My hubby and I did not receive any damage to our home in Central Florida but we did have to evacuate overnight, only to return home to no power for 6 more days.� Our phone required power to work.� I have now purchased a phone which can operate with batteries and a phone line!� We lived for 6 days in our old motorhome parked in front of our home.� No fridge, water pump nor water heater, but we survived since the generator ran electricity, microwave�and air conditioning!� I lost the entire contents of two large refrigerators and had to clean up THAT mess!� �So, we have been truly blessed!
Power was restored late Wednesday afternoon and I slept ALL day Thursday in my own bed.��
My body is worn and wracked with pain because my driveway is VERY steep and it took multiple trips to move back into my home.� The motorhome cannot get up the driveway.� Well, neither can I now! ha.
Please remember to pray, meditate, or whatever you use, for all those who were greatly affected by Hurricane Charley and the following thunderstorms as well.� All of you know how stress makes our lyme symptoms so much worse.�
Hurricane Charley�cut a much larger/longer path than most hurricanes do.� It started in Southwest Florida (Sanibel Island)�and exited at NW Florida (Daytona Beach).� There has been BILLIONS of dollars worth of damage done.� Twenty percent of our citrus crops have been lost, which means the cost of o.j. will be exhorbitant soon.� It will take Florida years to recover from this one.� So far the reported death toll is listed at 23 but speaking from experience, I know that the TRUE number will never be told.� I KNOW of many groups of illegal aliens who were killed in Hurricane Andrew but never reported by surviving relatives/employers.�
Florida is also a leading cattle state.� So far, no one has listed the cost of animal lives lost.
Well, guess I had better get on with reading/posting.
I thank the Good Lord daily for each of you!
Lovey
I feel for you or anyone who is not well. It is so much harder. That is when we really realize we can not keep up with the normals.
So many loney sick elderly eating tainted rotten food. The devastation. When I drove to where I was going tears just started to run down my checks. Looking at how beautifully groomed that area was. What it could have looked like. Really hit me.
As you mentioned the live stock also. Crops. People injured ill already & alone for many.
It is hard for me to say I am so thankfull, because then I think of those who are already ill,scared,no strength to get what they need as the healthy people can.
I send all my hope,blessings & spiritual strength one can muster to get through this horrific time in Florida.
I also thank my lymnet friends & fmers who opened there hearts & home to me if I decided to evacuate. Since being on Bay we are 1st evacuation zone.
Calls from people I never met in person to take me in meant more than I can say. THANK YOU>>>
I hope Lovely you can get back to normal. I have not been on net due to the hurricane & it taking so much out of myself. So I send you a bunch of huggggsss, & bleessings you made it through. For us it is scarier not to have certain amentities we are used to. Just knowing we have a phone if we get sick etc.
Take Care try to rest as much as poss. This whole thing has been horific emotional strain on all..So glad you are atleast safe now.
Thanks for the updates.
So sorry to hear about all the problems, but so glad to hear how you're doing.
Hope the next update will report lots of improvements.
Good to hear you both are alive and kicking. Sorry for the mess you have Lovely.. wish I could help!!! I hope you can get some rest and feel better soon!
Kerry blue.. did you see the other posts where we've been checking on you all? We HAVE been worried. Good to see you reported in... I hope all is back to "normal" soon.
I just... FINALLY.. heard from my son. He has been working on Sanibel Island all week trying to help out.
It has been VERY hot there with little breaks.. but yet he does not complain.
But I can complain (I am a mother).... GEEZE!!!
I told Dr. Ted to watch for him from his window... he shouldn't be hard to spot.
He is ONE of the IDIOTS out there all day in the direct sun wearing full firefighting gear and clothing.. long pants, long sleeved heavy nomax shirts, etc.
You would think with a heat index of over 105 degrees that they would be allowed to wear SHORTS and cooler clothing.. but NO...
I will bet those guys are frying from the inside out... as are all the folks there with no electric and little left to cling to.
It appears he will be there a good while.. unless another emergency pops up in the meantime.. HOPEFULLY NOT!
I wish I was there to help.
Even while sick there were things I could do.. like load up my pickup truck with coolers full of ice, bottled water or soft drinks... and ride around handing them out to road crews, police officers, anyone working in the sun.
You should see the smiles on their faces when I pull up next to them and stop along the road.. and before they can yell at me to keep moving and stop blocking traffic.. I say..
"Quick.. get an ice cold drink from the cooler in the back. QUICK NOW.. I don't have all day!!"
They are suppose to NOT take it.. but when you say to TAKE IT... with authority.. and they are suffering in the heat.. they kinda forget the rules a bit in the commotion.
They will run to the back of the truck.. throw open the cooler.. grab a drink.. and smile as they back away from the truck and I pull off.
The folks I am holding up behind me on the road smile too when they see what is going on... when at first they wanted to fuss at me for slowing them down.
Maybe someone down there will do a similar act of kindness for those working and suffering through this disaster?
The smiles make it all worth while.
We do not always see those who are to sick to speak for themselves.All the heavy work I had to do, put me down the rest of the way.That is what worries me we were missed& I am quite ill from the preparing.
We are short term society,there are so many that have yet to get help.Also hope no other lymnet friends are alone. Things are still very bad.
I feel stupid even beginning to sound like a whiner.
Please people, think how you feel when you are sick. Now stop & think how alone so many sick & elderly are still without elctric or phone. Have been eating garbage,spoiled food, running out meds.
Anyone who knows of anyone in area who can help this is being noted almost at bad as Andrew.
I wish I was better, I feel so helpless, not being able to do more for the weak, & ill who are alone. Many people are hurt,sick,lost their meds.
It is going to take a very long time. If anyone can help. As said think how sick you are some days. The heat is getting to them. Tempers are flaring due to once again buracracy that has kept the water & food so many dearly need.
I will try to find the post. I just think how sick I have been this past week just from taking every ounce of energy to prepare. Then to take direct hit on top I do not know how would have been able to make it myself. Not able to drive far I stayed. It could have been any of us.
This is a true disaster. The strong even are exhausted.
If anyone can help these poor sick & elederly people please try to get the word out.
We also had Very severe storms moved through all day today. Not helpful....for sure..
I thank all of you for your support & thoughts...Hugggssss
[This message has been edited by Kerryblue (edited 21 August 2004).]