Update from Anna Maria Island....not chat on Ivan yet

[Terry]

No - I just cannot deal with Ivan til tomorrow. Frances impacted my family's structures n the Abacos, SE FL, me in Central FL and our westcoast island home. Tomorrow, Ivan, but just not yet.

Traveled to Anna Maria this afternoon. Looks basically like a strong tropical storm there --- leaves and fronds down, heavy street flooding (normal, even in thunderstorms). However, there was very strong beach erosion which wiped out the turtle nests. ( I believe that the turtle population has taken a huge hit in Bahamas and FL due to nests being wiped out. Not something we've yet heard about.)

Storm surge tides came very high up the beach. Two more feet and you could have surged down my street. The waves were the highest I've ever seen there in many years. And quite a confused sea. Yes, the surfers were out.

Intersting - there were some palms cut in half. Not sure what variety - not coconut, possibly royal palms. I grew up on the east coast of FL and don't remember seeing palms cut in half.

Probably the worst hit home was that of a friend from Lakeland whose house right on the Bay and just a few houses east of Rod and Reel Pier. Several Casarinas were uprooted and flattened her carport and broke the water line and electric lines. Thankfully, the rest of the home was fine and the utilities guy came by and shut off the water.

Ok, a glass of wine and then maybe I'll take a look at Ivan. But the track better not look even near the Abacos or FLA or you will hear my SCREAM.
Really not too much damage there. Note - my brother-in-law loves these island weather events, but as of 5am today, he said it was just too frightening so he went to the mainland. (Jeez - and his brother was trimming an oak tree in Lakeland during the height of the wind. What a sissie.)

[bahamaswx]

Not all the uncommon to see the top ripped clean off a palm tree. More often you'll see them uprooted and blown over... but decapitated palms aren't all that rare. It kills them though, might as well chop the rest down.

[Terry]

Not all the uncommon to see the top ripped clean off a palm tree. More often you'll see them uprooted and blown over... but decapitated palms aren't all that rare. It kills them though, might as well chop the rest down.

Thanks, bahamaswx. I've seen them uprooted and decapitated, just not cut in half.

Glad you were OK with Frances. We're still getting reports out of the Abacos. Certainly nothing like Floyd and my home there is fine. I was actually suppose to be there this weekend and I'm waiting to see if we need to fly-in any emergency supplies.

[Sanibel]

Charley blew a palm tree several hundred yards out into shallow San Carlos Bay where it is still sitting upright like a dying palm growing out of the sea...