Hurricane Ivan

[Camperroo]

Wow, this one looks even scarier than the others.  Reports are that it just about destroyed every home in Grenada and there are mandatory evacuations for all visitors and those with recreational vehicles in the Keys and they will most likely make it mandatory for all residents also.  Let's hope this one slows way, way down!!!  Also what about the news reporters?  They stuck it out for Frances in places like W. Palm, etc., the Keys are only about 20 ft above sea level, there would be no escape for them if the islands took a direct hit.

[jpreiser]

I ha ve relatives in sebring and in Tampa... I think I will be getting some company by sunday!!

[Gone-Camping]

Reports are that it just about destroyed every home in Grenada

The good news here is that I think our housing is built to better standards than those down there. The bad news is, that storm is still packing a whollop!!! Florida has really taken a beating this year...last year it was NC getting all the hits!

[SkipP]

The good news here is that I think our housing is built to better standards than those down there. The bad news is, that storm is still packing a whollop!!! Florida has really taken a beating this year...last year it was NC getting all the hits!

Amazingly, when Ivan hit Grenada (grenaded Grenada?), it was *only* 120mph and the worse storm to hit that area in 10 years. I don't think any building codes allow for 140+mph! It is fortunate that these winds cover a fairly small area near the eye though. I agree Cliff, higher standards here help...... thanks to the last cat.5 that hit the US.... Andrew.
 
Don't think I'd wanna be vacationing in Jamaica about now, mon!

[NightOwl]

I wonder how our own little Cindy is faring?  she hasnt e-mailed me lately or  been here in a  few days and I hope all's well with her and her family.  Seems like three hurricanes in such a short time is really overdoing it A LOT!  And because of their paths, they managed to make almost everyone in the state miserable in one way or another.  And of course, there is the economic toll as well as the personal ones.  they are all in my thoughts and prayers.

[Steve-o-bud]

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As far as the reporters go, I don't wish anyone harm, but....
 
they seem to have no good sense. Out here in So Cal, we saw one news crew nearly get burned up in last year's fires. They have NO BUSINESS being in harms way, we don't need to see endless repeats of the same images of burned houses, flooded streets, and ruined mobile homes, and of course, the obligatory gas stations with the canopy torn down. How disgusting to see them in their stock scenes of "reporter barely standing up to the wind while being pelted by horizontal rain, and dodging flying projectiles", while we know that real people, are suffering real losses, and the foolish reporters get in the way and add no real value to any recovery efforts.
 
Just tell us where the storm is heading, what the impact will be, and how the citizens of Florida are hanging in there, and what we can do to help.
 
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Good luck to those of you in Florida. You are in our Prayers. Let us know how WE can help.

[NightOwl]

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As far as the reporters go, I don't wish anyone harm, but....
 
they seem to have no good sense. Out here in So Cal, we saw one news crew nearly get burned up in last year's fires. They have NO BUSINESS being in harms way, we don't need to see endless repeats of the same images of burned houses, flooded streets, and ruined mobile homes, and of course, the obligatory gas stations with the canopy torn down. How disgusting to see them in their stock scenes of "reporter barely standing up to the wind while being pelted by horizontal rain, and dodging flying projectiles", while we know that real people, are suffering real losses, and the foolish reporters get in the way and add no real value to any recovery efforts.
 
Just tell us where the storm is heading, what the impact will be, and how the citizens of Florida are hanging in there, and what we can do to help.
 
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Good luck to those of you in Florida. You are in our Prayers. Let us know how WE can help.

jumping in to join the rant:

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!!  These people have such over-blown egos they cant imagine anyone NOT wanting to see them  getting blown around by high winds and rain .  Furthermore, they endanger  safety and rescue workers by putting themselves in "harms way" and set a very bad example for Joe Citizen.  The governor/police/weather experts  all urge  people: take shelter or evacutate, don't go outdoors etc, and then there are these idiots prancing aboout like  they think they are annointed by God.   What are ordinary people (especially after a few beers) supposed to think when they see them doing that: " HUH--that guy can do it--so why so can't  I.  Where's  muh car keys, Honey?"

We need the basic  facts, not posturing.  I already feel sorry for those who have lost everything--why does TV  keep showing their private grief  over and over. I rank that kind of cheap sensationalism  right up there with selling snake oil.   But they never learn.

end of rant.

[SkipP]

<>
As far as the reporters go, I don't wish anyone harm, but....
 
they seem to have no good sense. Out here in So Cal, we saw one news crew nearly get burned up in last year's fires. They have NO BUSINESS being in harms way, we don't need to see endless repeats of the same images of burned houses, flooded streets, and ruined mobile homes, and of course, the obligatory gas stations with the canopy torn down. How disgusting to see them in their stock scenes of "reporter barely standing up to the wind while being pelted by horizontal rain, and dodging flying projectiles", while we know that real people, are suffering real losses, and the foolish reporters get in the way and add no real value to any recovery efforts.
 
Just tell us where the storm is heading, what the impact will be, and how the citizens of Florida are hanging in there, and what we can do to help.
 
<>
 
Good luck to those of you in Florida. You are in our Prayers. Let us know how WE can help.

Oh boy!!! Hit a big nerve here. Climbing on the soap box.....
 
I'm sick and tired of the media going out and finding the worse possible scenario..... and generalizing it as the norm! We see it time and again during floods, earthquakes, ice storms, tornados....hurricanes..... almost any natural disaster you can imagine. The media goes out, looks for the greatest damage and say's; look what happened! Sensationalism gets the headlines, no doubt.
 
I'm not a mean person but once, just once, I'd like to see a reporter go caterwauling down the sidewalk in a gust of wind:yikes:

[NightOwl]

I'm not a mean person but once, just once, I'd like to see a reporter go caterwauling down the sidewalk in a gust of wind:yikes:

 :#  heee, hee, it makes a great mental image, doesnt it, Skip? :#

[Steve-o-bud]

:# heee, hee, it makes a great mental image, doesnt it, Skip? :#

With Ivan now a Catagory 5 Hurricane, we may actually get to be able to see this happen. Hopefully the camera operator can hold himself upright while it is happening.

[Camperroo]

I sure hope no reporter let alone person sticks around a town where a heaven forbid Cat. 5 might be coming along.  If the media sticks around they haven't any right to expect to be rescued or endangering rescuers because they wanted to be there to get the "story"  I really, really hope FL is spared this blow.  Hear it's heading towards the Caymans or probably there now.  I'm already trying to convince my aunt to head out of the Tampa Bay area now.  She did well with the last storm, but by the time it came to her they could tell it would be more a tropical storm, this one just seems to scary to wait until the last moment to find out what it's going to turn into.

[MommaMia]

I wonder how our own little Cindy is faring?  she hasnt e-mailed me lately or  been here in a  few days and I hope all's well with her and her family.  Seems like three hurricanes in such a short time is really overdoing it A LOT!  And because of their paths, they managed to make almost everyone in the state miserable in one way or another.  And of course, there is the economic toll as well as the personal ones.  they are all in my thoughts and prayers.

HAY Elisa~

 I am here.  Recouping from surgery.  We have been really lucky with the past 2 storms.  Nothing worse than a messy pool and some branches and pine cones to clean up.  Now ( Sat. night) it's looking like we are going to get lucky again.  Ivan is supposed to go to our west and we'll likely see not much more than rain and a bit of wind.  Phew!

[MommaMia]

:#  heee, hee, it makes a great mental image, doesnt it, Skip? :#

They DID actually show this happen with a reporter when Charley went through!  Knocked the guy right on his butt and he went skidding along the sidewalk!  It was too funny! (he wasn't seriously hurt)

[whitestar505]

Just imagine, Ivan is still turning out there!

Wow, this one looks even scarier than the others. Reports are that it just about destroyed every home in Grenada and there are mandatory evacuations for all visitors and those with recreational vehicles in the Keys and they will most likely make it mandatory for all residents also. Let's hope this one slows way, way down!!! Also what about the news reporters? They stuck it out for Frances in places like W. Palm, etc., the Keys are only about 20 ft above sea level, there would be no escape for them if the islands took a direct hit.