FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL STORM LISA...LOCATED ABOUT 1215 MILES WEST OF THE AZORES.
CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS HAVE INCREASED IN THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA SINCE YESTERDAY. THIS ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW. SLOW DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE ONCE THE SYSTEM REACHES THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A WESTWARD MOVING TROPICAL WAVE ARE CENTERED ABOUT 525 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. ALTHOUGH THE ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED SINCE YESTERDAY...UPPER LEVEL WINDS ARE NOT FAVORABLE FOR SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY. FORECASTER AVILA/AGUIRRE $$
Thursday, September 30, 2004
FEMA Stats - Hurricane Season From Hell!
A rundown of FEMA's aid activities this season. (For the storm season at-a-glance go to: 2004 Storm Season.)
Note that FEMA lists the number of applications submitted, but not the number processed or approved. Instead, the agency discloses the dollar amounts approved, which, by all accounts (from Florida), is much more impressive than the number of processed applications.
Many hurricane victims report that FEMA employees will not even talk to them until precisely 9:00 AM and when they are forced to talk to victims, they avert their eyes, quote policy and disengage as quickly as possible.
I understand that - sort of. Florida is a difficult state to look at right now. There is misery, suffering, emotional and physical collapse; it's hard to watch...I get it.
But emergencies are like that. Is it unreasonable to expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be equipped to manage...errr...emergencies? And the very human outflow from those emergencies? Apparently, it's beyond the scope of FEMA's ability to show a little human decency and compassion. Or perhaps utter disregard for human suffering is part of the "policy" they all seem to know by rote. Leave it to the Feds to pour water on a drowning state.
Okay, < end rant >. And for what it's worth, here it is:
Alabama: Ivan, 64,995 applications for aid, $38,898,706 approved.
Florida: Bonnie/Charley, 220,458 applications, $138,233,233 approved; Frances, 300,671 applications, $184,697,275 approved; Ivan, 69,756 applications, $25,589,664 approved; Jeanne, 20,364 applications, no funding approved yet.
Georgia: Ivan, 1,541 applications, $1,068,881 approved.
Louisiana: Ivan, 3,665 applications, $1,672,444 approved.
Mississippi: Ivan, 5,975 applications, $2,414,114 approved.
North Carolina: Frances, 5,254 applications, $4,556,527 approved; Ivan, 3,346 applications, $1,651,399 approved.
Ohio: Ivan, 4,225 applications, $4,998,189 approved.
Pennsylvania: Frances, 742 applications, $297,080 approved; Ivan, 12,970 applications, $6,805,261 approved.
Puerto Rico: Jeanne, 32,444 applications, $5,546,998 approved.
Virginia: Gaston, 3,968 applications, $5,804,758 approved.
West Virginia: Ivan, 3,651 applications, $1,880,762 approved.
Note that FEMA lists the number of applications submitted, but not the number processed or approved. Instead, the agency discloses the dollar amounts approved, which, by all accounts (from Florida), is much more impressive than the number of processed applications.
Many hurricane victims report that FEMA employees will not even talk to them until precisely 9:00 AM and when they are forced to talk to victims, they avert their eyes, quote policy and disengage as quickly as possible.
I understand that - sort of. Florida is a difficult state to look at right now. There is misery, suffering, emotional and physical collapse; it's hard to watch...I get it.
But emergencies are like that. Is it unreasonable to expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be equipped to manage...errr...emergencies? And the very human outflow from those emergencies? Apparently, it's beyond the scope of FEMA's ability to show a little human decency and compassion. Or perhaps utter disregard for human suffering is part of the "policy" they all seem to know by rote. Leave it to the Feds to pour water on a drowning state.
Okay, < end rant >. And for what it's worth, here it is:
Alabama: Ivan, 64,995 applications for aid, $38,898,706 approved.
Florida: Bonnie/Charley, 220,458 applications, $138,233,233 approved; Frances, 300,671 applications, $184,697,275 approved; Ivan, 69,756 applications, $25,589,664 approved; Jeanne, 20,364 applications, no funding approved yet.
Georgia: Ivan, 1,541 applications, $1,068,881 approved.
Louisiana: Ivan, 3,665 applications, $1,672,444 approved.
Mississippi: Ivan, 5,975 applications, $2,414,114 approved.
North Carolina: Frances, 5,254 applications, $4,556,527 approved; Ivan, 3,346 applications, $1,651,399 approved.
Ohio: Ivan, 4,225 applications, $4,998,189 approved.
Pennsylvania: Frances, 742 applications, $297,080 approved; Ivan, 12,970 applications, $6,805,261 approved.
Puerto Rico: Jeanne, 32,444 applications, $5,546,998 approved.
Virginia: Gaston, 3,968 applications, $5,804,758 approved.
West Virginia: Ivan, 3,651 applications, $1,880,762 approved.
Welcome to Florida, The Hurricane State
From the BBC:
"The world is getting this awful picture of us", said Nicki Grossman of the Broward County tourism bureau.
"We are now known as the Hurricane State."
Read more: 'Hurricane state' fears more storms
"The world is getting this awful picture of us", said Nicki Grossman of the Broward County tourism bureau.
"We are now known as the Hurricane State."
Read more: 'Hurricane state' fears more storms
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Doing our Best
We're doing our best to help people in need, but Floridians are stretched thin. After Charley, a lot of Floridians opened their hearts and their pockets and donated clothing, food, water and cash. In our case, the entire contents of our hurricane kit went to migrant workers in Duette. The contents, acquired over time, had to be quickly replaced when Frances came calling.
After four hurricanes, the season has become costly for everyone who lives in Florida. Even if you haven't been hit hard chances are you are feeling the economic effects. There are the evacuations, the spoiled food due to power outages, the plywood and tools, the lost work, and the supplies laid in each time you have to "hunker down." (I've learned to despise that term.) That's only the short list. For us, add the water heater and Jim's injury during Frances. But we're very fortunate; we have the resources to get back normal. (Though I don't think most people in Florida will get back to a true sense of normality for a long time.)
With residents stretched so thin, Florida needs help:
Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
Florida Red Cross Chapters
Floridians will appreciate anything you can contribute.
After four hurricanes, the season has become costly for everyone who lives in Florida. Even if you haven't been hit hard chances are you are feeling the economic effects. There are the evacuations, the spoiled food due to power outages, the plywood and tools, the lost work, and the supplies laid in each time you have to "hunker down." (I've learned to despise that term.) That's only the short list. For us, add the water heater and Jim's injury during Frances. But we're very fortunate; we have the resources to get back normal. (Though I don't think most people in Florida will get back to a true sense of normality for a long time.)
With residents stretched so thin, Florida needs help:
Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
Florida Red Cross Chapters
Floridians will appreciate anything you can contribute.
Hot Water: A Beautiful Thing
We got our hot water back last night. We would have had it Monday night, but the water heater was wired wrong and the plumber didn't want a thing to do with that. Can't say I blame him.
Lucky for us, one of our friends is an electrician. Though he couldn't make it Monday night because of car problems, he said he'd be here on Tuesday. As promised, he left work and came straight to our place last night. In less than 30 minutes, we had hot water again! Not to mention a properly wired hot water heater. And this is just the thing about our little community: he wouldn't let us pay him for his work. The water heater and install were a bit spendy, but the wiring cost us a beer.
Believe it or not, we were both too wiped out to take a hot shower last night. This morning I'm looking forward to my first hot shower since Saturday and to not washing dishes by hand in boiled water tonight. It seems like a small thing and it is, but we're reminded that many people are without shelter, power, water and food and many lack the resources to obtain any of those things. We are grateful for the tiniest comforts these days.
Lucky for us, one of our friends is an electrician. Though he couldn't make it Monday night because of car problems, he said he'd be here on Tuesday. As promised, he left work and came straight to our place last night. In less than 30 minutes, we had hot water again! Not to mention a properly wired hot water heater. And this is just the thing about our little community: he wouldn't let us pay him for his work. The water heater and install were a bit spendy, but the wiring cost us a beer.
Believe it or not, we were both too wiped out to take a hot shower last night. This morning I'm looking forward to my first hot shower since Saturday and to not washing dishes by hand in boiled water tonight. It seems like a small thing and it is, but we're reminded that many people are without shelter, power, water and food and many lack the resources to obtain any of those things. We are grateful for the tiniest comforts these days.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
We Can't Let Our Guard Down Yet
This piece of sunshine from the Miami Herald:
Forecasters: Hurricane season is "not over until it's over"
Forecasters: Hurricane season is "not over until it's over"
Another from the "You're Not Safe Anywhere" Files
PARKFIELD, Calif. - A moderate earthquake struck Central California on Tuesday that was felt from San Francisco to the Los Angeles area.
Moderate Quake Strikes Central California
Moderate Quake Strikes Central California
Monday, September 27, 2004
Florida's Costly Season - Will It Ever End?
There's been a lot of speculation statewide about the costof this season and the projections from NOAA that we're headed into a few decades of "active" (understatement!) hurricane seasons. Below is a good discussion of both topics from National Geographic: Dumb Luck
Damage Update
We lost our hot water heater, not due to the storm, at least not as far as we can tell. Looks like the thing just decided that a hurricane was a perfect time to flood the garage...with all that water coming at us anyway, maybe it thought we wouldn't notice. The cold shower this morning was a bit of a bummer, but since I've had the same experience without lights and in 20 degree temperatures, I feel like I got off pretty easy this time.
We also lost nearly half of a huge tree in our backyard and a few shingles. Our roof appears to be holding water in a "flat spot," though whether that was due to a hit from the storm or shoddy construction remains to be determined. Knowing Florida construction procedures (build any damned thing any damned where and get a corrupt building inspector to sign off on it), we're thinking it's probably the latter.
A friend around the corner lost her pool cage. It collapsed completely and is currently lying in and around her pool. For those of you in northern latitudes who might not have need for or knowledge of such a structure, here is a picture of a standard pool cage.
We also lost nearly half of a huge tree in our backyard and a few shingles. Our roof appears to be holding water in a "flat spot," though whether that was due to a hit from the storm or shoddy construction remains to be determined. Knowing Florida construction procedures (build any damned thing any damned where and get a corrupt building inspector to sign off on it), we're thinking it's probably the latter.
A friend around the corner lost her pool cage. It collapsed completely and is currently lying in and around her pool. For those of you in northern latitudes who might not have need for or knowledge of such a structure, here is a picture of a standard pool cage.
From the "You're Not Safe Anywhere" Files
Mount St. Helens, which is east of our former home, the one we left Florida for, is acting up again: See Story
Damage at a Nearby Apartment Complex
This is right up the road from us (East). It's the apartment building of the company's web designer:
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No one was hurt, but there's a lot of work to do...
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No one was hurt, but there's a lot of work to do...
Jeanne's Aftermath
[East Coast - Orange County] Jeanne Winds Blow Man Through Plate-Glass Window
[Inland - Polk County] Jeanne Delivers Strike 3 for Polk
[West Coast - Manatee County] No loss of life or extensive devastation
[Statewide] At least six Florida deaths blamed on Jeanne
[Statewide]
Florida's losses due to four hurricanes could reach US$25 billion
[Inland - Polk County] Jeanne Delivers Strike 3 for Polk
[West Coast - Manatee County] No loss of life or extensive devastation
[Statewide] At least six Florida deaths blamed on Jeanne
[Statewide]
Florida's losses due to four hurricanes could reach US$25 billion
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Worst Is Over
The wind is still blowing in off the beach and some of the gusts are strong, but Jeanne has weakened to a tropical storm. The worst of it is over. The boys are in there watching football and drinking beer, which feels like a regular Sunday from where I sit. We went outside for a look and the neighborhood looks like it weathered the storm pretty well. Tree limbs down, some lost facia across the street and a bunch of leafy debris still blowing around pretty much describes the effect of the storm thus far. "Grateful" is the only word you need to describe us.
And we still have power.
And we still have power.
Sideways Rain
The rain is coming in sideways. A big tree in our backyard is deteriorating rapidly, but the house is in good shape and so are we. We've talked to a lot of our friends and everyone seems okay where they are. We're hoping for Jeanne's quick passage.
Words We've Learned To Hate
Hurricane, depression, storm, warning, watch, advisory, mandatory, evacuation, waves, surge, low-lying, debris, outage, hunker, eyewall, landfall, plywood, drill, shelter, category, the numbers 1-5, NOAA, NHC, forecast, path, track, verifies, emergency, FEMA, disaster, radar, vipir, wind, rain, tornado, gusts, visible, satellite, shutters, closet, flashlight, generator, candles, radio, power, outage, flood, damage, loss, losses...
Storm Season Recap Updated
I updated the Season Recap and Florida Scorecard. Nothing else to do but sit here and watch the trees blow.
View 2004 Storm Season Recap.
View 2004 Storm Season Recap.
Man, it's windy!
The wind is roaring now and the rain is starting to move in. We packed our suitcase just in case the back side of the storm pushes water up the canals. Waiting. Watching. The power has been blinking on and off for the last half hour. This might be my last post for a while.
They're still saying the storm could move over us as a category one, but the inland windspeeds don't seem to support that forecast, which makes us feel better. We're sincerely tired of hurricanes; we just keep reminding each other that the rewards of living in Florida are great.
They're still saying the storm could move over us as a category one, but the inland windspeeds don't seem to support that forecast, which makes us feel better. We're sincerely tired of hurricanes; we just keep reminding each other that the rewards of living in Florida are great.
One More Video
One more video. I'm not going outside again after this: Video
It looks bad, but we'll be okay. Hang in there, everyone.
It looks bad, but we'll be okay. Hang in there, everyone.
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