Why did Charley turn away from Tampa Bay? What if your car or your carpets got soaked? How can you avoid getting ripped off by a repairman? Here are some answers.
For the same reason Tropical Storm Bonnie petered out as it neared the Panhandle: It came up against a low-pressure cold front over the Gulf of Mexico. In the upper atmosphere, the cold front, known as a trough, proved stronger than forecasters anticipated. As the hurricane pushed north it bumped into the trough and, as a state meteorologist put it, "Charley ducked under."
I evacuated. Can I go home?
Probably, but it depends where you live. Pinellas, Pasco and Citrus lifted their evacuation orders Friday. Hillsborough and Hernando were still waiting Friday night, worried about people taking to roads with potential tropical-storm force winds still in the area. Their evacuation orders probably will be lifted by today.
Will I get my mail?
Delivery resumes today in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.
Is TIA back in business?
Tampa International Airport will slowly resume business late this morning. Parking reopens at 6 a.m. A few flights are scheduled to take off after 10 a.m. Call your airline, not the airport, for more details.
What about public transportation?
Amtrak canceled all trains in and out of Florida for today. The company hopes to resume some train service Sunday. Check schedules online at www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. Greyhound canceled buses in and out of Florida on Friday. The company will evaluate the situation early this morning. Check for updates at www.greyhound.com
HARTLine stopped emergency bus service Friday morning and had not decided when service would resume. A decision is expected Sunday.
President Bush declared a major disaster in Florida. What does that mean?
Home- and business-owners who suffered damage in Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties can apply for federal grants and loans through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property and other programs. More counties could be added to the list as damage estimates are tallied.
My furniture and carpet are soaked. What should I do?
Wet upholstered furniture resting on carpet should be elevated or moved to a covered patio or carport to dry. If upholstery was soaked, rent a machine to extract the water. Wet draperies and area rugs should be taken outdoors to dry. Soaked wall-to-wall carpeting should be lifted up and the padding removed; it acts like a sponge. Get rid of the padding and rent a special vacuum to extract water from the carpet.
My car flooded. What should I do?
Don't start it. Wait to have it towed to a mechanic.
If it was built after the late 1980s, the mechanic should check out the engine management system, the computer black box that controls most functions.
The exhaust system and brakes may need attention. If water entered the brake fluid system, the brakes could fail. The oil pan is the lowest part of the engine, and water may have seeped into it; change the oil and filter.
If water got into the interior, remove all carpeting and let it dry thoroughly. Leaving damp carpeting inside could lead to rust problems years down the road. Most car insurance covers flood damage. If the water reaches the dashboard, your insurance company probably will declare the car a total loss.
I need a repairman. How do I avoid getting ripped off?
Don't hire the stranger who shows up with a chain saw offering to help clear your damaged property or repair your roof or windows. If you sustained major damage, your insurance company will want the damage appraised and the work authorized. Take pictures before work is done. Make temporary repairs to avoid further damage. Keep receipts for your insurance claim.
Don't pay in cash. Don't pay in full before the work begins. Beware the guy who wants cash so he can run to the home center for supplies.
Contractors need a state or county license. Don't sign a contract until you see a license and references. Get a completion date, cost of materials and permit fees in writing. Don't make final payment until all work is completed. Remember, Florida law gives you a three-day right to cancel a home improvement or repair contract that involves financing.
Report dubious commercial practices to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free at 1-800-HELP-FLA. Report price gouging toll-free at 1-800-646-0444.
How do I make an insurance claim?
Find your insurance papers and your adjuster's phone number. Report damage to your insurance company immediately. Make emergency repairs and document the damage and repairs in writing, with receipts and with photos.
The state Department of Financial Services storm line, toll-free 1-800-227-8676, will operate through the weekend.
What basic precautions should I take today?
Don't go outside barefoot or in flip-flops. Yards and streets may have broken glass, nails and sharp debris.
Keep pets inside or on a short leash outside. They easily can become disoriented in flooded areas. Snakes and wild animals may seek shelter in your yard from flood water or wind.
Treat downed power, cable or phone lines as if they were energized and dangerous. Stay at least 20 feet away. Metal fences, ponds or standing water may be energized by lines touching them.
If you must cook on a grill, cook outside, never in the house or garage. Never burn charcoal inside.
Don't inspect your home at night. Wait until daylight. If your home looks unsafe, it probably is. Enter carefully.
With so many National Guardsmen and reservists in Iraq, are any left to help here?
Even with deployments overseas, more than 9,000 National Guard soldiers are available. In four months after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Florida National Guard activated about 5,000 soldiers but never used more than about 3,000 at any given time.
My roof is gone. Are shelters still open?
Yes. How long they stay open will be decided on a county-by-county basis. Call your county's emergency management agency for more information.
What should I do if power is out?
Notify your electric utility (Progress Energy, toll-free 1-800-228-8485; Tampa Electric, toll-free 1-800-223-0800). Do not follow up with repeated phone calls for the status of power restoration efforts.
Without power, will refrigerated food last?
Food in a full freezer will stay frozen for about two days. Food in a half-full freezer will stay frozen for about one day. Perishable foods in the refrigerator that have been kept above 40 degrees for more than two hours should be thrown out. Cover the freezer with blankets, but be sure to keep the air vent uncovered. Food will stay cold four to six hours.
Based on reporting by staff writers Wes Allison, Anna Elsenpeter, Bridget Hall Grumet, Louis Hau, Joni James, Curtis Krueger, Craig Pittman, Michael Sandler, Judy Stark, Letitia Stein, Bill Varian and Sharon Kennedy Wynne and on information from the Miami Herald.
