Finally got home after Charley blew through

This has been the hardest longest week of my life. We suffered minimal wind damage but enough to have to file a claim with our insurance and FEMA. Friday to Monday we tuffed it out with no electric till I got bronchitis...there were just no rooms available from Fort Myers to Naples. With a fever and a horrible cough I actually begged for a room. This woman took pity on the way I looked & sounded and asked for a phone number to reach me if anyone checked out but of course we had no phone service and cells were off and on working. I finally got back in the car and drove back to this same hotel in Naples. I drove more from Wednesday to today than I have in 6 yrs. I was in Tampa on the 12th for the Orientation and Support meetings and we wanted to leave before Charley hit Tampa, seems like he was after my tail since he landed right in my neighborhood. I can't begin to tell you how frightened my husband and I were. Within 30 minutes we had to secure a spot in our home (walkin closet) to lay low since it was to late to leave when Charely made his turn towards us. After rushing around and nearly killing each other from the anxiety would you believe I took a half of a .25 mg Xanax and slept though the worst part....never made it to the closet. All I remember was waking up to the telephone ringing and my daughter asked well how bad was it and I couldn't remember a thing...thank you Xanax! ****ep a bottle handy for Tachycardia) The destruction is devastating. Our home is 8 yrs old so the house was built with the new codes. I have been in 3 other hurricanes all out of the country and I will say this was the worst I ever experienced. Of course I will have to reschedule with Spectra, my appt was to be Sept 1st. I am so disappointed but I will need to take care of my deducitibles for insurance first before I can worry about me, myself and I. Marla have been thinking about you...hope you are doing good. Robin I hope all went well with surgery and Karee too...I think Kathy Barnett and Brian were do for surgery when I left so prayers to you all.

You are right first things first. Glad your OK, and it was the worst in yrs for that area worse than andrew I saw that first hand. Hang in and God bless! Mary pre-op Rny/lap 8/27/04

Wow, Ginny! Glad to hear you all are okay. I know it is rough getting all things back to some kind of normal. Just try to remember it will take time but you will do okay. Sorry you have to postpone things a little but you are right about doing so. You wouldn't recover well, worrying about everything else anyways. I love Fort Myers so, I hate it is having such a time. We used to come down for the winter months and hang out. Thought about moving there this last June but didn't. Kinda glad i didn't now. Maybe later. Take care of yourself and yours, Carol

Ginny, Sounds like you have had a rough week, but I am glad you are OK and posted to let us know. I am amazed at all the destruction that Charley created here in the Orlando area, especially in the older neighborhoods with all those huge oak trees, so I can only imagine the reality of the coast where you are. I know the pics on TV dont do it justice. Luckily, I only had a little roof damage and just the inconvenience of no power or phone for several days. I have five employee who are still without power and their nerves are about shot and a few friends who now have "tree houses". Good luck with your hurricane recovery, Spectra isn't going anywhere so your time will come. Hang in there Amy

I am so glad you made it though without major damage. We had a few trees down, but no damage to the house. The power being out til Wednesday was the hardest part for us. And I thanked my percoset...I was in a great mood for the hurricane. Tracey

Ginny~, I am so glad you and your husband made it through the hurricane with minimal damage. It was a surprise to us when we saw it turned. I live outside Tampa and we were as ready as you can be for a disaster. I also was at TGH on the 12th for the meetings. I had heard the bridge was closing off Davis Island at 11PM and the Hospital would be closed. My son works at TGH so I was worried if he was working. I hope everything works out for you. If I can help let me know. I am sure Spectra will understand and you are right your home needs to come first this time. God Bless gail

Ginny, what a harrowing story!! I remember Andrew's aftermath all too well, but I can't imagine going through a hurricane like you did, although sleeping through it was good!! Glad you're in one piece!!! Jan