FRIDAY THE 13TH!

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by raymaniac

Does anyone have any bad/good luck stories about Friday the 13th or any other superstitions?

How about surviving a Category 4 hurricane with 135+ mph winds, while you are stuck in a hotel only 12 miles from the eye?

Hurricane Charley made landfall on the evening of Friday, August 13th, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. While it was still light outside, there was a whole forest outside the hotel room I was in. The next morning there was all of three trees left, and they were in such a horrible condition they would likely die or need to be cut down.

Most roads in the area were unpassable. Some buildings in the area were a complete loss. Outside of our hotel - which had a backup generator - there was no electricity, no landline telephones, no cell phone service. There was evidence of either a very strong microburst or a Category 0 or 1 tornado only a 1/4 mile from our hotel room.

Somehow though I'd probably classify this as a good luck story. It's not until after one sees the full force of what Mother Nature can dish out that respect for the weather is learned. I've been through countless nor'easters and 2-3 foot blizzards, tornadic thunderstorms (as in funnel clouds passing overhead and touching down the town over), and an ice storm, but Hurricane Charley was the worst.