Hi Owen

I am doing OK....just a little busy these days. Ivan was a bad dude, but he did little damage to my city. Other places weren't so lucky. The condo at Gulfshores won't have power for three more weeks, so I can only imagine how the refrigerator will smell. We couldn't get in there if we tried---roads are out. You can't even get into Mobile, Alabama unless you have a pass! But, we have had friends who have taken aerial shots of Gulfshores and I have seen enough to know that I do NOT want to go there right now.

I talked to a guy who decided he would "ride out the storm" in Gulfshores and he said it was something he will NEVER do again. He said when the surge hit, (20 feet) he watched in awe as the wall of water hit one condo building and pulled out big screen TVs, washers, dryers, refrigerators, furniture, etc., and carried all of it back out into the Gulf of Mexico. Totally blew my mind.

I have a friend who has a ground level condo on Orange Beach that was totally flooded. He also has another vacation home in Mount Eagle and as Ivan hit inland, all the rain began and his home in Mount Eagle flooded, too! But, he is taking it all very well....better than I would have.

Paulette Tweet