Now here's some hurricane blogging:
We are taking no chances with the essentials, I believe we currently have 4 cases of beer and are wondering if it will be enough.
Rob of MoatesArt blog's got it covered. Pass the cheetos.
Deborah of In My Corner is also in Manatee, where Charley's expected to make landfall. Got enough snacks, Deb?
UPDATE:
Drunken Monkey is (What a shock!) partying too.
Kathy of On the Third Hand is blogging from Cape Coral.
UPDATE II:
From Rob:
It has just started to rain, very light rain, but rain none the less. A little breeze but we are still 3 hours from the time it is going to get interesting and 6 hours or more away from a landfall. But on the good news the homemade salsa and dip was just finished and the fresh bread will be done in 20 minutes. And most importantly the supply of fresh drinkable beer is very cold and holding steady.
That's a relief.
UPDATE III:
Now they're saying it's taken a little jog, and they're back to talking about Lee County again. Boo!
UPDATE IV:
It's Cat 4 and all the phone circuits to Fort Myers are busy.
UPDATE V:
Here's the webcam from Fort Myers Beach, and here's the Fort Myers News Press. Speaking of which:
UPDATE VI:
All roads in Lee County are closed. Charlie's 40 miles off Captiva.
The wind is really bad here. Might be a tad worse in Lee.
For local TV, here's WBBH. WINK isn't responding right now.
UPDATE VII:
From the News Press:
IMMINENT DANGER: Charley to strike Sanibel with 145 mph winds before crushing mainland
and now:
IMMINENT DANGER: Charley is over Captiva with 145 mph winds; will blitz mainland within the hour
They've evacuated the TV station, but the Doppler should still be working.
IMMINENT DANGER: Charley is over Pine Island with 145 mph winds; mainland siege is next
Channel 7's doing a live broadcast. You have to choose "live broadcast". There's no direct link. (Thanks Cindy.)
It's heading on into Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Deborah forgot to buy Sangria.
UPDATE VIII:
Uncommon Friends (Edison, Ford, Firestone statue, Downtown Fort Myers)
I've hattened down the batches and billed the fathtub. The beer is larting to run stow. BUt with luk it'll last.
Posted by: IXLNXS at August 13, 2004 12:53 PMHow are you all holding up? It looks worse for Lee county than Manatee now.
But that could be the whiskey talking. We are trying to save the beer.
Posted by: Rob M at August 13, 2004 12:59 PMDonna,
Please be safe. They just upgraded Charlie to a Cat 4 with 145 max winds. And headed between Ft. Myers and Charlotte Harbor.
I wish I could joke about this but I can't. Just be safe.
Posted by: Rob M at August 13, 2004 01:26 PMOh, I'm plenty safe- I'm across the Alley in Broward. It's my mom, dad, brother, sister, their families, and all my kin who are in Lee. But we're North Fort Myers people, and that's way inland.
It'll be fine.
Darn! I always miss the good parties. I even have my floaty raft and my hydropack (filled with beer, of course!) but seriously, y'all be safe.
(I love coming here and reading your words of wit! THUMBSUP! )
Posted by: fiona at August 13, 2004 01:51 PMI'm over in Palm Coast...it's supposed to exit our way.
We aren't worried and we ALWAYS have beer in the fridge. :)
Everyone in the way, be safe. A cat 4 is nothing to sneeze at.
Good luck to your family. Between the TV, the wife, and memorys of Homestead after Andrew I was starting to get a tad worried myself. I mean I stopped drinking. That kind of serious.
Posted by: IXLNXS at August 13, 2004 02:41 PMWent to the store yesterday after work and got provisions for the weekend. Maybe after all this over we should plan a get together? In the mean time, everyone be safe.
Posted by: Deborah at August 13, 2004 02:52 PMThat sounds like a great idea, Deborah.
Be careful!!
(But Keep posting if you can...)
www.abc-7.com is showing the charlie LIVE
Posted by: cindy at August 13, 2004 04:03 PMHah, Fiona!
Hey there, Carl, it ain't even Wednesday.;)
Posted by: Donnah at August 13, 2004 04:37 PM Donnah-- Thanks a million for that link to WBBH
(Channel 7).
I called all my buddies up here and we're all watching. This is the first time I have ever actually watched a hurricanne come on shore on live television. Those folks are doing a hell of a job-- I can't believe those Sattelite dishes /trucks have held up to this kind of wind. I wonder how many people are watching that local station....
