Hurricane update & Gallery

  

HURRICANE UPDATE

Everyone has seen photos of the damage on Florida's West Coast, but what most people outside our state don't realize is that the damage inland was not only severe but has INCREASED over the past week. Central Florida is a land of countless lakes and rivers - all of which received 15-20" of rain in 24 hours. And even when the sun came out, the rivers kept rising from rain run-off, adding to the flood levels in the lakes they passed through, as well as WAY above flood level along their banks. An example (in reverse):  a large park in Altamonte Springs lowered its flooding lake by draining the waters into the Wekiva River, which was already flooded. So instead of the flood waters going down after the storm, the Wekiva rose, flooding even more houses. Florida's longest river, the St. John's, flows north at a sluggish pace over land that is flat. Due to our rainy season, the river was already high. Hurricane Ian sent it into a flood stage that has continued to rise over the past week as streams and run-off drain into it. It is not expected to go below flood stage UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. 

What this means is that there are a huge number of families coping with houses that flooded from 1-3 feet up the first floor walls; i.e., all major appliances and first-floor furniture ruined. (FYI, most houses in Florida only have one floor.) Television news keeps showing us neighborhood after neighborhood with giant mounds of furniture piled out front for trash pick-up. 

I keep saying abject thanks that somehow my neighborhood was spared. Florida has few hills, but my house is on a plateau of some kind, and I give thanks for it every day. But please say prayers for the thousands who have lost everything, including those who live along rivers that are still rising.

Below, a couple of Ian aftermath photos & a gallery of miscellaneous photos that have been postponed in order to show storm pics.

Posted to FB by Linnea Sinclair (Tampa)

I lived in Venice, FL for 25 years. One of my most favorite places in all the world is Snook Haven on the Myakka River. [10 miles inland, a last outpost before jungle swamps and cattle ranches all the way to Arcadia - 50 miles.] Snook Haven is the "Bud's Fish Shack" found in some of my mysteries set in Venice. 

Update, Thursday, 10/13 - Snook Haven is currently described as, "too flooded for anyone to get in to assess the damage."

And on a happier note . . .

Re-post (by Mom) of grandgirls jumping in the dunes of Abu Dabi

Riley & proud parents at Senior Band Dinner, 10/22

Buffy's balancing act - and no, I have no idea how she got up there!

Buffy & Willow "helping", back when they were kittens

Baby Buffy & Willow, A-a-aw.

And the inevitable sign-off . . .

Sunset Wow - posted to FB 9/22

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Hear ye, hear ye! THE SECRETS OF STONEBRIDGE CASTLE will soon be available in paperback. 

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Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)