Prayers for those in Hurricane Charley's path

[ILY]

Praying for your protection in Florida :prayer:

You folks in Florida, parrticularly the Tampa area, be careful with Hurricane Charley heading your way. :doh: Bonnie was pretty weak, but Charley could get nasty.We'll probably get some of Charley here in S.C. :sigh:

Just letting you know I am thinking of you, and of course praying for you :hug: :pray:

YbiY
ILY

[Sephania]

Shalom ILY, I have just posted a prayer in the Aliyah prayer thread, for Henaynei and Pray4Israel, they are both residents of Florida and live in the West Coast area that is going to be hit ( if it hasn't already_). I have been praying for a safe evacuation and return to their homes unharmed and for all the residents of Florida, of which there is a very large Jewish population.

:pray:

[Buccaneer]

Im like 45 minutes from Tampa. I'm not too worried about Charlie.

[ShirChadash]

:prayer: here too!!

[Buccaneer]

What will be will be. Normally the number of fatalities attributed to hurricanes can be counted with your fingers, now that is a bad thing to say, but proportionally to the hundreds of thousands that are around, it is acceptable for lack of better expression.finances will be extreme, but remember homstead when andrew hit. they eventually recovered and so shall we. Not to sound cold but I believe that to be the case.

[mjterry87]

I live straight across from Tama on the East Coast of Florida. We are going to get a lot of thunderstorms, and maybe some tornados here in Melbourne. But the good news is that their is not school. LOL Anyways thanks for your prayers.

[Henaynei]

hurricane slated to landfall in about 4 hours - projections have been adjusted again (and will be again as time goes on) such that they are now saying that there is a much better chance that Sarasota, aka me, will get a direct hit and Tampa will actually be on Charley's "good side" :)

[ShirChadash]

Henny, hunny, move yer hiney outta there.

;)

Sorry, I just wanted to try to be punny.

But, be safe nonetheless.

[ILY]

Shalom all,

Charley seems to be getting stronger, a moment ago they said it was a category 3!
I don't care much about statistics, just people.
Be careful everyone.

Shabbat Shalom
ILY

[Henaynei]

Shalom all,

Charley seems to be getting stronger, a moment ago they said it was a category 3!
I don't care much about statistics, just people.
Be careful everyone.

Shabbat Shalom
ILYActually several models predict Category 5 by landfall..... this could get veeeeeery interesting!!!;)

[Henaynei]

Henny, hunny, move yer hiney outta there.

;)

Sorry, I just wanted to try to be punny.

But, be safe nonetheless.Thanks!! the chuckle was rather needed ;)

no place to go, no way to get there...... done what we can and as wisely as possible .... think I'll go watch the Bogart movie "Key Largo" while we still have electricity :)

[Henaynei]

winds and heavy stuff have not started yet - just very gentle rain - l actually would rather it hit here than further south - those folks had no idea it was gonna get them and are not as well parpared as we are around here..... and now they have not much time.....

[Henaynei]

2:50pm - in Sarasota - Rain is picking up - not a down pour yet and only mild winds, except for some sturdy gusts..... but a definite increase over the last 30 min.....

[Henaynei]

as long as the phone (DSL) and electricity stay on and it remains safe for me over here next to the west window - I'll let you know what is happening from time to time :)

[Henaynei]

16:10/4:10 - wind picking up considerably - rain angle more acute - watching heavy gusts of rain chase each other down the street - branches of all trees and bushes moving actively - nice thing about hurricanes - no lightening/thunder...... almost silent except for the wind...... all this intermittently as the feeder bands cruise through the area - with repeated frequency - not unlike labor pains - slowly more frequent and deceptively increasing in strength....

still a few people driving down my street - don't know where to/from - the ALL the stores have been closed since before noon, those that opened at all - adn the gas stations have been steadily running our to gas, first reg, then midgrade..... saw a gaggle of teenagers walking past my house..... ahhhh, the myth of immortality!! when did I loose it?? 40 years ago!!! LOL ;)

[Henaynei]

Role Call:

I know:
CharlesYTK is in FL but not where
Pray4Isrel is near Tampa - the original landfall site - but now somewhat reprived
Henaynei - just north of the now supposed landfall site of Venice
Quaffer - in central FL - near the path Charley has to take to get out of here

who else?

[alaurie]

Oh Hen, were praying in the Safehouse. I'll post this thread :prayer:

[ShirChadash]

Hm,

MJTerry is down there
:idea:is Sojeru in FL?

Role Call:

I know:
CharlesYTK is in FL but not where
Pray4Isrel is near Tampa - the original landfall site - but now somewhat reprived
Henaynei - just north of the now supposed landfall site of Venice
Quaffer - in central FL - near the path Charley has to take to get out of here

who else?

[CharlesYTK]

CharlesYTK is in Interlachen north of Ocala and West of Palatka. On the projected path. About midnight for us. Sustained winds expected 70. Gusts at hurricane force according to Nat weather service NOAA. Charlie is Catagory 3. I have been offering prayers for all of you down Tampa way. Remember those boys in the boat and the Lord asleep in the back?

Charles

[Talmidah]

is Sojeru in FL?I believe that he is in Texas

[ShirChadash]

:doh: OH!! LOL! Well, anyway! :blush: :sorry:

[Henaynei]

19:15/7:15pm

Sarasota -

Hurricane missed us - and Tampa - came ashore as a Category 4++ at PuntaGorda, about 60 miles south of Sarasota - folks down there were projected to have only a <20% chance of landfall and Sarasota/Tampa had projected chance of better than 80% - we prepared, many in Punta Gorda did not heed that warnings to prepare.

MUCH heavy damage to property where it made landfall - 2 lives lost as folks down there were suddenly trying to flee up the interstate and were caught in their car in winds better than 140 mph - no report yet about loss of utilities

Charley now flying up mid-state and is now a Category 3 - seems Charles in in it's sights and so is my son in Gainesville (a non-believer)

Prayers still needed for many:
for loss of life
loss of homes
loss of business and financial
loss of jobs

protection and mercy from still others loosing the same.......

and thanksgiving for those spared........

[Talmidah]

:doh: OH!! LOL! Well, anyway! :blush: :sorry:

hehehe....well, maybe he used to be in Florida?

[Talmidah]

MUCH heavy damage - 2 lives lost as folks down there were suddenly trying to flee up the interstate and were caught in their car in winds better than 140 mph

Charley now flying up mid-state and is now a Category 3 - seems Charles in in it's sights and so is my son in Gainesville (a non-believer)

Prayers still needed for many:
for loss of life
loss of homes
loss of business and financial
loss of jobs

protection and mercy from still others loosing the same.......

and thanksgiving for those spared........
Wow :( thank you for the update. We'll of course continue praying!

[ShirChadash]

:pray: continuing through the evening here...

[ILY]

Shalom all,

Glad to hear everything is ok w/you Henaynei :pray: Very sad to hear of the loss of life, and damage :( Will be praying for your son, and all in it's path. :prayer:
It's weakened down to 90 mile per hr. winds as it's over land.It's supposed to strenghthen a bit when it hits water again.Then we're expecting a hit here in S.C. around Charleston.

Shabbat Shalom all
ILY

[ShirChadash]

Shabbat shalom, Ily. Praying for you all, here.

[CharlesYTK]

Charlie went off shore between Daytona and St. Augustine. This area (Interlachen-Keystone Heights) and Gainsville where Henny's son lives barely saw a leaf turn all night. Less storm activity here than what we usually get nearly every evening for a few hours. It was unusually calm. We were all on the quiet side of the storm.

I understand there are many fatalities in the Punta Gorda area where it made land fall with cat. 4..strength.

Charles

[Henaynei]

CHARLOTTE (Punta Gorda): Where Charley made landfall
By MARK LONG
Associated Press Writer
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- The death toll from Hurricane Charley rose early Saturday, when a county official said there had a been "a number of fatalities" at a mobile home park and deputies were standing guard over stacks of bodies because the area was inaccessible to ambulances.

Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County's director of emergency management, said early Saturday that there were confirmed deaths in at least three other areas in the county. There were three confirmed storm-related deaths elsewhere in the state Friday.

The eye of the worst hurricane to hit Florida in a dozen years passed directly over Punta Gorda, a town of 15,000 which took a devastating hit Friday.

Charley caused widespread damage to oceanfront homes and trailer parks and knocked out power to a million customers as it crossed from southwest Florida to Daytona Beach.

Hundreds of people were missing in Charlotte and thousands were left homeless, said Sallade, who compared the devastation to 1992's Hurricane Andrew, blamed for 43 deaths, most in South Florida.

"It's Andrew all over again," he said. "We believe there's significant loss of life."

Sallade did not have an estimate on a specific number of fatalities. He said it may take days to get a final toll. - Up to 50 people brought to Charlotte Regional Medical Center with injuries, according to hospital CEO. Injured being airlifted to area hospitals because Charlotte hospital sustained heavy damage.

- Three hospitals out of service because of damage.

- Emergency Operations Center not operational.

- Two shelters significantly damaged.

- Sheriff's office destroyed.

- Portions of roof ripped off, windows broken at Deep Creek Rehab and Nursing Center in Port Charlotte, according to administrator. No injuries.

- Seven fire stations destroyed, according to state emergency management officials.

- Numerous trailer homes destroyed.

- At Charlotte County Airport, winds tore apart small planes and blew out the windows of a sheriff's deputy's car. Hangers were collapsed and roofs were torn off buildings. The only building that did not suffer major damage was the Airport Authority building.

- The roof of the county's emergency operations center in Punta Gorda also blew off.

- State Veteran's Nursing Home damaged, both wind and water. No casualties.

COLLIER (Naples):

- Officials said a "good portion" of the county was without power and there was some flooding. No serious reports of damage.

DESOTO (Arcadia):

- Reports of roof blown off at Turner Agri-Civic Center, a hurricane shelter where 1,200 people had gathered. Twelve injuries.

- Large sections of U.S. 17 are peppered with down utility poles; some parts of the road completely blocked.

- Top floor of hospital damaged.

- Emergency operations center roof blown off.

- Water tower collapsed.

GLADES COUNTY (Okeechobee):

- Rural county on west side of Lake Okeechobee reported sporadic downed power lines, minor roof damage, trees down. Approximately 35 percent of the county without power.

HARDEE (Zolfo Springs):

- Entire county without power.

- Destruction of numerous homes and commercial buildings.

- Hospital out of service.

HIGHLANDS (Sebring):

- Several power lines down north of Sebring.

- Tree fell through roof of apartment building in Sebring, injuries unknown

- Radio tower knocked down.

HILLSBOROUGH (Tampa):

- No damage reported, sporadic power loss in the eastern portion of the of the county.

LEE (Fort Myers):

- Lee County property appraiser estimates 250,000 buildings structures, homes and churches were damaged, causing just under $3 billion in damage, said Booch DeMarchi, spokesman for Lee County Emergency Management. The estimate was derived from a computer program, and appraisers would not survey the scene until Saturday morning.

- A man in his mid-20s was killed when a banyon tree fell on him outside his house in Fort Myers, said Ileana LiMarzi, spokeswoman for Lee County Sheriff's Office. The victim stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, others in the house heard a loud crack, then found him under the tree, she said.

- Downed power lines, numerous downed trees and some roofs torn off by high wind.

- A tornado touched down in southwest Cape Coral, damage still being assessed.

- Cape Coral city hall sustained enough damage that employees hunkered down there and had to relocate to other parts of the building.

- Cape Coral hospital sustained significant damage to parts of its roof, windows and doors. There were no injuries reported.

- At least 138,000 customers were without power.

- Eyewitness video showed the roof of a Fort Myers post office ripped off. Officials say no one was in the building.

- Sanibel Bridge is closed until noon Saturday.

- Curfew in Fort Myers and Cape Coral from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.

MONROE COUNTY (Key West):

- The Islander Resort on Islamorada suffered minor roof damage, but it was open Friday.

- A sailboat separated from its mooring and its mast struck a main electrical transmission line, causing temporary power outages in parts of the lower Keys.

- Minor street flooding reported.

OSCEOLA:

- Four wells at water treatment plant shut down.

- Multiple fire stations damaged, with one roof damaged.

ORANGE (Orlando): Where DisneyWorld/Universal Studios/SeaWorld is

- Orlando Utilities Commission reports 87,000 without power.

PINELLAS (Clearwater-St. Petersburg):

- No damage reported, no power loss.

POLK (Bartow-Lakeland):

- Amateur radio operator reports several mobile homes destroyed.

PUTNAM (Palatka):

- Power lines blown down.

SARASOTA (Sarasota):

- Several trees down.

SEMINOLE (Sanford)

- Power lines out.

VOLUSIA (Deland-Daytona Beach)

- Most of the cities in Volusia County are about 80 percent without power, said Dave Byron, director of community information. No specific numbers were available.

- Trees down, trees on power lines

[Sephania]

It was wonderful to hear a man on the Weather Channel last night who was interviewed from Tampa Florida saying that " A lot of prayers were answered here today" in responce to being asked about what he thought how there wasn't too much damage from Charlie as they expected. HaShem is blessed on national TV and they didn't censor this interview.

Baruch HaShem! :clap:

[Sephania]

I am so thankful that Henaynei and Charles are alright, Baruch HaSHem!!!!! I posted my post above on an open window from yesterday and my post #2 and hadn't read the rest. Was praying for you all through Erev Shabbat last night.

[CharlesYTK]

All your prayers are appreciated.

[Henaynei]

Todah :)

It is just so hard to think that yes, our prayers were answered, but what about all those folks in the south who essentially "never saw this coming!!?"

They are sending mortuary teams into the mobile home communities to uncover and recover the numerous fatalities that theyu are expecting - the number rises every hour.....

ALL the patients in at least one hospital have been evacuated out because of the extensive damage - 200 ambulances from around the state are making their way to the area to move patients to other facilities, other hospitals, some 300++ miles away.

I am on the emergency list at our hospital here for backup, but they have not started calling out yet.

I have no idea what has happened to the families and children from my school in Port Charlotte - I don't even know if the school is usable.

So many people and lives have been damaged and derailed - they are already calling this one "just like Andrew only over a larger area." Some places will be without utilities for a week or more.....

[Sephania]

It is just so hard to think that yes, our prayers were answered, but what about all those folks in the south who essentially "never saw this coming!!?"



When I read through your posts before Henaynei, it confirmed in my mind what I have been thinking since the announcement of the Hurricane coming at Florida. I told my husband or friend , can't remember now which one, that I felt the L-rD was trying to show Us something, something in the spiritual, but in the physical so all could see.

You talked about how you and those in your town were prepared ( the virgins with oil) and how those who thought nothing would happen in their area were unprepared ( the virgins without). Also I believe that TAmpa which was slated by all the sophisticated weather equipment to hit head on there has two or more Messianic congregations, and many prepared there and prayed. It seems that those who were supposed to get hit didn't ( because they were prepared physically and spiritually) and those that didn't watch the signs weren't prepared and disaster fell. The flood came in one day, the destruction of sodom and G'mmorah came in one day. Maybe this is a warning?

I have heard recently from three different people of the coming of something very much in the Spiritual to Florida. Starting in Tampa and moving across the state through Orlando. I prayed that this was a clearing and a clear warning to those that the L-rD is seeking out.

[mjterry87]

Thank G-D nothing happened here in Brevard (county under Volushia and south west of Orange.) I was at my grandmothers house, and noting happened! I just got home and their are a lot of palm froms all over the yard and a bananna tree down, but besides that nothing. I am sorry to all those who had damage done, and loss of life. Hope everyone on here is safe.

[Pray4Isrel]

Thank you all so much for the prayers. As Henaynei has informed you, it was headed directly here to Tampa, but took a completely different path. We actually only got rain and light wind. Today is actually worse for us than yesterday... we have been getting so much rain and have flood warnings as well as some tornado warnings. All the schools and businesses were closed yesterday and we were all at home waiting to ride out the storm but we were spared, unlike many others who really need our prayers right now. Hurricanes of this magnitude are destructive and you have probably seen the damage on your televisions. Now we must also pray for the SC coast since Charley is headed there.

[ILY]

Shalom all,

Glad to hear you'r e fine P4I, :bow: and Tampa didn't get a direct hit.The storm weakened a great deal before it reached us in S.C., and where I live we only got some rain, not much wind at all.The coast got some of it, and I live about an hour from the beaches.
The problem I see with hurricanes is the fact that these meteologists try to have people believe they know what these storms will do, and some people seem to think they're out of harms way based on these guesses, but anyone in a projected path should be on the look out and prepare, not wait until it's on top of them.

Shalom and shalom
ILY

[Henaynei]

Shalom all,

Glad to hear you'r e fine P4I, :bow: and Tampa didn't get a direct hit.The storm weakened a great deal before it reached us in S.C., and where I live we only got some rain, not much wind at all.The coast got some of it, and I live about an hour from the beaches.
The problem I see with hurricanes is the fact that these meteologists try to have people believe they know what these storms will do, and some people seem to think they're out of harms way based on these guesses, but anyone in a projected path should be on the look out and prepare, not wait until it's on top of them.

Shalom and shalom
ILY NO, quite the opposite!!! The people in PortCharlotte and Punta Gorda were TOLD to evacuate and they decided, because the probability chart said only a 20% chance of a hit that the meteoroligsts *did not know* what they were saying and decided to NOT evacuate..... or really prepare - AND even with preparation there is only so much you can do (oither than get out of the way) to deal wit a category 5 storm. They did not name these storms after women (until NOW made them change and alt w/male names) for nuttin'!! IF the people had evacuated when they were told there would have been essentially NO loss of life - ever case of death reported so far was preventable had people heeded the order to evacuate.

[Buccaneer]

My grandfather, aunt, and great aunt live in port charlotte. Messed some stuff up. :/ Im in sarasota which is quite near and i nothing happened here.

[Henaynei]

My grandfather, aunt, and great aunt live in port charlotte. Messed some stuff up. :/ Im in sarasota which is quite near and i nothing happened here. Hi, Buccaneer!! We're in SRQ too!

[Henaynei]

have been volunteer nursing around the area for last 2 days - 15 hours in Arcadia at the hospital, 10 hours at the Robarts Arena comfort station last night, going in for another 12 tonight..... they have evacuated folks from every where - last night we cared for alzheimer patients who were evacuated from their nuraing home.....

[Pray4Isrel]

Wow, Henaynei... thank you for your service and sacrifice of time and energy. Truly commendable! :)

[Henaynei]

Prayer needs:
I am a school nurse in Port Charlotte (I live in Sarasota, 50 miles away, and commute each day)

I was informed today that several of our schools in Port Charlotte were damaged beyond repair and will remain unusable for at least the rest of the year - that probably means that the students and classes are going to have to double up - and the county is going to have greatly increased costs with vastly decreased revenue (school money comes from property taxes and the gas station that was taxed last year is an empty lot today, etc...)

MANY students, their families AND our teachers are without their homes...... have lost everything they owned........... a great many of the parents will have lost their jobs as well....

School staff is returning to school on Monday to start the process of re-starting the school year - we had JUST started the Monday before the hurricane.

All the school nurses that are still in the county (several have left the area temporarily due to loss of housing) are going for a crash course on Crisis Counseling on Monday, first to help the teachers/staff deal with their losses and then to help the staff AND the students deal and heal as they try to "act normal" and apply themselves to the task of learning and achieving academic success.

for all these issues I solicit your prayers - "my kids" are pre-kindergarten through 5th grade and my heart goes out to them....... and the teaching staff who are going to have to try to help them in the midst of their own loss, pain, fear and confusion...........

half of the homes and businesses that can safely use electricity have had their electricity restored, many more are in no shape to safely use electricity, so those who still have a roof sit in the heat and dark with the mosquitos and try to live, eat safely and sleep ..... banks are postponing mortgage payments for a month or two..... I assume the water is ok if we are going to re-start school by the end of the month.......