Red Cross will help people and animals...

I was preparing to evacuate(mandatory). My storm shutters were up, my favorite plants inside, my dog in the car. After a frantic two days I pulled out of the driveway, never knowing if I'd see any of it again. I was as calm as one can be but when they change the storm from a category 2 to a 4, I was so tired, running on adrenalin, I sat down and cried. I didn't know what to pray for...not for it to go somewhere else and devastate them. So I just told Him that he had a plan and for a reason and ate a PB an J sandwich. It was heading directly for our island and at the last hour, literally, it took a small jog and missed us by going into Charlotte County. We then would be spared the damage as well as the tidal surge. If it had gone in at Tampa, we whould have had a terrible tital surge and things would be flooded, but not knocked down by the winds. But where it hit, it was supposed to go right up the coast which would have been the wost for the whole area. But it stayed on its path and headed to the center of the state. We were spared completely. Why? We now have a campaign "The Storm that was supposed to be ours wasn't so we will send you our storm supplies." And today to add insult to injury, it poured rain with lightning and thunder over these poor folks. We all learned after Andrew that we have to wait a week or so before sending supplies or money. There is no hierarchy in place to manage, sirt, distribute what is needed, so much of what was donated to the victims of Andrew,,,blankets,,,clothes,,,sheets,,,sat out in the weather and was ruined. Let them have a few days to shake off the cloud and get back into reality so our donations can be used to the best of their abilities. I know we are not supposed to advertise here, but I urge you to send a check to the National Red Cross. These people are sitting begging for ice and water. Many of them elderly who had found paradise to live out their golden years. I was so lucky and can't stop thanking God...now is the time to get up and do something constructive for those so badly injured,,,mentally and financially,,,please join me. 25 miles...25 miles is all it took for me to be sitting in a cool room typing on my computer. It is in the 90's now with mosquitoes galore...a five dollar check could buy bug spray so badly needed. Thanks!

My mom lives in Daytona and got hit badly. Her house was fine but a tornado ran through after the hurricane and devasted all her neighbors across the street. She was never so scared in her life. It's over 100 degrees now, with no power and AC. all the food in her freezer is melting and she just wants to cry from exhaustion. No place to go to relieve the heat, and no place to go that will take away the fear. I feel for you all.

Dale, I saw the Weather Channel re-cap of Hurricane Andrew tonight. They showed people crying because the water trucks had run out before they got to them. And people actually brawling over scant supplies of food and water. Hurricane Charley will be no different.

IF EVERYONE here who has voiced concern would just promise to send $5 to the Red Cross, (and then carry through) it would make a difference to the survivors of Charley.

Darious...You are 100% correct! All the helpers and wonderful people serving lunches free, water and ice...this will not last as long as needed. Bedding, a pillow...hell...a bed! Toothbrush and some water to brush your teeth, bathe, bug spray. And the Red Cross although it got a bit of a black eye during 9-11 is a marvelous organazation. 9-11 was just so overwhelming and everything started flowing in before they were ready...and then how to disburse it? And it wasn't so much of a homeless situation. Red Cross needs money now. I'm sending mine and also to Animal Services of Punta Gorda...lots of animals were seperated from their owners and they need some money for more man power. I am not going to sit backand think that this money might not get to the disaster,,,,I am sending it with the Faith that it WILL! Please come along with me!

I certainly will. Red Cross AND Animal Services of Punta Gorda.

And, would you be kind enough to break up your posts into some paragraphs of just a few lines each? Long posts are SO hard for old eyes to read.

My daughter is down there (Cape Coral) about 25 miles from Punta Gorda. I received a message from my ex that she is okay, but may not hear from her for a few days. I don't know what she has lost, if anything. I am sure that the Red Cross will help her or someone like her.

http://www.redcross.org/

Go here and read about their efforts and help if you can.

LimeyLisa Kay

Like in any disaster, the gaugers are coming out. Two men from Mississippi with a truck load of home generators were selling them for almost 3 times their value and would only take cash...no receipts. They ran them out of town. Others selling ice for $5 a bag! But all in all it seems to be going well.

Power is coming back on slowly. Companies are shipping in washing kits, tarps, water and ice. The bid for clean up has been issued to a very good national company so that is good. Never realized there are huge companies that do nothing but bid on disaster clean-ups...priced by cubic feet. Your whole life in cubic feet.

Unfortunately the summer rains are upon these people for a couple of hours every afternoon. It's still hard to imagine that if the storm had not moved a measly 2 degrees I would be in their situation.