Wilma!

[andrewmckay5]

My neighbour in Rotonda( about 50 minutes drive south of Sarasota) has said there was a lot of rain and some "gusty" winds, no power cuts or damage; nothing to horrendous atall.

As you say Jen the media (especially GMTV)really do sensationalise things and are guilty of scare mongering.

andrew

[julieanne]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Macka
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by julieanne
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
lucky girl, but i am coming to arent i Julie? cos we have made arrangements for me to go in her bag!!! WE HAVE..............
[/quote]

Yes Liesa we have [msnwink]

Macka I love Siesta Key too [8D]
Just hoping it has not suffered too much [msnsad]
[/quote]

Indeed, it's very low lying even for Florida, so although I don't think winds will have been a major problem with it being so far north, the storm surge could have been, I'll contact my pals there and see how they got on. Let you know.
[/quote]

Macka - it would be good to hear what someone who is there has to report, thanks.

I was out there last year during charley and I have to say at the peak it was quite frightening (and I don't scare easy), but the worst was the aftermath (tornadoes) and being without power, the villa took on a whole different atmosphere without power, no air con was the worst - most unpleasant.

I don't think GMTV sensationalised it at all, the reporter just filmed what happened from her position in Fort Myers.

I have been going to Florida since 1983 most years and mostly always in hurricane season, but as we are in the middle of a hurrincane cycle (ie more hurricanes than normal) and will be for some time to come I am re thinking the time of year that I travel.

[julieanne]

I've been through about 5 hurricanes, mostly on the Gulf Coast and Jeanne in Orlando last year.

I think each one is so different - and obviously it makes a difference how close you are to the centre of the storm.

Jeanne was by far the most scary for me - and a little exciting at the same time. But we were so fortunate that we only lost power for a very short time.

Had lots of cleaning up to do though [msneek]

Have often been down in Sarasota when the roads to Siesta Key and St Armands have been closed for our entire stay - hoping that isn't the case this time [msnscared]

[dawn]

We were in Florida last year for Charley house hunting. The hurricane blew through at a fairly fast rate and we were without power for a number of days. However as all the parks, restaurants etc were open again almost immediately it didn't bother us too much, and made the most of our holiday out and about.
We were lucky enough to spend 5 weeks at our home in the summer, in the 'peak' hurricane season, so thought we might get caught again. However all we had was glorious sunshine with the few odd shower to cool us down, I'm glad we didn't let Charley put us off.
Our holidays are dictated mostly by school holidays, so I hope to go again for a number of weeks next summer, and fingers crossed we will have wonderful weather again, and if not, we will just make the most of it as we did before and have a wonderful time[msnsmile2]

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
I was out there last year during charley and I have to say at the peak it was quite frightening (and I don't scare easy), but the worst was the aftermath (tornadoes) and being without power, the villa took on a whole different atmosphere without power, no air con was the worst - most unpleasant.

I don't think GMTV sensationalised it at all, the reporter just filmed what happened from her position in Fort Myers.

I have been going to Florida since 1983 most years and mostly always in hurricane season, but as we are in the middle of a hurrincane cycle (ie more hurricanes than normal) and will be for some time to come I am re thinking the time of year that I travel.
[/quote]

I live with high winds from October till April on Cape cod... nor'easters..they last about a week..50 mile an hour winds...and hurricane from june till Nov....lucky just the tail end of them so far.....and I must say I still find the storms scary at times.............we only have 35 mile an hour winds here now with gusts to 60.........and its been like that now for around 3 weeks on and off........its like living in a wind tunnel.....
I do believe that they make more of a storm then is needed sometimes.....and Orlando is inland.........but the danger from twisters can be very real....so can flooding....

[Semper]

Glad to hear Orlando escaped relatively unharmed. Apparently there was a power cut at Sea-world and some tables and chairs were blown over on International Drive, as reported on Fox!!

Any new on Busch Gardens as it is further south?

[CarolAnn]

Just got back today, and lived through Wilma absolutely fine! It poured with rain for about an hour last Sunday evening, by the time we came out of Cracker Barrel on H27 it had stopped. Went to bed, and on Monday when we woke, it was heavy rain,and quite gusty, but the kids next door to us were in the pool the whole morning!!! By mid day on the Monday, the sun was out the sky was clear crisp blue, though I found it cooler than it had been, it was about 70 ish and a cool breeze. I was amazed at the reports on the tv at how bad some of the keys had been affected. But, the H27 came through it completely fine! Daft folk had left out bins on Sunday night, so few of them laying around, but that was about all I am pleased to say..btw, it was absolutely glorious after Mondays cool down!!! Would go back in an instant[8D]

[domster]

Nice to hear Carol. Seemed to be 100 miles away they got the full force of the storm.

Playing in the pool during a hurricance, now that is a great thing to tell mates at school. how cool will those kids be.