Leaving for Orlando on 9-19-04, please keep us posted on damages in the area
 

My hubby and I are coming to Orlando for a week for a work function (obviously if the area gets hit hard the conference will be cancelled.) We are hoping & praying that no one suffers much damage! Would appreciate it if anyone would be so kind as to help keep us up to speed on the damages to the area. I am tuned in tightly to MSNBC & Weather Channel, but sometimes they tend to hype or sugarcoat :( Again, we are keeping all of you in our thoughts & appreciate any updates.

The eye on this hurricane is 28 miles wide, compared to Charley which had a 10 mile wide eye. So there could be a larger swath of damage.

Keep posted.

That eye does look much more menacing. It's better formed than Charley's and this storm looks like it will definitely deliver a serious blow to more of Florida than Charley did. My parents in central Florida have a little suitcase packed, their important papers in folder, have taken photos of their most important belongings for insurance purposes if necessary, and the car is tanked up in case they have to dash. But they've also stocked up to go for several days without electricity, etc. assuming they stay home and power is off for a while. Fingers crossed!

The bad thing about this storm is the stalled front that is over Georgia. That's what's keeping this storm on a east-west path and not allowing it to steer north or south of Florida. There is another front heading southeast from Canada that's about over Colorado. I doubt it will reach us in time to steer this thing elsewhere...but we can pray...

lina, you'll know if there are any problems.

A category 4 hurricane, possibly a 5, and you are worried about your vacation? I'll pray for you.

Sorry, but I'm a little more worried about my brother and his family, who are right in the path of the storm, not to mention the thousands of other Florida resident who will be adversely affected, than about your vacation.

Why don't you just keep up with the threads on this subject instead of asking obviously preoccupied Orlando residents to help you with your vacation? Sorry to seem so harsh, but your post just seems so inappropriate under the circumstances.

I know those of us in Florida and the Southeast are on edge about this storm, but I don't think people who are concerned about their vacations are that out of line. And in defense of linaatoz, more of her post was about concern for those here than about their plans.

But let's be honest. We all worry most about things that affect us. When stuck in a traffic jam, is our first concern really about the poor people in the accident that caused this mess -- or is it about our getting to our destination? How many posts are about the problems a potential train strike in Italy will cause with a planned trip, rather than true concern for the workers who are unable to pay their bills or get benefits? I don't think it shows a lack of sensitivity for people to wonder how things will affect a trip they have spent time and money planning for. It doesn't reduce their concern for the safety and welfare of others, it just shows the logical concern of how it will affect them.

Patrick, of course you are correct but it still doesn't stop me from thinking what the hell? You are worried about a vacation and I may be homeless in three days?

We are all testy.

Thank you, Patrick. That was a nice way of explaining that we don't have to always be sniping at posters all the time when we don't see eye to eye with them. linaatoz after all is keeping us in her thoughts, what a nice way to end her post.

GoTravel, have you considered drugs or alcohol at this time? Hard drugs. Hard alcohol.

I'm imbibing.

Under my bed.

Valium and pinot grigio work very well. I don't even have to be under the bed.

I feel terrible for everyone in the storm areas, including some of my family who are making plans to evacuate as necessary. But listen to this: my friend just let her 9-year-old go with father and father's girlfriend for a Bahamas vacation, you know, a nice way to end the summer before school begins. Sometimes people far away lose their perspective and I guess common sense.

Those hotels in the islands are made out of concrete, concrete block, and rebar. They are sturdy and can withstand hurricanes.

I hope your friend's daughter is safe.

Boy oh boy!! I am truly sorry to all who were/are offended by this post. It was really not intended to come off as insensitive. Patrick, Tandoori and anyone else who DID catch on to my concern for all in Florida, including family and friends of our own, thank you.

I wasn't at all offended. You have travel plans, and it's perfectly normal to want to have some idea about what will happen. You were merely asking those that will be here for it, to help you be informed with a bird's eye view.
We are just scared down here. This storm has proved so difficult to forecast and there is so much uncertaintly attached to it. It appears as though it has the potential to effect so many of us Floridians as well as those above us and perhaps to the east and/or west of us. It's kind-of a beyond the scope 'what's it going to be like?', 'what is going to happen to me and my family?' 'how will this change my life' feeling.
I think many of us that have lived through these storms feel as though there are so many people that just don't understand them and what they are capable of doing. Point in case, my friend who was raised in Clearwater recently moved to Alpharetta and she has a friend who took her and her family on a plane to Miami for their vacation two days ago! That woman is clueless and I believe there is a bit of frustration on some of our part that some of the population doesn't understand the impact this could have, or they downplay it, or bash our warranted concern and fear, or, in an unbelievable, recent heartless and non-empathetic post here, criticizing our choice of places to live!
I, for one, am living this 24/7 right now. It's all I'm focusing on and has been for the last several days. I'm studying computer models and graphs, and having a crash course in hurricanenomics. So, most of us are totally removed from the rest of the world and their worries at the moment.
But, if I were in your shoes, I'd be wondering the same thing, and what better place to post your question than on this forum!

linaatoz, we made it through yet another hurricane. The theme parks were (mostly) open yesterday. With 12 more days to clean up and restore power, shouldn't be a problem by the time of your trip. HOWEVER...watch the track of Hurricane Ivan. Where in the Orlando are are you most interested?

sludick-
Thank you for the update. Hope all is well for you and all in Florida. I am watching Ivan closely. We were scheduled to stay at the Hotel Royal Plaza, but now due to damage, we have been shifted to the Coronado Springs Resort. Looks like a nice place to stay :) We will be child-free for our trip and I will be looking for shopping, relaxing and a salon/spa for facial and massage. Any tips are appreciated. Again, hope you are all safe.

Well, staying at Disney is a pretty good bet. They are able to recover quickly and have weathered the past 2 storms very well indeed. They did not open 2 of their parks on Monday (when the rest of us were still holed up in our houses or shelters), mostly due to staffing considerations. Enjoy. Will repost if I hear anything pertinent.