Into the eye of the storm

[teach1st]

I stubbornly stayed in the Tampa Bay area instead of evacuating as told, figuring the storm would turn inland further South as it did. Many others here evacuated right into the path of the storm. Here's some video from a couple who evacuated from the Tampa Bay area to Punta Gorda. The link to the video is at the bottom of the page.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2004/8/15/52110.html

Steve and Janet Swiatek live in a Pinellas County evacuation zone.

As Hurricane Charley raged closer to the Bay area, the couple packed up and left, thinking they were headed to safety.

"We couldn't go east 'cause it's gonna take that track," Steve said. "We said let's go to Punta Gorda where my father lives alone."

Swiatek started filming with his home video camera once he got to his father's house. As time passed Friday afternoon, rain moved in, then some wind ... then anxiety.

As the weather worsens, Swiatek can be heard on the video saying, 'Oh my god ... I think I hear, tiles are ripping off the roof.' "

[DS1]

1. All three of them are morons for standing in the living room

near the door as parts of the house are ripped away.

[teach1st]

2. A sliding glass door at that!

I give the dad some credit for being elderly.

[DS1]

3. "whoa - this door is really starting to shake in the walls -

you can see it being sucked outwards"

Stand closer!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

4. Who evacuates one coastal town

to go to another coastal town? They should have all gone inland. Hurricanes always lose strength when they go inland.