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We are OK for now. We evacuated last Thursday to Montgomery, AL.
However, we didn't get there until Friday afternoon. Did you see the news
of all the cars going North on the Florida Turnpike and I-75. Well, we part
of that big group - only we were in a truck but pulling a 5th wheel camper. We got
up to 30 mph occaisionally, but mostly 5 to 15 to standstill. About 6:30 we
started calling campgrounds (we were still south of Ocala at that time). We
found one near where I-75 and I-10 cross in Lake City. We got there about
8:45 or so. The next morning (Friday) we got up early and were on the road
ahead of the traffic and as we went past Tallahassee is when the traffic
finally picked up - but it never got as bad as it was on Thursday.
We arrived back home at 11:30 pm Monday night to an undamaged home, but
a lot of outside damage. Pool enclosure is a mess, fence down, all our
oranges and grapefruit on the ground, a ton of leaves in the pool, many
trees stripped of those leaves. We had no power and a boil-water alert in
force. We had about 5 gal we stored before evacuating so we never boiled
any. We have power now, but still have to boil our water - but still using our stash.
Do not have Cable TV or Internet thru my cable yet. Right now I am using
my laptop and my phone (boy, is this slow). Do have a radio and our
home phone. Cell phone service is very unpredictable (towers are down).
I'm back to work as of Wednesday. Got paid for last Thursday and Friday
and Tuesday. Monday was a paid holiday. Many of my neighbors did not get
paid for the hours they missed at work and many businesses are still closed.
Only one of three Wal*Marts in the local area is open. Other two are closed
because of no power. It's not good economically here in Florida. The state
is going to take a big hit. And to make things worse, Ivan is threatening
to strike us. Say a prayer for the people in Florida - we need them.
I hope this reassures you that we are safe and looking ahead to plan our
escape again if neessary.
Jim
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