Photo Technology Director is working with a team of Times reporters and photographers as they get in place to cover the expected landfall of Hurricane Frances on Florida's east coast.
By JACK ROWLAND, Times staff writer
Published September 3, 2004
[Times staff]
Jack Rowland
September 2, 2004
Lines of cars crawl along two-lane roads past broken trees, flooded fields and shattered lives. Roofing crews work desperately to finish their tasks. Super Wal-Mart parking lots filled with frenzied refugees and shocked survivors seem to appear every 10 miles. A Toys R US store with only the "R" left in its sign looks lonely and abandoned. A paneled station wagon with sheets of plywood balanced on top, held only by thin strands of twine, drives by with a sense of urgency.
These were some of the scenes Times staffer Debbie Wolfe and I saw Thursday as we were driving to pick up two rented 38-foot motorhomes that will serve as mobile newsrooms for our coverage of Hurricane Frances. Where were we? Punta Gorda? No, we were driving through Bartow, Lake Wales and Haines City on our way to Kissimmee. The damage wrought by Hurricane Charley in these small towns is significant but it hasn't received as much attention as the damage in Charlotte County. I have a feeling that's about to change, however, because, sadly, these Polk County towns are about to be hit again by another churning water monster.
It took us more than five hours to get to Kissimmee. We heard I-4 was jammed with traffic so we intentionally avoided it. I spoke my share of frustrated, magic words as we slowly worked our way northeast through small towns Barney Fife would have been proud to call home. Afterward, though, I was glad we took the scenic route. This may sound weird but seeing those roofers up there working so hard in the wake of Charley and in the face of Frances, knowing their effort may be futile, conveyed a strong sense of hope and conviction. I mean here these folks are, slaving away to repair a roof that likely will be destroyed again in about 48 hours. You just have to admire their courage and spirit.
We arrived back in Tampa Bay with the two motorhomes around midnight. On Friday we'll get them stocked with food, water and supplies before driving to a staging area where we will wait out the storm. Then we'll head to ground zero to lend support to the Times journalists who are already in place on the east coast.
In good weather, driving these 38-foot beasts is an adventure. Now we just have get there, wherever "there" is, as fast as we can without getting into high winds. Timing will be the key.
