Hurricane Wilma

[tubelab.com]

Hurricane Wilma has put an end to all Tubelab experiments for quite a while. FPL (our power company) is saying we might get electricity by Nov. 21. That is almost 1 month. There are currently 3 MILLION people in the dark.

I have posted some pictures on the web site. I have enough gas to run the generator 2 or 3 hours each night, for the next few days, and I have one of the few working phone lines. Cell phones don't work either.

At this time I can't get to the warehouse to check on my tube collection (100,000 tubes). Roads are closed and I am saving the gas for the generator.

I will visit the forum when I can, and post new pictures on the web site when I can.

This area has suffered the worst hurricane devastation that I have seen in my 53 years in Florida. Hurricane Andrew caused worse damage, but over a smaller area. Wilma left a 100 mile wide path across the entire state. There is no gas available, since there is no power to run the pumps.

http://www.tubelab.com/hurricane_wilma.htm

[SY]

Are you on the western coast? My mother is on the eastern coast (Del Ray) and came through it OK.

We're all pulling for things to get working faster than anticipated. Let us know how things are moving along, and if you need a break, come on out to California and we'll be happy to have you stay here.

[karma]

hydro one from canada is on the way to help out. if thay ever get over the border



http://www.hydroone.com/en/


thats gota suck

no hockey

[tubelab.com]

We are on the east coast near Fort Lauderdale. The TV reporter that came by here yesterday said that this was a bad neighborhood, but there are lots of them. There are areas of destruction down in Miami and the Keys, and North of your mother. It seems that the closer you were to the coast the better off you were. We are about 1/2 mile from the Sawgrass Mills Mall (I am sure your mother has heard of it) which is on the eastern edge of the everglades 15 miles inland. My brother in Lake Worth (20 miles north west of Delray) said that there is serious damage in his area and no electricity.
California, we have hurricanes (more than our share for the last 2 years), you have earthquakes. I don't know which is worse. Actually, my wife wants to go stay with her mother, but the airport is closed.

At least there were few deaths and injuries, and no flooding. It could have been much worse. Katrina passed through here on its way to New Orleans. I still had my shutters up.

[tubelab.com]

I rode my bicycle over to the hockey arena (Florida Panthers) today. It seems intact, but has no power. The parking lot is being used as a staging area for Red Cross and debris hauling trucks.

[Tony]

glad that you came out of it still intact! thank GOD!

[northsiderap]

I've heard similar stories from other boards too...

Glad everyone made it through OK, and we all hope you have some tubes left!

[Cassiel]

What a mess! It had to happen sooner or later. My father lives in Miami
but went away before the hurricane arrived, guess he will have a hard time when he gets back. Good to know that you're ok, thanks for sharing the pics.

[Andrewbee]

Tubelab,

Hang in there. I went throught that with Hurricane Ivan last year in Grand Cayman. It will get better, just relax as best you can and keep your blood pressure down, there is really very little you can do at this stage besides helping neighbours etc.

As to hurricanes or earthquakes and which is better, none is better but give me a hurricane any day of the week over an earthquake, you have lots of notice and time to prepare for a hurricane while an earthquake will sneak up on you everytime!

Andrew

[Trout]

Wow,

I have family down there that nobody up here has heard from yet, So I knew it was bad. I figured you got nailed pretty bad also by your absence here.

I know theres nothing that can be said to help, But Stay well and hope that yet another blow isnt headed your way.
Great Pictures.
Gene