[We didn't think we'd be posting any more of these hurricane dispatches; we were wrong. Lawrence Walters, who runs the East Coast office of the law firm Weston, Garrou and DeWitt, has again generously agreed to provide us with periodic reports from his home, which appears to be in the direct path of Jeanne, a very powerful storm that's moved onshore and as of almost 7:00 a.m. EST is still packing hurricane force winds and rain. - ed.]
6:45pm EST ...
I feel like Bill Murray on "Groundhog Day." Every time I wake up, the same Weatherman is pointing to a swirling mass of destruction headed straight for my house. Florida has taken on the look of a battleground, of debris scattered up and down streets and vacant land throughout the state, serving as a constant reminder of the death and destruction that has plagued our area since August. Not since the 1800's have 4 hurricanes hit any state in the same season, and that was in Texas. Floridians had become complacent in response to the serious warnings regularly offered by the stern-faced weathermen who enjoyed the limelight each Hurricane Season. So many false alarms, and very little action.
That all changed forever this year. Never again will Floridians take Hurricane Warnings for granted. As we brace for the 4th in a series of deadly storms, most of us here in Florida have become pro's at battening down the hatches. Plywood goes up on the windows in a matter of hours. Gas tanks are filled well in advance, and generators are tuned up for their inevitable work providing emergency power for those in the path of the storm, who are virtually guaranteed to suffer days of power outages. Hurricane Jeanne might be the most dangerous of all the storms...the power of Charley, and the size of Frances. 1150 people have lost their lives
Those of us in the adult industry in Florida are growing concerned about the ability to bounce back from the tremendous business interruption we've all suffered. The Internet industry is global, of course, yet Mother Nature has provided a stark reminder of how geography really does matter. Hosts have lost power, thereby shutting down all traffic dependent on their facilities. Content producers have been hampered in their efforts to attract models to Florida given the regular threats of dangerous weather. Florida Webmasters dependent on support services from hosts, content producers and yes, even attorneys, have lost valuable time in their efforts to keep up with the competition. It has been weeks since our office has accepted any new clients, despite daily inquiries.
Despite these setbacks, most in the industry continue to be understanding and helpful. We'll never get back the time that our competition had but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We're a resilient bunch, and despite these trying times, we'll pull through. I wish my fellow Floridians well in the coming dangerous hours.
Updates to follow depending on power...
