SOME HURRICANES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
I thought I’d share some notes about several hurricanes that have impacted our region over recent years since Idalia is currently whipping its way through. When I moved here in 1963 evidence still reminded us of the devastating effects of hurricane Donna in 1960. An old cement dock on Lake Jackson where we used to swim was knocked askew by it, even with steel reinforcement. Some large old trees were still down. All through the 1960’s and early 1970’s I do not recall having any come directly through the Sebring area. Of course back then there were no satellite weather facilities and reporting was very different. They did have radar but prediction and warning was not like what we have today. We can all be very thankful for the weather prediction and many who serve us as rescue workers, emergency providers, utility crews, law enforcement and so many who protect and provide during these emergencies.
This presents a clear gospel pattern. God warns us in Scripture of coming disaster for sinners. He provides us with free shelter in Jesus for all who come to Him. He welcomes us now and gives us guaranteed security and salvation for eternity. So many ignore it and do not take it seriously. It is truly incumbent on all people to flee the wrath to come by coming to Jesus now while there is time. The normal conditions of beauty and peace can lull people into a false sense of security. Soon there will be nowhere to hide and it will be too late. ‘God commands all men everywhere to repent because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.’ Acts 17:30-31
My devotional reading this morning was in Revelation. God’s judgments on earth are real and cyclical, consummating in the last battle which will be over very quickly. Evil will be vanquished forever. As the hymn-writer put it, ‘who is on the Lord’s side?’ Then comes judgment, and eternity in heaven or hell. It’s all true.
My devotional reading this morning was in Revelation. God’s judgments on earth are real and cyclical, consummating in the last battle which will be over very quickly. Evil will be vanquished forever. As the hymn-writer put it, ‘who is on the Lord’s side?’ Then comes judgment, and eternity in heaven or hell. It’s all true.
Idalia, August 30, 2023
I woke up to the sound of thunder and rain on our metal roof and wind blowing at about 6:15 a.m. This hurricane came up through the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Florida and made landfall about 8:00 a.m. in the Big Bend area of Florida near Perry and headed up toward Valdosta, GA. It hit as a category 3 with 125 mph winds, down from category 4 at 6:00 a.m. with 130 mph winds offshore. We only had the outer rain bands to deal with, but they can also spin off tornadoes which we pray won’t hit us. So I woke up praying for God’s protection and deliverance for us and our families and neighbors and friends here and in the path of the storm.
Our friends in Lecanto especially are vulnerable. Several commercial fishermen who depend on their boats operating out of Crystal River on the Gulf Coast which can be destroyed or damaged by the storm surge, which they expected. At this time I still have not heard about them.
Our power stayed on the whole time, thank the Lord. Terrie was able to go care for the grandchildren this morning so Deanna can go to a doctor’s appointment. I took out our garbage container to the street at 6:55 a.m. and they picked it up around 7:30 a.m. Yesterday we were told about 1:00 p.m. that our offices would be closed for the storm today.
Rain bands continue to sweep through with wind picking up and thunder and lightning. Then it subsides and is quiet, with gray skies and lots of moisture in the atmosphere. It definitely has a distinct feel when a hurricane comes by like this. Last evening Terrie and I took a walk at dusk around 8:00 p.m. The neighborhood was very quiet and almost everybody was inside.
Television is reporting currently that storm surge has flooded areas along the Gulf, particularly Tampa Bay and north. Thankfully many people evacuated to shelters or left for higher ground. Evacuation was mandated in many locations along the coast. Power outages have occurred, and are being repaired by utility crews.
At 9:00 a.m. it is onshore and downgraded to a category 2 with wind speeds of 110 mph. Still very dangerous. How grateful we are to be spared the direct blunt, or any evident damage. God is our refuge and shelter. He hears and answers prayer. What a blessing to come through unscathed. We continue praying for those who suffered loss and are now enduring the force of it.
Our friends in Lecanto especially are vulnerable. Several commercial fishermen who depend on their boats operating out of Crystal River on the Gulf Coast which can be destroyed or damaged by the storm surge, which they expected. At this time I still have not heard about them.
Our power stayed on the whole time, thank the Lord. Terrie was able to go care for the grandchildren this morning so Deanna can go to a doctor’s appointment. I took out our garbage container to the street at 6:55 a.m. and they picked it up around 7:30 a.m. Yesterday we were told about 1:00 p.m. that our offices would be closed for the storm today.
Rain bands continue to sweep through with wind picking up and thunder and lightning. Then it subsides and is quiet, with gray skies and lots of moisture in the atmosphere. It definitely has a distinct feel when a hurricane comes by like this. Last evening Terrie and I took a walk at dusk around 8:00 p.m. The neighborhood was very quiet and almost everybody was inside.
Television is reporting currently that storm surge has flooded areas along the Gulf, particularly Tampa Bay and north. Thankfully many people evacuated to shelters or left for higher ground. Evacuation was mandated in many locations along the coast. Power outages have occurred, and are being repaired by utility crews.
At 9:00 a.m. it is onshore and downgraded to a category 2 with wind speeds of 110 mph. Still very dangerous. How grateful we are to be spared the direct blunt, or any evident damage. God is our refuge and shelter. He hears and answers prayer. What a blessing to come through unscathed. We continue praying for those who suffered loss and are now enduring the force of it.
Charley, August 13, 2004
We returned from Glasgow late at night August 12, 2004 just in time to discover that hurricane Charley was bearing down on us. We had no idea it was coming until our plane touched down in Philadelphia on our return. We were six days without power. Large oak tree behind our house pushed over away from the house. Our neighbor cut it up and stacked it for us! Eli came over and helped board up the house in the morning just before the storm hit us. Little did we know we were in for two more in quick succession. What a year that was.
This was the time our office began to do the post storm damage assessment to qualify our county for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) disaster funding. So immediately following these storms we went around the county to survey the extent of the damage and make an estimate of how much it was. Eli and Roy worked hard clearing brush and cutting logs from the downed trees.
This was the time our office began to do the post storm damage assessment to qualify our county for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) disaster funding. So immediately following these storms we went around the county to survey the extent of the damage and make an estimate of how much it was. Eli and Roy worked hard clearing brush and cutting logs from the downed trees.
NAME CAT. DATE YR SPEED
Irma, September 10, 2017
September 2017, about the time we got ready to do the damage assessment for FEMA, my retina tore in my right eye, which had a lens implant to correct my cataract problem in 2015. I did not mention it until after we finished the assessment project. Dr. Moon was able to repair it surgically with partial power in Winter Haven and Terrie assisting. Sat up with my head at a 45 degree angle for two or three weeks while it healed. Terrie worked very hard cleaning up the yard trash and piled it along the curb.
Ian, September 28, 2022
I was at home in the dark alone when the power went off on the night of September 28, 2022. Terrie was visiting Chrissie Handyside in Scotland. I could hear the sound of a tornado about that time, the deep, subsonic rumble was unsettling. I had the most intense one-man prayer meeting I’ve ever been in! It was Wednesday night. God answered! Although a power pole two blocks away was snapped in two and we lost power and internet service, not one tree in our two acre oak forest was toppled! When Terrie and Chrissie Handyside got home days later I had used a generator for three days and did not even lose any refrigerated food! It was the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935. Local wind gusts were clocked at 96 mph! Although Southwest Florida was devastated, our region mercifully sustained little serious damage. In early November Hurricane Nicole came through but we only had some light rain and wind, thank the Lord!
God directed us to a very good local tree service that came and trimmed all the dead branches from our trees and the huge pile by our road was quickly hauled off by contractors working for FEMA.
God directed us to a very good local tree service that came and trimmed all the dead branches from our trees and the huge pile by our road was quickly hauled off by contractors working for FEMA.
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