At the time I lived in a sub-division where the homes were all 10 to 12 years old. Many of the larger existing trees were left in place. For example, all the large oaks in the creek bed (wet-land) behind my home which blew onto the house. However most of the underground gas lines were destroyed by root systems of hard-wood trees pulling up gas lines outside my neighborhood which stopped the distribution into our neighborhood. Most of these gas lines were in place for over 20 years in rights of way, etc. This also brings up a story of why I dislike cable companies so much. Our cable was out for 10 days. When I called to get a credit for the cable, they said they are only giving three days credit. I demanded 10 days credit, and they said if you didn't have any electricity for 11 days then how do you know your cable was out for 10 days. "Well I have a F@cken generator," I told them -- frustrated at having to go through 15 calls already to them. Eventually the state attorney general forced Time Warner Cable to give proper refunds for days without service after complaints from across the state.
We made it baby. Gusts of 100 that felt like a freight train and this storm was like 130 miles from us at the eyes closest point fucking nuts, still no power. Coconut grove smells like egg from the surge. Some yachts piled up at the marina. This was the longest storm I have ever experienced. About 19 hours in totality from tropical to hurricane force winds. Let me try to posts pictures of the boats
Glad you came through ElC. If the storm hadn't come on shore in the Ft Myers area, Tampa would have been wiped clean. But it did and weakened dramatically and we ended up getting through unscathed.