Huricane francis

[Franchesca]

Originally Posted by Stephen Kowski

wow...just heard a report from the other side of florida.....the guy could barely talk cause he was dodging debris....pretty nuts

Me on the other hand I got together with RogerR and spot welded outside in the rain....stay safe ppl....

Pff ... that's nothing!!

Since I've been watching nothing but the news on this hurricane (I blame my mom for that), I saw a guy who was on the shore by the sea and the water was so strong that it was literally pushing him back. Until finally, this tide came in, and it wasn't even that high - just really strong - well it swept him off his feet and sent him like a bowling ball straight into the camera guy (the bowling pin) who then fell and the signal was lost. Thankfully he was ok after that and that just made me want his job even more!! Besides being funny ... it was pretty scary because that was earlier this afternoon when Francis hadn't even entered!

Then there was the guy who was sleeping in his room and a palm tree fell on the roof of his house. Then the ceiling started falling on him. His ear was bleeding, which is by no means funny just worrying!

And I will recommend that if you are going outside for any reason ... like for example to take pictures ... tie yourself to a light post or something like that ... so you don't go flying away ... hahaha

So again! If you live in Florida ... PLEASE BE SAFE!!

[The First Lady]

WOW, This is the one I always feared would come when I lived in FL. I spoke to an friend that lived in my old neighborhood in Royal Palm Beach. As I was on the phone with them their neighbor's roof landed in there backyard. Their roof was loosing shingles and they were not sure if their roof would hold out. Their fence just snapped the 4x4s and blew away. The conversation ended when they decided to move into their bathroom to ride out the storm. This is a SCARY storm. I pray that everyone will be survive this devastating storm.

[Redhead Jokes]

I have an online friend who works at FL animal shelters and was evacuating animals to Michigan before the hurricane, in order to be free to help with the local animal shelters. She hasn't been able to update us with another im ever since :-(

[Swampdude]

YAHOOOO!!! We got power! Thank you Thomas Edison! I've never appreciated the stuff like a day without it in this humid heat. We've been roughing it for only one day but most people are still in the dark. Thank God they got us up. I'm about 15 miles inland - just south of Jupiter and north of
West Palm. It's been quite a ride. I didn't think it was ever going to end. But truthfully the worst damage around here is just trees and some roof tiles. No serious structural damage. At least where I'm at. I've called people around the coast and they had similar damage. The news is focusing on the worst of it. They really know what they're doing as far as the category grades because it sounded like the world was coming to an end, but everything structurally held up great. I've been out chopping trees all day. All the neighbors are pulling together. Phone service is in and out too, but somehow I've got DSL modem sync.
Anyhow just thought I'd let folks know we're doing OK out here. But it's going to be a big cleanup. The main thing is the power. FPL was out here first thing this morning going at it. God Bless em I can imagine people will get uncivilized real fast without some power in another day or 2.

[Ryan Albright]

WE recieved power again this morning, we were out for a day and 1/2 but thank God its back on. You really notice stuff you take for advantage when you have electricity. The past two days i have gone out and helped friends that had alot of property damage. Luckly my house was spared for the most part. I have taken alot of pictures and i will load some when i go back to college. I dont know how orlando faired, i will be returning there either today or tommorow. I know my apartment has no phone or internet but thats all i know. Thank you everyone for your prayers. Now we just gotta watch IVAN

[Barry Bonzack]

I'm back up and running. I stayed at a Days in between International Drive and I4. I could see Wet 'N Wild and Universal Studios attractions from the 2 floor. My house did not even loose power this time, so I am grateful. I got to see my OU game, my house is okay, and I'm alive, what could be better? I spent some time watching the slow path and worrying about my friends in Stuart. Just got word this evening that things weren't as bad as I had feared. Wheeeew. My prayers go out to all families without power.

I'm attaching a picture of I4, the main road in downtown Orlando to Universal and other touristy attractions. I was amazed that there was not a soul on this monster to have to merge on.

[Stephen Kowski]

we are still without power at my apt complex, but roommate and I have found engineering building on USF's campus to be open and with power/Wi-Fi access. oh well i guess I will be spending the night here....anyone in tampa come by and say hello....

[Franchesca]

Originally Posted by Stephen Kowski

we are still without power at my apt complex, but roommate and I have found engineering building on USF's campus to be open and with power/Wi-Fi access. oh well i guess I will be spending the night here....anyone in tampa come by and say hello....

Who wants to go by and see you??!!

Anyway, it's pretty interesting because my apartments haven't had a power outage. We haven't had any problems with flooding or broken signs, or else. But other parts of Tampa Bay have not done very well ... flooding, power outage, etc.

It didn't hit Hillsborough County as bad as other ones but we are still not done with this hurricane season. So brace yourselves!! We got another one coming!!!

*In all seriousness ... I hope that everyone is ok and I appreciate all the support from other FIRST teams towards us here in Florida going through this tough hurricane season.* THANKS A WHOLE BUNCH !!!

[Stephen Kowski]

Originally Posted by Franchesca

Who wants to go by and see you??!!

Anyway, it's pretty interesting because my apartments haven't had a power outage. We haven't had any problems with flooding or broken signs, or else. But other parts of Tampa Bay have not done very well ... flooding, power outage, etc.

bah, we are not as lucky as you Nadia....10-14 days w/o power....at least I still have clean water.....

[mtaman02]

My thoughts and prayers are with all the Floridians who haven't had the chance to clean up from charley and now facing francis.


I just hope that Florida sees francis as its last hurricane. You guys can't take much more beating out there send francis to NY for a day or 2 we could use some rain and maybe a lil wind =)

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

I just hope that Florida sees francis as its last hurricane. You guys can't take much more beating out there send francis to NY for a day or 2 we could use some rain and maybe a lil wind =)

Hurricane Ivan is suppose to hit Florida on Saturday at 8 a.m. and its a catagory 4 hurricane...

[Stephen Kowski]

thx for the reminder arefin.....im gonna be without power forever.....=P

[Ryan Albright]

Well i got back to my apartment in Orlando today and as of what i can tell we didnt loose power. There is damage yet again so clean up has started again. UCF will return to school on wed. So tommorow i will be taking advantage of a day off and going to Island's of Adventure, need a break before ivan heh?

[Katie Reynolds]

I thought this was pretty neat ...

http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov//pub/goes/...09.frances.mov

^ The week-long path of hurricane Frances. GOES enhanced ^

Be warned, it takes a few minutes to fully load.

I hope everyones ok fromthe hurricanes and stuff. How many hurricanesdo u guys get that liek crazy.