Breathing Easier

I never know how to pray in a hurricane. Al Mohler had a great post about this -- if the storm goes a different direction, people still are affected -- it's just not "us."

So all we can do is pray that the damage isn't severe, that our loved ones are safe, and that things turn out for the best. And that is what happened today.

While formidable, Hurricane Dennis did not pack the punch that was expected, and certainly did not deliver the damage dealt by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

The estimated 76,000 to 100,000 residents who evacuated their homes should stay away for two days while so utility and road crews can continue their work and gasoline supplies can be restored, Escambia County officials said Sunday night.

Also, Escambia County and City of Pensacola officials warned residents to stay inside while utility and road crews worked to repair damage from the storm.

At a 6 p.m. press briefing, Escambia County Administrator George
Touart said the hardest-hit area of the county was Pensacola Beach, where a tangled mess of downed power lines blocked access east and west of the business core.

Nonetheless, Touart planned to send engineers tonight to inspect the Bob Sikes Bridge and road crews in the morning to clear the way.

Electricity, water and sewer service will not be available, but he
hopes to open the beach to residents some time Monday.

Perdido Key was unscathed largely and reopened once tropical storm force winds died down. (from the Pensacola News Journal)

There are still a LOT of people without power, and there is a lot of damaged property, but Dennis wasn't nearly as bad as advertized.

Posted by Warren Kelly at July 10, 2005 08:58 PM | TrackBack