Fogbow

Where is Ben-Prime right now? Is he still in FL when he’s stateside?

What I learned from my day with Ian: Always. Always. Always. Believe the European model.

I’ll be back with more info later, we’re in the car charging our phones.

Nice to see you back, Slim.

So there is one road from Cape Coral to PIne Island. It passes over a smallish man-made island called Matlacha (mat-la-shay). There is one big bridge and two little ones. One little bridge is inundated. An area of the causeway/berm upon which the road runs was breached. The little arty shops on either side of the road are/were mostly on posts sunk in the bed of the water (can't think what you call it). I'll most some pictures of the destruction in Matlacha.

p0rtia wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 5:11 pm The little arty shops on either side of the road are/were mostly on posts sunk in the bed of the water (can't think what you call it).

Pilings, I think.

Wow.. awful.

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date with the members who were in the path.

Yeah, pilings. Thanks!

Here's a video of the bridge system into Matlacha. And here's what it used to look like

The CABLE INTERNET IS BACK ON -- Netflix and Chill.



(still no running water)

Whoa, it's the sheer scale of the damage in Florida.

Foggy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 7:50 pm Whoa, it's the sheer scale of the damage in Florida.

Still need the water, though. I was going to jump in the pool this morning as a substitute but it is locked up because a palm tree fell over into it.

The no-water problem appears to be isolated to my complex and the neighboring strip plaza. There is a major break in the middle of the complex (likely from a downed tree which the roots broke the water main) and water has been pouring out. Some of the residents got creative -- using utility pales to collect water (not for consumption) so they can flush their toilets. They were collecting water all day long.

The problem is, there are so many issues in Lee County it is going to take time for the public works crews to get to everything.

We will be drenched by the remnants for a couple days, but nothing like Florida got. I'm at the blue dot.

.

For those unfamiliar with the aftermath of a major hurricane in Florida, may I recommend brushing up on Stormy Weather, by Carl Hiassen?

Does anyone know if Mimi still has a winter place on Fort Myers Beach? She wouldn’t be there this time of the year, but it sounds like the Island is completely wiped out. It’s a very narrow island with a bay behind it and it sounds like the surge washed everything, including multi story condo buildings, into the Back Bay.

I tweeted her, and we'll see.

A glimpse while driving, general way point is Lake Manatee

The people on Fort Myers Beach and the other barrier islands were told well in advance to GTFO/Evac. Those who refused to heed the Evac Orders... stayed playing the odds and lost.

I find it very difficult to find sympathy. Am I being mean again?

Yeah, mimi says she's heard her place is still standing but will need to be "gutted" - drywall, electric, everything. She was planning to return tomorrow, but that's not happening, so things are in flux. She and her husband are safe and sound at the summer place, but Florida is a problem. Like many people down there, their situation is not only the damage, but there's no power or running water anywhere near their property, so staying in a hotel, or even in a relative's home, is also problematic.

For some stupid reason, she's probably not at the very top of the priority list for Joe Biden.

Reality Check wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 12:17 pm

Hidden Content

This board requires you to be registered and logged-in to view hidden content.

Foggy wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:05 pm Yeah, mimi says she's heard her place is still standing but will need to be "gutted" - drywall, electric, everything. She was planning to return tomorrow, but that's not happening, so things are in flux. She and her husband are safe and sound at the summer place, but Florida is a problem. Like many people down there, their situation is not only the damage, but there's no power or running water anywhere near their property, so staying in a hotel, or even in a relative's home, is also problematic.

For some stupid reason, she's probably not at the very top of the priority list for Joe Biden.

Well she is safe, that is what matters. Homes can be fixed/replaced. Of course, because of the widespread damage it may be quite some time before she and hubs can line up contractors to do the work. They likely won't be spending the winter at their place.

Florida residents are in for a difficult time of it. Since the pandemic, building supplies and major appliances have become more expensive and are often in short supply.

This past winter we had to replace the built in oven and cooktop in our Texoma house. Delivery times were stated in months. Our SIL finally succeeded in finding some at a local dealer.

Many buildings in greater Houston and Lake Charles still haven't been rebuilt since their most recent storms.

Labor will be another issue. After Harvey we got a quick payout from our flood insurer and with some savings were able offer contractors immediate downpayments. We started rebuilding while some of our neighbors were still waiting on loans.

It still took nearly a year to finish the repairs.

I liked the soundtrack to the "Day After Ian" video. Now that I have seen many more picturesthe devastation is more subtle than just as bad if not worse than tornado pictures from Arkansas when an entire housing area is demolished completely. The flooding, I understand, is the worst due to damage you can't see.

I've always thought if I had a choice, I'd choose destruction of my house by fire rather than flood.

neonzx wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:44 pm

Hidden Content

This board requires you to be registered and logged-in to view hidden content.