W
wlaldridge
Hi all,
Wife and I escaped the wrath to Tallahassee visiting our kids and grandtwins.
Thanks for all the good wishes from so many.
Gulf Breeze area was very hard hit. My home is less than a half mile from the sound across the golf course. We had so little real damage it is embarassing, mostly trees and fences and shingles. Power is finally back with my beloved internet. Great devastation, though.
I went back into our subdivision across the golf course. More than 80 percent of the homes along the water (most million dollars or more) are totaled. Whole houses 3 stories high GONE, roofs sitting in the golf course. Most home on that side of the course had storm surge of 4-5 feet go through the downstairs. Saltwater ruins everything it contacts. It looks like a war zone there, personal property all over the golf couse and the roads. But we are not alone, downtown Pensacola is a mess and so is Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama from what I can see.
Pensacola Beach is on a barrier Island just across the sound from us and it is really bad. Most of the major bridges are damaged and our schools will not resume till October 11 many later in some areas.
Lots of photos are on www.pensacolanewsjournal.com and NOAA retasked one of its satelites to photograph the downtown and beach (the white sand looks like a snow storm hit). Those photos are linked on the website.
I will be busy with my own recovery and trying to help neighbors as much as I can over the next few weeks. Please keep them in your prayers. I have been wielding a chainsaw, rake, wheelbarrow and brute force all week. Not too bad for a guy who was told he was about to drop dead just two years ago.
W was here last weekend with his brother our govenor Jeb Bush and a VR guy Senator Bob Graham will be here tomorrow. The military bases were hit hard and all the hospitals got damaged, but most are back in operation now.
These relief workers are just wonderful along with the National Guard and so many power companies have crews here helping restore power. There are over 5000 electrical workers from US and Canada here working around the clock and sleeping in tents. This great country really does know how to pull together when the chips are down.
Of course there are some scumbags that are trying to profit like charging 3,000 dollars or more to cut up a tree leaning toward a house. They prey on people so distressed by these events. Florida has brought charges against some, like the guy selling $500 generators for $2800 and $50 military gas cans for $200.
Stay tuned and thanks again to all for the good wishes,
Bill
Wife and I escaped the wrath to Tallahassee visiting our kids and grandtwins.
Thanks for all the good wishes from so many.
Gulf Breeze area was very hard hit. My home is less than a half mile from the sound across the golf course. We had so little real damage it is embarassing, mostly trees and fences and shingles. Power is finally back with my beloved internet. Great devastation, though.
I went back into our subdivision across the golf course. More than 80 percent of the homes along the water (most million dollars or more) are totaled. Whole houses 3 stories high GONE, roofs sitting in the golf course. Most home on that side of the course had storm surge of 4-5 feet go through the downstairs. Saltwater ruins everything it contacts. It looks like a war zone there, personal property all over the golf couse and the roads. But we are not alone, downtown Pensacola is a mess and so is Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama from what I can see.
Pensacola Beach is on a barrier Island just across the sound from us and it is really bad. Most of the major bridges are damaged and our schools will not resume till October 11 many later in some areas.
Lots of photos are on www.pensacolanewsjournal.com and NOAA retasked one of its satelites to photograph the downtown and beach (the white sand looks like a snow storm hit). Those photos are linked on the website.
I will be busy with my own recovery and trying to help neighbors as much as I can over the next few weeks. Please keep them in your prayers. I have been wielding a chainsaw, rake, wheelbarrow and brute force all week. Not too bad for a guy who was told he was about to drop dead just two years ago.
W was here last weekend with his brother our govenor Jeb Bush and a VR guy Senator Bob Graham will be here tomorrow. The military bases were hit hard and all the hospitals got damaged, but most are back in operation now.
These relief workers are just wonderful along with the National Guard and so many power companies have crews here helping restore power. There are over 5000 electrical workers from US and Canada here working around the clock and sleeping in tents. This great country really does know how to pull together when the chips are down.
Of course there are some scumbags that are trying to profit like charging 3,000 dollars or more to cut up a tree leaning toward a house. They prey on people so distressed by these events. Florida has brought charges against some, like the guy selling $500 generators for $2800 and $50 military gas cans for $200.
Stay tuned and thanks again to all for the good wishes,
Bill
