Major Hurricane Michael Live Thread II

Long ago, Neal Frank, former National Hurricane Center Director talked about that. He was the one with the crewcut.

He said people who live along the coast were making a trade-off of a great lifestyle for a few years, against the inevitability of a catastrophic storm. It’s a decision each property owner has to make for himself.

Me & Mrs abb have every so often discussed owning property in PC Beach, since we go there 2 or 3 times a year. But the anxiety would just be too much for me every hurricane season every time a sandstorm blows off the North African Continent.

Regarding the gentrification, there’s a piece in this morning’s PC News Herald on that very subject. A lot of houses in Mexico Beach were older places that were grandfathered before the current building codes. Cinder block construction on a slab. There’s still a lot of that along PC Beach. Places that have probably been handed down for generations.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/20181020/hurricane-michael-devastation-could-signal-death-of-beach-town
Hurricane Michael: Devastation could signal the death of a beach town

There’s also this.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/20181021/gulf-power-improves-estimated-restoration-times-for-some-areas-in-bay-county/1
Gulf Power improves estimated restoration times for some areas in Bay County

Thanks for the links. In the first, the author certainly knew what he was writing about the nature of the North FL coastline.

We’ve had a good run at life on the beach, and a very isolated and tight beach community when we arrived, back when around 100 people called the Cape home.

Sorry, I am a little late with a report. We lost one large tree but there was only one good direction it could fall to avoid a mess and thank God it fell perfectly missing the fences, other trees and the garden! Lots of small branches and the property full of debris but all is well.

Amazingly, and again, praise God, our property in Georgia was spared any major damage and the area was hit (just north of Tallahassee).

The loss of power was not a problem as we prepare for that. All good, thanks again for your threads and concern.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/10/25/two-linemen-killed-washington-county-hit-and-run/1759882002/
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Two linemen working to restore power in Washington County, one from North Carolina and another from Chipley, were killed in a hit-and-run crash by what investigators say was a drunk driver on Wednesday night.

A 37-year-old Tampa man, John R. Goedtke, fled the scene on foot but was later arrested. The investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol is ongoing. Goedtke is being charged with DUI manslaughter, felony vehicular homicide, felony leaving the scene and could face additional charges. George Cecil, 52, of Cole Rain, North Carolina was killed as was James Ussery, 60, of Chipley.

A third lineman, 22-year-old Ryan Barrett of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was hit and is in critical condition, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Ussery was employed by West Florida Electric Cooperative. Barrett and Cecil were employed by Lee Electric Construction Inc.

Goedtke was driving his Ford F150 pickup truck north on State Road 77 while pulling a U-Haul trailer, according to FHP. He drifted off the road and hit the linemen working on power poles before crashing into the ditch and fleeing on foot.

The linemen were hit at about 6:45 p.m. on State Road 77 near Talton Drive south of Chipley as they worked to restore power following Hurricane Michael

Have been in PC Beach since Saturday. Very little visible effects on West End near Bay/Walton county line. We saw some townhomes with a blue tarp, must have lost shingles.

Along Thomas Drive near Grand Lagoon, visible damage to some high rise condos. Pirate Cove Marina buildings significantly damaged. Captain Andersons and Grand Marlin restaurants had open tables. Can’t recall ever seeing Captain Anderson’s with empty tables.

Thanks, we’re doing fine. May have to shell out $ for a new roof. Lots of trees to remove with no place to put them. Our Utilities up and running, but we are on septic. I’m not sure about the newer homes attached to the sewer. Blown out porch screens. Our home is on 8’ pilings on a 9’ high lot. The storm surge was about 10 feet (20 feet in Mexico Beach) so our only flood damage was to the entry foyer. I ripped off four feet of drywall and insulation and will replace in probably two weeks when I expect it will be dry.

Homes in Port St Joe are getting bulldozed. We did fine.

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