Horrible fires in Florida. Would our friends who live in the state please check in and tell us you are okay. Be safe.

Oh Robert, I hadn't head that! Where in Florida?? Our county is in a severe drought condition also, but (knock on wood) no wildfires to speak of here yet!

The I-95 is/was closed. For the CNN story click here.

http://www.floridatravelmap.com/Florida-Travel-1.html

Fires are south of Jacksonville - the map can help you pinpoint. JoAnna is near Jacksonville.
Margo and Neville are on the West Coast and Bebop is south
JoAnna - not to close to you, I take it?

We are a good 2 hrs north - and we have huge severe thunderstorms, high winds and lightning coming in this afternoon - sky behind our house is pitch black - Oh I hate the lightning but boy do we need the rain!!! Hope the Daytona area gets some rain too and the fires can be contained soon!!

All is quiet down here in the southern part of the state, but boy do we need rain. It has not rained here since we returned from the WC in March. I heard this morning that they might have to close I95 as far south as Fort Lauderdale this afternoon. As a side note we just wecomed a 3lb, one and a half year old Maltese in to our family so now we have 2 cuties.

Doris

I hope that all our FL friends remain safe and are not affected by the latest wrath of mother nature! Take care and please let us know how you're doing!

Doris:

Congrats on the new arrival!!

Love those little Cutie Pies! Congrats on the new little one, Doris!

The fires are all around us. Still far enough away that we don't have to worry, but some friends do. One of the fellows I work with was evacuated this weekend. I heard they are near Melbourne too, so I have been wondering about Susie's sister Marilyn.

Arlene - hope the fires die down quickly. Let me know if you get word of Marilyn. Anne

I am trying so hard not to worry about hurricane season this year - we leave for Mush 8/29 come hell or high water - high water is a play on words :( :( - we got a good soaking today but I feel for those struggling with the fires - scary!

I hope all of you in Florida stay safe.

We now have fires burning in western Broward County. No evacuations are necessary yet, but the pictures on T.V. are very scary.....Last year we had such bad fires out there, and the wind was blowing in our direction, smoke was covering Dade County where we live and ashes were falling all over. What a mess. I think we all need to do a rain dance.....
Doris

Yes Doris rain dance!!!!!

The brush fires are north and west of us. People were evacuated and a couple of homes lost. No real danger, now, to us, but the smoke is in the air. I-95 was closed this morning and will be again tomorrow morn. because of fog and smoke. WE NEED RAIN!!!!!!!

Betty

Glad all our Fla LCT'ers are safe so far. Living in fire country, I can relate!

Glad to hear from you, Betty K, and that you're not in the path. I'd been wondering about you and am a little fuzzy on my FL geography having been gone for 40 yrs!

Not to make light of this but I called Ms. Merlot this morning and she's playing golf at Suntree......Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail, nor brush fires shall keep Marilyn from playing golf..... :rolleyes:

Thanks, Kathy, for your concern!

Suzie, Too funny! Marilyn is a dedicated golfer! The skys are very overcast this morn. I am hoping that Marilyn's golf game gets rained on. Sorry, Marilyn!!!!!

Betty

I am doing the rain dance for all you Floridians. I hope the drought ends soon.

Skies are grey, grass is brown and hopefully rain is coming!!!

Karen...keep up the dancing! We had a little rain this morning but not enough. We are fine in Sarasota, but I 75 was closed last night because of fires about 50 miles north of us.

It's odd to be wishing for hurricane season, but it's so dry. a good drenching would help.

To make matters worse, some of us are losing our homeowners insurance - the company we had is bankrupt because of claims from storms over the last two years - we will have to go into the state's insurance pool because NO ONE is writing insurance in Florida right now - if we don't flood, we may burn - talk about a rock and a hard place!

Margo: We are stressing over the insurance issue too - so far so good BUT we have not put in a claim in over 10 yrs - any reason to cancel you - for our little and OLD (50 yrs) beach bungalow our homeowners and flood insurance are $$$ outrageous - we're across from ocean - a killer - for hurricanes and insurance - Joanna

We feel the same way. We have not had a claim in thirty years, and we just decided to list the house and do the condo move! Hoping to sell before our apartment is ready in Jan. If we have another bad hurricane season I'm doubtful any homes will sell. There was an accident at the building we are looking to move to and it was all over the news here and nationally, but no reduction in the prices! Here's hoping we get some rain this week, its really dry here...

Doris

Thinking of all you Floridians and hoping for rain. The fires shown on the evening news looked terrible.

Good luck Doris!!!!!

Wishing you the very best, Doris!

Praying for all of you back in Florida! I did see there is a chance of rain each day this week, so that is good. Doing the rain dance for you!

I was amazed that our insurance company renewed our policy for our Florida home last month. We were dropped the year prior (not a shocker, after Charley). Isn't there some law, though, that everyone has a right to hazard insurance? If not, there certainly should be!

We've given up hope that the house will sell until after hurricane season passes, that's for sure. I just try not to think about it anymore!

In Georgia we are trying to push the rain your way - not that we have too much, but I know you need it far more than we do right now!

Those of you w/o insurance that has to be very frightening.

My prayers are with all of you in FL! :)

It was smoky and foggy this morning as I crossed the bridge from the ocean to the mainland to go to exercise class. You could smell the smoke in the air, the news says its from overnight stagnant air and will clear by mid day. The fires are still burning in western Broward County. Another rain dance is in order for today :banana:

Doris

I'm dancing with you, Doris!!!!

Hoping the best for all of our Florida LCTers!

Masaki

Masaki What are you doing writing emails
at 1:23 pm in the afternoon? Normally yours are around midnight our time.

Jim - I'm off today - staying home and babysitting. :) She's asleep right now.

Masaki

Keeping our Florida friends in our thoughts and prayers. Keep safe!