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Fay Is Leaving. Sort Of...

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

Fay, a very slow moving tropical storm, is still here, but it's center is a bit north of us, and there is less wind and rain. After two days at home, we finally get into the car to go to the office. Turn it on, shift the gear to D and the car gets quite a jolt.

Puzzled, trying to put it back into parking, but it does not go back past neutral. So, I sit and wait till it warms up completely, and then move it to "Drive", and start moving. It goes,  but something is wrong with it. It is slow as if it is in tow, and it still does not go back to parking, so we are in an offensive vehicle (can only go forward going to the office.

I called terrific guys at the repair shop, they know Mercedes like nobody else, and they tell me to get it to them.

Turns out in the storm I went though a high water and it got into that Transmission computer module (or something like that) and the computer died. They say it is pretty common with Mercedes, and 4 more Mercedes all with the same problem already on the lot supported their statement.

Well, I lost half a day, got a rental car until the adjuster authorizes the replacement. In 3-4 days I will have my car back and pretty much could have forgotten about Fay.

This is nothing to compare with 7 deaths, numerous homes flooded, condemned homes, washed away beaches, people displaced. We did not expect it from just a tropical storm, not even a Hurricane. We were so wrong.

Natural disasters are never to be taken lightly. Any of them can turn deadly. And we collectively will feel and remember Fay for maybe years to come.logo

   Jon Zolsky, your Daytona Beach connection
   Condos, Homes, Vacation Condos, Condo-Hotels

William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jon, I have half laughing because we don't get in a year the amount of water you got in the last couple of days. My car , when it gets wet sort of wants to say Ahhhhh!. Like it needs moisture. Glad your Trans computer is getting you all back to normal. At least till the next storm comes. BTW, Don't drive through deep water again, :-)

Aug 22, 2008 04:10 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

William - You know how it is in Ponce inlet, just one lane in each direction and a lot of water after even a regular rain. The good part is that the speed limit is only 35 mph, so you normally do not really splash. i do not think I got it this way, I still think that I got it while two days in the garage. The condo is a cloverleaf type with a circular 7-story garage in the middle and 4 wings with condos, so the garage is open to the wind from the sides, and usually this is not a lot of water getting into garage, but Fay with all that wind was wetting everything. Wasn't my luck, but it is not fair to complain.

The interesting thing is when I cold the insurance, the machine suggested that if I call regarding damage from the storm to press "1". Which I did.

Guys, if you need water, find the way to get it, it is more than enough of it here.

Aug 22, 2008 04:16 PM
Inna Hardison
ha media group - Orlando, FL
Wordpress for Real Estate & Design, Print HaMedia Group

Jon, sorry about the car:-(

As for the 7 fatalities, I am once again surprised at why certain ones are blamed on the storm. IMHO, three of those are mislabeled, including the two drownings, and the dude 'testing' his generator in the garage. How stupid does one really have to be to go swimming in a tropical storm? As for the generator. every season, there are a few of those... Ample warnings, year after year, and inevitably some joker either blows themselves up with a blow torch and a propane tank, or starts a generator in the house. I am all out of pity for stupidity at this point.

Aug 23, 2008 09:27 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Inna -I just used the number from the media. But you are right. Testing a generator inside qualifies for Darwin award.

Drowning is sad. They simply underestimate the power of big masses of water. They did not understand that when the wave knocks you down, it does not let you get up, it will hold you to the bottom, and, actually would move you scraping the bottom.

When I was a 10-year old kid, we were in a smaller storm, and we were diving in the coming waves. It was a lot of fun. And then I jumped and a rock carried by the water hit me on the head, I stumbled for a second and that was enough for the wave to pull me under the water and smash the bottom and carry me to the shore, then back into the sea, and then back to the shore, and then back to the sea, and at that point I lost my consciousness and woke up on the shore, after someone pulled me out. I was one huge bruise on all sides from scraping the bottom, with small cuts all over.

However, no hospitals, no problem. Was hiding for couple of days from my uncle and aunt to avoid a healthy dose of leather on my butt, which was painful enough without it.

Aug 23, 2008 09:58 AM