Hurricane Season 2004 Scrapbook of Headlines

[recmod]

Hey Everyone,
I have continued to work on my website covering the 2004 Hurricane Season.
I just started a project in conjunction with this site that I'd like some feedback on. I created a scrapbook containing all the articles featured in the Orlando Sentinel, beginning with Charley's threat to Florida on August 13. I have begun to scan the articles, with all associated photographs and started to re-create the scrapbook online. Is this a wasted effort, or is there actually any interest "out there" to view this sort of thing? Check out the scrapbook page and tell me what you think.... So far, only the first 24 pages of the scrapbook are complete.

Thanks in advance,
Lou

[HurricaneBill]

Wasted effort? Absolutely not!

I'd be interested in seeing it.

[camilletider]

I think its great. Some of these stories are hard to access between fees and ads galore. I would have gotten these myself but had to draw the line somewhere, as in time spent searching and going through the various sites and articles. You have provided those of us who consider our data on these storms incomplete without this material a way to obtain a good slice of the best articles. Thanks. Is there any kind of material you would like to have on other aspects of the storm?

[fjf31970]

That is definatly not a waste of time.Thank you very much for posting that.

[recmod]

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to thank those who have written to me with words of praise and encouragement for my Hurricane Website. I've been adding more pages to the Orlando Sentinel Scrapbook portion and now have 40 pages complete.

Here's the url:
Hurricane Scrapbook

I have been a hurricane tracking fanatic since 1977 and have always kept scrapbooks of all the newspaper articles. I have all the reports from such historic storms as David (1979), Frederic (1979), Allen (1980), Elena (1985), Gloria (1985), Juan (1985), Kate (1985), Gilbert (1988), Hugo (1989) & Andrew (1992). My scrapbook coverage for Andrew actually takes up 6 books with a total of over 1,000 pages of articles. What a project THAT would be to upload to the website!!!

I am also getting ready this week to do a study of the Central Florida area 6 months after Hurricane Charley. I will be filming a lot of the local neighborhoods where hurricane damage is still very evident. I will put together a photo essay on the website this week showing the lingering effects of the storm in the Orlando area. I'll let you guys know when that is completed and ready to view.

--Lou

[HURAKAN]

Before of all, I have to congratulate you for the extraordinary coverage of the 2004 season that your website provides. To see the pictures of the systems once again is like to relive the amazing journey impossible to forget from one of the most important seasons, so far, of the young 21st Century. Now, the Scrapbook of Hurricane Charley is just breathtaking, I also collected some newspapers to remember in hard copy the system, but your extent of information is just astonishing. Keep up the good job, and let's wait for another exciting season as 2005 is prone to be.

[Cookiely]

Since I am a genealogy fanatic, I see this as a contribution to the future generations. A great compilation of articles for them to see how their ancestors were affected, a historical timeline. Keep up the good work. It is definitely NOT a "waste" of time.

[Opal storm]

Great collection of photos!Those are some incredible pictures from Charley and Ivan.Great job!

[recmod]

Hi Everyone,

As I mentioned in an earlier post this week, I have been doing a photo study around the Orlando area to document how Central Florida is recovering from last years' hurricanes. I have posted the results on my Hurricane 2004 Website. You may view the pictures at:

6 Months After Charley

Anyone who lives in the Orlando area knows that, for the most part, the commercial areas have nearly completed their repairs from the storms. The only lingering damage are the many business signs that were blown out by the high winds. While many businesses have replaced the signage, some work remains.

The residential areas, on the other-hand, have struggled to some extent. There remain a large number of homes throughout the area with roofs that have tarps covering damage. Many yards continue to have downed trees,...or the huge uprooted stump remains. There are still a lot of downed fences in yards. I found that, in some cases, homes were sitting abandoned...left in the condition they were the day after the storm. Still others have been completely bulldozed, with "For Sale" signs left on the vacant land.
Speaking from my own personal experience, I know it is still near impossible to get a roofing or fence contractor. Most companies continue to have months-long backlogs. I have been embroiled in an ongoing battle with my local town's govt offices who are threatening me with $100 a day fines if I do not get my fence replaced around my backyard pool. I have resorted to presenting city hall with signed statements from fence contractors to proove I am not sandbagging the work.

All in all, this has been a trying and stressful year, working through multiple damage / insurance claims. If 2005 comes anything close to last year, I think many will throw- in-the-towel and move out of Florida.

--Lou