This time, four years ago, on Friday the 13th, August 13, 2004, was a very traumatic time in Charlotte County, FL. I had lived here over 20 years and "knew" or at least I THOUGHT I knew what it was like to live through a hurricane. After all, I was here when Andrew went by a few years prior. And with other storms, I saw roof damage, trees down, power lines down. So I THOUGHT I knew what it was REALLY like. All that changed Friday August 13, 2004, when Hurricane Charley came into town unexpectedly and uninvited! BOY was that EVER an eye opener. I now know, ONLY those that have lived through a DIRECT hurricane hit, DIRECT tornado, DIRECT earthquake, DIRECT flood of their town, etc., can FULLY understand the impact on your life, what you expect, what you tolerate, everything! Having no electricity, running water, but you must boil before drinking (HOW TO BOIL IT!!!), some have phones most did not (I was lucky, I did have this), cells phones were spotty at best, usually had to call repeatedly to get an outside line, driving down your major local route in the evening with NO lights, no business lights, NO traffic lights, NO street lights, NO stop signs, military people all around with rifles, helicopters coming in to evacuate hospitals, sirens, LOTS of sirens, cops, ambulances also taking the less sever to outside hospitals, and this is just for starters. The smells after a few days, YUK! Food, you can't run down to your local 24 hour supermarket, Wal-Mart, etc, they are closed. (Although many did an amazing job opening up in a few days!) But they needed security, electricity, etc, but they didn't have any of that for a few days. You need gas to run generators, but have to drive 20-30 miles to get gas. (Keep in mind, some Hurricane Katrina victims had to drive 100+ miles ONE way to get supplies, then drive back - WOW!!) But then, how do you work if your employer had his/her business destroyed. Suddenly you are out of a job. Then the repairs to your home. How do you START? Here is my home just after the storm:
Keep in mind, my area was the better area - not as much damage as some others, although we were one of the last to get electricity back on - August 31, 2004 several weeks later! BTW, does this pic put it in perspective on the size of that pine tree?
Also, keep in mind, this is FL summer, fairly hot, and VERY MUGGY!! Then you have NO electricity, no running drinkable water, while working to clear your neighborhood, fix your home, and help your neighbors! Don't get me wrong, FL, especially Southwest Florida is a GREAT place to live, and I have pretty much rebuilt my home. My insurance carrier took three years to finish my claim - closed it days before the three year anniversary! My county should be commended - they did a great job, most business have been rebuilt, there are only a couple of schools that have not completed their rebuild, and they should be done within a year. That will be the five year anniversary. The county will have accomplished virtually everything it needed to rebuild in five years. Compared to some other devastated areas, that is an amazing accomplishment!
If you ever have friends, or family hit by a major disaster - go help them if at all possible. It is overwhelming to say the least! They will need all the support possible to get through it! I'm not talking nearby communities, as I learned, I am talking direct hit, if that has happened to them, do everything possible, they will need it!
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Title companies & mortgage brokers, help your borrowers- arrange to have their loan signed and notarized in their home, at their convenience by a Certified Notary Signing Agent (CNSA)
Browse The Rain for a qualified and Certified Notary Signing Agent in your area.
Southwest Florida Notaries is open for your mortgage closing 24/7 at your location (Based in Murdock, FL, near Port Charlotte FL, but covering all of Southwest Florida - Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Desoto, Lee and Collier counties)
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What a mess! I'm sure you are glad it's over and all cleaned up! I don't watch the news, but I hope you don't have any more coming your way!