Shelter collapsing - Hurricane Charlie

Just heard a local newscaster/weatherman who is in Arcadia sheriff station - the only shelter for Arcadia is collapsing, roof off, with hundreds of people inside.

Edit: Channel 5, West Palm Beach, news.

I always chip to the Red Cross or other relief agencies in when there is a major disaster. It could happen to me some day, so I want my karmic debts pre-paid when the earthquake hits.

I'll see what I can't

...the Red Cross will have some kind of disaster relief information out by tonight, or tomorrow morning.

Good idea -- do unto others...

the money you give to red cross goes in their big pot.
Not directly to those who need it.
If the people are insured, they don't get what they need right away.
So finding a person or church group or some group that gives directly to those who need something right away.

I saw this when I lived in Raleigh after tornado. People who had everything destoyed in apartment could not get help because they had insurance that would pay them...even though they would have to wait for insurance

..so give direct.

I'm sure they are already on their way to help in Florida.

immediate cash to buy food, groceries etc. And the red cross does not give help to those who have insurance. Yes you can get coffee, and some hot food. But you can't get replacement clothes without the cash and many will have no job to go to...

So the red cross is wonderful but if you want to help THIS particular disaster then give direct to the people who need the help. IF you want to help red cross over all then give to them.

I have heard too many stories.

However, we went and volunteered to help after the huge tonado hit Moore
OK a few years ago and the Salvation Army had it together. We didn't go to assist their organization but got assigned to them. They had taken over an empty store front in a strip mall and loaded it with everyday supplies that people need and gave it to whomever came in requesting help. No resitrictions, no qualifications, no questions except name and address.

mom just emailed saying they were going to shut down the power grid all across several counties to prevent flood damage or something. so we won't be able to communicate.

but they are definitely worried.

Hope you're able to hear sooon...... I know that must be very hard......

Kanary

and all the other Floridians.

We're in S. Fl and are worried about so many people in that area. Hope everyone makes it through. Best regards, Patty

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE STORM COMES IN FULL FORCE THEY WILL SHUT ALL THE POWER PLANTS DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL ON WATER. IT WILL ALSO BE EASIER TO GET THE ELECTRIC UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. WE WILL BE UNER SEIGE FROM ABOUT 4 OCLOCK TO 12 HOURS LATER. DON'T FORGET TO KEEP POSTED ABOUT US AT ( TOB.COM ) IN CASE OF OUTAGES. I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EVACUATING ARE ALREADY THERE. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER TORNADO ALERTS ALL DAY.

We are praying for all in Florida.
Let us know if we can do anything. I am in MS, if I can do anything, let me know.

ON EDIT: If I can do anything for any DUer in FL or any DUer family, let me know.

Those poor people. This sounds really really bad.

Please confirm the Arcadia story, perferably with a weblink. My sister in law lives there.

I heard it. The reporter was in the sheriff's office, when a sheriff announced the roof off and shelter collapsing. Of course, they cannot get there, so I guess we'll have to wait until they can get out to the shelter. The sheriff said that at 1 o'clock there were more than 300 people inside and it is the only shelter for Arcadia.

I'll check back in about an hour as I have to go out.

Edit: You might try doing a google for "channel 5 West palm beach" (one of their reporters) and that will get you to the place I heard this, but I'm not sure it will be there yet.

Just need to pray for these folks.

they showed the radar image (red) over arcadia ..

No confirmation yet of "roof off shelter" on the
weather channel

My prayers are going out :hug:

Major shelter in Arcadia with 1200 people inside roof being torn off, shelter collapsing. Arcadia on the right side of the eye wall now. :(

Roof coming off, 1200 people.

So sorry for all those folks. :(

of this story. :-(

Nothing about the shelter.

I hope she is okay. My thoughts are with you.

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From what I'm hearing from locals calling in to the local NBC station, it doesn't sound like devestation, but rather some substantial damage, but no Andrew.

I remember Donna, and it was totally devastating. It took years to get the state back to normal. This has higher winds than Donna did. Let's wait on the assessment.

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:eyes:

Good god, people, this is a tragic disaster. Show some respect!

This is such a tragedy. How could anyone post anything derisive? Maybe they're just dumb kids with nothing better to do than be disrespectful and disruptive.

Just all of a sudden, about an hour earlier than they said.

How is it in Orlando right now?

I have friends and relatives there.............

we just had another storm line move through, and I can hear a lot of thunder in the distance. It won't get really nasty for a few more hours.

We could use some good karma tonight!

eye of the storm, winds still 85-100 mph

no one was injured in the shelter with the roof collapsed (or blown off). That's got to be a miracle, and let's all hope it's true.

where is Arcadia anyway?

east of Sarasota.

It is headed Orlando way. We rolled down the hurricane shutters, and it helps not to hear the thingies hitting the windows.

National Guard enroute from Miami


THE NEWS-PRESS
Published by news-press.com on August 13, 2004


A 257-member National Guard soldier battallion from Miami will be on their way to Southwest Florida tonight as the clean-up from Hurricane Charley gets underway. Their tasks will be assigned once more damage assessments are complete.

snip


EMS received 34 calls between 3:15 and 6 p.m. Most were personal injuries and car accidents. There were two reports of women giving birth during the storm including one at Germain Arena and one at Dunbar High School shelter.


Hurricane - August 13, 2004 7:03 PM






********************************************************

Part of roof at Cape Coral Hospital is ripped off

Tornadoes touched off; 60,000 without power in Cape

THE NEWS-PRESS
Published by news-press.com on August 13, 2004


Updated @ 6:12 p.m.


Part of the roof at Cape Coral Hospital has been ripped off, The News-Press has learned. The hospital has lost power.

Cape Coral Hospital lost power, city water and suffered structural damage just past 4 p.m. Friday as Hurricane Charley barreled through the city packing 90 mph wind gusts.

Part of the roof at the hospital’s plant operations building was torn off. But that was an outbuilding and doesn’t affect patients or staff, said hospital spokeswoman Karen Krieger.

The hospital has emergency generators for power and had supplies of water delivered prior to the storm, Krieger said.

The water problem will also affect more than 30,000 customers of the city’s utility system.

snip.......http://www.news-press.com/index.html

My brother and his family are there!

took a major hit ..collapses people are getting hurt :cry:

Please be okay Florida Friends :cry:

Hurricane Charley invades Polk
Friday, August 13, 2004

Click here for more views of the storm from Pinpoint Doppler 9000.
Hurricane Charley, a Category 3 storm, is moving through Fort Meade in Polk County.

It appears that it will hit Orlando next.

No storm surges are expected locally, however, 75-100-mph winds are occurring in Polk. Also, tornadoes are possible, with a tornado watch in effect until 2 a.m. throughout the Bay area.

Charley is expected to be downgraded to Category 1 by early Saturday morning as it moves out of Florida.

Polk County ordered a mandatory evacuation for mobile home residents south of S.R. 60 and east of U.S. 27. People who were planning on going to shelters who have not left their homes yet are urged to stay put, because of dangerous road conditions.

Polk County Public Safety emergency vehicles are out of operation, as heavy winds have taken effect. That includes the sheriff's office, emergency medical and fire services.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/74/2004/8/13/51947.html

will up date more later.if we still have power........

My sister-in-law had a friend call her parents. They are alive, but Arcadia is "levelled" and there are "dead bodies in the streets."

Can't confirm that at this time but it does not sound good at all. Roads are blocked by downed power lines and poles and no one can get in or out of Arcadia.

:cry:

I'm hoping that the report is exaggerated or something. But it is what my parents-in-law said my sister-in-law's friend said.

They were apparently inside the shelter when the roof came down. They were not injured.

My thoughts are with you and your family. I know you still must be beside yourself with worry.

he talked to his girlfriends Mom in Orlando......she said she has a tree down in her yard and the roof is leaking.

here's the scary part: she abruptly ended the conversation by saying "#@%&! That sounds like my whole roof came off...gotta go."

She had already said that she has no power and a couple of radio stations are off the air.

Is everybody else in Orlando okay?

http://a.www.orlandoweather.com/slideshow/weather/3651996/detail.html?qs=;s=1;p=weather;dm=ss;w=320

It's passing through Orlando and on its way to me next as it exits Florida. Good riddance! This stuff is nerve-racking!

<snip>
ORLANDO -- Winds from Hurricane Charley are expected to be between 80 and 100 mph for several hours as the hurricane passes through Orlando Friday night, according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Friday night at 8:30 p.m., the storm hit Polk County, Fla., on its way to Orlando.

About 100 people were reportedly injured at the Grove Nursing Home in Lake Wales, Fla., according to Polk County public information officer Cindy Rodriguez.

Damage is also expected in Orlando Friday night.

"We anticipate it will hit the metro Orlando area in about three hours and will have sustained winds in the 80 to 100 mph area for approximately two hours," Dyer said Friday night.

http://www.local6.com/news/3652538/detail.html

If I find any more info, I'll post.

I am so sad about the news from Arcadia. :cry:

http://www.local6.com/news/3652734/detail.html

Take care Floridians.