We (my son , daughter-in-law and 2 grandaughters) were staying in the Howard Johnson on the 192 when the hurricane arrived. We were all terrified, could hear crashing of trees, glass and roofing materials. The next day when we went to look it was devastating, we could not get out because trees were blocking the path. The motel was so badly damaged that it was closed down. We were only there for 2 nights, luckily we were moving on to our villa on the afternoon of the 14th August. When we arrived at the villa we had no water no electric. no phone and practically no petrol in the car and no food. We went on to the 17/92 and found Walgreens, open but in the dark, allowing only one customer in at a time and only cash transactions. I managed to get packets of cereal and a couple of tins chickens pieces and drinking water- we had boiled up the pool water for washing previously - and we survived until the water came on and then the electric but we still did not have petrol for car so decided to stay in the villa until things calmed down a bit. I rang the Sheriff and asked where the nearest gas station was, knowing we only had sufficient petrol to get at the very most 2 miles. He pointed us in the right direction thank goodness.
Then we had the storm which knocked out the electric again, also knocked out all televisions and the phone. But having taken a good look around we considered ourselves very lucky. The kids managed to get MGM, Universal and Busch Gardens, and the rain did'nt seem bother them too much.
When we left for Sandford Airport on the 26th August, we arrived to find the queue for check in outside. We stood in the queue for almost 2 hours and then nearly another hour to go through security.
We were glad to get home but we still managed to enjoy our stay in Kissimmee.


Jean