Ivan Devastates Pensacola

None | 9-18-04 | Self

[Eagle Eye]

I don't normally "do" vanities. Heck, I rarely post articles.

But I absolutely have to get some attention to what Hurricane Ivane did to Pensacola and some of the nearby communities.

The landscape has changed. Tens of thousands are now without homes or businesses. Roads needed for resupply are out.

Power is out and food supplies for many miles are threatened. Grocery stores don't have power. Power may take weeks to restore, water 6 weeks or more.

[cyborg]

Just a little while I think!

[FlJoePa]

"Ironically, everything will be rebuilt so it again can be destroyed by another hurricane. "

Yes, it WILL be rebuilt, but it will NOT be rebuilt as wooden framed structures, which the majority of the lost buildings were. Some of the houses were 70-80 years old.

Down here in Palm Beach County, you cannot build a new house with wood. It must be concrete block or poured concrete. You can have wooden trusses, but they must be attached with hurricane ties. This is known as Dade County Code, and will soon be the rule of law up there - at least it SHOULD be.

I'm thinking of all you up there, and now feel sort of like a wuss for cowering in a bathroom for 7 hours for 95 mph winds during Frances. But you just don't know what will happen.

[Eagle Eye]

Congressional District 1 is supposed to be the most conservative in the country. The rally to support the military absenttee vote during last election was bigger proportionately than any other with about 5,000 participants.

[Aquamarine]

Glad to hear that your family and property are alright. Sad news about your community though.

[DietCoke]

.

[leadpenny]

Are you just acting like a jerk?

[Eagle Eye]

Check out the pictures at www.pensacolanewsjournal.com

and you'll see that a lot of new construction was lost.

I went through Mitch and Georges in Ft. Lauderdale. Those had to be fun compared to this.

[Eagle Eye]

Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts.

I really don't think that nationally people appreciate the widespread total destruction that took place. No place in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties was spared. Walton and Okaloosa counties were hit hard, too, as were other part of the panhandle and Alabama.

The news is now just starting to get out. This isn't just poor people in shack, trailer trash in mobile homes, or the well to do in their ritzy beach condos.

It is everyone regardless of class, race, or income.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I think there may still be some without power, -- my sister lives in a rural area of Pickens Co., and we took our generator over there last night to run their freezer and fridge. We went into town yesterday, saw some trees down, but little damage. Life is pretty much back to normal here.

[FlJoePa]

Not saying concrete structures can't be damaged. Sure they can, but new codes need to be enforced, and only the old structures are grandfathered.

When people DO rebuild, they will be safer for it.

Like I said, I think about how lucky I was every day. Just up the road in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, they got whacked. Heck, the whole state has gotten whacked. All I went through was some downed trees and a week without power.

Now Joe Bastardi (and other credible mets) are predicting Ivan to go out to sea off NC, turn south, and take another swipe at FL from the East Coast (probably only as a T.S. though - IF it happens).

Add to that Jeanne, Lisa, and a new T.D., and it just seems like the whole state has a bullseye on it's back.

I think this about sums it up:

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I don't know.

[Eagle Eye]

Did you look at the photos? The auto html isn't working for me and I hope people aren't too lazy or apathetic to copy and paste.

[Aquamarine]

Have been surprised that FOX News and TWC haven't been showing any aerial shots of the damage down there, they seem to have moved on to more mediocre stories. Will watch the local news station in Atlanta tonight and see if it matters to them.

[boycott]

I have traveled through parts of Pensacola since the storm and I can tell you there was great destruction in this area.

[bwteim]

Thanks for link to Pensacola News Journal
This is one scene from Pensacola below

This is from Cape San Blas, about 120 miles east from Pensacola.

[leadpenny]

MSNBC has been going to Ron Blum, who is in Pensacola, with live shots. Aerial footage shows almost complete destruction.

[Catspaw]

I saw the pictures at the Pensacola News Journal. The scope of the devastation from Ivan is incredible. Baldwin county in Alabama has to look equally devastated.

I hope the area can recover. We've been down there a number of times and planned on moving down there either this year or next year and live on our boat.

[Eagle Eye]

Can you please post some more?

Thanks.

[Gabz]

Dear Lord.

[kacres]

my parents were in Niceville/Destin, they got alot of tree damage, and still without power since I talked with them yesterday. My sister's house was fine, but my brother lost every shingle on his roof. Thank God they are alright.