August 2004
NOAA has become very good at predicting the track and strength of hurricanes, especially as the eye approaches landfall. In fact, they have become so good that one may forget that they are really just educated guesses. Hurricanes do unpredictable things, especially near landfall. Charley proved to be very unpredictable.
Forecast to pass 60 miles to the west of our Gulf coast water front location as a Category Two storm, we had little concern except for the potential storm surge as the eastern quadrants passed. The predicted 50-60 MPH winds would pose no problems, but being only eight feet above seal level, we were subject to a storm surge of any consequence.
Still, we made our plans and prepared for a Category Two storm: - decks, yards and docks cleared of anything that could be blown into our home or a neighbor’s structure, - food and emergency supplies such as batteries and propane were bought - boats were secured – we had battery operated AM.FM radios, TV and marine band radios plus fully charged cell phones for communications. We had concrete blocks and saw horses to raise critical furniture and electronics another two feet in case of a bad surge. With a worst-case scenario of a ten-foot surge predicted only hours before Charley’s passage, we decided to stick it out at home and be prepared for some flooding.
It’s always prudent to have a Plan B. Given the prediction we had, important personal documents along with some clothes and toiletries were packed for a fast get-away to a friend’s house a few miles inland that was on higher ground. With less than three hours before the eye passed our latitude, it was still predicted by NOAA to be a Cat two storm 60 miles to our west.
Feeling comfortable with our preparations, we settled in to watch the local weather reports of the approaching storm. After crossing Cuba and passing west of Key West, Charley continued arching northward right on path with a predicted landfall of Tampa.
The first surprise was Charley’s intensity rising to a Category Three. Hurricanes often intensify when entering the warmer shallow water near shore. This was of no real concern because of the tight hurricane strength wind field and distance offshore.
As Angie began to prepare lunch, the radar loop showed a definite eastward jog of the track. That really got my attention. Soon, the radar loop showed the eye had made a definite change of course to the east. If the arc to the east continued, we were going to be directly in the path of Charley’s eye!
We secured the house, gathered up the puppies and took both vehicles with Black Fly in tow to our friend’s house. Arriving at Peter's we quickly assed the situation; specifically wind speed and direction. Fearing that Black Fly, including Jeep and trailer, could become flying debris in 145+ MPH winds and a danger to others, we parked the rig between his house and a neighbor. There was a 30 foot sapodilla tree close by that was a concern but we were running out of time to get inside and make sure tornado preparations were complete.
Watching the TV Radar loop was not comforting. The arrow drawn by the computer projected the eye to pass over us in 45 minutes. Mattresses, blankets and pillows were positioned in the hall as a last ditch shelter. The last TV radar loop we saw prior to losing power showed the eye wall about two miles off Sanibel and making a turn to the north. Now listing to the radio, we were relieved to learn that the eye was tracking more to the north and not directly at us.
We rode the storm out with little discomfort. The noise of the wind prevented us from hearing the sound of the sapodilla tree hitting the house. A large branch penetrated the roof and ceiling allowing water in. From the bedroom window, I could only see that the tree was on my Jeep and Black Fly and that the graphite push pole was broken.
The neighbor’s big sapodilla tree had been completely uprooted and lay on the house, Jeep and Black Fly. It’s nearly impossible to see the Jeep.
As soon as it was safe to venture out we found this:
It took one week to find a reliable tree trimming crew who could get a 30 ton crane to the site. After surviving the initial impact, our major concern was causing damage to the rig during the removal process. There were tremendous forces contained within the structure of the tree.
Unfortunately, Angie's Fish-Eze did not fare as well. Apparently,the 20# Danforth holding her off the sea wall moved and she was pinned under the concrete lip as the surge came in. After taking this photo, I pulled on that anchor line for al I was worth and could not budge it.
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