My mom’s parents, Harold and Arlene Ward, live in a nursing home in Fort Meyers, Florida — currently hurricane central.
Category 4 Hurricane Charley is working its way toward Orlando and Daytona Beach after whipping through west-central Florida on Friday, and its 145 mph winds and 10-foot wall of water is causing many people to evacuate. There are reports of damage in Cape Coral, Sanibel Island and North Fort Myers. […] Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said Hurricane Charley may be providing “the nightmare scenario that we’ve been talking about for years,” adding it’s “going to be bad — real bad.” […] Charley made landfall at 3:45 p.m. EDT on the barrier islands between Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, and about 160 miles southeast of the Tampa Bay area that includes Tampa and St. Petersburg. On Fort Myers Beach, sea water swamped the barrier island. A hotel operator described her resort as “going under.” She and her husband braced themselves, along with six hotel employees, in the center of the Pink Shell Beach Resort. Almost 2 million tourists and residents were told to evacuate.
Yesterday, Mom forwarded on an e-mail from her Aunt Roberta (Grandma’s sister, if I’m remembering the family tree correctly…if not, mom or dad can correct me)…
About l0:00 o’clock Arline called and asked I e-mail you to let you know they have been told they will probably —even today—have to go to the hurricane shelter. They do not know too many particulars except they will be looked after and helped whenever they need attention. They were told to take clothes for two days. As you can guess Arline isnot too thrilled with the idea! Gotta go. RobertaPrayers, kind thoughts, or good mojo of whatever sort are, of course, appreciated. More Hurricane Charlie news. Another e-mail from mom that I just found in my inbox:
I just called and Mom & Dad must still be in the garage/shelter (It’s 8:25 there now). I left a message for them.
From the satellite photos and news articles it appears that the brunt of the storm hit Port Charlotte, a community about 35 miles north of Ft. Myers. All reports stated, though, that storm winds cut a swathe extending 35-40 miles on each side of the eye. I’ll keep my eye on the progress and post again before I go to bed for the night.
I’ll check my e-mail again before I head out of work tonight. Unfortunately, after that I won’t be able to check back in until sometime Monday (at the latest), as Prairie and I are heading down to Woodland to visit her mom and sister and jaunt across the river to Portland to visit OMSI. I’ll see if I can grab a moment at a computer to check in at some point, though. In the meantime, have a good weekend, everyone. Update: G-and-G are back at Shell Point Village, safe and (mostly) sound. Here’s Mom again…
I just got off the phone with Mom. Hooray! The storm watch in the shelter is over. They got home about 9:00 pm Friday.
The hurricane made landfall at Port Charlotte, about 35 miles north of Ft. Myers, which was a bit of a surprise since the weather folks had said for hours and hours that it would hit at Ft. Myers. The saga: They were awakened at midnight (Thurs - Fri) and told to be ready to go at 2 a.m. It took another hour before it was their turn, so they left about 3 a.m. with their pillows and blankets. They rode a bus. Mom was worried about getting in and out, but since she’s home again, she must have been able to do so. The shelter is a parking garage when not in use as a hurricane shelter. She said there was no feeling of being in a storm at all. The overriding feeling was of being in such a crowd of people. The cots were set up with barely room to walk between the rows. They had three meals served Friday. Mom lauded the planning and organization of the whole transfer and assistance while in the shelter. The first worry was getting into the bus. The second worry was getting to & from whatever the bathroom facilities were. Mom seems also to have negotiated through that problem. Dad, though, didn’t do as well. He fell [a couple of times, and when they got back home, was] taken to the Pavilion (the hospital). The nursing staff speculated the fall was a result of dehydration. Mom can’t maneuver sufficiently to have gone to the Pavilion, so she will call tomorrow to find out the actual diagnosis and treatment. It was dark at the time they were taken back to King’s Crown, so she had no idea what damage had occurred. The Village is without electricity (as is most of southern Florida), but King’s Crown has a generator so there are lights and elevators and whatever else needs power. The good news is they coped with the shelter experience; the bad news is dad’s at the Pavilion. I’m thankful, along with Mom, for the wonderful planning of emergency services for Shell Point, and for their safety without having to evacuate their little island. Now I’m going to eat pizza and watch Olympics.
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p>I’m glad they’re both pretty much safe and sound — with any luck, Grampa’s fall was just a little dehydration, and he’ll be back up and about once he gets a few more fluids in his system.
In any case, it appears that all their excitement is over with. Time for me to shut this down and head out for my weekend adventures. Be back sometime Sunday night…
CJ
Brandon
Tim Who?
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We’re hanging in there with you.
Mom has a good friend in Tampa. One of my oldest friends in the world lives in Orlando. That aside - we’re Florida-philes.
The two of us were broken hearted to see so many places in Key West boarded up. CNN showed some guy slamming plywood over the windows of the jewlery store right next to Jimmy Buffett’s bar.
Glad to hear everyone is ok.
Hi Anyone heard news of my cousins in Punta Gorda - Peter and Theresa Madeiros. We’re in the UK and seeing the news and we haven’t heard from them. Any news will be good. Thanks Elaine & Mick
my aunt, uncle, and two cousins live in cape coral, really near fort myers. they left and went west for a couple of days while charlie blew over, came back, and their house was perfectly fine. they were so lucky! i’m glad your family is safe too.
Hi, Went down to help in Punta Gorda Yesterday. The Place is a mess, but they have a lot of help there and it is very organized. I am going down again tomorrow to help with the red cross. Elaine, I have wrote down the names, and will check when I go down there and write back. I can tell you that the people down there are all pulling together, and some trailers did weather the storm, not many, but some. The houses did pretty good. I never thought people would be so over joyed with seeing Hot Coffee. I live in Sarasota, and was prepared for the storm. I moved here with my 3 children 7 years ago from Punta Gorda, and believe that God had a hand in that.
i moved here to cape coral about a year and a half ago, sunshine state??? lol its monday night 6:30 pm and weve just got the power back on,that ac sounds great hahaha. i’m from england so i’m not used to the heat here i watched the whole thing out of my back screen room and i’ve never seen and never want to see anything like that again in my life. everything is ok here,i just wish i could say the same for others.
My hushands parents live in Fort Myers, in San Carlose park, I live in Knoxville Tn, I called the police in Fort Myers to have them check on them and they told be they seem to be ok, there phone line is still down, could anyone tell me if San Carlose park got hit, and do you know when the phone lines will be back on? I was gonna mail them my cell phone?
Please let me know Thanks, jAIME kABAI
My in-laws have a house in Ft. Meyers, fiddleleaf drive. Does anyone know if there was damage there? They haven’t been able to get a hold of anyone.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mary
I live in Cape Coral, Florida, moved here 2 years ago, nothing could prepare me for the fear I was going to feel living through a hurricane. I pride myself on being a strong women that can handle anything, let me tell you i was sobbing like a baby from 2-6pm on Friday the 13th when Charlie came for an unwelcomed visit to florida. I was fortunate that I have no damage to my home, Although it was hard dealing with no Electric,Water or Phone and of course TV (I have kids), I kept telling myself that at least I have my life and my home. I have nothing to complain about, 95+ degrees is hot but least i have a roof over my head more than some…Lets pray for those who arent as fortunate, and lets give thanks for the thousands of officers and volunteer people helping to rebuild our communities. It is very hot, i delivered cases of water to the policeman manning our non working traffic lights and they were so thankful…If you have the opportunity stop by to say thank you they will appreciate it, if not keep them in your prayers. I live here and I see first hand how wonderful this community is coming together to help.
hi
can anyone tell me the damage in fort meyers estero beach.
My dad lives on Scott Street in Punta Gorda anyone know how that street survived?
Our place is South Sees Plantation, Plantation Beach Club III on Captiva. Antyone know how it withstood the hurricane? Thanks
South Seas Plantation did not fare well. Captive was split into two islands by Charlie
Hi, I keep hearing rumors on the internet that Charlie’s death toll is alot higher than reported. Does anyone have any info on this? If so please e-mail Joan iobask@clover.net
HOW DID THE SHALIMAR MOTEL ON SANIBAL DO??????
i feel bad.
How did the Tropical Inn at Ft Myers Beach do?
I feel really sorry for all of you over in America where the hurricane hit. I live in Australia so unfortunatley I don’t know what it’s like to be hit by a hurricane. In Australia we only get cyclones which aren’t as bad. Any way, I hope that you can all recover well and live happy lives again. Just remember that if I was over there in America, I would be doing all I could to help. Sending you luck and blessings.
My parents have a house on Daytona Beach… Anyone know if there was any damage there? Thanks!!!!
My parents have a house on Daytona Beach… Anyone know if there was any damage there? Thanks!!!!
i am going to fort myers beach in october! best western resort how is the hotel? i try to call phone just rings and rings
what happened to orlando is it open yet???
I have friends in fruitland park fl, does anyone know how they fared though the storm , what and how severe the damage was there , Are the phone lines back up? been trying to call them and it just rings and rings…. are they back in there homes yet? did they have homes to go back to? any answer would be good ,thank you
I have friends in fruitland park fl, does anyone know how they fared though the storm , what and how severe the damage was there , Are the phone lines back up? been trying to call them and it just rings and rings…. are they back in there homes yet? did they have homes to go back to? any answer would be good ,thank you
kathy ur friends died
Look, that was uncalled for. I’m rather pleased that people have been using this page to try to get word on various areas that Charlie hit (though a bit amused at the same time, as being based in Seattle, I have no way of answering any of the queries myself — it’s been nice to see a few people actually providing answers), but let’s try to stay away from the juvenile death humor, okay?
i dont care at all,
love wilson McDoogle
I am a nine year old fourth grader doing a paper on what a hurricane can cause. Could someone tell me ten things that Hurricane Charlie caused to happen?
Wow pretty intersting for a Hurricane status sheet
i am wondering if anyone knows the damage in jacksonville? my husbands grandfather lives there.
hay hay hay hows goin
If there is anyone in or close to Boca Raton, Florida please give me some information about it. My cousin’s boyfriends grandparents live there and they have been trying to reach them for a week now and can’t reach them. Please help….His grandfathers name is Dan Sansome. I feel so bad for all of these people who were caught in this disaster. I will pray for all of you there.
my really good friend that is somewere down there i pary that he is ok. i will pary for everyone.
hello, I am a high school student in Hilliard, Ohio, and i am apart of an organization at my school called Renaissance. We are wanting to come down and help anyone in need! As of now we are planning on how to collect money for anyone in need down there and help anyone or any organization in need. We can provide food, clothes, money, etc. So if anyone knows of anyone or any organization that needs volunteers, i would appreciate it if u could reply to this! Thank you all!