-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
The main hurricane Charley thread (for WDW & Central Fla. discussion)
- Thread starter prberk
- Start date
chancellor
Member
Hello from Pinellas county - Charley was supposed to cut directly through here until it turned early and slammed into Port Charlotte. We were hunkered down and ready for the storm on Friday (the entire Tampa Bay area was boarded up and shut down with 800,000 people evacuated). We didn't even end up losing power. I get a sinking feeling in my stomach seeing the pictures and reading the posts, knowing that it was supposed to be us. I spoke to my Dad in Daytona who was without power or phones for 3 days, and he's still running on generators without AC at work.
On the price gouging, Florida is currently under a "gas tax holiday" for the month of August (this was decided back when prices were skyrocketing, unrelated to the storm), which knocks 8 cents a gallon off the price. So those prices over $2.00 are criminal. Gas around here has been going for $1.75 or so, and hasn't changed since the storm.
On the price gouging, Florida is currently under a "gas tax holiday" for the month of August (this was decided back when prices were skyrocketing, unrelated to the storm), which knocks 8 cents a gallon off the price. So those prices over $2.00 are criminal. Gas around here has been going for $1.75 or so, and hasn't changed since the storm.
phlydude
Well-Known Member
Hey all! Was supposed to leave on Saturday night but US Air's terminal in MCO was trashed so we didn't get out until Tuesday afternoon. Cell service for Sprint finally started working late Monday into Tuesday on property. Verizon's was working the entire time and Cingular's was sporadic.
If anyone is looking for gas on the cheap, I stopped at Costco on OBT just south of the CFP and it was $1.65 for 87 octane. Catch is that you have to be a member but for $45 bucks a year, you can save some serious bucks on gas alone, not to mention everything else you can buy in bulk.
Just like everyone else said, trees were knocked over on site and road signs were bent or snapped off. Alot of traffic lights were still out on Tuesday morning and most of the businesses on CFP from Sea World to John Young were closed still. McDonalds and other businesses along the John Young @ Hunters Creek were open since Saturday as well as most businesses on 535 outside DTD.
If anyone is looking for gas on the cheap, I stopped at Costco on OBT just south of the CFP and it was $1.65 for 87 octane. Catch is that you have to be a member but for $45 bucks a year, you can save some serious bucks on gas alone, not to mention everything else you can buy in bulk.
Just like everyone else said, trees were knocked over on site and road signs were bent or snapped off. Alot of traffic lights were still out on Tuesday morning and most of the businesses on CFP from Sea World to John Young were closed still. McDonalds and other businesses along the John Young @ Hunters Creek were open since Saturday as well as most businesses on 535 outside DTD.
lamarvenoy said:
I am so sorry to hear that, but not surprised. We had the same thing here in Richmond last September after Isabelle. Often they would bring small generators up from a store in another state, open the truck up alongside the road, and sell them from the truck. Then move on.
One way to counter them is to see if your locality, like mine, requires a business license for retail sales. If so, you can simply ask them to see their license; and if they do not have one call your police or local government right away, telling them either the license plate (if they are selling from a vehicle) or their location AT THAT MOMENT (say, from a cell phone).
They may not always be caught, but they can only be stopped if people report them consistently.
Just my two cents.
As for Disney resort prices, MKT reported earlier that WDW was charging Florida residents the normal Florida resident rate (which is discounted). If anyone knows any different, please post.
Anyhow, I am still praying for all you in Florida. Please keep up the posts and progress reports.
Patrick: give our regards to Tiffany. Hope your neighborhoods are fixed up soon. Good to see you out and about, given how hard Kissimmee appears to have gotten hit.
phlydude
Well-Known Member
On Saturday after the storm, we went looking for food off site (as we went to visit relative in Hunter's Creek) and found that Frogger's was short staffed and people were waiting 20-30 without servers acknowledging them so they were leaving (us included). We went to Donato's and found it to be crowded but managable and a welcomed change to Disney food!!
On the way back, the Osceola Pkwy wasn't too bad although traffic lights down by 417 and Gaylord Palms were out and people were not treating them as 4-way stops. A stop, a honk and away you go is my method but getting back on Disney property was nice since all the power was working there.
On the way back, the Osceola Pkwy wasn't too bad although traffic lights down by 417 and Gaylord Palms were out and people were not treating them as 4-way stops. A stop, a honk and away you go is my method but getting back on Disney property was nice since all the power was working there.
BwanaBob
Well-Known Member
OK kids...just got back.
What you are about to see DOES NOT even come close to actually being there...
the smells...
the sounds...
Words can not describe the atmosphere.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Ground Zero of Hurricane Charley
What you are about to see DOES NOT even come close to actually being there...
the smells...
the sounds...
Words can not describe the atmosphere.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Ground Zero of Hurricane Charley
DDuckFan130
Well-Known Member
WowBwanaBob said:
...that's really all there is to say. You're right, words can't describe it and I cannot even imagine what it's like to be there .
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
OMG I wish I didn't look at those pics, but thanks for posting them BB
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
Hey Bob, Thanks for the pictures. So many scenes of horror. I feel so bad for the people who had to live through that. Thank you for going and helping these people get their lives and homes back. God bless you for assisting in His work!!!!! BelleBwanaBob said:
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
Simply horrifying.
Just looking at the Steel Wx12's that were just freakin' bent over like they were thin limbs. I'm surprised half of the structures that are standing are standing if the winds were THAT powerful!
Just looking at the Steel Wx12's that were just freakin' bent over like they were thin limbs. I'm surprised half of the structures that are standing are standing if the winds were THAT powerful!
Wckd Queen
New Member
Thanks for posting these, BB. It really shows the extent of the horror and damage that these poor people are facing from Mother Natures wrath. Such a shame...
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
The shame of it with today's cycle of 24 hour a day news, the lifespan of such tramatic and important events are just shortened beyond belief. Everyone moves on faster then they should, and the real impact isnt felt beyond those who experience it firsthand.
lamarvenoy
New Member
PhotoDave219 said:
Exactly, remember 911 when there was no TV for days just news 24/7 every single channel,within a day or so the shock-rock style news shows were trying to out do each other with fancy expensive flashy graphics and perfectly orchestated music. Then flip,nothing from anybody. This storm was pretty bad and alot of people had damage and ALOT of people have NO POWER across the state. The media is a sham, its not real and the news stations bring a negativity and uncaring peephole view of what is really happening. Man, I'm so sick and tired of the media and the machine that drives them.We are better than that.We DESERVE better than that. The TV cannot express feelings and emotions very well, often I've found that nothing can express emotions in a 1st person perspective. But a single frame picture is the best substitute-
