LilMsFoodie...I worried most for you (after Patrick checked in). So glad you are OK and that your home had no damage! Miracles do happen, yes?

So glad to hear from people who are checking in, sorry for everybody who suffers. The news look awful.

I live in west side of Orlando and survived the storm fairly well with just a few trees down and no power (We were on the west side of the storm which is considered the "good" side. This morning I went to see a coworker in Winter Park and the damage was unbelievable. Huge trees were blown down onto houses and in the streets. They were without water, power, or transportation since they could get to any of their cars. The east side of Orlando seems to have been hardest hit. They say that we may have power back by Saturday night. Ice is very hard to find, and gas is getting hard to find. Will keep updated if anyone is interested.

About Orlando...I have been asked by a lot of British friends I have, how the Disney area is (theme parks, hotels in the area, and Sanford airport) Several of them have trips planned in the near future. Anyone know?

I heard on CNN yesterday that all of Disney was open with the exception of Animal Kingdom. This area is closed temporarily only because of staff shortage in all areas of the entire park.

hibiscus, I have not been out there yet but all of disney's parks are open as of Sunday with very minimal damage. They cleaned up and were operating very quickly. Tell your British friends that they should be fine. I know in a couple of days if you were at disney you probably wouldn't even know there was a storm. Disney was also on the west side of the eye and did not get hit as hard.

to ITALIANO. I was wondering if your condo in Naples suffered any damage from Charlie.

Just another Floridian checking in with power finally up and running! We live in Debary, between Orlando and Daytona, and our neighborhood sustained very heavy tree damage, but no major structural damage. I posted more info on the "Hurricanes, Oh My" thread, if anyone is interested. SO thankful to have ice and air-conditioning again, but our hearts go out to those still suffering. I just pray that there aren't still people in the rubble of Punta Gorda who are waiting to be found - what a nightmare!
Joyce

Hibiscus: The Sanford/Orlando International airport is closed because they were hard hit. I heard this on the news on 8-16 and they don't know when they are going to open.