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Loren - I think Jacksonville is probably o.k. I had winds pushing 100 m.p.h. here in Englewood Fl. but somehow I still have power and am o.k. Last night I went over to a neighbors with my backhoe and chainsaw and pulled a big pine tree off his roof. But just 10 miles to the east, In Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, has been BLASTED. Looks like a war zone. The storm cut a several mile wide path and wiped out many many homes and businesses. I just got back from there...its really bad. Houses with no roof, poles, trees wires and parts of homes blown all to pieces. We used to have three hospitals, but two of the three had the top floor blown to pieces. None of the three are operational. About 400,000 folks are without power. I expect it will take weeks to get basic services going , at least. Many roads were impasable, and I had to drive under downed wires, or on top of them. Poles and trees snapped like twigs. Many mobile homes are gone from their foundations. Even concrete buildings are wiped out. The airport got nailed, with hangers blown apart and planes scattered. Word is that they have 60 body bags and they need more. 100's of people are just missing. I have a co-worker that lives in Punta Gorda that I still have not accounted for.
I'm heading back over tomorrow and loaning my portable generators to friends I have there.
Early estimates, put the damage at 15 Billion...but unconfirmed.
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