Florida and storms

[bevgo]

I am so sorry FL. has to endure yet another storm. I got a small taste of what it is like to expect the big one and not know if your family or possessions will survive. I was inconvenienced by a long drive to evac, 2 days with no power and concern that my house in one state and my apartment in another along with my hubby would not fare well for Ivan. The key word was inconvienced(sp?). I will keep all of you in the track of Ivan in my prayers as I already have the ones of you already affected bu the earlier storms. I hope you all fare well and stay safe.

I cannot imagine how difficult it has been for all of you in florida and everywhere that has had devastating weather from all of the storms this year.

[crice]

I'm lucky enough to live in one of the few areas that hasn't been hammered, but thank you anyway.

[hiflyer]

ahhh it's no problem down here (swallows valium) we have learned how to handle ourselves fine down here with all the threats (swallows prozac). Once you learn how it really is quite easy (washes them down with Cuban Rum and coke).

[Galvestongirl]

Yea, I hate it that they have been the punching bag this year

[inotherwords]

The hard part is that, even if you're lucky enough to be in an area that has only been marginally affected (and all of Florida has been affected in one way or another), it's still been immensely draining psychologically. The stress of watching the reports and anxiety about whether or not the storm will come your way, the stress of whether or not to evacuate or relocate family and pets...the idea that a force stronger than hundreds of nuclear weapons might be headed your way...it's really beyond words. So many people have given the comparison to a war zone or battle fatigue, I really think this is true. At some point your adrenaline just gives out and a "whatever" attitude takes over. You resign yourself to whatever happens, after a while.

I have lived in Florida on and off since 1954 (when I was six months old) and I've never seen anything like this year. Ever. If it was like this every year, I really doubt that you'd see many people wanting to live here. I can definitely see why the similar hurricane-laden storm year of 1926 completely trashed the Florida economy and blew up the land boom. It's really something that the entire state isn't equipped to deal with on a regular basis, and is only marginally equipped to deal with on a periodic basis. Four hurricanes within 7 weeks? It's really hard to fathom, and at this point, unfortunately, it's hard to fathom what life was like before all this, and what it might feel like afterward.

I honestly wonder if summers will ever feel as carefree as they once were when we were so blissfully ignorant of the power of nature.

[Tracie]

I totally agree.

My husband and I live in Orlando currently and have a house being built in Tampa. Due to Charley and Frances, our property values have literally skyrocketed -- so we put our current house on the market early to take advantage of that.

Most of us in florida have just never seen anything like this. it's like a prolonged bad dream. I work for a major computer manufacturer (think blue...) and my customers have also all been in disarray due to the constant preparing, worrying, dealing, cleaning up from hurricanes this year. It's unbelievable.

God bless us all..

[HurricaneQueen]

Great post, Inotherwords. It really sums up what many of us have been enduring and are now feeling even though not in an area of a direct hit (close enough). I am usually so psyched at this point in a storm, running around getting things in order, checking off lists, etc and here I sit at the computer. Tonight when the site is down, I plan to watch TV. If things take a turn for the worse, all of our well thought out plans will be put into action. At least physically we are ready-mentally, I'm not sure at this point?

Hopefully, for many of us this will be a distant memory by Christmas but for many, both here and in the Caribbean, life has been altered forever. You never forget the sights, sounds and smells once you've gone through a catastrophic event.

Lynn

[inotherwords]

Lynn, exactly about the sights and the sounds. For me, the sounds of a storm, even Cat I, are almost more than I can bear. I have an IPod I charge up and keep ready in case I have to curl up in the fetal position in the closet. Ever since I've been through a hurricane, and the worst I've experienced directly is a Cat. 2, I can't stand the sound of the wind howling without my blood pressure going through the roof.

One thing I at least can feel OK about with Jeanne is that I probably won't have water in the house. I'm only 1/2 mile from a Gulf inlet as the crow flies, and only at 11 ft., so I'm a lot more at risk from storm surge from a hurricane in the Gulf than from winds in one crossing the state. But I still can't bear the sound. The iPod has been a real help in that regard. I could do an Apple commercial, in fact, curled up in the corner and singing along with whomever. I don't know if that would sell a lot of iPods nationally, but the FL and Gulf Coast stores would probably sell out

[drudd1]

Thanks for the wishes bevgo. We are taking it in stride here, almost like the movie Groundhog Day. Haven't gotten back to normal from Charley or Frances, but man, have we got the routine down pat. Heck, only 13 total days without power, five without running water, lost track of how long the phone didnt work, and the cleanup is the pits, but we made the best of it. Unfortunately, many homes have tarps that wont make it through another one, and water on ones head is the pits. We already have plans for a big barbeque with the neighbors after the storm passes, drink some beer, eat good food, listen to the hum of generators, and begin cleanup..............again. To all the other Floridians out there, be safe, take a deep breath, have a beer, and just think, hurricane season will be up in a couple of months. Oh god, thats depressing.........

[aumoore]

Tracie, you said your property values skyrocketed due to the last two hurricanes. Was this the Orlando property and why such an increase? Was it from people coming from the beached inland? I figured people would be scared and moving out of Florida and values would decrease. Anyone else have a similar situation?

[yzerfan]

My family has a condo in Destin. (minor roof damage and moderate-severe beach erosion from Ivan). The other day, Mom got a call from a real estate agent saying that he wanted to tell her that her unit came through the storm in relatively good shape, and that their office was anticipating steady to slightly increasing property values in the next year if she was interesting in listing it, blah, blah. The storm might scare away some people from buying on the beach, but that Destin would probably also be getting people who still wanted to buy property on the north Gulf Coast beaches and didn't want to have to deal with the reconstruction issues on Pensacola Beach and the AL Gulf Coast.

Come late winter when it's snowing Up North and the beaches are rebuilding themselves, sunny Florida's going to start sounding good again.

[debraw]

Hi there! Checking in from Jupiter. We're right on the Palm Beach/Martin County line and we got the eye of Francis, and are still waiting to see what part of Jeanne visit. I must admit I'm TIRED. I can't believe this is happening again. The mess is still on our streets from Francis and that's a huge concern too. We still don't have a working home telephone line from Francis. I'd cry, but I don't have the energy. We've been doing gas lines, food lines, Home Depot lines again for the past 24 hours already and it's unthinkable to imagine the week ahead. I'm a small business owner and this has all been quite painful to my business. I hope I can survive another one in all areas of my life. I have to drive to Miami to work tomorrow (I'm a photographer) and won't be able to head back from Miami to Jupiter (about a 2 hour drive) until 10 or 10:30 pm . . . do the math and it's NOT pretty, but I'll be having a child home alone until I can get there (17 yr. old) so I'll be driving thru the hurricane to get to him. If I weren't under contract to provide services I wouldn't, but Miami doesn't seem to be cancelling or postponing anything, so I think I'm stuck.

I hate this

[Tracie]

Aumoore -- it's basically supply and demand. We are in a newer neighborhood (2 -2.5 yrs old) where all the properties made it through both storms just fine (knock on wood) . A few bent young oaks and some water that came in through a window or two is absolutely nothing compared to the many neighborhoods that have tarps on every roof and trees in/against their homes. I can't express my gratitude and appreciation for as lucky as I have been.

The realtors have said that there just isn't any inventory here right now. People who move here for whatever reasons -- jobs, family, etc.. still are moving here. When they only have 10 homes to choose from instead of 30, the property becomes a bit more valuable. Homes like ours sold for 15k less just a few months ago. This is coming from the realtors mouths, not me.. And realtor.com shows the same. So as a home seller, I can't complain about that.. Although driving through town still makes my stomach turn for those less fortunate than me.

[Guest]

This is a sign of things to come in the coming years/decades.

[FlaCrabhead]

Hey All...I'm new here but appreciated this thread and wanted to add my 2 cents. if that's okay....

Here in St Aug the worst we received recently were effects of Frances. Had to make a mercy-run to pick up my elderly folks in Daytona and bring them up so at least they would have company and not feel so alone.

The worst things I experienced from this that I haven't seen any of you mention are:

1. having to stay strong in front of your kids and parents when you are terrified inside

2. trying to sleep at night with no a/c, in a hallway where air does not circulate, while listening to tornado warnings on the radio and trying to determine, in your sleepless confusion, if it is headed in your direction or not

3. Having to go back to work when you still don't have power, the kids are still out of school, your parents are still frightened, and there are still tornado warnings. Going to work andhaving to concentrate on my job (because the rest of the world hasn't stopped working) when I wanted to be at home comforting my family tore me up inside. I had a meeting my first day back and, while listening to all the b.s. and realizing these people were wasting my time, made me cry. I didn't care who saw me...I'd just had it.

I think of the people who have been hit severly in other areas of Florida and I count my blessings. At least I have a job to go back to, to pay my bills if my house should be damaged, to feed my family a hot meal, to take a hot shower and wash the day's stresses away. What I could not imagine is having no house, no job, no way to pay the mortgage, car payments, etc. That would be my total breaking point. And it amazes me how these people say "At least we have each other and we are alive." I do not know if I could be that strong. They have my upmost respect and are at the top of my prayer list...and it's a long one, believe me!

Stay safe all...I'm as tired of this as the rest of y'all.

[Sanibel]

We are still surrounded by wreckage piles along side the streets here...

[bevgo]

No way could I possible understand what ya'll are going through. I evacuated to Merididn MS for frances with my daughter and 1 y/o grandson. We already had plans to go to Meridian for the weekend to celebrate the baby's 1st BD but ended up going Tuesday. My daughter left Ocean Springs that AM with the baby and I was unable to leave till noon and had to leave from Chalmette LA where I work. I talked my son into going to Houston with his girlfriend and her family--he had a 22 hour ride from Marrero LA. It took me 7 hours to make what is normally a 4 hour drive but not as bad as some. My hubby had to stay behind in Ocean Springs MS at the hospital where he works--mandatory--not choice. On the way to Meridian I just started crying. I was leaving the husband I have had for almost 30 years, leaving all my precious momentos, my house in Marrero and Apartment in Ocean Springs and taking only 2 disc with the baby's pictures and some clothes. I realized if frances hit where predicted I could lose all. I could deal with the material loss--although it would hurt but I was terrified for my hubby. Wednesday night frances took a slight westward jog and we had 60-70 mph winds in Meridian. Power went, tornado took out the TV tower for the local channel. we could hear trees cracking and the wind moaning. When it was over late Thursday evening 60% of the city was without power. We were trapped on the road my mom lives on with trees and power lines down everywhere. We finally were able to get into town to go to wallyworld to get a few supplies late that night. A trailer down the road had 3 pines through it. Looked like they had sliced through it. Thank God no one was hurt or killed. We had a couple of days of discomfort with no power and spent the 2nd day without power driving all over town taking damage pictures. We had it much worse than my hubby I was so worried about-LOL. I again cannot imagine what the people that did lose everything feel. Thanks for all the coments. I hope everyone stays safe.

I am praying for Jeanne to make an unpredicted loop right back out to sea and spare everyone. I certainly don't want to run from another storm ever but know I will.