I am in the Hurricane Frances Strike Zone!

[Alley McInnis]

Anyone else out there close by? I am in Boynton Beach!

[GACC Dallas]

Alley,

Good luck and may God watch over you and yours.

My wifes sister is in Orlando. She's got two teenage daughters. So we're thinking about all you guys.

Her exhusband got on a plane two days ago for New Mexico. Left her and the kids behind. What a guy.

Take care,

Ed.

[Dick Seibert]

Somebody better hold Sonny down, he'll blow aaway in this one!

[Dick Seibert]

This is really a mean one.

[Ode...]

Most of my native Floridian friends are afraid to be caught in the traffic jams on the highways currently. I know the traffice is horrific here about a thousand miles away from some of those folks. Our motels and hotels are full and booked. Previously closed campgrounds have even been opened. AND guess what? It is coming through here too. The last projection from NOAA that I saw was predicting up to 7 inches of rain on the mountain tops. If it happens, more of our mountains and their roadways, homes, etc will slide off into the creeks, rivers, and valleys as with hurricane Opal before this one. NeOrleans can grow even more...
We do not experience the wind usually as much as we do the rain. It will according to predictions not be kind to AL, GA, and parts of TN, and naturally FL. Our local community already has emergency rescue units staged to go to FL.
For the uninformed, Frances is slowing around the area between the Grand Bahama Island and Florida's coastline. This area is over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. When hurricanes slow over warm tropical waters, they frequently gain strength. This one does not need to go there to do trememdous amounts of damage. FL will lose fire station, police stations, and emergency shelters if this strength gain happens.
With Charley and now Frances with Ivan heading their way too, FL is going to be one big disaster area. Since it will no doubt dominate the headlines, remember hurricanes do not have to lose strength just because they cross a state line.

[Dick Seibert]

Ode:

I predict some drastic strengthening of building codes in the entire South after this, and I have to wonder if mobile homes are even going to be allowed anymore. Our drastic codes took effect after the Northridge and Loma Prieta quakes, the costs of construction soared after the new codes went into effect.

[Ode...]

Dick:
Hell, those storm targets/mobile homes are now two stories high! Can you believe it?
Yes, I expect the IRC to do more, but the IRC needs to understand that much of the damage will occur to pre code modifications now in force.
We will see?

[Sonny Lykos]

It looks like Naples wil be on the outskirts of it. Most of it is going to go Noth of us, so I think we'll only get some rain and high winds. Still, glad I didn't sell my generator adandn two window air conditoners.

Dick, starting tomorrow when go out, I'll duct tape my feet to two half concrete blocks with their core fill with concrete. Mmmmmm. Maybe I'll duct tape each block to a skate board and wind surf everywhere.

On another more imortant note, for months now I've been getting my evening coffee free at The Clock Restaurnat (24/7) becsue I peridically do minor 15 - 30 min. repairs for them at N/C. The Dunkin Donuts where I get my two morning coffees has a drain leak in a 1" drain that overflows and drains out under the counter cabinet into the public floor area. Plumber said it was fixed, but it wasn't. I found out the problem and will fix it tomorrow AM in about a half hour or less. Hopefully from then on, I'll also get my morning coffees free also. Then all I need is a Hess gas station or 7/11 that needs periodic repairs and the Marlboros will be free.

Heaven on earth. What more can a cig. smoker and coffee drinker want? I know, I know - to be a non-smoker!

Almost 2:30 AM here and still no high winds or rain.

[Alley McInnis]

Its a little after 7 am srong winds and rain from feeder bands nothing serious yet. Dick, I agree mobile homes should be outlawed! They caused many deaths in Hurricane Charley. Our building codes were revamped after Andrew Dade and Broward County follow the South Florida Code which is more stringent than the rest of the state.

More to follow......



Alley

[Andrew R.]

I predict a lot of flooding for there, Richmond Va. had 20 blocks of the city condemned last week because tropical storm Gaston stalled out over Richmond like this ones doing and dumped rain for hours and also was moving slow. Need some of Dicks window flashing specialties to tape off the house instead of sandbags. They call the flood repair guys "the four foot crews" in the midwest dont they....they take out everything from the floor out up to the first drywall seam?

[Sonny Lykos]

Andrew, geez, I hope they leave the bottom four feet of the studs. (-:

[Dick Seibert]

Don't worry guys, Allan has pilot standing by and the GV fueled and ready to go to Florida to get you if things get too bad. I told him to put a carton of Marlboros on the plane, and to Hell with his no-smoking in the plane rule, Sonny's going to need something to relax after this.

[Sonny Lykos]

Damn straight Dick!

Actually, I just returned from Home Depot with trim, paint, wallpaper, and some misc. stuff. Told Barb her bathroom and living room are going to be finished over the next 2-3 days.

Gas stations and convenience stores like 711 have been out of gas since this morning. Being a man with half a brain, I filled up both vehicles with gas yesterday afternoon and even got 7 gallons for the generator. Started last night with the shortage of gas, but by God, cigarettes are still available and I bought a bag of Dunkin Donut coffee grounds so I have the "staples" I need.

[Dick Seibert]

Derrell sent me this picture of the current condition, so I taking the liberty of posting it: http://www.fototime.com/{52A6D1F7-18...1}/picture.GIF

Hang on down there guys!

[Rick Hoge]

And then there's IVAN out in the Atlantic. It's forcast to be a major cat. 4 hurricane by tuesday.

And guess where it's headed.

I hope not!!

Rick