[NancyBrooke]

Very glad to hear you and your family are well, Inglor. I hope the necessity of clean-up doesn't wholly strip the man-fun out of running that chainsaw.

[Amlee]

Just to give everyone an update.

Ivan made landfall this morning in Baldwin County, Alabama as a strong cat 3 (130 mph). 12 deaths (more reports are coming in so this total is going to grow.) have been reported alone the coast. Ivan is making its way inland to central and north Alabama.

Parts of Birmingham (where Inglor went to) is now with out power and starting to feel the first effects of Ivan. I am futher North of Birmingham so I only have high winds as of yet.

Tornados are starting to spin off the bands coming into central Alabama.

I will try to update as long as I have power.

[DarkElfChilde]

Whoever lives farther up North, keep an eye out for another round of flooding from Ivan when it slowly continues to move up the eastern US; as it supposed to be worse from what I've read at the National Weather Service is saying. Also, they've already had posted flood watches from Pennsylvania and on down through the mountains where the flooding could be worse due to the boundary enhancement that will pull the moisture up from the ocean - like what Frances did last week.

I hope everyone that's effected by this storm will be safe, and I hope that all will be okay soon afterward.

I have some links that anyone might like to have (actually should click and save in their favorites):

National Weather Service

http://www.nws.noaa.gov

Storm Prediction Center

http://www.spc.noaa.gov

National Hurricane Center

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

and also:

FEMA

http://www.fema.gov


Let's see what will happen with Hurricane Jeanne, keep your eye on that too.

[Viv]

Just to follow up on what Inglor said, here's the link to the American Red Cross Donations Page. Note that you can ask for donations to be sent specifically to hurricane relief efforts, including the Carribean nations that have been ripped up by the storm season so far. I think the Commonwealth is also collecting donations specifically for member countries that were damaged, but I couldn't find a link. At any rate, sometimes when I'm feeling particularly impotent, donating money helps a little.

[Maram68]

Best Vibes to Inglor and everyone in the path of the hurricanes ...

C.

[Amlee]

Poor Inglor!! I hope you aren't one of the ones in B'ham in the flooding. What a mess!! If it's not the wind its the flooding!


*does happy dance* I still have power for some reason! *knocks on wood!*

[SilverMoonLady]

All my thoughts and love to those in the path of Mother Nature's wrath. It's a pretty scary situation (been there) but we will all hope for the best!

Sil

[Yavanie]

I just talked to someone whose business headquartes are in Birmingham, Alabama and she said the power has been out in Birmingham since last Thursday late.

I haven't heard of any major damage of any other kind where Inglor and Amlee are. Still, they are in our thoughts and prayers.

[Amlee]

Hello all,

I am one of the lucky ones. I never lost power here. About 40,000 are still with out power in my county as of yesterday. I am not sure state wide, but the last I heard about 500k statewide is still without power. My town is on a mountain so flooding was not a problem. Alabama Power said they should have most of the power in places like Birmingham by Tuesday.

Birmingham has been hit with mudslides and major flooding.

People along the Gulf are going to be shuttled into get the first looks at there homes starting tomorrow. For those of you that would like to see a slide show as to the damage done by Ivan here is two links for you http://www.al.com/galleries/news/ http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/coolpics.hrb Both of these are of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Things could have been alot worse had Ivan not have weakened and shifted to the east at the last minute before landfall.

[inglor]

We are fine, no major limbs down so no chainsaw. No power but father in law has it so we are staying with him.

Pensacola, FL (about 50 miles east) got HAMMERED. The I-10 Bridge over Pensacola Bay has been washed away. For those of you keeping score at home, that is the major east-west artery going into Florida. You have to go all the way to Atlanta to go around it (by Interstate highway).
Parts of Gulf Shores, AL and Orange Beach, AL no longer exist. Dauphin Island is now Dauphin Islands.

Three oil rigs are gone, no spills, they are capped off below the seafloor for just such an emergency. Another floating rig was found 70 miles away from where it was supposed to be.

Thousands are without food, water or shelter; please give whatever you can to the Red Cross and Salvation Army.


If any of you have husbands or friends who work for power companies and are down here or in Florida, tell them thank you and we GREATLY appreciate their efforts.



Thanks for the concern and well wishes
Inglor

[Andreth]

I'm glad to see that you and your wife and little one made it through the storm unharmed. And glad to hear that you have someone to stay with until everything is repaired. I thought we had it bad here in Tornado Alley, but you guys down there definitely have that beat.

My hubby works for a major telcom company that provides phone/television/internet feeds for the US and beyond and he says the storm has really had them hopping up there at work. Lots of complaints from customers and hubby and his coworkers can't seem to get it across to the customers that it's impossible to repair equipment when the POP is under five feet of water.

Hope you get to return home soon. No matter how nice they are, staying with the in-laws always bites.

[SilverMoonLady]

*breathes a sigh of relief* Glad so many have checked in (here and elsewhere) and come through Ivan, in one state or another.


Sil

[Amlee]

Inglor I am so glad all is ok with yall.

[Aerin]

Complete agreement! Glad you and fam are safe!

[inglor]

At home With Power

Thanks everybody