My Hurricane Charley Post

[Shakeydave]

My life at this time, and for the past six years has been Punta Gorda, Florida. With the help of a fellow DU'r we have fashioned a pretty highly functioning, socially credible community. What happened on Friday was hell, in its most base terms. Homes are gone or torn in half. Lush tropical vegetation denuded to where the eye can see a mile past where it could before.

The con artists have arrived. Generators usually $800 to a $1,000 being offered roadside for $1,800. Add to those F'rs all the chain saw selling, fly-by-night construction trades and a visit by "Dumbya" and you have the makings of one pissed of community. I wish I had the photos tonight to show you the actual goings on, but power is still out in PG and the National Guard is enforcing a strict curfew.

I'll get them up tomorrow and show everybody the positive side of what has occured.

Love to all!

Shakeydave

[silverlib]

1. Just glad you are not injured...

When you have time and energy, let us know what we can do to help. I understand things aren't moving as quickly as they should.

[JanMichael]

2. Kicking this back to the top...

this isn't Michael; it's me, and he will be home at 5:30PM

[Misinformed01]

10. kick again

nt

[GOPisEvil]

3. I'm glad you're OK!

I can't stand people who profit from misery. There's a special place in hell for those people.

[jonnyblitz]

4. thanks for letting us know...

glad to hear you survived and best of luck to you. :hi:

[nickgutierrez]

5. "The con artists have arrived."

Dammit. Hopefully, some of these guys get the beatings they deserve.

Glad to hear you're ok. The rest of my family lives in Naples, and they just missed the worst of this.

[peekaloo]

15. The brothers Boo$h.....two of the biggest cons.

Glad you're okay SD.

[UrbScotty]

6. Well, you're okay

...and that's the good part.

[Misinformed01]

7. Kick for SD

nt

[Rainstorm]

8. Price increases is against the law

There is a number to the Attorney General's office to report any price increases. It is a state law against increasing the price of emergency items or repair after a disaster. They are looking to make an example of someone. If you have a problem then any state official can give you the number to call to report it. They will move quickly on it. Somebody just needs to report it.

[JanMichael]

11. Last report that I heard had 4, yes 4, Ag Dept officers handling the...

...gouging.

In a perfect wourld calling is just dandy, not in Charlotte County Florida this week though.

[sonias]

9. Shakeydave, glad to hear that you at least are ok

It will take time to rebuild, but you hang in there. Keep us posted.

Sonia

[tlcandie]

12. Great to hear you ARE okay!!!

I live northwest of TAmpa and escaped the hurricane. HOnestly, yell at me via pm if you need anything!!! I will do my best to help you out!!!

:hug:

[KamaAina]

13. I was right. You *are* into urban design.

Looks like you're the man of the hour. I was going to offer my services as an amateur visionary/planning geek, then I remembered you already had one!

For whatever reason, I thought you (and, formerly, JM) were up in Sarasota. D'oh!

Get the pix up there and let's see what we, and the DU community at large, can come up with.

Con artist update: A couple of hotels have already been busted for price-gouging. Amazing what Jeb!'s AG can do when he puts his mind to it, innit?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-gouging081704,0,3431002.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

[Misunderestimator]

14. Wow... glad you're ok... I lived in Ft. Myers until last fall and now ...

in Tampa... after a day of fretting over the forecasts that Charley was going to pass right over my house, I had absolutely no damage. Sorry to hear about all the gougers... unfortunatey, I knew it would happen.

On the flip side, Marriott called me today to ask me if I could give up my next two weeks reservations in Ft. Myers, as there were people from Punta Gorda staying there that they wanted to extend their stays. I hope with all my heart, that THEY aren't gouging them.

fyi - Steph and JanMichael said that we should meet up... NSMA is going to be down here in Tampa next month, maybe we can hook up.

All the best to you. :hug: