*The eye of the remnant (tropical storm Charlie) passed over us a few
hours
*ago. Just brought us more rain. We are fine. We had family in the
path over
*central FL and they had no damage. My sister's friend is without
water,
*electric and now, apparently phone - she's on the gulf side of FL
near
*landfall. We are waiting to hear something.

Good to hear that this thing isn't nearly as strong as before. Glad
you're ok!

Al
Please be quiet if replying via email,
flames will be deleted promptly.
I won't even read the whole message...

Wondered how you were making out down there.  Glad everything is okay.
Up here in the Northern Neck, we pretty much got off scot-free.
Those poor folks in Florida, though.  What a disaster!

Ron Carter

Houses are just things. They contain memories and "stuff" but they are just
things. The important thing is that your family was not there and you all
are okay. You had insurance and that is good. It never seems to be enough to
cover everything but at least you can rebuild, replant and start fresh.
Maybe this is an opportunity to just start over again.

I know right now you are devastated by what happened. I know there are
people who will say that adversity strengthen you or that God doesn't give
you more than you can handle. My first retort is: "So, explain nervous
breakdowns to me!" I do wish I knew why thing seems to happen when you are
already down. But it is just a house. It's your home but it is a structure
and it can be rebuilt.

FEMA is a process but there will be people to help you submit your claim. Do
submit even if right now you don't think you will need it. My daughter works
for a property management company and her job is to go into properties that
have been destroyed by hurricanes and other disasters and make them "whole"
again. It is not easy. When Isabel came through here we filed initially but
didn't complete the process because we didn't need it. My daughter made us
do the paperwork. We only lost a car and had some minor problems.
Fortunately the insurance took care of most all of it. The rest was just
hard work on our part. We could have finished the claim process but figured
it was not worth it for the small amount. Some things you just suck up and
push onward. A year later it is just a distant memory.

You are safe and lives are the most important things. At least you weren't
in the house when it happened. So pick up the pieces, jump thought the red
tape and consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Hurricanes are random,
they don't choose their victims. You will get through this.

If I can do anything to help please let me know!!!
Bev

Our interest is only .... curiosity.  Due to alzheimers, my FIL and MIL had
to move from the house they built on Flamingo (abutting the beach), on
Estero Island, the island just south of Sanibel.  Judging from the surge
predicitions, it's probably that the water was up to the first floor
(stilts) and maybe up to the second.  But, we can't find out.  No one we
knew has phone service.