Hurricane warnings

[Franchesca]

I live in Tampa ... and originally the hurricane was coming toward us then it deviated and hit the Orlando area. But lucky for me (*sarcastically speaking*) my family had a convention to attend in Kissimmee Fl from the 13 - 15. We left Tampa on Thursday night, checked into the hotel and when we woke up on Friday morning we got ready to go to the convention. All the day ... the radio stations (all of them) were covering the hurricane and saying how it was now a category 4 and that it was no longer going to the Tampa area but coming right to us. Anyway, they cut the convention short and we went to the hotel early. The hurricane was schedule to hit our area around 8 - 10 p.m. Friday night. So it did and it was HORRIBLE!!! Wind was so strong it was blowing everything away, rocks were hitting our hotel window, water got into our room, and overall the power went out. Anyway, after it was over ... it all looked like a mess. Power (and in some places the water) was gone everywhere around us. NO LIGHT ... NOTHING!!!! So the convention was canceled for the remaining time and we were sent home. As we were driving away we saw all of the mess ... huge signs had been destroyed and had fallen, trailer's roofs blown off, post and trees fallen ...etc.

Thankfully, the only activity in Tampa was a bit of rain. But I know that in other places it was much more destructible. I've lived trough 3 hurricanes (2 of which were category 4) and now 4 with this one. I know what the damages can be like after a hurricane and I hope that no one in this forum, or FIRST, or anywhere else was terribly affected by Charlie. And even if material damages occur the most important things is our lives so I hope that everyone is safe and secure!!