Report of Building Collapse..

[EverythingIsEverything]

In the Jensen Beach area? people possibly trapped. As well as someone attempted to drive across Intercoastal Highway leaving the Barrier Islands and being blown off the Highway into the water?

My God Have Mercy

[stormchaserCP]

Source?

[vbhoutex]

I hope these reports turn out to be false. I doubt they will though. Too many people just do not heed the warnings. They are not put out for the fun out it!!!

[EverythingIsEverything]

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
1128 PM EDT SAT SEP 25 2004

...DAMAGING WINDS WILL CONTINUE POUNDING THE COAST FROM SOUTHERN
BREVARD COUNTY TO FORT PIERCE...

...THE EYE OF HURRICANE JEANNE MOVING ONSHORE THE TREASURE COAST...

AT 1130 PM...SUSTAINED WINDS OF 73 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS TO 104 MPH
WERE REPORTED ON THE MAINLAND NEAR VERO BEACH WHILE WIND GUSTS OF UP
TO 97 MPH WERE REPORTED NEAR SEBASTIAN. WITHIN THE LAST HOUR SEVERAL
REPORTS OF SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED IN
COLLAPSED BUILDINGS HAD COME IN AT THE 9 1 1 CALL CENTER AT JENSEN
BEACH.

MELBOURNE RADAR SHOWED THE EYE WAS MOVING ONSHORE MARTIN AND SAINT
LUCIE COUNTIES. THE EYE WILL PROVIDE A BREAK FROM THE WINDS AND
RAIN OVER THE COASTAL SECTIONS UNTIL 1 AM. HOWEVER...DAMAGING WINDS
WILL RETURN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE EYEWALL. WINDS FROM THE SOUTH
AS STRONG AS THEY EXPERIENCED EARLIER.

THROUGH 1 AM...NORTH OF THE EYE STRONG WINDS OF 80 TO 90 MPH
SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS OVER 110 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM JUST NORTH OF
FORT PIERCE TO MELBOURNE BEACH. FROM COCOA BEACH TO TITUSVILLE
RAINBANDS WILL BRING WINDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH. OVER
THE INTERIOR...OKEECHOBEE COUNTY WILL HAVE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 90
MPH IN A PRIMARY RAIN BAND. WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER OSCEOLA COUNTY
AS A RAINBAND LIFTS NORTH. WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED SPREADING NORTH THROUGH OSCEOLA COUNTY.

FURTHER NORTH SQUALLS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ONSHORE VOLUSIA COUNTY
AND SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR. WIND GUSTS WITH SOME OF THESE SQUALLS
WILL EXCEED 50 MPH.

[Ivanova]

MSNBC is reporting a building collapse too.

*

[TazzyD]

They talked about the car being blown off the highway on CNN on tv, but also said it hadn't been validated yet.

[BPJR051]

No report of anything like that here in the Martin County EOC. I'm sitting across from Martin County Fire Rescue and they don't have that info either. Plenty of roof collapses but nothing w/ injuries. Not heard of anyone getting washed into the river.

[Sean in New Orleans]

I heard about the car being blown off the bridge, as well. My question---why are any bridges at all open? Here in New Orleans, all bridges here are closed when winds go above 50mph with hurricanes. And there are NO questions asked...no one is allowed to cross--AT ALL. That's why I got confused about the 18 wheeler in Pensacola on I-10. How did he get on the bridge?? Was it not closed??

[jacindc]

The report was that the guy drove around the barricades to get on the bridge. (still all unconfirmed).

[Tri-State_1925]

Earlier in the evening they had reported on TV seeing people driving out to the islands as the storm was heading in. After hearing that, I wouldn't discount that car report. What are people thinking? It's unfortunate that the warnings never seem to reach everyone.

[EverythingIsEverything]

I wonder why he was out there on I-10? the driver had to have known about Ivan's approach. Was the driver found? i found that strange as well

[Sean in New Orleans]

Why aren't police car blockades at the foot of the bridges with live policemen in the cars???

[TampaBayLady]

In the Jensen Beach area? people possibly trapped. As well as someone attempted to drive across Intercoastal Highway leaving the Barrier Islands and being blown off the Highway into the water?

My God Have Mercy

[birdwomn]

Why aren't police car blockades at the foot of the bridges with live policemen in the cars???

The bridges are closed, but there comes a point in the storm when the police will no longer risk thier lives to keep someone off a bridge. This is as it should be.

[MWatkins]

Earlier in the evening they had reported on TV seeing people driving out to the islands as the storm was heading in. After hearing that, I wouldn't discount that car report. What are people thinking? It's unfortunate that the warnings never seem to reach everyone.

The Hurricane Jeanne Darwin Award goes to...

MW

[Lindaloo]

Why aren't police car blockades at the foot of the bridges with live policemen in the cars???

Live policemen?? That makes no sense Sean. Common sense should prevail during a hurricane.

[Pebbles]

Why aren't police car blockades at the foot of the bridges with live policemen in the cars???

Why should police officers have to risk their lives because people choose not to obey common sense rules?? Lets be honest here for a second. People know better then to be driving over bridges or going around barricades during a hurricane... BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN!!!

I am by no means happy to hear people are dying from this. But I bet you all have seen someone drive around train track gates when they are down... Everyone knows better..but there are some who do it anyways because...well they won't get hurt right... till that time the train comes along and *WACK* bye bye

[birdwomn]

I wonder why he was out there on I-10? the driver had to have known about Ivan's approach. Was the driver found? i found that strange as well

Yes, the driver was found in the bay
And yes, I am sure the bridge was closed to traffic, as were all roads at that point. I expect the driver made it across the Mobile Bay causeway and thought if he could make it through Pensacola, he could out run the storm. A bad idea to be sure.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Well, if it's at the height of the storm, it would be ridiculous for anyone to cross a bridge and it would be dumb for live police to be outside. But, until it gets very bad, I think police should be there to protect the "dummies." Regardless, I'm certainly not blaming the police. Unfortunately, we always hear about these people during hurricanes who's own stupidity cost them their very lives. Sad news.

[Pebbles]

Unfortunately when the 'dummies' need protecting is when the police have to start protecting themselves. Make sense? If the winds were strong enough to blow a car off a bridge...the police shouldn't be out on the road... *huggers* Totally understand you are as disappointed by this as I am. Wish there were a better answer.