Hurricane reports from Florida
From Pattie Gibson Sumner
Fort Myers
Friday, Aug. 20, 5:33 a.m.
Hello all,
We're finally getting calmed down here. It's only been a week since we had
our most unwelcome guest. I'm sure you've been watching the news. The
power is being restored to most places. Most of the stores are opening.
Free water and ice is being passed out. Red Cross, Salvation Army and others are giving away free food to those in need. Collections are being taken up for those who need clothing, etc. So many are left with nothing, not even a roof over their
heads. Schools may start here in Lee County Monday. The streets are
cleared enough to get through.
My daughter Debbie still has a job to go to, Thank God. As does my daughter Rachel's husband. There are people from all over the United States who have come in to help. They have been welcomed with open arms. Unfortunately there are, as always, a few "lookie lous" to get in the way. They are usually removed post haste. We have a whole lot of survivors down here. We will recover!
The barrier islands, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte all got it real
bad. The eye of the storm went right over them. My daughter Debbie lives
in Buckingham which is a residentual preserve; it was bad there also.
Only the main roads are paved. Most side roads are dirt roads. They have
pumps for water and septic tanks. Most of these people have farm
animals, etc. This is the way they prefer to live. I keep telling Debbie
all she needs is a horse and buggy. I'm considering moving out there when
I win the lottery and can buy a couple of acres.
From Barb Bender Howe
Maitland
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 11:10 p.m.
Hi All!
Greetings from the plant debris capital of the world! We were blessed in Central Florida to have only material devastation and no loss of human life.
My neighborhood looks like a war zone but clean-up is coming along slowly. I'm at my son's house right now, checking email for the first time since Friday, the 13th. He never lost his electricity and I haven't had any since 9:30 that night. It got too hot for this girl from the north and I succumbed yesterday to repeated pleas to move in with Rick and his family. I'm hoping to be able to go home tomorrow.
Mary Jane (Lewis) and Dick Riedel are spending the month of August at a condo on the west coast near Venice. The condo is on a thin island, two blocks wide and "Charley" was first said to be going to hit at that spot. The island was evacuated and I called and asked them to come to Maitland to stay safe with me! Little did we know! They arrived on Thursday, and Friday we knew we were going to be in its path. We laughed and tried to ignore the wind whistling through the windows, and made fun of Mary Jane who kept asking "What was that?" as she heard noises.
It wasn't until Saturday morning when we ventured outside that we could see the "sea of green" everywhere we looked and a huge oak that had stood in my neighbor's front yard laying across his next-door neighbor's driveway. Then we knew Mary Jane was hearing trees and branches falling against the house and on the ground! Dick raked off my driveway so we could get out and they stayed with me until Sunday afternoon, bearing the horrible heat and humidity Florida is so famous for.
When they got back to their condo, they found no damage, no trees down, no signs of a hurricane! I was thrilled they had been forced to make the trip to my house but sad they had to endure such a few days! Thank heavens they are good sports!
I'm looking forward to those electric company trucks moving into my neighborhood! Thirty-four years in Florida hasn't made me happy with the weather!
From Joe and Farrell Malandro
Palm Harbor
Saturday, Aug. 14, 2:59 p.m.
Hi to all of you lucky Floridians who were spared the destruction of "Charley".
We were in the direct path of the hurricane until 2 p.m. Friday when the storm shifted to the East. How fortunate we consider ourselves. We were in a mandatory evacuation area since we are only 17 feet above sea level and went to visit friends in the same county (Pinellas) as we live in.
I was very concerned and when you look at the destruction within a close proximity and realize this could have been us. We prayed earnestly and put ourselves in the hands of the Lord and we are so thankful we were spared any damage.
From Pattie Gibbons Sumner
Fort Myers
Saturday, Aug. 14, 4:35 a.m.
Greetings from Southwest Florida "War Zone" This place is a mess!!
Hurricane Charley made land fall on Sanibel Island yesterday around 2 p.m. We are just a few miles inland and our area in downtown Ft. Myers looks like hell. We have trees down all over the place. Don't know how many people lost roofs, trees and whatever. We have trees down and
broken branches all over. Several people in our building lost windows. We had water up to most people's knees. In my case the shoulders maybe. Not much came inside the building.
It's now 4:35 a.m. and the power just came
back on. We're alive and that is something to be thankful for. According to news reports yesterday Cape Coral hospital lost part of its roof. As far as I know my family is okay. We do have so much to be
thankful for.
From Rosemary Pagley Flanagan
Tequesta
Friday, Aug. 13, 7:56 p.m.
Hi all:
Am on the east coast, north of Jupiter. This morning was a beautiful day. Clouds and wind since 3 p.m. Watching what is happening on the west coast of Florida and am grateful that we have been spared. Hope for the best for those in the path of Charley. Tomorrow promises to be better.
