Hurricanes!, Is it affecting your life right now?

We are having back to back hurricane's this season. This latest one is Ivan and right now it's a level 4 coming in at 145-165 mph and moving across water at 10mph. We have just gotten over the last hurricane last monday which was only 6 days ago... when is this going to end?

Have you had problems getting gas at the stations?

Have you lost electricity?

Are hurricane's wreaking havic in your life?

Here in south central KY we have had some rain, but that is all.

However, we own a timeshare in New Smryna Beach, Florida and that area was hit pretty hard by both Charlie and Francis. Our resort was damaged, but I haven't heard how badly. And my folks own a place in a park in Arcadia, where they spend the winters. Several of those places were damaged or totaled from Charlie. Their place was damaged some by Charlie and they are anxiously watching Ivan.

Pensacola, my home town is right now in the path of Ivan. I'm hoping my father will leave but most floridians won't budge.

A

The only thing going on here in Chicago directly related to Hurricane Ivan is the Marlins-Expos games here at US Cellular Field.

I am here in upstate NY, and the hurricanes down there are even affecting us. First of all after the hurricane blows through the moisture and left overs from the storm are caught in the jet stream and pushed up to rain on the entire east coast. Second of all, all of the major tree companies are on stand by. Even those in Ct, Mass, and NY are getting ready to send plant health care technicians, tree climbers, & groundmen to the area to access the damage of urban tree fall, as well as to clean up the damage from peoples houses and the surroundin landscape....Some of them were ready to go down right after Frances, but were called back up because of possible threats to their lives by the impending new hurricane. After Ivan they will be expected to do 60 hr. work weeks to clean up the landscape....the southern states don't have enough experienced workers to cope with all the damage so they are sending for the yankees.

One of my aunts lives in Tampa. An uncle lives nearby there, one lives in Bartow, FL and another one lives in Panama City. So I am very worried about them. Up here in Asheville (3 hours from me), there was massive flooding (10-12 inches of rain), and that affects my vacation plans for fall trips up to Biltmore Estate, etc. I am worried, b/c Ivan may curve back towards the East and hit NC. Other than that, it isn't really affecting me much - just worry.

Hate to mention it, but tropical depression 11 just formed. Expected to stregthen over next few days to become a named storm. Current path headed toward Florida east coast.

Physicall I haven't been effected cause I live in Ohio and all we're getting is some rain. But mentally yes it is wreaking havoc! I have a brother who just moved down there. He came back to Ohio for a couple of days but he left right after Francis finished and so he will experience Ivan. We're from Indiana and have never dealt with hurricanes before. I also have tow very good friends of mine who live in the Tampa area. They are husband and wife, she's from Florida so she knows what to do, I'm worried for her though cause we all just found out she's pregnant and it's her first. I just hope there isn't too much damage cause they really can't afford and I hope they don't panic. I am praying that this hurrican is small and fast and that if it does cause a lot of damage, I pray that florida residents recover quickly and that there is no loss of life and the financial damage isn't too overwhelming. Good luck!

I live just west of Asheville (25 mins) and we got right at 22 inches of rain. It piled up @ 32 inches in my grandmothhers basement and Ivan looks like he is comming right at us via Fla, Ga & Sc. I'm sure the biltmore will be fine and cleanded up in time for your visit. If you need and ideas on where to eat or where to go, just send me a message and i may be able to give you some good suggestions.

Thanks so much, birddog! I was planning an "unofficial" visit to Biltmore Estate, so it hasn't ruined anything yet : ) . But I would love some ideas of where to eat and visit, if you have any. Have you ever been to Waynesville? Every year when we are coming through, they always have some great bluegrass music on the weekends and the whole town comes out to main street to listen. It is fabulous to see - I would love to live in a community like that.

My grandmother lives in Blairsville, GA (outside of Murphy, NC) and I generally go through Asheville to get there, so I am hoping to visit this fall sometime.

I cannot imagine 22 inches of rain! That is just amazing. I hope that everything is okay over there, birddog. Did you come out alright? I, too, am worried about the track of Ivan. But whatever happens, it is in God's hands. I hope that your grandmother is okay, as well. I will be praying for you.

Susanna

we are strapping everything down here in the Middle Ga area! We expect to get alot of rain and wind here Thursday

Here on Georgia'ls coast it has been rainy. Still raining as a small band of rain is now coming ashore here. Last week received 101/2 inches from Frances. This storm was devastating for Georgia's 2004 cotton crop. Now it looks like Ivan will cause a lot of damage to the Mid-South cotton crop. The the land so wet it will be difficult to get peanuts dug. Georgia is the largest producer of peanuts in America. Many pecan trees are down in Southwest Georgia. Even though we did not get the hurricane wind we did receive enough hurricane rain and tropical wind to hurt agriculture. Georgia did not make the national news but Georgia made the local news.

This isn't related to Ivan, but we got rain on the way within the next day or so. There's a big band of thunderstorms covering western Iowa right now, so we're in it's path. We need rain. Everything up here in Chicago is as dry as a bone.

Here's the radar image from Des Moines:

Wish I could send you some!

My hubby and I grew up in Ohio, and my Grandparents were all in Indiana. I know that hurricanes are devastating forces that no one wants to deal with, and I am very worried about relatives down in Florida, too. But I have to say that, having experienced both hurricanes and tornadoes, I'd rather deal with the hurricanes. You get lots of warning with them, and time to prepare and/or leave. Tornadoes can hit you without any warning, with far worse results.

Now don't everyone start yelling at me at once!
I have nothing but concern, sympathy, and prayers for everyone watching this one come in! There has been too much to deal with in such a short time!

Dreamer1