What are Charley's lessons???

[JimB.]

Having ridden out another one, and having been very fortunate in that the strorm took a bit of a right turn a few hours before was to arrive in our community, I've been thinking about "what if's" and how to lessen the impact of future strikes.....................

Sooooooooooooooo here goes (FWIW).......

1. Don't be complacent. Prepare for the worst. Anything less is gravy.

2. Prepare your home, both physically with barrier protection, & financially, with appropriate insurance. IMHO, it's not appropriate, or fair, to underinsure your property & then cry to the government for help when you were to cheap to protect yourself.

Keep the wind OUT. Most damage to a structure occurs after a wall or window has been breached, and the wind destroys home from the INSIDE. Look at the pictures. Most structures appear to "explode", not "collapse".

3. I think we are going to find out that many communities government's are not doing their job when it comes to enforcing building codes. They were strengthened after Andrew, so the destruction SHOULD have been on a lesser scale, but it does not appear to be so.................

The "Deemed to comply" standards enacted have standards that should withstand steady 110 mph winds and 140 gusts. If a house is flying apart at 90 or 100 mph winds, it was not built correctly. Or inspected properly.

4. Manufactured housing (specifically mobile homes & double wides) & Tropical Weather are INCOMPATIBLE. They DO NOT GO TOGETHER. DON"T MIX. OIL & WATER.

There is a reason you can buy a 1500 sq. ft. house for $15-20K. It's because they are made "on the cheap". I see "sections" of houses laying on the ground. Whan an entire bathroom is on the grass in 1 piece, it's because it wasn't attached to the rest of the "house" correctly.

5. In the end, remember, it's just stuff. My DD was calling me on the phone friday night while I was at work asking me what would happen if the house got damaged. I basicaly told her to relax, & if the house got hurt we would just fix it. Or in a worsst case, we would "get a new house". Safety of family is more important than "stuff". "Stuff" can be replaced. Family can't.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Good post, JimB. However, don't be so hard on the people who own mobile houses. It might be all they can afford. I'm sure if they could afford "safer and better" housing, they would. I agree with the shoddy construction and inspection procedures. Money still talks and a Ben Franklin or two could cause an inspector to look the other way. With the way construction is booming in S. Florida, who could properly inspect all the buildings anyway?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Always let your loved ones know that you love them...You may not get the chance to do it tomorrow.

(I am here by the phone waiting, praying, to hear from my mom so I can remind her that I love her.)

 

[wdw4us2]

I wouldn't denigrate anyone who lives in a mobile/manufactured home. That may be the only home they can afford.

That said, when a Hurricane Warning or Tropical Storm Warning is issued up your entire coast, GET OUT OF YOUR HOME! I don't know why people who live in these homes continually think they can "ride the storm out" in those dwellings. That is why there are shelters open during these emergencies.

I just finished reading an article in our local paper about a couple in Punta Gorda who did just that. It's a miracle they weren't killed. The homes on both sides of them were destroyed.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by wdw4us2

That said, when a Hurricane Warning or Tropical Storm Warning is issued up your entire coast, GET OUT OF YOUR HOME! I don't know why people who live in these homes continually think they can "ride the storm out" in those dwellings. That is why there are shelters open during these emergencies.
.

Because until it happens to you you just can't understand. I always said the same thing. Why do people stay? Well, we stayed. I know I won't do it again but something comes over you and you stay. It's hard to leave. We really did run out of time when they upgraded the storm to a cat 4. We were soooo lucky. Our area is devastated.
We are safely in Miami now with our family. Something we should have done three days ago! Someone was looking down and protecting us for sure. Our home has minimal damage and little flooding. We'll deal with it when we get back. Our neighborhood is a mess.
I feel so badly for the people of Punta Gorda and PC, it's mainly a retirement area.

 

[Saffron]

I guess be prepared is the best motto if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes.

We may relocate to Florida *someday* and we were just talking about this last night. I said there is no way I would leave my dog anywhere (a huge black Lab). So ahead of time I would need to know shelters (hotels, motels) in areas that I could evacuate to, that would take dogs and be a shelter from a hurricane if need be. I'd need to know several places in several directions I guess.

Right now I have a suitcase that has every personal care item you can imagine in it. It also has a change of undies, socks and a nightgown. In an emergency I can just grab that and GO! I'd have to make up one for the dog. I don't have one now and I should! Thanks for this post, JimB! I never thought of that!

I would also keep a huge, empty Rubber Maid storage bin with a list of all the "had to have" things in it, like pictures, special knick knacks, jewelry cases etc., something that could be pulled together quickly and shoved in the trunk of the car.

I'd also have to have all the emergency supplies: water, candles, flash lights etc. on hand to be shoved in the trunk of the car.

I'd make preparations ASAP. I'd rather have the lawn furniture put away and things battoned down and be safe, than have to run around the last minute doing all those things. I'm a worrier and full of anxious energy when something like a blizzard is predicted, so it would be in my nature to do all those things way ahead of time, as soon as a tropical storm was called. As soon as the weather forcaster around here say, "Sss" as in "snow", I'm the one at the store buying supplies to last a month, even if only an inch is called for.

And yes, for those who live in modular and mobile homes, I'm sure if they had a choice, they would have different housing. It would be wonderful! if everyone could own their own "regular" home.

Those were the lessons I learned. I also learned that anything can happen with those darned hurricanes! Look what was predicted and look what actually happened.

 

[Micca]

Actually I didn't feel that Jim was critical of the people living in mobile homes, but rather that mobile homes in areas with a history of hurricanes are not a good idea. We have a nickname for mobile homes here in tornado alley...they are called "tornado magnets". It seems like every time a tornado does any damage, it almost as though it sought out mobile homes. It is not in anyway to disrespect the people who live there

 

[Viking]

JimB,
thanks for your post.

So Charley didn't cause any damages in St Augustine?
I'm asking because we will be spending a week there soon.

 

[Feralpeg]

It seems a lot of damage here in Orlando is due to trees. I think people should do regular maintenance on their trees. Don't let big limbs hand over your home. Have them professionally pruned every couple of years. Call the power companies if the limbs are hanging over lines connecting to your home. In Missouri, we had a lot of problems due to trees and ice storms. Much of it could have been eliminated if people cared for their trees on a regular basis. My new neighborhood has little trees because it is a new development. We never lost power.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by Saffron


I would also keep a huge, empty Rubber Maid storage bin with a list of all the "had to have" things in it, like pictures, special knick knacks, jewelry cases etc., something that could be pulled together quickly and shoved in the trunk of the car.

Funny thing, I have those Rubbermaid containers and when it happened I was shoving stuff in them left & right! I ahve papers and pictures in treasures in them right now back in FT. Myers. It's going to take me a very long time to re-organzize all that stuff!

 

[orvilleair]

Originally posted by JimB.

3. I think we are going to find out that many communities government's are not doing their job when it comes to enforcing building codes. They were strengthened after Andrew, so the destruction SHOULD have been on a lesser scale, but it does not appear to be so.................

The "Deemed to comply" standards enacted have standards that should withstand steady 110 mph winds and 140 gusts. If a house is flying apart at 90 or 100 mph winds, it was not built correctly. Or inspected properly.

The government can start by enforcing the codes in their own buildings. Didn't Punta Gorda lose their fire stations and post office to the storm? Port Charlotte high school was severely damaged. The police station was evacuated. These are the places people go for emergency shelter. I've been in fire stations around here, and they are not built to withstand a small tornado. As for the trailer parks, maybe mandating that more emergency shelters are built in the parks themselves.

 

[bsnyder]

Well, I know this is no comfort to the people in Charley's path who's lives have been devastated by the destruction, but the State of Florida actually got pretty lucky with this storm. It could have been far, far worse.

This was in the Tampa Tribune this morning:

Tampa Area's Fate Would Have Been Far Worse
By TOM BRENNAN and DOUG STANLEY The Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 16, 2004

TAMPA - The images of devastation from Charlotte County provide but a glimpse of what might have happened in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties if Hurricane Charley hadn't unexpectedly veered east.

``A hurricane coming up the mouth of Tampa Bay is a planner's worst nightmare,'' Jim Hosler, research director for the Hillsborough County Planning Commission, said Saturday.

``The storm surge alone would have covered everything up to Interstate 275,'' he said. ``That would be a disaster of monumental proportion, even without factoring in wind damage.''

The difference wouldn't have been in the force with which Charley slammed into land.

``A Category 4 storm doesn't discriminate,'' said Eric Oglesby, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. ``Charley would have had the same destructive power no matter where it hit.''

But there would have been more to damage - more houses, businesses and people.

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have 13 times the population of Charlotte County and 11 times the number of homes. Property is valued almost 10 times higher.

``The dollar figure for damages would have skyrocketed if it had been us,'' Oglesby said.

Experts said it is too early to make direct comparisons, but some are obvious.

Charlotte County has a population of about 153,000, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates. That is about 214 people per square mile.

Hillsborough County has about 1.1 million residents, or 1,000 people per square mile.

The population is more concentrated in Pinellas, where there are more than 926,000 people, or nearly 3,200 per square mile.

The same holds true when it comes to dwellings.

Hillsborough has 425,962 housing units. Pinellas has 481,573. Charlotte had 79,758.

The Florida Department of Revenue put Charlotte's combined property value at $14.7 billion, compared with Pinellas' $71.4 billion and Hillsborough's $72.3 billion.

``If it stayed on [its projected] course, it would have been much, much worse in monetary damages and loss of life,'' Hosler said.

Dennis LeMonde, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Office, said a storm surge of 13 feet to 18 feet normally comes with a Category 4 hurricane such as Charley.

Hosler said that would have been enough water to flood all of the 40-odd Tampa neighborhoods south of I-275, including Sunset Park, Port Tampa, Bayshore Beautiful, Old Hyde Park, Davis Islands and Palma Ceia.

Hillsborough County property data show there are about 40,000 lots in that area, with the value of land and structures in excess of $26 billion. About 122,000 people would have been affected.

LeMonde said such a storm would have winds up to 155 mph.

Hosler said such winds would probably destroy the wood-frame houses of east Tampa, West Tampa and north Tampa.

Such winds would cause an extensive collapse of walls and roofs regardless of the type of construction material, LeMonde said.

The biggest difference would have been with mobile homes.

``Charlotte County has about 6,000 mobile homes; Hillsborough has 60,000,'' Hosler said.

Then there are the economic differences.

``Hillsborough and Pinellas County are the economic engines for the west coast of Florida,'' he said. ``It would have taken years and years to get back to the same economic levels.''

Hosler said businesses would have taken a double- barreled hit.

``First, there is the costs of recovery and restoration, then there is the loss of sales and activity,'' he said. ``You would never be able to recoup the loss of business activity.''

Hosler said such losses in an already fragile, recovering economy would have had ripple effects on workers.

``Not only would people be losing their houses, they could be losing their jobs,'' he said.

LeMonde said county disaster officials are constantly running drills and computer models to improve performance.

A recent mock exercise studied a Category 2 storm hitting Hillsborough County.

Its 105 mph winds destroyed 98,299, or 30 percent, of the county's 326,308 buildings, mobile homes, houses and businesses. Only 22 percent would have escaped unharmed.

It would have left up to 10 million cubic yards of debris to haul away, enough to pack more than 384,000 standard neighborhood garbage trucks.

``I hope people take these lessons to heart and we can learn from it,'' Hosler said.

 

[Talking Hands]

Don't wait to upgrade your homeowners insurance until the hurricane threatens. Once there is a watch or warning in the state you will be out of luck. And please don't be mad at your insurance agent. It is not his call.

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by Saffron
I I said there is no way I would leave my dog anywhere (a huge black Lab). So ahead of time I would need to know shelters (hotels, motels) in areas that I could evacuate to, that would take dogs and be a shelter from a hurricane if need be. I'd need to know several places in several directions I guess.

No shelter would take a dog, and usually the day after a hurricane hits, every motel in a 100 mile radius is full-with Utility workers and carpenters ready to fix the damage.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by JayBee
No shelter would take a dog, and usually the day after a hurricane hits, every motel in a 100 mile radius is full-with Utility workers and carpenters ready to fix the damage.

Well, I drove to Miami which is more then 100 miles. Worth it IMO, there was plenty of room at hotels in this area.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Definetly take care of your trees. When Isabel hit Richmond (100 miles offshore) last year as a Category 1 our area was in turmoil for weeks. There are a lot of trees here, I'd say every other yard had a tree over 50 feet fall, and a lot of homes were hit. Roads were closed for weeks, as were schools. Some in the more rural areas lost power for over a month. I can't imagine what a 4 could do.

 

[issa]

There are shelters that will take pets. They are specificly listed as pet accepted.

They we're talking quite a bit of how older people (who really NEED to be in a shelter due to limited mobility or health concerns) will not leave thier companion animals. And so they were puttting a spotlight on those shelter that DO accept pets

you must bring vaccination records and your own animal food and equipment (leash) and even better if you bring a carrier or kennel to give the animal a sense of security in confinment. Somtimes with all the stress and the new place with lots of new voices..its simply easier for a dog or a cat to have a quiter, dark "den" to hide in.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

You are so right! I feel so bad for the people who were in Charley's path.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by JayBee
No shelter would take a dog, and usually the day after a hurricane hits, every motel in a 100 mile radius is full-with Utility workers and carpenters ready to fix the damage.

Actually, this is NOT the case. There is usually at least one shelter in every county that will accept pets.

In Orange County there are two. There is one up in Ocala. I do'nt even live in FL yet, but I've already taken the time to locate the shelters closest to me that I can go to with my pets. I have the closest three with directions to each.

As an FYI, there are various places that will take your pet for a longer term if your home is uninhabiltable after the fact. Most breed specific rescues, as well as many general no kill rescues have volunteers that will harbor pets displaced by a natural disaster until their families are in a position to take them back. Generally they want them up-to-date on vax, with proof. Some request a small fee to cover food expenses, others do it for free as a gesture of goodwill. We harbored three ferrets here in NJ after September 11 in NYC for two people who were unable to live in their homes for about a month.

Anne

 

[Miss Jasmine]

As far as building codes go...the most strigent ones (the ones that Jim B mentioned) did not come online until 2002, 10 years AFTER Hurricane Andrew. I dare say that outside of Dade and Broward county (those counties have even HIGHER standards), there is no home that is hurricane proof. Just because a house is destroyed does not mean it was not up to code.