Charlie! You could not run..you could not hide.

[Montana_70]

It's been a wild time but I'm checking in to let everyone know myself, my father, Miss Montana, and LadyRam are all fine. A little shaken and emotionally drained but no injuries.

In all my years going through the Florida Hurricane Season this storm was was quite unique. By Friday morning it was hard to figure out just where to go. When it took it's first turn to the East I decided to batten down Miss Montana and leave her in Polk county and head for my father's in Sebring to help him if it skirted his way. Ha! We ended up spending Friday in the rec hall shelter and got to watch a small tornado come through the RV park there while listening to the wind howl. Was very happy I did not tow here there. For a little while anyway. We were able to go back to his home. (Buttonwood Bay) before dark. A yard mess, some shingles off but no real damage. Then we got to sit there in the dark listening to radio tell us It was moving through Polk county with 90 miles an hour sustained winds. I headed out Sat morning with a sense of dread, but hopeful. The trip up 27 was just awful and heartbreaking. No town along the way was spared. No traffic lights, no one open for business. (except Home Depot) No food, no Coffee to be bought anywhere. But the destruction was awful to see. As I crawled my way up to Haines City I started feeling no way did Miss Montana make it through this.

One RV park on 27 had all the RV'ers cars out on the highway with huge trucks in the park removing huge Oak trees off their RV's. You had to see to believe it. As I approached my Park on the Oscceola Polk County line I had to park my truck a walk in because of all the trees down. I was about ready to cry, and then I saw Miss Montana just sitting there, the same way I left her, All the big oaks were still standing and no RV in the park was damaged. It was a miracle.

For a storm to come in from the SW coast and maintain it's eye and high sustained winds is very rare indeed. But it was the tornado spin off that did the most damage. Orlando is a mess. From SW FL to Daytona. No power, no phones, no water in most places. The West end of 192 and of course Disney has power, water, phones and cable. I'm typing this from one of their Motels this morning. I just had to check in yesterday afternoon, shut the door and rest. I also need to charge up my batteries on my laptop and phone.

This storm moved FAST! By the time it's direction was clear, there was no where left for the people in the central part of the state to go because of all the people who had evacuated from the Tampa Bay area to this area. It's the first time, I think, in history that a million people evacuated to where the storm hit.

I do hope utility services get restored soon because it's terrible for so many people. I'm heading back to my father's this morning to try and talk him into taking a little trip for a couple of days to somewhere where there is power so he can have water and air conditioning. Also to make sure he's not trying to still eat food from his fridge. I cannot reach him by phone. I did find a place to buy diesel on 192 but the station is out now. There are not traffic lights in most places and traffic is mess. It's going to be a long 100 miles back to my dad's. Maybe I won't have so many trees to dodge this time.

Well that's my report. Sorry if I rambled. It's a stressful time. So many people are up against some real challenges in the days to come.