Hi All,
This is Lucille writing from absolutely untouched Port Saint Lucie, FL. We
didn't even have a particularly bad rain storm. I do know just how lucky
we are because from what I see on TV many others weren't as fortunate as we
were here.

Lot of the evacuees from the West Coast came here to get out of the way of
the storm so in one small way it worked out nicely for our economy, but what
an awful way to make money !!!

Thanks everyone for your concern.

Lucille

"Lucretia Borgia" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 12:53:57 GMT, "Gillian Murray"
wrote:

"Lucretia Borgia" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 11:38:30 GMT, "Gillian Murray"
wrote:

Thanks, on behalf of us in Florida, for all the thoughts and prayers.
DH
and
I returned from a two-month trip away on the Wednesday afternoon, and
scurried around getting ready for Charley. We also have the MIL living
with
us, and three pets. Since it was supposed to be a Cat One storm, and
heading
to the west of us, we decided to stay in the house.(Pets aren't
allowed
in
shelters, and MIL woldn't leave her cat). It is a manufactured ( but
very
immobile) home, but was built just seven years ago to the post-Andrew
specs.
Well, the direction of the storm changed, and it was heading our way,
and
by
then it was a Cat 4, and too late to move out..........Other than
north
and
south, Florida is a very narrow peninsula! By 7.30pm the eye was
scheduled
to cross over our house, just east of Lakeland, and I was pretty
antsy.
By
some strange quirk, it veered to the east just beforehand, and we were
safe!
The maximum wind gust that I measured was 54 mph, and we had 4 inches
of
rain. The power wenr out about 8pm, but came back on sometime during
the
night. We have very minor damage; part of the Motorhome Port has lost
it's
awning, the TV antenna is down, But we are all well and fine!!

A quick report from Lakeland, FL on this calm Saturday morning!!

Gillian.


Sooo glad to hear you are okay, I was wondering all night. Now that
just leaves Lucille and I feel the change in direction was not to her
benefit, I shall feel better when she checks in.

Sheena

Lucille SHOULD have been OK, since she lives to the SouthEast of the
storm.
Now, I don't know about Deb, who lives up nearer to Gainesville. However,
I
don't think Charley made it that far north. It looks as if the Charleston
area of SC is being threatened; I hope not as there is a lot of low-lying
land in that area, which is very prone to flooding. We don't know what
happened in Punta Gorda yet, where the Hurricane came ashore. The TV is
talking of stacks of bodies being collected up in some of the older
trailer
parks, but we won't know until someone can actually get in there, and
find
out.

Combined to your experience with Juan, we had a very easy time of it! Say
hello to the rest of the gang for me, and I will try to get pictures
sorted
out, when I have more time!

Gill

Glad to hear that, maybe she is out of power - she did say they lose
it very often at the slightest sniff of trouble, so here's hoping.

Everyone here is taking a real interest, nothing like going through
the storm yourself for making you aware of others now. I hope the
reports of Punta Gorda are inaccurate, one time you want the media to
be wrong.

I will send the pics to you once you are all settled down and back to
normal. That was quite the welcome home for you lol

Sheena