Another Damn Hurricane

[soundsfine]

It's definitely not Florida, but up here in New England we're getting a good soaking!

 

[majorloser]

I'm Alive!!!!!

Yes, I survived. The good thing is since we had so many storms around here the past couple years, everything that could get damaged has already been replaced. Most of the electric lines were replaced and strengthened throughout Central Florida. Working during the storm sucks, though.

I also talked to Brian. I've been friends with him for many years. Worked with his mother for years. He has some condo damage and water damage. He and his family are OK. His only phone is a cell phone so it might be dead with no way of charging. I will call his mom later today.

My family still lives down there. They survived. My one sister lost a very large tree in her front yard which tore out her sewer line and damaged the roof. My other sister lives on the Intercoastal Waterway. Her house (crib) survived with minor damage since it's new and has serious protection. Most of South Florida has no electricity and they don't think they will get it back for about 4 weeks. Large sections are without water. My brother-in-law (the one with the tree down) works for the water utility (like me). He has been unable to get home since the water system is almost in ruins. I will probably have to go down there and help clean up my sister's house and fix her sewer. Since I'm VERY WELL PREPARED for hurricanes, I will bring down gas, food, water, tarps and a generator to help out my family.

The only good news is there is a slight cold front that came through after the storm. It's actually quite nice outside. Good thing since there is no electricity.

If any of you think it's not that bad, try turning off your water, gas and electricity for just one day and see how long you can handle it! You can't flush the toilet, you can't take a shower, you have nothing cold or hot to drink, food is spoiling rapidly, you have no lights, there is no water to fight fires............you end up in a third world country over night.

THANKS FOR THINKING ABOUT US

 

[majorloser]

Well, when ya decide to come on out....we'll save a few of these for ya. This one came from just down the road a bit. They'll go to 70#.
(I hope it uploaded. It's just over 100 kb.)

HMMMMMM, SALMON!!!!!!!!!!!

What I wouldn't do now for salmon "fish 'n chips" and a ice cold mug of Red Hook...................

Even some fresh halibut would be nice right about now.

 

[Matt34]

Glad to hear you survived!

 

[majorloser]

Dang, haven't been able to catch much news so I didn't know where exactly it was going to hit. Gald to hear everyone in that area is safe.


P.S-Just bought Brians H100, hope it's still in one piece.

I'm driving down tomorrow to help out family and see how Brian is doing. He's going to help out with my computer while I'm down this weekend. While I'm there I'll check out your sub (and steal the new one ). I plan on bringing my laptop down with me. If I get a chance I'll write a few lines on the forum to let you guys know what's going on.

There is still no power and water in most of the Ft. Lauderdale area so I have to bring down everything (water, gas, chain saw, generator, COLD BEER etc.) Thank goodness there's a slight cold front that came through!

 

[mulester7]

......Major, you're one of a kind, and I believe I'd follow your example and get a little more central from the warm and ever-warming Gulf....it appears things have cooled off, and this one could be the last of the season....and let's say again, this, season.....

.....interesting thing about the one that hit New Orleans....Folks, Hurricane Katrina hit Gulfport, Mississippi, and the casino's, period, we're done....the swirling back-winds of Katrina broke levees between Lake Ponchetrane and the city of New Orleans and flooded the city....salt water is over 60 miles from New Orleans due south.....

.....but, Katrina hit the casino's with the zenith of the effort as to the eye of the storm....some are now thinking two birds with one stone....I ain't declarin', thanks, but what does that really matter?.....

 

[Tomorrow]

I'm driving down tomorrow to help out family and see how Brian is doing. He's going to help out with my computer while I'm down this weekend. While I'm there I'll check out your sub (and steal the new one ). I plan on bringing my laptop down with me. If I get a chance I'll write a few lines on the forum to let you guys know what's going on.

There is still no power and water in most of the Ft. Lauderdale area so I have to bring down everything (water, gas, chain saw, generator, COLD BEER etc.) Thank goodness there's a slight cold front that came through!

Let me add my appreciation to you for your caring assist, Major. Good guys finish first.

We're getting our first storm of the season on the Oregon coast...just little weenie winds in the 60's mph. I'll not complain.

 

[majorloser]

Nah, good guys have plenty of vacation time

Just talked to my brother-in-law. Looks like I have a 50 foot black olive tree to remove and 60 feet of sewer lateral I know I won't have time for the roof.

I also just found out nobody has heard from or seen my father-in-law since before the storm. I have to see what happened to him first. He's almost 80 years old and lives in a mobile home by himself in Palm Beach. Not expecting good news............

 

[Tomorrow]

Nah, good guys have plenty of vacation time

Just talked to my brother-in-law. Looks like I have a 50 foot black olive tree to remove and 60 feet of sewer lateral I know I won't have time for the roof.

I also just found out nobody has heard from or seen my father-in-law since before the storm. I have to see what happened to him first. He's almost 80 years old and lives in a mobile home by himself in Palm Beach. Not expecting good news............

Oh, much good luck with this!! Let us know.

And give Brian a shout 'hello'.

 

[mulester7]

.....Gentlemen, I talked to Brian as I moved in traffic toward an appointment with a doctor, am having a small internal cist cut out of my neck Tuesday early, doctor has no reason to not suspect it's harmless, she said, yeah, she, really sharp in every area, and Brian sounded determined but challenged.....Brian especially pushed his need to sell some stuff for cash needed at this time....he offers his projector, and his Mother said she wanted him to use her's for the meantime....

.....Brian has an Optima 758, $6000 MSRP, used for 230 hours so far with bulb rated 3000 hours, with "extra" $400 3000 hour brand-new-in-wrap bulb, for $1750 to your door, not sure if he wants a little shipping or not....hey, I'll make it good for $1750 to your door....a cheap-way-out concerning a decent screen would run you about $130 to your door....if you have been considering a projector anyway, Brian sure could use cash at this time, and the unit is Quality....correct, the sub ain't on the block yet, haha....nor will it be by me....this should probably be in the "for sale" section, but a hurricane has brought Brian's need....one of you guys buy it, or I'll have to, haha.....just may do that anyway.....3000 lumen count, 2000 contrast.....

.....edit....oh yeah, Brian said onyone please PM him here or email him, and he should be able to check in a week or two hopefully, with the return of electricity.....

 

[majorloser]

A Glimps of Hell

Well, I here.....there's not much good to say except all of my friends and family are alive and well. It's a little hard to come back to your home town (born and raised in Fort Liquordale) and not even recognize it because everything is in shambles. I lived and worked through Hurricane Andrew. I lived and worked through three of the four hurricanes that struck Central Florida last year. I know what it's like. IT SUCKS! But this storm effected the largest population base in Florida.

Most of South Florida is still without electricity and the power company says it won't be totally back till the end of November (22nd?). Stopped by Brian's condo last night to check on him. His condo building is the only thing in the area to have power restored He's doing well but his condo isn't. Seven panes of glass broke out and flooded the floor. It looks like the only important loss was one of his towers got wet (yes, the subs made it without a scratch). Hopefully he'll get his internet connection back so he can write in and tell you all how he held the winds back by leaning against a mattress

My sister lost two VERY large tree, a 60 foot black olive and a 50 foot oak. I spent the past two days cutting them up and stacking it along the road for pickup. Her husband also manages a local water utility (name withheld). He has not been able to spend much time at home due to major work damage. At their house they also had some minor roof damage, screen patio and automobile damage. The biggest loos to them is all of the underground utilities got ripped up when the tree toppled. My wife's brother lost all of his shingles, major damage to the eaves and major damage to the back of his house. And of course all of his trees. The rest of my family and friends all faired about the same.

They just started to get electricity to the gas stations. The lines are (no kidding) 3 MILES long. People have been waiting in line since last night hoping the stations would open. I hope I will have enough gas to get out of here on Sunday to return home (don't think I will since the 25 gals of extra gas is going to chainsaws and generators). Like I said before, there is no electricity, most of the water utilities have issued a "boil water" notice (can't drink) and with no electricity the major sewage pumping stations are not working (poop in the streets YUCK). The are curfews at night. Not that it matters since there is no street light, no traffice lights, and no street signs to find your way. And like I said, there's so much damage in areas that landmarks are missing. At least I have I.D. to get around with

I will probably have to come back again next week to help my friends and family some more.

And for those who want to complain about the Feds, FEMA is here and working! (guess which neighborhoods they're working in first?) Can't complain about them, though. The Bush brothers even made their rounds!

Well, sorry if I made any typos since I'm typing this by flashlight while my laptop battery holds out. Two finger typing ain't easy by flashlight

 

[majorloser]

.....Gentlemen, I talked to Brian as I moved in traffic........

I sure he told you to be patient since cell phone service here is very limited.


BTW- I hope everything turned out OK for you

 

[mulester7]

I sure he told you to be patient since cell phone service here is very limited.


BTW- I hope everything turned out OK for you

.....Major, we'll find out Tuesday morning what I've been carrying in my neck for about 6 years....the doctor seemed to be relieved a little when I told her the cist gets bigger when I'm tired, up to say a ping-pong ball size, but when I sleep, and am rested, it gets much smaller, like half....I am tickled that Brian has AC in his place so soon....one of the most trying times I can remember was when our electricity was out for right at 40 hours during an ice storm....we had gas for heat, but I was totally bummed, with no tv or sound-system or fish tank or lights, period......

 

[majorloser]

.....Major, we'll find out Tuesday morning what I've been carrying in my neck for about 6 years....the doctor seemed to be relieved a little when I told her the cist gets bigger when I'm tired, up to say a ping-pong ball size, but when I sleep, and am rested, it gets much smaller, like half....I am tickled that Brian has AC in his place so soon....one of the most trying times I can remember was when our electricity was out for right at 40 hours during an ice storm....we had gas for heat, but I was totally bummed, with no tv or sound-system or fish tank or lights, period......

Yeah, he's one of the very lucky ones! I'm sitting here using the last of my laptop battery, a flashlight in my mouth and a battery powered fan blowing on me while I answer e-mails from work . As long as it doesn't rain in the next couple of days things should start drying out in my brother-in-laws house where I'm staying.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD A COLD BEER SINCE LAST WEEKEND

just shoot me now...........it's the humane thing to do

 

[majorloser]

Relief

I took a break from cleanup yesterday afternoon. You get a little tired of using a chainsaw and axe all day. Some friends of mine, including Brian, found out my old favorite "water hole" was open. They had a generator for a little lighting, gas for the grill and big coolers full of iced cold beer. This was the first hot meal and cold beer I've had since I've been here. It was interesting to use a bar restroom by candlelight Good thing I had many years practice finding it drunk

I haven't been able to see the news or even bother listening to the radio. Don't really know what's going on. I will say a laptop computer is a necessity. As long as you have a generator to recharge it.

 

[Ax-man]

Major, we didn't do too bad at all up here in Vero Beach...nothing like Frances or Jeanne of last year. Good luck to you folks.

I work down in Belle Glade and had a chance to fly my work plane around the area and was extremely surprised with the devastation. Looks like it 's going to take a long while to recoup from this one.

 

[mulester7]

I took a break from cleanup yesterday afternoon. You get a little tired of using a chainsaw and axe all day. Some friends of mine, including Brian, found out my old favorite "water hole" was open. They had a generator for a little lighting, gas for the grill and big coolers full of iced cold beer. This was the first hot meal and cold beer I've had since I've been here. It was interesting to use a bar restroom by candlelight Good thing I had many years practice finding it drunk

I haven't been able to see the news or even bother listening to the radio. Don't really know what's going on. I will say a laptop computer is a necessity. As long as you have a generator to recharge it.

.....Major, I talked to Brian yesterday, and he said damage in his condo would have been HUGE had the door to the patio broken....so we are thankful for that.....

.....Gentlemen, Brian asked me, to ask anyone interested in his projector, to shoot me a PM, and I can pass that along when I talk to him next....he said it appears it will be 2-3 weeks before his having internet connectivity....guys, a 50 inch plasma would be neat, no doubt....but razor-sharp image quality, with great saturation of colors and contrast, at 96-120 inches diagonal, would be sweet, also, indeed....extra, brand new still-in-wrap, $400 bulb, and relatively new, $6000 MSRP Optima 758, with 230 hours....$1750 to your door....BMX, is that a good deal?......

 

[brian32672]

Yeah, thanks for all the thoughts guys.

Yeah, I survived

Anyhow, I am still without internet at my house(condo). No cable, and the building next to me just got power yesterday Wow, that was a super long time without power.
By chance at am visiting my mother, and her internet just came back up.

I will probably be able to answer all my PM's in about a week. I have answered a few, but internet is slow at mom's.

I have tons of pictures to add to this thread, during and after the storm.
But I will get them up when my cable is restored (cable internet for me)
No land line either, just cell service.

By chance in my building I was hit the hardest, actually harder than anyone else surrounding buildings. I estimate about 4,500 - 5,000 in damage. Wich will include all patio windows, the frame of the sliding glass door, some wood floor damage, ceiling damage in my room, etc...

However my brother was hit harder, both vehicles were very badly damaged. Actually the 2 trees that fell on the cars also jammed up against his front door. So he was unable to get out for a bit of time. Both trees were about 40' and were actually solid trees.

Anyhow, I will get back with plenty of pics in about a week....

 

[Nomo]

Brian,
Welcome back!
Move north.

 

[majorloser]

Brian,
Welcome back!
Move north.

Me first!