Holy Mother of God, LOOK at this...

If you're in Ft. Myers, get your head down.

==

Hurricane Charley, whose sustained winds have increased to 145 m.p.h., has taken an abrupt right turn, with Fort Myers now appearing to be the center of the storm instead of Tampa. The hurricane is also expected to make landfall earlier than originally anticipated, more likely hitting in the next few hours, rather than this evening.

Charley is currently about 30 to 40 miles off shore, Ed Rappaport of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in an interview on CNN. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate within the next two hours as the storm strikes Sanibel Island and moves inland.

While those in Fort Myers will have to cope with Charley's unexpected twist, those in Tampa can breathe a bit easier.

"They will be on the weaker side of the storm," Mr. Rappaport said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/13/national/13CND-HURRI.html?hp

:scared:

and yes, I'm quite scared and haven't been able to get ahold of him at all today. I need a hug.

:hug: That is scary! I hope he is OK.

:hug:

He's not there, but his friends are.

..but luckily he and his family left day before yesterday to higher calmer ground in western Virginia. <whew!>

I'm thinking of you and wishing safety for your brother... :hug:

You're a sweetie. I'm glad you're family got out. My brother and his family have moved from their house to somewhere a little safer and are riding it out.

Keep safe, y'all!

Charley you know it's past your bedtime. Time to come home.

it is very low lying and has that one narrow causeway connecting it to Ft. Meyers. I remember signs all along that route saying "Evacuation Route". I wouldn't want to be on that island today! :-(

but the shell pickings on the Sanibel beaches will probably be pretty amazing.

Great memories! :-)

Heavy floods and 145mph winds. And coming right on the heels of Bonnie.

From Chicago to Ft. Myers :evilgrin:?

that smacked me around last year

DDQM

They're currently at their home in Ontario. I wonder if their place down there, where they spend most of the year, will still be there. :scared:

it'll still be a hurricane, but downgraded, maybe 70 mph winds. The forecast came too late for me to secure the boat, hope she is ok.....