Three Years Ago...
 

August 13th will always be a special day in my life.
The friends I found on this board helped make it easier to live with, and for that I will always be thankful.

I still ain't right.
:drool:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=85985

I remember it all too well.

Instead of enjoying my birthday party(8/12) which we had planned for that weekend, the wife and I were scrambling like hell securing the house, packing all of our belongings into our cars, and saying goodbye to what we had thought would be the last time we'd see our home that we had bought that year. It was rough. I still feel guilty jumping for joy when we learned that the storm had turned sharply away from our path, because I knew inside that, though we were spared, there would be many others nearby who would be befalling a terrible fate that day.

You're right, many things still ain't right for many who were in Charlie's path.
http://www.talkingproud.us/Government082304.html

:( :( :(

well , hopefully our country will be prepared to handle the aftermath of the next storm...

citizens will leave when told too, or earlier if possible, cause another destroying storm is out there , when , where, time , no one knows ....but it will happen again...

That was a scary couple days. It was my first major hurricane. When we evacuated I had to decide wether to take my boat or my work trailer with all my equipment. I tied the boat to a tree in the backyard and hoped it would just sink in my yard. They were talking about a 15ft storm surge coming up tampa bay and my house is only 6 ft above sea level. I'm glad it missed us but I feel bad for the people that took a direct hit.

WOW - I remember when you posted that.
What a terrible experience that had to be.
Glad you made it out OK.

Definately not one of the better years. I was packing and boarding up also. Left the house not knowing if it would be there when I returned or not. Dave

Were you able to replace your home?

I was renting the place, so in that regard I didn't lose too much. Over the last few years I've often thought of the people who had mortgages, kids in school, insurance companies that didn't pay after years of premiums, and consider myself lucky compared to many others.

I found out later that my landlord didn't have insurance on the house. (don't quite know how that is possible, but if you are a real estate broker I guess things can be 'adjusted'). The first shot is the remains about 6 mos after the storm, and last time I was down the street about 4 or 5 months ago the lot was still vacant.

Second photo was one of the saddest days of my life... removing all the stuff from the boat. Amazing how much you accumulate over time.

Third shot is from Ft Myers about a month after the storm. That pile of aluminum scrap is 5 stories tall. What the picture doesn't show is the SECOND PILE right next to it. Crazy times.

I remember it all to well too. My mom was in the hospital in Cincinnati being treated for a brain aneurism and my grandmother was in Arcadia Fl directly in the path of Charlie. I wasn't able to get in touch with my grandmother for several days after Charlie blew through. Once I was able to find her and my mom was stable, I went there to help as much as I could. It was the most destruction I have ever seen in my life.

Three years ago today, I turned 29. That was the last year of my 20's I feel your pain:D

And just what makes you think you were ever "right" Jay :)

I turned 30 yesterday, mourning the loss of my 20's.
:)

Happy B-Day Cig!

Hey Jay,
Tears came to my eyes reading your very vivid accounting of the storm. In the time I have known you I never realized how dramatically your life was affected by that storm. I am happy that you survived and I was able to meet you and become friends. The FMO would not be the same without your great passion for the sport. I am also glad to see that some of those memories lost in Alphabet Soup have been replaced with some great new ones with the club and aboard Predator.

John

Man how time changes things. I read every word of your thread back then and even let my wife read it( she is not much of a internet nut like me ) we felt a lot of pain for your lose. Sence then i have always enjoyed all of your pics and and i have never put it together that that was you. We and glade things have worked out for you. Did you ever get the boat back together?

Thanks John- FMO has definitely filled the void!

Mike, the boat was underwater for over a month before I could get a crane in there to lift it out. The engine cover and all the deck hatches were gone as well. It didn't make sense to me to try and repair it since everything would have to be replaced or fabricated new. I salvaged the outdrive and donated the rest to a guy that had a little boatyard down there- I'm sure the trailer and mechanical parts were worth something but I just didn't have the energy to deal with it at the time. Hard to believe it's been three years.

read this thread a day or two ago,well written,there were four that year that brushed key west,and four the next year,the last one wilma got me for about 5 grand in power tools,which is how i make my living,and about 60 percent of the vehicles on the island,oh by the way here comes DEAN i hope he goes way south,because i am flying to chicago for two cubs games and if i cannot get back onto the island i wil be screwed,(i also put up h-cane shutters) GO CUBS