I am aware of the significance of this date with regard to hurricanes in the north east. With that said, all I can say is that I hope and pray that NO ONE is hit by another storm this year...not even to prevent it from hitting Floriday again would I wish it somewhere else.

I've lived throug many major storms including Camille and recent experience with Charliey and Frances and was worried sick about Ivan armed with my knowledge of how my mobile home would likely withstand even a weakened Ivan.

I often frequent other boards, come back here because I think it is the best of the pack, but found a post that really hit home: I'd like to share it with you.

September 15, 2004
Dear Family and Friends,
I am sure you are all anxious to hear about our experiences
concerning
Hurricane Ivan which destroyed Grand Cayman Island. It was a
nightmare,
an
unbelievable time. No one was prepared for the viciousness of Ivan,
even
all the Caribbean people who go through these often. This was the
worst
recorded hurricane ever to hit the Cayman Islands, # 5 in severity
with
200
mi/hr winds traveling at 8 mi/hr. (hurricanes are usually 24 mi/hr).
As our building was hurricane safe and off the ocean, Norm and I
decided
to
stay in our condo. All the windows were boarded over with large
sheets
of
plywood. We prepared ourselves with drinking water, snacks,
flashlights,
plenty of batteries and candles and settled down for the night. This
was
Sat. Sept 11. (Ironic)
The winds started to really pick up around midnight and proceeded in
intensity throughout the night. Around 5AM we were awakened by the
sound of
water. We realized water was poring in from our boarded up windows
and
within 30 minutes were up to our knees in water. We started putting
our
belongings that were on lower shelves up on counters and our
dressers,
etc.
We lit our candles and settled down to watch the storm, radio on to
listen
to any updates on the storm.
By 7 AM the water was up to midthigh and we had lost all radio
contact.
Norm and I were now sitting on our kitchen counters to keep dry.
Our
furniture was floating around by this time. The storm was viciously
howling
outside and we watched as the palm tree fronds were being blown off
the
trees one by one. At 8AM we watched our grape tree go down along
with
all
the other trees in our front yard. The water continued to rise. At
10AM
we
noticed our door start to bow inward with the rise of water outside.
Before
we realized what was happening the front door burst in with a surge
of
water
(6foot wave). Norm and I made a dash for the guest bedroom and
climbed
upon
the bed that was now floating. We had just made it onto the bed
when we
noticed the ceiling starting to shake and realized it was
collapsing.
We
made it to the guest bathroom, sitting on an end table we had place
on
the
bathroom sink. There we sat and waited for 5 hours as we watched the
water
continue to rise. When standing, the water was mid chest level. I
was
wearing a life-jacket, as we knew if it raised much more we would
have
to
try and swim out to reach the upper condo. After about 2 hours the
end
table we were sitting on collapsed (particle board does not hold up
well
submerged for 2 hours in brown sewage/seawater) sending us into the
water.
We found 2 Rubbermaid containers floating and were able to get those
up
on
the sink to sit on to wait out the rest of the hurricane. One of the
things
they tell you is not to leave your dwelling under any circumstances,
you
are
safer to stay in side your home rather than try and get out as then
you
are
exposed openly to the elements. I should mention when the surge
burst
through the door it swept everything that we had stored on the
counters
and
dresser tops off into the fast flowing water out the front door. We
lost
everything, including our candles, flashlights and drinking water.
Our
fridge, stove, washer and dryer were floating. The water started to
subside
around 5PM and we were able to move back to the kitchen counter,
though
the
ceiling was partially down. At around 7PM the winds started to
subside,
where we felt safe enough to venture to higher ground though the
winds
were
still pretty strong and the water was at waist level. We made it to
the
condo above and behind us and they were wonderful neighbours. We
just
knew
them to say hi but they brought us in, clothed us, fed us and gave
us a
bed.
We have been living with them since and they have made us feel
welcome.
We will stay with them until we find further arrangements.
The next morning we woke up to calm weather. We ventured down to our
condo
to assess the damage and almost cried. We had lost everything, our
clothes,
shoes, appliances, everything. We were able to save our laptop, a
few
pictures, jewelry and important papers, but other than that all we
had
were
the clothes on our back, which weren't even ours. We even found
someone
else's chair in our living room, books that weren't ours, etc. The
place
looked like a bomb had struck. Everyone was walking around in
shock.
Everyone's place on the ground level looked like ours or worse.
The house behind us was no more, gone into the ocean. We walked to
Grand
Harbour, where Norm works and people were walking around
devastated. It
is
hard to believe but we fared better than a lot of other places. The
condos
all along the ocean were gone. We now have an ocean view. We lost
both
of
our cars and I had no way to get into work, though I was to report
in
immediately after the hurricane. No one was prepared for this (not
even
the
Caymanians), they had never experienced a hurricane of such
intensity.
It
was actually the water surge that raised the ocean 20 feet and sent a
50foot
wave over the island. Anyone who has been here knows how flat this
island
is, so can imagine how much damage a wave like that would cause.
Seven
mile
beach is no longer part of Cayman. Condo complexes were swept into
the
sea.
We don't know the number of fatalities but there are numerous
people
missing. Graveyards in Cayman are usually along the ocean and many
of
those
were destroyed, so bodies, already dead were floating in the sea.
It is
a
site no one would believe without seeing it for one self.
We are now in a state of emergency. As most countries, the looting
started
the next day and the Camanian government has put marshall law into
effect.
There is a 6PM curfew and the police have been advised to shoot to
kill
all
looters. Two Jamaicans were shot and killed this morning for
looting.
There is no electricity and running water on the island, oh for a
shower!
Today is the first day we have had internet and there is no land
phones,
thank goodness for cell phones but most of the batteries are now
dead.
I have been working 12 hours with sometimes 4 hours off. We are
running
out of medical supplies, linens, etc. People are being sent back to
the
shelters, who shouldn't be. Other countries are now coming to our
aid
and
medical supplies are starting to arrive. They are getting all people
off
the island, who don't have to be here. I could go on and on but I
just
wanted to give you an idea what is happening in "once" paradise.
Norm and I have been too busy with work to deal with our loss, but
after
working 2 days, I realize we got off lucky. Everyone is helping
everyone.
I now have 3 pair of shorts, 5 tops, 2 pair of shoes and 2 pair of
socks
to
my name. I will be taking tomorrow off to try and see what I can
salvage
from our condo. Our landlord said he will not be rebuilding as
there is
too
much structural damage, so at the time we are homeless.
Anyway, I wanted to give you all an idea of what the last 5 days have
been
like.
I will keep in touch.
Take care
Love Louise

Makes me feel really lucky. Even those that lost all up in the panhandle can probably relate well to the above post.

Nope, no more storms for ANYONE, please!