Amelia Islanders Observe The Big Waves Before Frances

PRE-FRANCES -–

AS THE STORM APPROACHED


Already a few days before hurricane Frances arrived, Amelia Islanders watched in awe as winds stressed the beachfront palms at Main Beach Park in Fernandina Beach. Shockingly big surf humbled Amelia Islanders. Even the surfer "dudes" stayed out of the churning ocean. (Or they went into the dangerous waters briefly for one ride and got out, realizing their total lapse in judgment.)

Palms Blowing in the Pre-Frances Winds

But the rain hadn't started yet, nor had the higher wind gusts. However, by Sunday night, the eve of Labor Day, the winds howled all night long, and the rain arrived. Nassau County schools were closed two extra days after the Labor Day holiday.

This is as close to a "snow day" that Floridian kids get!



THE BIG QUESTION LEADING UP TO A HURRICANE -- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

When a hurricane threatens, the talk of the town becomes “are you leaving?” Like the popular rock lyrics of the Clash, “Should I stay or should I go?" becomes the dilemma of Florida residents. (“If I go there will be trouble...and if I stay it will be double...should I stay or should I go?”)

Amelia Islanders Take Precautions, Board Up Beach Homes Prior To Frances

The ritual becomes watching the weather channel, examining all the possible projected paths of the hurricane based on computer models, as issued by the National Hurricane Center. Discussing with friends and neighbors the potential “margin of error” in the projected paths. Making numerous trips to the store for water, batteries, flashlights, radios, propane gas for grills, canned goods, bags of ice and plywood. Trying to book hotel rooms out of the area (if you can, indeed find one available), just in case you are advised by local authorities to evacuate.

Some do go on a voluntary basis. But it’s not an easy decision – whether to stay or go. And for those local Amelia Island residents who experienced the nightmare of the Floyd mandatory evacuation in 1999, it's weighing the lesser of two evils. Do you take a chance and stay (and we all know that weather forecasts can be inaccurate, especially when trying to pinpoint the path of a hurricane – it’s very complex). Or do you hit the road and be in the "parking lot" of major evacuation routes like Interstate 95 with other motorists, dealing with horrendous traffic and trips taking three or four times more than normal. Plus, the worry of running out of gas (some stations close/gas shortages), often camping in your car with a shortage of hotel rooms, too.

AFTER THE STORM -- THE DAMAGE OF FRANCES

Post-Frances: Oceanfront Home Damaged By Frances, Fletcher Ave.

On Monday, Labor Day, a drive around Amelia Island told the story of Frances. Along Fletcher Avenue, the road that runs parallel to the beach for much of the island, oceanfront and ocean view homes touched by Frances showed their scars with roof and shingle damage. A rough guesstimate, it appeared that one out of every four homes experienced some sort of damage. Scattered debris (pieces of siding, insulation, roof shingles and tar paper), was evident along Fletcher. Even a traffic light is missing at Jasmine and South Fletcher.

In the days after hurricane Frances (or should I say, tropical storm Frances?), the humidity hung thick in the air, and the rain continued. Downed trees, branches, damaged power lines, and leaves seemed to be everywhere around Ameia Island. Trees were felled in neighborhoods and in shopping centers like Walmart and Staples. Just in one small community, for example, Sea Grove, located a few blocks back behind Fletcher Avenue, several homeowners had trees actually uprooted that crashed down on homes.

Amelia Islanders who have never experienced getting brushed by a hurricane were both relieved and humbled by the wrath of Frances. Remember, we were lucky here in Nassau County -- Frances actually landed on the Florida peninsula far south of Amelia Island. That's what's so scary -- imagining what a direct hit would be like.

Uprooted Tree Hits Home in Sea Grove

The reaction of many islanders has, indeed, been "think what it would be like if we actually had a direct hit by a major hurricane." It's hard to fathom the potential destruction. Even though we were spared, the mighty waves, squalls of rain and wind gusts did plenty of damage here on Amelia Island and on the mainland in Nassau County. It's difficult to comprehend the power of mother nature...and what a direct hit of a category 3 or higher would be like –- absolutely terrifying.

***image2***While not all islanders experienced power outages, many did. On the south-end of Amelia Island near the Harris Teeter shopping center on A1A, trees and poles were snapped and power lines were down. Utility company employees are working hard to make repairs and get the power back on for those who are still out.

HURRICANE HISTORY...IS FLORIDA LIVING RISKY BUSINESS?

Hurricanes reportedly strike Florida more frequently than any other state in America. You may be thinking that Florida living is risky business with the hurricane factor – especially with what’s occurred this hurricane season in 2004. The last time three hurricanes hit Florida in a single season was in 1964, when Cleo, Dora, and Isabel hit the state. (But history may now repeat itself in 2004 with Charley, Frances, and Ivan.)

Many Islanders Went to Main Beach To See the Rough Surf

But realize that some areas of Florida are more prone to hurricanes than others. If you’re not from Florida (perhaps you’re even thinking about moving to Amelia Island or the Jacksonville area), you may be wondering about hurricane season, and how vulnerable this northeastern part of Florida is to hurricanes, as compared to other parts of Florida.

In general, hurricanes are not considered a great threat to this northeast area of the state. Up here in the northeast corner of Florida appears to be a less traveled zone for hurricane paths.

Prior to Amelia Island’s recent “brush” with Frances in September 2004, the local area has only had one direct hit by a “major” hurricane in the past century. Back in September 1964, Hurricane Dora, with 110 mile winds, caused over $1.5 billion in damages to the Jacksonville greater metropolitan area.

The chances of hurricanes in any given year here in northeast Florida are less than other areas of the Florida peninsula. They are reportedly more likely to occur on the lower east coast, extreme lower west coast, and the northwest coast. The upper eastern coastline area, home to Jacksonville and Amelia Island, has been relatively free from hurricanes.

HurricaneCity.com is an organization that researches hurricanes and ranks the top 50 cities frequented by Atlantic hurricanes, as well as tropical storms. The ranking includes being both “brushed” or experiencing a “direct” hit (based on charts dating all the way back to 1871). According to the web site’s ranking, Jacksonville, Florida was ranked 37th, with the average years between a “direct” hit hurricane once every 44 years. (First on the list was the island of Grand Caymen, followed by Andros Island in the Bahamas, and third on the top 50 list was Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.)

Amelia Island residents did have a close call, however, five years ago in 1999, when islanders experienced a mandatory evacuation. Floyd, a category 3 hurricane, threatened the southeast coast. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina issued mandatory evacuations of coastal areas. Nearly 2 million motorists fled inland causing chaos and paralysis on the roadways. All for naught, as Floyd never arrived in the evacuated areas, landing much farther up the coast in North Carolina.

Public officials and disaster preparedness planners spent a lot of time re-evaluating local evacuation routes and procedures in the aftermath of Floyd, for the next time.

A HAT TRICK OF HURRICANES IN FLORIDA

The 2004 hurricane season will not soon be forgotten. It’s been 40 years, back to 1964, since major hurricanes scored three hits in one season in Florida. A “major” hurricane on the scale means category 3 or higher, with winds of 110 mph, or more.

Curious Onlookers Watch the Big Surf Days Before Frances

The scientific phrase of this phenomenon is “the Atlantic multi-decadal mode” -- stormy periods that are reportedly three times worse than quiet periods. According to the web site of the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, CO, “starting in 1995, intense hurricanes have become much more frequent. It is quite possible that this increase marks the beginning of an era of active hurricane conditions that may last 10 to 40 more years because of forcing by the Atlantic multi-decadal mode.”

POST-FRANCES MENTALITY

By Thursday, September 9, 2004, the sun was shining again on Amelia Island. The worst of Frances came through Sunday evening into Monday, but some in the local area still remain without power. The local Nassau County public schools did reopen September 9th. But the sounds of chain saws still buzz the air around Amelia Island. Driving around the island, trees down awaiting removal are still a common sight, along with scattered roofing crews perched on homes making repairs. Even the local movie theatre, the Carmike Cinema 7, experienced some roof damage from Frances. Four of the seven theatres were open for business on Friday, September 10th.

Jacksonville News Crews Report From Main Beach, Fernandina

Some residents in Yulee have been told that they may not have power back for two more weeks. Those who happen to reside in an area with fewer residences in a particular power grid, are low on the list for getting their electric restored. Around various areas of Florida, the news broadcasts are reporting “hurricane stress” -- high anxiety, nerves on edge, tempers flaring, especially in areas where residents are still under the hardship of lengthy power outages.

BEWARE MOTHER NATURE AND THE WORST OF HUMAN NATURE

There’s talk of some “outside” opportunists, coming into town here on Amelia Island, passing out flyers along Fletcher Avenue, targeting residents in need of roof repairs. Local residents need to be aware of potential price gouging. One elderly woman in her 80s was reportedly targeted by an unsavory contractor from out of town. She reportedly received a quote of $16,000 for roof repairs. Luckily, local professionals stepped in and informed her that the repairs could actually be done for much less – under $4,000.

We’ve learned from Frances to beware the power of mother nature. Frances taught a lesson, and we’ve been humbled. But unfortunately, at times like this, we need to also heed the human nature of some – the greedy in nature, ready to take advantage of the situation and prey on those in need.

Post-Frances, another lesson is learned. In the future, the decision to evacuate on a voluntary basis when a hurricane threatens will be a bit easier for some local residents. Seeing first hand the havoc wreaked by a lower category “2” hurricane (turned tropical storm) -- one that was not even a direct hit -- makes the decision to take a road trip easier. Let’s hope that time won’t be within days, with hurricane Ivan looming. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for the Florida Keys, and the remainder of Floridians wait and watch the weather channel, wondering “who’s next?”
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