Katrina Blogging Part 2

I'm still blogging on the Hurricane. Since my original post became long and unwieldly I decided to continue in a second post.

7:30 p.m. update- Hurricane Katrina has started coming ashore. The eye according to the National Hurricane Center made landfall in the Hallandale Beach/North Miami Beach area.

...EYE OF KATRINA CURRENTLY MAKING LANDFALL BETWEEN HALLANDALE BEACHAND NORTH MIAMI BEACH WITH 80 MPH WINDS...PORT EVERGLADES JUSTREPORTED GUSTS TO 92 MPH WINDS...

The NHC also reported that Katrina was near 25.9 Longitude 80.1 Latitude. The storm has definitely shifted to the south. Most of Palm Beach County is going to miss the brunt of Katrina.

Two people were killed in Broward County. Anyone reading this and in Katrina's path stay indoors. Its too dangerous to go out.

Fellow blogger Florida Cracker isn't as fortunate. She is very close to the storm's path. Please keep her and the Cracker family in your prayers.

9 p.m. update- The local televisisions here are broadcasting regular programming. That tells you what they think of Katrina now.

The wind is still gusting here. A power interuption isn't impossible. I think if we make it to morning we'll be fine.

Latest position is- THE 9 PM EDT POSITION...25.8 N... 80.4 W. MOVEMENTTOWARD...WEST NEAR 6 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 80 MPH.MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 984 MB.

Good news coverage continues at Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald websites

I will keep posting updates till bed-time around 11 p.m.

August 26th 10:30 a.m. Update- I went to bed earlier than expected last night. Been putting the house back together. Also I'm still down from yesterday's news. That is why I didn't update till now.

Katrina is pretty much through with Palm Beach County. The sun came out at a little past 8 this morning.

As for myself, we have rolled back the shutters and restored the house to normal. The only damage we have is an uprooted papaya true. That's insignifigant, we count our blessings here. Maybe my baby angel Daniel protected his parents. Today and yesterday mark 31 months since my son was born and then died.

A friend who owns a small Asian market in Lantana, lost power at the store. They have no insurance, so could have suffered losses from spoiled food. Fortunately their power was restored last night.

My sister-in-law in Miramar had power as of 10 p.m. last night. Haven't spoke to her this morning yet. Leonette likes to sleep late.

It appears blogger Florida Cracker weathered the storm. Keep praying for her and all South Florida residents.

The Sun-Sentinel reports four people having died because of Katrina. Lots of roof and tree damage in Dade and Broward. A highway overpass collapsed in Miami but no one was hurt. A family of five took their boat out of Marthon and is now missing.

Florida Power and Light has over a million customers without power. The company warns that people that it could be a week before electricity is restored.

Latest Katrina location update- REPEATING THE 9 AM EDT POSITION...25.2 N... 82.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NEAR 6 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 75 MPH. That is 45 miles northwest of Key West. She is expected to turn Northwest towards the Florida panhandle. So Florida is not yet done with this storm.

As can be seen Katrina turned dramatically to the Southwest. This wasn't unexpected, some computer models had the storm doing this. The discussion posts at NHC are very good for detailed explanations of how forecasters predict these storms.

In all I think South Florida was pretty fortunate in regards to Katrina. The damage in Dade and Broward can be fixed. This wasn't an Andrew like storm.