburgh that you, Slacking, MotherFletcher, FlyFly and all the residents of Florida affected by Charley stay safe & suffer minimal damage from this storm as it tracks northward. Many prayers offered to the tourists who are visiting also. Be safe all.

 

[Blueberry]

Thinking of you all down there and watching tv right now for Orlando updates as it is about over you now....stay safe and know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[bjakmom]

My prayers are with you all !! We had to evacuate for Gloria and I know how terrifying it is when a hurricane barrels right toward you - everyone stay safe!!

My sister and her boys caught an earlier flight and got into MCO this morning - their room at the airport hyatt was ready, so they decided to hold tight and stay out of Charleys' (then predicted) way. Now they are on the 9th floor in an outside room, directly in it's path, like some of you - they went out on the balcony and brought in all the furniture - the hotel didn't even advise them of this - but they live in hurricane territory, so they know what to do - they are prepared to go sit in the hall if they have to !!

Hope to soon hear everyone's 'survival' stories!

 

[GeminiMom]

Prayers for your sister & family bjackmom. Weatherchannel reporting right now that airport is directly in the path. Please post back & let us know they're fine.

 

[hulabird]

bjackmom

Prayers for your family....and for everyone experiencing Charley.

 

[bjakmom]

Thanks for the kind thoughts - I was so upset as I was the one who talked my sister into taking an earlier flight into MCO so she wouldn't miss out on too much of her long-planned and coveted vacation - I was frantic that they ended up directly in the eye of the storm!! I vowed to forever stop playing 'travel agent' for my friends and family!! - Here's the update I posted on another thread :

"What a tragedy for so many !!

My sister and her boys made it through the night in the airport Hyatt - I was able to get through on the phone to her at 10 PM and tell her that the eye had passed the airport - they had lost all power at about 9, and were prepared to shut themselves into the bathroom if necessary. They were not allowed into the hallways as there were apparently some windows there also. She said it was terrifying - before the sky became completely black they spotted a funnel cloud forming in the distance. They clocked wind speeds of 110 at the airport. At about 7:30 they had gone down to the airport foodcourt to eat and they were clearing those areas (under the glass domes) and sending the people stranded in the airport down to the baggage claim areas for the night. This morning they got their rental car (very nice Nat'l rep upgraded them to a minivan for a very good price) and headed to her friend's just south of Cocoa Beach. She said when they looked out from the 9th floor this morning it was a disaster- they saw an upside-down plane at the airport. There were downed and uprooted trees all over. Well, I am very lucky to know that my family is safe, though shaken.

My niece and her family in Seminole, west of Tampa, are also fine and spending the day taking down their plywood and cleaning up from some minor flooding.

My sister's fr-in-law had evacuated his mobile home community in Ft. Meyers and got back in this morning - the home next to his lost it's roof, but he only lost his porch - the home across the street lost it's windows and suffered water damage. Having lost both his only son and his wife in the past year, he is feeling very fortunate that he didn't also loose his home and possessions.

Thanks to everyone for keeping each other updated - ! My thoughts and prayers are with those of you who suffered any loss! We are heading down next Saturday, so we will closely watch these two new systems!

And if you want to help, please send $$ to the Red Cross - we collect and ship for the servicemen and women through the Red Cross and it takes forever to collect, sort, store and ship all the items - and a good percentage of what's donated is not even usable or shippable! If you send a $$ donation, they can put it directly where it is needed!"

 

[DaddyDon]

My hopes and prayers are with you!My daughter who lives in st pete left 2 days ago ....lucky for them no damage i hope all is well with you!Give me shout when you can
Don

 

[GeminiMom]

bjakmom,
Thanks for the update, good news that your family is safe.