Posted by Faye Bell on August 15, 2004 at 15:35:54:

I have had so many emails and telephone calls inquiring as to our safety during this horrible situation with Hurricane Charley. You have no idea how much that means to Jim and I to think that you would take the time to try to contact us.

Do to the mercies of God, Charley changed course and came across land to the south of us. For two or three days, every local TV/radio station was on the air around the clock with all the evacuation procedures, schools and businesses all closed, thousands of people had to be evacuated, etc.

And to think of "bad timing", the owner of the shopping center where Gone With the Wind Memories is located is in the middle of putting on a new roof. I have nothing on top of the roof except tar paper. So far, it is holding out, but the rains are so tremendous and right now, on Sunday afternoon, there are tornado warnings up in Hillsborough County. It is still a very frightening situation for us ...

My cousin, aunts, etc. who live about 45 minutes to the west of us (Lake Wales, Florida) had to all go into a walk-in closet Friday night for about 45 minutes. They had tornado warnings/siteing there and I think they had a combination of Charley and a tornado. They have no electricity, no phones (except for cell), and have roof, trees, plants, etc. damage there, but no one got hurt and that is the IMPORTANT thing. The news is saying they will probably be out of electricity for several days, if not weeks. It could have been so much worse than it was for them and we so thankful for God's protection.

My heart goes out to the people in southern Florida, especially the Punta Gorda area. The year we got married we lost everything we had via a tornado, so I do know the horrible things/feelings are they are experiencing right now.

Thanks again for asking and your prayers are sincerely appreciated.

Faye and Jim

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