Hurricane Frances Updates & News

[Crow]

drive safe John, batten down Miverva Piglet, Jeremy take care of all the actors in GMR..
everyone stay safe & i hope to see all ok Monday when i fly down there..
hmmm and i dont have transportation from the airport yet.

[J9]

Originally posted by smcd:
This is so horrible. My mother lost everything in Andrew - actually that's why she is living up here with us now.

My daughter has a good friend who just got started in the college program down there. I'm nervous about the kids in this program. They're new to Disney and bam - here comes this storm. Especially after what one of the other CPs posted earlier.

Prayers and hopes are with everyone there.

Haha, that was probably me. I feel bad for just leaving and calling out, but after we caught Charley in South Carolina and saw a tornado touch down right in front of us, there was no way I was staying for a hurricane the size of Texas.

Hopefully all of my friends will stay safe and stupid Frances keeps deteriorating, although they were saying on the news that it may be reorganizing.

Hopefully my managers will understand and I won't get reprimanded for calling out. Let me just tell, Florida News 13 was scaring us to bits -- they made it sound like we were all going to die. It made me so nervous and I'm just glad I'm out.

With that said though, I can't wait until I fly back on MOnday because I love it down there!

[RNTinkFan]

Well, we finally heard from DDs friend and her family, they weathered Charley just fine, but she doesn't seem concerned about this storm at all. She thought Charley was cool, oh to be 13 again. I'm really hoping this storm continues to weaken. Continuing to think about all of you in the path, and JohnY I hope you found enough gas to actually get home. Stay safe.

[mommybelle]

Well it's just about here, The first rain bands are coming in 15 to 20 min. It's quite windy too. They're saying a direct hit between Vero and Stuart, we're right in the middle in beautiful downtown PSL. I probably wont be back on for awhile since my computer service is Satellite and I'm sure it's going to blow away.Good luck to all and hold onto your hats and glasses, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

[imported_dpamac]

DCL has changed cruise dates:

Disney Cruise Line continues to monitor Hurricane Frances very closely. At this time, it is probable that the storm will impact air travel into the Central Florida area through Sunday. Given this information, the schedules for the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are being modified.

The Disney Magic scheduled to depart Saturday, Sept. 4 will now sail on Monday, Sept. 6 on a five-night voyage from Port Canaveral at 7 p.m.

The Disney Wonder sailing scheduled to begin on Sunday, Sept. 5 will now sail on Monday, Sept. 6 on a three-night voyage from Port Canaveral at 6 p.m.

[SallyP]

Hang in there, Mommybelle. We'll be thinking of you. We're all going to need canoes by the time this thing moves on. Make sure you post when you can.
My DH and I always prepare for the worst and celebrate the rest [img]graemlins/beer.gif[/img] .

[smcd]

Haha, that was probably me. I feel bad for just leaving and calling out, but after we caught Charley in South Carolina and saw a tornado touch down right in front of us, there was no way I was staying for a hurricane the size of Texas.

I think it was yours! - I'm glad you got out when you did, hurricanes are just terrible. Such a feeling of helplessness in these situations.

We havent heard anything from Melissa yet - here's hoping for the best.

[Black Jack Shallack form Frontenac]

Originally posted by mommybelle:
.., we're right in the middle in beautiful downtown PSL...

Anyone knows what PSL stands for?

[Black Jack Shallack form Frontenac]

Originally posted by PolyGirl40:
...In Vero Beach, Patricia Thomas couldn't
find the high-octane gas tat her BMW coupe requires.

"No one has the high-grade," said Thomas, 40,
stymied at her sixth station. "I just want to
fill up my car and get far away from here.
I'm mad, I'm frustrated, I'm scared.
I'm not in a good place right now."
...

[SallyP]

Anyone knows what PSL stands for?

Port Saint Lucie

[ September 03, 2004, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: SallyP ]

[Black Jack Shallack form Frontenac]

Originally posted by JohnY:
Well all... Dollar Rent A Car was very gracious and waived the normal drop off fee, so I have decided to drive my rental car home before the hurricane hits....

Good for them!
I guess they figured that having a car driven out,
out of state, was the safest policy,
for the customer as well as for the car itself.

[Marker]

Originally posted by Black Jack Shallack form Frontenac:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mommybelle:
.., we're right in the middle in beautiful downtown PSL...

Anyone knows what PSL stands for? </font>[/QUOTE]I reckon that would be Port St. Lucie.

[Black Jack Shallack form Frontenac]

Originally posted by SallyP:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Anyone knows what PSL stands for?

Port Saint Lucie </font>[/QUOTE]Thank you.

[smcd]

Haha, that was probably me. I feel bad for just leaving and calling out, but after we caught Charley in South Carolina and saw a tornado touch down right in front of us, there was no way I was staying for a hurricane the size of Texas.

I think it was yours! - I'm glad you got out when you did, hurricanes are just terrible. Such a feeling of helplessness in these situations.

We havent heard anything from Melissa yet - here's hoping for the best.

[ September 03, 2004, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: smcd ]

[[BS]Mickey]

Well, bad news first.It shifted again and placed the path back over Orlando. Now, the good news. It still is weakening a bit, so they are predicting winds of 'only' 80-100 mph in the area. The highest Charley gust was 105 at Kissimmee Airport, and it did a lot of tree, sign, and house damage. Plus, they are predicting between 10 to 20 inches of rain for this one.

I have to say, this time people seem to be a little more courteous and tolerant at stores and gas stations. It's ironic. Inside Disney, there are no lines, but outside, everyone is in line for everything.

The current prediction is worst for Central Florida overnight Saturday into Sunday.

[pjbs35a]

HURRICANE FRANCES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 39A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT FRI SEP 03 2004

...FRANCES RELENTLESSLY LASHING CENTRAL AND WESTERN BAHAMAS...SLOWLY
HEADING FOR FLORIDA...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
FROM FLORIDA CITY NORTHWARD TO FLAGLER BEACH...INCLUDING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE. A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER
FLORIDA KEYS FROM SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY SOUTHWARD TO THE SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF FLAGLER BEACH NORTHWARD
TO FERNANDINA BEACH.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED
BY SURFACE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE BAHAMAS AND A RECONNAISSANCE PLANE
NEAR LATITUDE 25.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.2 WEST...VERY NEAR THE
SOUTHERN TIP OF GREAT ABACO IN THE BAHAMAS AND 200 MILES EAST-
SOUTHEAST OF THE FLORIDA LOWER EAST COAST.

FRANCES IS NOW MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15
KM/HR. A WEST-NORTHWEST TO NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH SOME DECREASE
IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS
TRACK ...THE CORE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NEAR
OR OVER THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE FORECAST DURING THE NEXT
24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES...295 KM. NASSAU IN THE BAHAMAS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING
GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS WITH A PEAK OF
84 MPH...141 KM/HR...AT NOON.

LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPROTED BY AN AIR FORCE PLANE WAS
961 MB...28.38 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED
NEAR THE EYE OF FRANCES ON THE WEST SIDE OF ELEUTHERA ISLAND...AND
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF
4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS. COASTAL STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 5 TO 10 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH
LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO
THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL IN FLORIDA.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 7 TO 12 INCHES...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 20 INCHES...
ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRANCES.

SWELLS GENERATED BY FRANCES WILL BE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE
DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.

REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...25.7 N... 77.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...961 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
5 PM EDT.

[Ed]

Local TV news is reporting that Disney has decided that all 4 parks will be CLOSED on Saturday, 9/4.

Ft. Wilderness has been evacuated; many campers apparently left town completely, while others have been moved to rooms in the resorts, most of them at Port Orleans.
________
Honda PC800

[imported_JohnY]

From Disney...

Based on updated information from the National Weather Service and consultation with emergency preparedness officials, Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks will be closed Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004. Additional schedule announcements will be made as updated information becomes available. Guests who have questions should call (407) WDW-INFO or (407) 939-463

[WDWFanatic]

Since John Y has posted I'm hoping that means he made it home safely.

Prayers and pixie dust going out to Florida.

[Patti]

FYI -- According to Spirit Airline's website, Orlando International Airport (MCO) will be closed until 12 p.m. on Monday, September 6. Most flights into and out of Orlando with a scheduled departure/arrival time before 12 p.m. on Monday are canceled.