We in Fl. other coastal areas. Are looking at great possibility, Fl. other areas can be hit.

Right as I started this they just broke in on Oprah. Special hurricane update. Also more rain has started....YIKES..

Keys have been evacuated as of today. Many of us have not even got electric back from Charly & Francis.

Most of us are in structures already weakened no time to get back into shape.

Still trying to get elderly here, from Francis out of flood water.

Even the strong & well are exhausted.
We are
out of gas yet. Much due to lack being able to get in, also no power to fuel up.

Now for us chronically & elders, we are tapped out. I live alone no energy left from all the moving & heavy work past month.

The weak can`t take anymore alot of lyme/fmers ebv/cfids hundreds I saw in small area of Pinellas at out little clinic.

Have no answers myself so fatigued. It takes huge toll, physically,financially, for us already so over burdened.

Hotels are already booked in many areas as soon as evacuation was mentioned just from Keys. For myself I live right on Bay. Am already feeling the barometric pressure change. Wanted to get out for some things too weak to even do so. Know I am not alone.

Please, give your emotional,mental, support if nothing else to chronically ill.

Highest calls from last hurricane, was need for emotional support, from the weak & scared.

I know the short time my power was out. When ill to have no phone, or power is extremely stressful which makes the ill even worse.

This is so big,strong,powerful

The governor right as I am speaking is mentioning the awful stress.

This has never happened in the history of US. 3 back to back.

The ill are getting worse, because they were not strong enough to get fresh food after power out. Literally found ill from eating spoiled food & garbage..

We had 4 days of Frances right after Charly.
Constant pounding can send the sane to mental ward.

I pray for all of you involved on the Lymnet fam.affected.

Know you are scared,good reason, I have already gotten calls from those sick & scared needing emotional support.

Becareful, You need all the emotional support can get. Before we get any sicker.

Thanks for those of you who have supported some of us in FL.

If you want to leave I will find someone to come get you.

Let me know ASAP though.. my resources are limited and I need to know ASAP!

Here is my email address.

I'll do what I can!

Good to see you!

Are you able to do a search and find the Red Cross in Pinellas County, FL phone number? Check my spelling if you will?

Also.. there is a hurricane hotline for Florida. I had it for Charley to use to help some folks.. but no longer do.

Never thought I would need it again so quickly.

I am making calls now to friends and family to see if I can find anyone in that area... anyone who is better off.. who might have ideas. So far no luck!

If you are not able to find the numbers.. no problem. Thanks!!!

The Red Cross office for Clearwater is the Tampa Bay Chapter

(877) 741-1444

http://www.redcrosstbc.org/index.html

The website hasn't been updated since July, but I think they have had their hands full with other projects.

I don't have any friends in that part of FL...
Looks as if donating $ to the Red Cross is it from a distance for now unless anyone has any other ideas...I'm open to them!

Kerry, do you have any specific requests we can look into?

Wow! You are a fast one!

Thank you for doing that! Thanks to you I just called and spoke with a "live" person.

I appreciate your help!!! And I know the others do also.

Kerryblue..

They said there is no order for evacuation yet...

BIG WHOOP!

They said feel free to contact them and they will do what they can to assist you.

I would at least call them and get "in" the system.

Then.. if you need any assistance for yourself or others... you will not have to go through all the rig a ma roe of doing it later.

Do you have emergency supplies together? Are you able to gather them?

Please let us know.

Thinking about you!!!

The Tamp Bay Red Cross Infomation line lady gave me some other numbers as well for Pinellas County....

If you are in Pinellas County dial 211 for all Human Resources Agencies....
Outside of the county call...727-562-1542

For Social Services in the county call....727-464-8400 OR 727-464-8401

The nice Red Cross lady said that grocery stores are open with food, not the best selection, but the basics are available. Gas stations are open, but not as many as usual.

The power outages were caused by flooding rather than the wind, the power substations were flooded and some grids had to be shut down.

They hadn't even got the roof repaired from charley when Francis hit...

Also last night we found out that my husbands gram isn't doing well, they don't think she'll make it through the week.

So we are debating heading to Fl to be with her. She insists she wants us to stay home, but we really want to say goodbye...

We will make up our minds tomorrow..

I know how hard it is to hang in there.

I didnt think Frances would ever leave.

Im here for you. It sure looks like a bad storm.

Im not sure what we are going to do yet. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Jordan

Thinking of you guys, and hope he winds down.

Try and stay safe.

Wishing you luck.

Dr. Ted responded to my Ivan thread over on General Support about the fear factor.

I understand when you are maxed out that you have no strength to even prepare for this after Charley and Frances.

Many have reported that their energy levels are really being affected by these storms.

Not letting the fear take you over is a major part of this.

At the same time based on what I am hearing from survivors of Charley and the projected path I strongly recommend that you take Tincup up on her offer and evacuate. Go stay with someone. Let her get someone there to get you out.

You have already been through a lot...now is the time to get out before it gets any closer.

You asked for support and not necessarily advice, but I don't have a good feeling about Ivan at all.

No fear, just move on out of there!

Love and Peace,

You OK?

Please check Tincup's post and my post in the Ivan thread over in General Support.

Also, please check this link for an update on the projected path for Ivan.

http://hurricane.accuweather.com/adcbin/public/headlines.asp?iws=0

Dr. Ted, if I could I would send you some gin and tonic, but not sure it would make it there before Ivan!

Love, Peace and Safety,

Hope this is a go.

First, Thank you Tincup,Carol,MO,Cbb,Teddy & All of you who have taken your time & energy to help.

Most of the tele No.`s are posted on regular basis for help.

Of coarse nothing is as easy at seems. Red Cross has failed myself & friends few times. SO not sure how feel about them. Shelters, have themselve blown away. Sleep on cold damp,floor/Have to bring everything,lots of screaming kid,echoing noice. Not place for most of us...

It has been the goodwill folks coming in giving out to many with no power have kids, food & water. Doing their best. Yet may have to stand hrs. in line. Same at Home Depot only to find out they ran out.
MY UPDATE?
At this time I called hotels, all booked. Called airlines, could not even get flight out to Cleveland of all places.lol If they even answer phones half places.

Spent most day reaching out, some packing, ordering meds, if can get. Gas is low if ANY DUH>>>. Numerous stations no electric to pump or out of gas from all the folks evacuation mobile homes, from keys, & Islands. Not sure if best since we her are looking at poss. direct hit.

We are smaller than Grenada, 90% wiped out but 1 million people here.I have water both side,

Many I met on lymnet live here are so exhausted such as myself. For 3 days(fatigue & seizue prob.), tryed to get out for more batteries. Heard forget that unless trucks get in. My friends from up north,to Orlando, some no power even yet.

Peoples nerves are frazled. I just tryed to get pics, important paper work etc. In safe places. Have to try to get to bank if money is left in machines. Still dealing with last 2 storms & awful floods. Have to muster up energy to move everything off lanaii, also way from window. My neck & arms/UGH/Still have not been able to move al heavy stuff.

I thank you all, Reason for post if you have anyone you know ill or alone, A call e-mail,keep in touch/ support means so much.

People do not even know where to go anymore. Roads backed up with traffic, besides for running out of gas so long to get from A to B.

My daughter offered to pick me up she lives on Coast S.C. Paramedic who has a 3 day shift & new baby, not well, Poss. lyme.

I could not let her, she offered to get me/ flights/filled.

The point is the people I have met on lymnet or fmers, are sick from all us pushing, low Barometric pressure etc. Couple talked to having Panic attacks,lyme rages. The well are also. So for us soo much harder..

Youe support,kind words, or call ones you have kept in touch with need support especially if alone as I am. I am starting to even get scared. Our homes,tress,etc, are about as weekened as we are.

I live in strong structure, except up higher always have alot of winds.

Our fear when Ill is no phone or contact with rest world. As mentioned Wind pounding alone can test the best push/ over edge.

Nomatter what it is so big no 1 in Fl. can excape. Also other close states.

Your kind words, support, mean the most. Know having my daughter wanting to take the chance & get me, the offer alone mean`t so much. I have for once reached out, Hate having to bother anyone always have.

Also have spent time calling lyme & fmers to try to let them vent & give what I can, that is what they need now. Later may be very basics, depending. Like me some quite ill from past mo. Feeling alone, most do not understand we get so little energy,besides pain ++++++....

Thank you from bottom my heart. So kind of Mc to offer.If I stay do have strong structure(well except for alot of sliding doors,glass,lol....hmmm( my shower is large safe & cozy)lol

If stay, I open my home to those who are stuck...Think being alone with this is getting to me. Am OK if have TV, sorta feel like someone is here with me. So you are welcome.....

Thanks to the wonderful lyme fam.,people have met from net that live here....

My Hugggssss to ALL

Since I realize being alone as I am can pretty frightening from listening to others. See would do me a favor/ no hotel wants this broken down bod... I gather

I also thank couple kind people who offered from lymnet to help me evacuate if they decide to..Hey maybe McTed sounds even more fun...

Your post speaks volumes as to what you and others are dealing with. In no way do I intend for my posts to pressure you.

If evacuation is not possible then batton down as we believe for protection and safety.

The fear factor is incredibly immobilizing and I understand how you need your energy more than ever now. So, please for as long as you can keep in touch with others and let yourself be encouraged.

As you said- just knowing that your daughter and others CARE is a huge comfort.

In no way do I intend to minimize what you or any of the others are going through in attempts to evacuate.

If staying in your present location is how it works out then know that an entire nation is believing for your safety and ALL of those in the path of IVAN-whatever path he takes.

WE CARE!

Love, Peace and Safety,