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Subject: ****** IMPORTANT:Hurricane Charley ******
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Posted by: Spartan 6000
*sigh* HERE:
CLEARWATER, Fla. — With a powerful hurricane whirling toward Florida's densely populated middle Gulf Coast on Thursday, authorities ordered the largest evacuation ever in the Tampa Bay area, telling hundreds of thousands of people to seek higher ground before Hurricane Charley storms ashore sometime today.

The hurricane swept over Cuba late Thursday with high winds, a strong storm surge and heavy rain. As in Florida, many areas on the island were evacuated.

The path of the storm has changed course westward, meaning it should make landfall farther north on the Florida peninsula than originally predicted — somewhere near Tampa and St. Petersburg, both major metropolitan areas.

Frank Lepore, a spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said Charley's center, packing winds of at least 110 mph, should make landfallnear Clearwater.

The state had braced the day before for Tropical Storm Bonnie, which ended up moving across the state with little effect. Ben Nelson, a meteorologist with the state, described it as having "minimal winds, nothing over about 40 mph." The storm weakened into a tropical depression as it moved into southern Georgia.

"Bonnie brushed by us without being too much of a concern, but we are waiting on Charley — it has the potential to become a Category 3 hurricane, and we are watching very closely to see what areas will be affected," said Erin Geraghty, a representative for the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

Officials said they were especially worried by the possibility of freakishly high tides, or storm surge, whipped up by Charley's potent winds. The area's last major hurricane, in 1921, caused a 10 1/2 -foot surge of water in Tampa Bay. If a storm surge that size hit today, it could cause enormous destruction because of much greater development and population.

"The storm surge is the biggest danger," said Gary Vickers, Pinellas County director of emergency management.

As Charley drew closer, evacuations were ordered along Florida's western coast. Residents of Sanibel and Captiva, slender strands off southwest Florida, were given until midnight to leave. Other wispy barrier islands to the north, in Manatee and Sarasota counties, were also ordered to evacuate. Mobile home owners in Manatee County were told to seek more secure shelter.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who declared a statewide emergency Wednesday, urged Floridians in a television interview not to take the oncoming storm lightly. He noted that meteorologists were predicting Charley would become even more potent.

"Take it seriously," said Bush, who experienced a major hurricane with his wife and children when he was a developer in the Miami area. "A Category 3 storm can be deadly."

In Pinellas County, a peninsula bound by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation by 6 p.m. Thursday of waterfront properties and all other neighborhoods located no more than 17 feet above sea level. It was the first so-called Category C evacuation in county history.

"There's an awful lot of people looking to move swiftly," said Maggie D. Hall, a spokeswoman for the county government. "We're anticipating a mass exodus."

Local churches and schools were to open as hurricane shelters in the evening. Marcia Crowley, Pinellas County director of communications, said it was the largest evacuation in the county's history, affecting 350,000 people, or more than a third of all Pinellas residents.

Floridians are often blasé about tropical storms, but worries about Charley put tens of thousands of people on the road and heading inland more than 24 hours before the hurricane's expected landfall. The Howard Fran-blam!-d Bridge, the major connection between Tampa and St. Petersburg, was bumper to bumper eastward by 6 p.m. Thursday.

"Basically, if you can see the water, you're too close," said Larry Gispert, in charge of emergency operations in Hillsborough County.

Up and down Florida's Gulf Coast, people closed up homes and businesses, shopped for supplies and got ready to flee or hunker down.

Jeffrey J. Beggins, a real estate agent in Indian Rocks Beach, was covered in sawdust and wood splinters Thursday afternoon as he and co-workers cut plywood to board up his office, which he said was located just 5 feet above sea level.

"I'm a Florida native, and I've seen plenty of false alarms in the past," the 30-year-old businessman said. "This one just seems like it's real. If this one hits, we are going to feel a lot of fury." After protecting his office, Beggins said he had to pull his boat out of the water and hurricane-proof his home before leaving for a safer area.

John Korszeniewski, owner of the Sunburst Inn, a 10-room oceanfront motel in Indian Shores, said he and his wife, Bernadette, who once ran a motel in Oceanside, Calif., had decided to ride out Charley after telling their guests they had to leave. After all, said the suntanned man with a Navy tattoo, they had survived earthquakes in California.

"We put all the shutters down, tied all the furniture down, moved everything we could indoors, tightened everything down basically, and we are waiting to see what goes," said the 56-year-old innkeeper, who bought the blue-and-yellow motel a year ago. "We fell in love with this area. It's not a hurricane that is going to chase us away."

Across the Tampa Bay area, traffic lights bobbed and street signs wobbled in high winds spun off by Bonnie, a small taste of what Charley was to bring.

Randy Crowe, 46, a homeless man panhandling outside a Tampa McDonald's at lunchtime, said he didn't know what he was going to do.

"I reckon I might go into a building. Don't know if they'll let me in," he said.


Hope that made everyones day better. =)

  • 08.13.2004 12:24 PM PDT
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WTF!!!

  • 08.13.2004 12:25 PM PDT
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If you read the big report, I live in Manatee county, one of the county's being forced to evacuate. Luckily, we are just outside of the Level C, as it's called, evacuation zone so we don't have to leave. I should actually say I'm surrounded by the Level C zone. I live on an elevated part of the city, so if the waters actually get as bad as they predict I might be on an island later tonight. I am worried about missing the update as a matter of fact, but it's all good. We're ready for it, I'm not dieing until I beat Halo 2, and thats a promise.

Also, Floridians don't have basements! We're in Florida! Lol.

We've got plenty of supplies, this isn't the first Hurricane We've been through ;)

  • 08.13.2004 12:26 PM PDT
Subject: ****** IMPORTANT:Hurricane Charley ****** Mods, Please support.
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I know this is off topic and all, but This IS the busiest forum on bungie so i think it should be posted here. I'm looking at it on Fox news right now, And just heard about some people surfing in Naples who got slammed right into the naples pier by huge waves and winds... I'm not sure what thier condition is, and I'm sure more casualities are happening in some other areas around tampa. I'd just like to make this an official consent thread, and been the busiest forum on bungie this is the only place it will get recognised. So to all my friends in florida (And two of my friends who got evacuated from the cayman islands yesterday) My heart, thoughts and everything i have to offer go out to anyone who is sufering from it. I pray no one gets hurt too badly, and that the surfers in Naples are ok. Please, I'd love for everyone to say thier peice here, please try not move this topic, I think it's an important thing, as a community to take note of, that there are many members in here from the florida community. and that we should take time out to post our regards and thoughts to them if they can see this and they havent been moved or power hasnt been cut. Please try not move this mods, its an important deal to me and should be to the rest of the community. I'm rambling now so ill cut it short. Long live floridian gamerz!

**edit**

Okay I'm really worried now, A friend of mines family was vacationing in Florida, the other night his mother rang my mother to let them knw they where having a good time and all, and that they had to be evacuated now to a "safe" zone... Last night due to the unexpected course change, the "safe" zone they were evacuated to was hit with the eye of the storm. Thier daughter didn't go with them, she had music exams to do in collage and stayed here in Ireland... I just spent the past hour comforting her on the phone, Because she cant get in touch with them. I'm really worried and praying for the best, I hope they're okay, theyve lived down the road from me my whole life. Mother, Bernie Howard, Father John Howard, Sons Colm(16) and Ciaran(7) howard, And daughter Shawna(10)... Please bring them back safely.

**edit**

[Edited on 8/14/2004 4:44:04 AM]

  • 08.13.2004 12:19 PM PDT
Subject: ****** IMPORTANT:Hurricane Charley ******
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*sigh* it got moved... to a place where the majority wont see it...

  • 08.13.2004 12:30 PM PDT
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Posted by: RedLeader
My heart, thoughts and everything i have to offer go out to anyone who is sufering from it.

really? i could actually use a few bucks if that's all right...

[Edited on 8/13/2004 12:31:36 PM]

  • 08.13.2004 12:30 PM PDT
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as long as disney world is destroyed im happy.

  • 08.13.2004 12:31 PM PDT
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Posted by: NiVeKeR14
If you read the big report, I live in Manatee county, one of the county's being forced to evacuate. Luckily, we are just outside of the Level C, as it's called, evacuation zone so we don't have to leave. I should actually say I'm surrounded by the Level C zone. I live on an elevated part of the city, so if the waters actually get as bad as they predict I might be on an island later tonight. I am worried about missing the update as a matter of fact, but it's all good. We're ready for it, I'm not dieing until I beat Halo 2, and thats a promise.

Also, Floridians don't have basements! We're in Florida! Lol.

We've got plenty of supplies, this isn't the first Hurricane We've been through ;)


good luck to you. hope you dont get hurt or anything.

  • 08.13.2004 12:33 PM PDT
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Posted by: NiVeKeR14
If you read the big report, I live in Manatee county, one of the county's being forced to evacuate. Luckily, we are just outside of the Level C, as it's called, evacuation zone so we don't have to leave. I should actually say I'm surrounded by the Level C zone. I live on an elevated part of the city, so if the waters actually get as bad as they predict I might be on an island later tonight. I am worried about missing the update as a matter of fact, but it's all good. We're ready for it, I'm not dieing until I beat Halo 2, and thats a promise.

Also, Floridians don't have basements! We're in Florida! Lol.

We've got plenty of supplies, this isn't the first Hurricane We've been through ;)


I hope nothign bad happens in your area, whether its in a danger zone or not, and I pray for any family or friends you may have in the areas that are getting it really bad.

  • 08.13.2004 12:37 PM PDT

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Posted by: BadKarma
Posted by: RedLeader
My heart, thoughts and everything i have to offer go out to anyone who is sufering from it.

really? i could actually use a few bucks if that's all right...


You're in Miami you bastard!!

Seriously -- I'm in St. Pete -- how bout lendin' me say about 5 grand?

  • 08.13.2004 12:43 PM PDT
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Posted by: GameJunkieJim
Posted by: BadKarma
Posted by: RedLeader
My heart, thoughts and everything i have to offer go out to anyone who is sufering from it.

really? i could actually use a few bucks if that's all right...


You're in Miami you bastard!!

Seriously -- I'm in St. Pete -- how bout lendin' me say about 5 grand?


why dont you sell some of your game collection? lol j/k

  • 08.13.2004 12:45 PM PDT
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im in miami too, i wish everyone the best of luck....just keep thinking only 80 something days till halo 2 and youll get thru it

  • 08.13.2004 12:45 PM PDT

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For the most part we'll be OK -- With hurricanes it's usually the insurance companies that get it in the shorts... the tornadoes that offshoot can be dangerous though... Stay indoors -- and out of trailer parks...

  • 08.13.2004 12:45 PM PDT

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Posted by: GameJunkieJim
BY THE WAY, Not to be a dick -- I want to just say thanks for your thoughts man!!!

  • 08.13.2004 12:48 PM PDT
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Im sad that this was moved, less people will see it... A friend of mine, and a constant poster on these forums, Cool_cow hasnt been on the last few days, so im afraid he may have been evacusted and fear for his ohme (if he was evacuateD) last i remembered he lived near tampa. And then my two friends in the cayman islands who where evacuated too.

  • 08.13.2004 12:49 PM PDT

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Posted by: RedLeader
Im sad that this was moved, less people will see it... A friend of mine, and a constant poster on these forums, Cool_cow hasnt been on the last few days, so im afraid he may have been evacusted and fear for his ohme (if he was evacuateD) last i remembered he lived near tampa. And then my two friends in the cayman islands who where evacuated too.


Well fearing for his home is fine -- but fearing for him is better -- The evacuees are much safer where they are -- Not like my stupid ass, I'm riding it out....

  • 08.13.2004 12:51 PM PDT
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OMG!!!! AHHHH A hurricane with the Name Charley...Sounds so dangerous. Why cant they just name a Hurricane like "Hurricane Barney" or "Hurricane A giant storm is coming towards you and it's going to kill you all!"

  • 08.13.2004 12:51 PM PDT
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Posted by: GameJunkieJim
You're in Miami you bastard!!

Seriously -- I'm in St. Pete -- how bout lendin' me say about 5 grand?

yeah, well all this wind is wreaking havoc with my, uh, satellite reception. now i'm going to miss all of my favorite reality tv shows. suffering is suffering. now, gimme da moneys.

Posted by: D3ath2church
why dont you sell some of your game collection? lol j/k

the man could put a substantial down payment on a new house with that kind of money.

  • 08.13.2004 12:52 PM PDT

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Posted by: BadKarma
Posted by: GameJunkieJim
You're in Miami you bastard!!

Seriously -- I'm in St. Pete -- how bout lendin' me say about 5 grand?

yeah, well all this wind is wreaking havoc with my, uh, satellite reception. now i'm going to miss all of my favorite reality tv shows. suffering is suffering. now, gimme da moneys.

Posted by: D3ath2church
why dont you sell some of your game collection? lol j/k

the man could put a substantial down payment on a new house with that kind of money.


And yet my stubborness to part with them ensures I'll live in an apartment for a LONG while...

  • 08.13.2004 12:54 PM PDT
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Posted by: GameJunkieJim
Posted by: RedLeader
Im sad that this was moved, less people will see it... A friend of mine, and a constant poster on these forums, Cool_cow hasnt been on the last few days, so im afraid he may have been evacusted and fear for his ohme (if he was evacuateD) last i remembered he lived near tampa. And then my two friends in the cayman islands who where evacuated too.


Well fearing for his home is fine -- but fearing for him is better -- The evacuees are much safer where they are -- Not like my stupid ass, I'm riding it out....
haha good luck dude

  • 08.13.2004 12:55 PM PDT

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Posted by: ShadowSnipe52
Posted by: GameJunkieJim
Posted by: RedLeader
Im sad that this was moved, less people will see it... A friend of mine, and a constant poster on these forums, Cool_cow hasnt been on the last few days, so im afraid he may have been evacusted and fear for his ohme (if he was evacuateD) last i remembered he lived near tampa. And then my two friends in the cayman islands who where evacuated too.


Well fearing for his home is fine -- but fearing for him is better -- The evacuees are much safer where they are -- Not like my stupid ass, I'm riding it out....
haha good luck dude


If it gets any stronger - I may need it...

  • 08.13.2004 12:57 PM PDT
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I hope Jed Bush did not evacuate.


I did not say that.

  • 08.13.2004 1:04 PM PDT

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I hope your right.


I did not say that either...

  • 08.13.2004 1:07 PM PDT
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i'm about to head home to hunker down for the night. just wanted to say best of luck to anyone who's in the -blam!-. remember to stay away from windows, and if it gets really hairy, the bathroom is usually the safest place to huddle up.

  • 08.13.2004 1:20 PM PDT
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It looks like we're not going to get the eye of the storm, but right now it's a class four. To put that in perspective, the hurricane andrew that flattened everything in it's path was a class five. We're looking at some bad couple of hours.

Since the Hurricane swerved to the east sooner than predicted, a class four hurricane ran right into an un-evacuated zone. The people you should really pray for are the the 200 something families that didn't evacuate. Also, most of the people that did evacuate are driving right into the hurricane's path. Pray for them too.

This just goes to show that however much we say we know about the weather, it is no where near as much as we don't know.

  • 08.13.2004 2:06 PM PDT

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