Hi,
First Charlie, close but not a direct hit. We never seemed to have winds
over about 80 mph in that one, and those were rain band associated gusts. It
moved away quickly and things got back to normal soon. Only without
electricity for three and half days.
Naples was pretty much back to normal when we started buttoning down for
Frances.
Again Naples was spared a direct hit, but the pounding we are taking from
the "bands" are getting to be a little much. Wind gusts again up to 80 and
some very heavy rain squalls. So far the electric is still on - guess most
of the trees that were going to fall, fell during the first one. Have not
been able to contact the central Florida steamers yet, widespread power
outages up there. The creep, crawl, and stall tactics of Frances is really
taking a toll on the entire state. I 95 severed due to washout, and I75 on
our side has standing water in places. When Andrew came through a few years
back, it was rated a more severe storm for our area, but it went through
quickly and did not seem as bothersome as these two have been.
Manufactured housing sure took a beating in the last three weeks. Thousands
of them are scattered over the landscape. And it will happen again. You
can't accommodate affordably priced manufactured homes and hurricane proof
building codes!
One thing for sure, the steel shutters will stay up for a while. There's
another one about a week away headed on the same path!!!!! The good news----
haven't seen snow in 22 years...........
Keep your steam up!
B. W. Lunkenheimer and Associate
The SWAMP RR, Naples, FL.
