Hurricane Dennis

[Gabe]

I know that Bob P and other board members are in the direct path of the storm. Right here at my house, we are getting some gusts and rain here and there, but nothing compared to what the hurricane has done accross the Caribbean and what it will do when it hits Florida.

Stay safe and keep us informed of what ever happens Bob.

[Bob P]

Thanks Gabe. I will keep you informed of how it's going. Of course, If I lose power, I will call Chuck and ask him to post any info. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. This stuff is getting rather old.

[Bob P]

Made it!!!...Again. Came through the hurricane in pretty good shape. Lots of debris to clean up as well as some roof damage to repair. Other than that, Hurricanes Opal, Ivan, and the many tropical storms we have had here had pretty much taken all the trees away from around the house that could have cause significant damages. Actually, we did fairly well. The beaches here didn't do so well though. Lost about 6 feet (deep) of sand ( most of it was part of the replenishment from Hurricane Ivan), lost highway 98 Between Destin and Fort Walton (again), and those closer to the beach did sustain some significant damage in places. Winds here were steady at 56 MPH and gusted to over 80 occasionally. Lets hope we get a break from any future storms for a while. (EMILY...That means you!!)

[Gabe]

Glad to hear from ya Bob!!

I was watching the news throughout the whole thing, and it seemed to me that Dennis behaved like no other hurricane I knew. When the eye past over the reporters covering the story, there was a calm and after the eye, there were no more winds. The radar showed that the eye was passed them and that they should have received reversed winds, but they didnt. The hurricane was dead on its back side.

I thought it was interesting, and the panhandle is lucky because of this, because if the back side would have had winds (like almost every hurricane that I know of) the winds would have lasted for twice the time, and the damages would have been a lot worst.

Anyway, glad to hear that you are ok, and if you have any pics to share (like after Ivan) post them in the board. Im going to post some pics of the damage around my neighborhood tonight.

[Gabe]

Here are some pics I took from around the neighborhood. Just trees down and some damaged roofs. Pic quality isnt that good because I took the pictures with my recorder and not by digital camera.

[wavysteps2003]

Having gone through three 'canes last year and numerous 'canes throughout my life (Hawaii - 2, Guam - 4, New York - 2, Key West - 2) I do know the devastation that these forces of nature bring. I was sorry to see a place that I am very familar with (my wife and vaction up there in our RV) get hit a second time in so short a period. I guess it is one of the prices we pay for not having to deal with the cold, earthquakes ( I was in the one that hit San Jose, 7.1 ) and F4/F5 tornadoes, although we do get those, but very seldom. We pick up the pieces, consider our selves lucky that we can and go on with life.

To all of you that were in the path of Dennis, I hope that you had little or no damage, that it does not effect your lives detrementally and that while cleaning up the mess, you came look up at the heavens and smile, knowing that you made it through another one.

You all take care.

Wavysteps2003

[Gabe]

I know what you mean wavysteps. I have also been in a couple of hurricanes. In the last major hurricane that I was in, my family and I took refuge at my grandfathers house two blocks from the beach, and the water surge by the middle of the hurricane was getting under the front door of the house. IN that same hurricane, 2 trees fell on the house, the family business was heavily damaged. We even saw a piano in the middle of the street that had blown off one of the windows of the apartments across the street from were we were staying.

I have great respect for these storms, and it looks like tropical depression 5 (possible hurricane Emily) will go south of us Ft lauderdale, and make it to the Gulf of Mexico. It seems that this hurricane season was a continuation of last years...

[Bob P]

I already told possible hurricane Emily to leave us alone. I am sure she will respect our wishes Gabe...I will post pics pretty soon. I will get some of the beach here.