Last night I was reading the local news webpage, Bay News 9 and noticed an article Stepping Up For Katrina Victims, I didn’t know they were taking donations at the St. Pete Times Forum. So today, I spent half of what I have left in my checking account (till the 25th) and bought two cases of bottled water, was like 56 bottles, and brought it downtown. The girl thanked me sincerely for bringing the water and I told her she was welcome, smiled and was on my way. I thought, well maybe I can volunteer my time down there or something next weekend if needed?
More can be read on Tampa Bay’s 10: SATURDAY UPDATE: Due the enormous response in terms of donated items, the St. Pete Times Forum is experiencing a shortage with regards to pallets, boxes, shrink wrap and even trucks.
There are Katrina refugees arriving here in Tampa. They started to arrive at TIA (Tampa International Airport) on Sunday.
I recieved an email from my webhost yesterday about a new charity. They do charities every month and they match all donations 100%. This month, the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund was made availible. I made a donation to help.
In the aftermath of Katrina, some people have the audacity to loot. I was watching the morning news, wanting to catch up a bit and see visual footage of what was going on, and there it was. Video of people loading up shopping carts of items that did not belong to them. It’s people like this that don’t make the world go around.
Sad in-deed 
My heart goes out to the residents in Hurricane Katrina’a path. New Orleans being at sea-level, Cat5 storm with 165+ MPH winds and gusts up to 200+ MPH, it’s gonna be one that will be remembered forever. Apparently the last horrible storm to hit Louisianna was in 1969, Camille, a Cat5 as well. Katrina is a perfectly formed hurricane, it’s satellite photos are really beautiful to look at. It’s just such a tragedy that this storm is going to cause so much more destruction and loss of life then it did when it marched over south Florida.
Hurricane Dennis might not of impacted Tampa directly like it is about to do in Pensecola, I hope no body is injured from this storm. As I am happy this hurricane dodged us, I am unhappy that it will hit somebody. Very erie repeat of last year, Dennis is about to hit almost exactly where Ivan did last year. Those residents and that part of the state still haven’t cleaned up from Ivan’s destruction.
Yesterday’s weather was pretty nasty. Very high winds and lots of rain. Valerie and I went to the mall to blow some time in the late evening. On the way back we stopped by Safety Harbor. It was being pounded by waves and flooding. They closed it as we were pulling in. Tornadoe warnings were issued periodically yesterday, and scared me.
Today its about just as bad. There were possible tornadoe sightings in St. Petersburg and Largo. There is another Tornadoe warning till 2:00 PM EST. The feeder bands of this storm are horrible and the winds are reaching 60 MPH as well. This is more damage and action then this area recieved during the 3 near hits with hurricanes Charlie, Francis and Jeanne last year. Today also has many flood warnings out. 3-5 foot water surges in the bay and gulf shores are putting many water side roads out of commission. The road Valerie lives on (she lives like on Old Tampa Bay) has been closed due to flooding, Baynews 9 did a segment on her area and wow, there is soo much water in Safety Harbor from the waves crashing to the harbor area and water draining down into the streets. It’s nasty. I hope she stays safe. 
I watched the news and saw what the waves were doing on the Howard Franklin Bridge, water splashing up and landing on the driving lanes!
I posted a few pictures of damage done through out the area from Baynews 9.
Looks like Frances is going to cause worse weather then Charley did when it passed right beside us. Looks like it’s going to be one rainy weekend for Tampa. Luckily though it will pass north of us, thus having one of the better areas of the storm cross over the area. Just as Charley did; we never caught the leading or trailing edge and won’t with Frances either.
On a seperate note, I have been a tad bit busy with apartment hunting and I finally found a place but it’s not official yet. I hope to move in on the weekend of the 16th. I have to go Tuesday to finalize the paper work. I was so lucky to get this place. Its a one bedroom with a den setup that has a view of the lake and its on the 3rd floor. It’s like exactly what I been looking for.
It’s so hard to find a one bedroom/den setup. Many places have the floor plan but had none availible and when they do become availible they are snatched up quickly. I got this one cause it had just came open the day before, Thursday. It’s close to what I wanted in size and I didn’t want a 1st floor unit. It’s 904 sq.ft. which is pretty much what I was looking for. I wanted the extra room for a guest bedroom for my friends and family so when they visit they don’t need to get a hotel room. They just won’t have a bed for a bit lol.
Speaking of beds, I am going out today to buy furniture. I been furniture shopping already and have settled on what I wanted. Gonna spend a few bucks on my stuff which includes, a bed, dresser with mirror, nightstand or two, a few lamps, sofa, 2 end tables and a cocktail table and a love seat or chaise. I’m so excited! Finally a place of my own that I can decorate how I want 
Well so much for my first hurricane experience. Just happens that the county I live in is in the best possible position where Charley hit. We aren’t getting any rain and most likely won’t get more then just a few showers. The winds are just strong breezes at best. Since we are on the northwest side of the storm, we have the mildest weather. Oh well, I suppose dodging a catagory 4 hurricane is good news.
My name is Erin. I was not always named Erin and I was not always a girl. One could argue that I am not a girl, perhaps a boy or both; maybe neither.
