Looking into the eye of danger.... a killer hurricane....Charley

[Cudaman]

Hurricane Charley is bearing down on us in Florida, after coming back from a great business trip in Australia of collecting plants/seeds with professors of University of Florida and the curators of the world famous Fairchild Gardens of Florida and other nursery owners. I came back after spending 10 of 20 days planed trip to run at the last second, the Ohio V-10 Nationals. The thing that is strange is...... If I did not come back early, I would be trying to fly in to the USA from 1/2 way around the world into a major hurricane today (Friday) at 5:00pm.

As of 5:45 am on Friday they are predicting winds of 115 per hour and storm surge of 13-15 feet above the high tide mark. The last direct hit was in 1921. I personally have much to risk, my nursery will sustain major damage to my trees in the fields(40 acres).

I fear for not only my nursery, but for my family, Jesse(11), Justin(14) and my wife. But I also fear for my friends in the area, my mother and brother who also live in the area.

I also fear for others in the Viper community. I live in a high and dry area, but Chad Williams (BAD VPR) has just moved from this "safe area" into a low lying area on the water just 6 days ago. Other Viper owners that live in this area are Vern Hill and Goddfadda down the road from me. In Tampa are Chuck "2 Viper" Babel, Gerald, Mike 99 ACR, Elite Viper.

They are predicting the hurricane will hit land in the Bradenton/Sarasota as well as Tampa/St. Pete aprox 5:00-6:00 pm. I hope and pray everything will turn out well for all of us in the Viper community.

From ground zero,

Cudaman

 

[J DAWG]

Ward and others be safe and we are thinking of yall.

 

[DLTARNU]

This is the absolute best, no-nonsense hurricane tracking site in the world:

http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/environment/canes.cgi

Good luck, Cuda. Our house got steamrolled by Andrew in 1992. I was inside when the second floor was blown off

 

[Doug Supercharged Vipers]

Hurricane Charley is bearing down on us in Florida, after coming back from a great business trip in Australia of collecting plants/seeds with professors of University of Florida and the curators of the world famous Fairchild Gardens of Florida and other nursery owners. I came back after spending 10 of 20 days planed trip to run at the last second, the Ohio V-10 Nationals. The thing that is strange is...... If I did not come back early, I would be trying to fly in to the USA from 1/2 way around the world into a major hurricane today (Friday) at 5:00pm.

As of 5:45 am on Friday they are predicting winds of 115 per hour and storm surge of 13-15 feet above the high tide mark. The last direct hit was in 1921. I personally have much to risk, my nursery will sustain major damage to my trees in the fields(40 acres).

I fear for not only my nursery, but for my family, Jesse(11), Justin(14) and my wife. But I also fear for my friends in the area, my mother and brother who also live in the area.

I also fear for others in the Viper community. I live in a high and dry area, but Chad Williams (BAD VPR) has just moved from this "safe area" into a low lying area on the water just 6 days ago. Other Viper owners that live in this area are Vern Hill and Goddfadda down the road from me. In Tampa are Chuck "2 Viper" Babel, Gerald, Mike 99 ACR, Elite Viper.

They are predicting the hurricane will hit land in the Bradenton/Sarasota as well as Tampa/St. Pete aprox 5:00-6:00 pm. I hope and pray everything will turn out well for all of us in the Viper community.

From ground zero,

Cudaman

Would you guys PLEASE keep in touch with me!

I have some of your phone numbers and will give you a call today. If you need anything south of you let me know. I have a generator, supplies, a place to stay and anything else you may need. Don't hesitate to ask! I can drive and meet any of you part way - just say the word!

Hang in there!
Doug

 

[1TONY1]

Good luck guys. Looks like my boat is in for a rough ride

 

[Gerald]

I'm actually pretty worried....

................The eye is predicted to go right over where I live.......................


not good....

 

[Gerald]

I'm going to make the best of it and take lots of photos.

 

[VIPERCANE]

I hear you Ward. Stay safe out there. Looks like it will be a nasty one. Suppose to be the worst storm to hit the Bay since 1921. Been talking to my best friends all night and this morning. They are all leaving the Tampa and beaches areas. Hopefully, my condo on Clearwater Beach will be okay. At least it is on the very top floor.......no storm surges/flooding where the water/wind just destroys the sliding glass doors and starts flooding the unit. Had that happen to us in our Pensacola Beach condo. No fun. Anyway, good luck and I hope you and your family will come out of this with no damage whatsoever.

Bindy

 

[DLTARNU]

For the uninitiated, Charley's current speed classifies him as a weak Category 3 hurricane. For comparison, Andrew was a strong Category 4, and suspected weak to mid-range Category 5, but they were unable to record data when it hit because every single sensor in its path was destroyed. The last readings they had, which were before the ****** of the storm, pegged it as a strong Category 4.

Category 3 is when you have to start worrying. Category 1 is like a bad thunderstorm. Category 2 is like a really, REALLY bad thunderstorm. Category 3 is when the real damage starts.

Unfortunately, Charley is now over warm water and is expected to strengthen. They expect it to be a mid-range to strong Category 3 by the time it hits land. Not a storm you want to be in.

Here is a website explaining hurricane categories:

http://www.srcc.lsu.edu/OEP/hurr_scale.html

To those on the central west coast of FL, good luck. Lash your stuff down, get a camera and a 6-pack, and hang on. Not much else you can do except hope it swings wide.

 

[Toby]

Be safe guys!

I was going down at the end of next week to enjoy but now it looks like it might be a trip to clean up all the damage on our beach front properties in Siesta Key and Lakewood Ranch.

Here is a live web cam on Longboat Key. It's a home where one of our Viper club brothers works out of.

He said as long as the home and the power stay intact...the web cam should operate.

http://www.silverfast.com/show/webcam-florida/en.html


If anyone is in the area tomorrow please let me know about the damage.

 

[VPRVENM97]

Good luck to everyone in the path of Charley. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Torquemonster]

Praying for you guys down there and your families and those with property/businesses down there.

If anyone needs help - I have no commitments here in MD - just say the word and I'm happy to drive down and do anything I can to help. Pm me for a ph number

Hang in guys!

 

[Toby]

Downtown Tampa web cam...

http://www.wtvt.com/skycam.htm

 

[fuelman]

Cudaman, Gerald, Chad, any of you westcoast Florida guys need refuge please head over, our house is the highest part of Seminole county, they are predicting 60-80 mile and hour winds here and flooding, we should be ok with the flooding due to our altitude. My cell phone is 407-620-6843.

 

[Mr U-2]

My best wishes & prayers for you all. One of my folks here is a Hurricane Hunter and she's just landed from flying through Charlie. As soon as I hear anything from her I'll pass it on.

We went through Opal (Cat 3 at land fall down from a Cat 5) here in 95 and although the winds were clocked at Eglin at 144 MPH it was the storm surge that caused the most damage here..but we're not a big city. I'm sure you all know the things to do but if you're riding it out having filled the bath tubs was a very handy technique....any questions for my Hurricane Hunter (metorioligst and mathematician) let me know and I'll ask.

Stay safe...Paul

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I can't remember if I paid my insurance premium this month.

 

[purenrg625]

I tried to upgrade my insurance and they said no go, not until after the storm. Got me a bottle of Crown and a bottle of Jack.....I am prepared for the worse. See you guys on the other side!

 

[Mr U-2]

My Hurricane Hunter just called...she had some media types onboard on this mision...they didn't do so well.(Burp) She said to treat this one as a real Cat 3. I'll keep you advised. Good luck.

Paul

 

[Jesse97GTS]

Good luck guys, be safe out there.

 

[Toby]

It's now a cat 4 and heading north/north east.

 

[scottgf]

Hang on down there, and good luck to you!!!
(Ill take earthquakes any day...)
Cheers,

 

[VIPERCANE]

First it was heading for my condo on the beach, now it is heading for my home in Orlando..............damn mothernature.......the rain is coming down now and the winds have picked up. My 40+ palm trees are swaying like never. Damn, this is getting weird.............okay gotta go and get all the valuable documents together etc. Got to board up the huge garage window and protect the snakes.
Stay safe guys.

Bindy

 

[Larry Macedo]

We'll, I'm leaving the shop and heading home. If this is a prelude to what is next, we're in for some scary stuff. It was calm and dry, then it suddenly went dark and the ***** hit the fan. It's relatively calm again and just a drizzle is coming down now. Charley is now a Category 4 with 150+ mph winds, so we're in for some fun this evening. I just spoke to some of the guys in Bradenton and they reported no rain or wind as of minutes ago. If the power/phone services stay up, I'll give you all the play-by-play as the storm moves through.

 

[ViperDave]

Spend most of our holidays in the st petes area out on sunset beach. Can’t offer much by way of help from over here but we will be back to spend our tourist $$ in your economy as soon as we can.

Cat 4 that’s scary stuff

I hope you guys all come through ok and all the best.

 

[VIPERCANE]

Larry, good luck bro..........it is calm now after that heavy gust. Call me when you can.

Bindy

 

[Bill B]

As a veteran of Andrew (running from room to room while the house disappeared from around us) I feel for you. Fortunately this one doesn't look quite as bad. I just spoke to a friend that is working at the hurricane center and she said that it is forecast to weaken quickly after landfall.

 

[viper GTS-R]

Good luck to all of you.Were praying for your safety.Hope the snakes are safe!

 

[Larry Macedo]

The ride home was interesting, tree branches and some tree's down in the area. I've heard of 4-5 tornado's in the outlying areas, although everything at home is thankfully in one piece so far.

Bindy, I'll give you a buzz when all hell breaks loose to make sure your OK. I thought about you and the massive palms in your yard and along your driveway. Every time I drive to your home, I think Palm Springs, CA, for some reason?

 

[Cudaman]

Looks like Vern Hill, Bad Vpr, Chuck "2 Viper" Babel, Gerald, Mike 99 ACR, Elite Viper, and Goddfadda are going to very lucky on Friday 13..... Charley at this point unless it changes direction again will be only in 80-90 mph wind and not as bad tidal surge because of being on the back side of the storm, instead of 130-140 mph winds and 12-15 ft tidal surges on the front side. It is also spawning numberous(10-14) tornadoes off the north and east side of it.

But now Lee and Joe Saunders(Lakeland) will be feeling the storm next then Larry Macedo and the Fuelman(Orlando) after that. Only good thing for you guys is the hurricane will be crewing up land first before it gets to you, which will de intensify it.

Cudaman

 

[VIPERCANE]

Wow..it has started.........lots of rain and the wind. The palm trees are getting their test this evening. The snakes are safe in the garage...the lightning is incredible. Sheets of rain and in just a few minutes the roads are already filled with water. And we still have two more hours or so before the worst part comes thru. Phew!!!!!!
The fury of mother nature. I will video tape this.

Bindy