Visioning Lottery winner Parsons dance page 4A pageiB page 1C AUGUST 4,1995 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 31 island 3 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES rin go blah Errant Erin fools forecasters; Islanders breathe easy By Mark S. Krzos StaffWriter In the end, Hurricane Erin's punch packed less than last weekend's unexpected rainfall. After initial Path of forecasts putting Sanibel and Lee County in Erin's direct path, the- storm made a jiggle to the north and Tropical Storm/ Hurricane Erin spared the islands the brunt of the storm. (Sunday, July SO—Thursday, Aug. 3) Left in Erin's wake, however, are statistics that might keep the adrenaline pumping as much as Monday and Tuesday's weather reports. According to the city's weather consultant Bill Zeliff, July has been one of the most active Julys this century for hurricanes. "This is only the second time this century where Red indicates course. White Indicates predicted coarse four named storms appeared in July," Zeliff said. "Storms Allison, Barry, Chantal, Dean and Erin have all made an appearance in July." The last time there were four named storms in the . -please see page 2A Islands prepared for worst ease By Matthew Miller StaffWriter , The theme of the lecture would have been "Evacuation," a seminar conducted by Commander Janet Cali of the Sanibel Police Department Wednesday morning at the Sanibel Library. Ironically Shell art on display however, Cali had to cancel her hurricane preparation TT meeting to prepare for a hurricane. it • For many long hours in the beginning of the week, , t most on the islands were bracing for the worst—a •\ *• •-•, •please see page 2A k Weekend rains worse than storm By Mark S. Krzos StaffWriter As islanders got word of a tropical depression over the Lesser Antilles last weekend, many felt they would have days to prepare for a possible hurricane. But as it turned out, the sunny skies over Sanibel early Saturday morning turned into dark ominous storm clouds. By noon on Saturday the skies dark- The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum currently has a special exhibit entitled "Shells in ened to a charcoal colored gray and proceeded to the Arts." Pieces such as this by Ethelyn Hurd Woodlock are on display through October. dump nearly six inches of rain on the island through- For the full story, please see page 1C. •please see page 11A 2A Q AUGUST 4,1995 • ISLAND REPORTER -ERIN "On Saturday, we were unable to close roads and most islanders who kept a close eye on the storm as •from page 1A reroute traffic because other roads were just as flood- they enjoyed one of the most beautiful days in weeks. month of July was in 1966. And, according to the Lee ed as Periwinkle was," Castle said. The sun was hot, very little humidity and a steady County Office of Emergency Management, there Late Monday afternoon Friends of Service Here breeze that made the entire day a delight. have been only four other years in which there were (FISH) an organization designed to take care of the According to City Manager Gary Price, when the five named storms by Aug. 1. In those four years, the elderly and disabled began evacuating Sanibel, as did weather forecast called for a beautiful day across average number of named storms was 15. nearly 650,000 residents and visitors along the east- Southwest Florida, the members of FISH returned to We haven't even seen the busiest part of the hurri- ern coast of the state. Sanibel Tuesday morning after being notified that cane season yet, Zeliff said. Zeliff predicted Tuesday Erin was on course to Erin was on a more northwesterly route. "Mid-August to late September are the most active make landfall in northern Dade county and should Coordinator of FISH's hurricane program Abe months for hurricanes," Zeliff said. "Hurricane sea- pass over the state and exit south of Fort Myers. Lerner said when it became obvious Erin was going son ends on Nov. 30." "A lot of different things can determine where a to miss Sanibel, FISH members were notified that it Erin was 1995's second Atlantic hurricane. storm like this can go," Zeliff said Tuesday. "Right was safe to return home. Hurricane Allison hit the Florida coastline on June 5, now we're just watching where this storm will go Later Tuesday afternoon, Sanibel and Lee County making it the earliest recorded hurricane to hit next." were declared out of harm's way as the National Florida. Allison arrived five days after the start of the As Gov. Lawton Chiles declared a state of emer- Weather Service said a hurricane watch was reduced Atlantic hurricane season. gency for south Florida late afternoon Tuesday', to a tropical storm warning for Lee County. Erin made landfall near Vero Beach at 2 a.m. Sanibel residents were making preparations. But that didn't mean the rest of the state was out of Wednesday packing winds of 85 mph with gusts "We don't want to make the same mistake we did danger and by 8 p.m. the hurricane's outer edge reaching just over 100 mph. during Andrew," said Miami attorney Tom Foulds, dumped nearly a foot of rain near Vero Beach and The storm continued on its path across the state while stocking up on groceries at Bailey's General soaked the streets of Palm Beach County to Brevard Wednesday morning, with the eye passing directly Store. "But this one doesn't seem to be as threatening County. over Disney World. Erin was then downgraded to a as Andrew." On Tuesday night, the storm was blamed for at tropical storm soon after it made landfall and exited By 11 p.m. Monday night, Tropical Storm Erin least five deaths in the Caribbean and forecasters esti- the state in Hemando County near Bayport. became Hurricane Erin after sustained winds reached mated Erin's path would only bring two to three inch- As the storm swept into the gulf Wednesday after- 75 mph. es of rain to the Lee County area instead of the pre- noon, forecasters set their sights on what Erin might Tuesday morning, Erin picked up speed with sus- dicted five to 10 inches. do next. tained winds reaching 80 mph and gusts nearing 90 Erin finally made landfall at 2 a.m. Wednesday According to Zeliff, Tropical Storm Erin gained mph. along the coast of Vero Beach. Once the storm made strength over the warm gulf waters and is expected to Local emergency management officials told resi- landfall, it was almost immediately downgraded to a make landfall near the Florida—Alabama border. dents in low-lying areas and coastal zones that have tropical storm. Erin's rains dropped only two inches on the island already experienced flooding to prepare for five to 10 By Wednesday morning forecasters predicted Erin Wednesday, compared to the seven plus inches that more inches of rain. would exit the state north of Tampa and again make sopped Sanibel Saturday and Sunday. By 8 a.m. Tuesday, Erin was moving to the north- landfall on the Florida Panhandle either as a tropical Assistant City Manager Bill Mills said the city of west at 13 mph and forcasted to make landfall in storm or a weak hurricane. Sanibel began taking preliminary preparations for the northern Broward County and expected to exit Assistant City Manager Mills said the city of tropical storm Monday. Its course was then unknown between Bradenton and Tampa. Sanibel was ready for the worst. and it was expected to gather strength. In preparation Local businesses began boarding up their windows "We were ready to go," Mills said. "But Bill Zeliff of more rain, the city kept both weirs open. during the mid-morning hours Tuesday, and emergen- had the storm pegged from early on. He knew that the "We're trying to get as much water off the island cy shelters opened early in expectation of a migration storm wasn't going to pose much of a threat to before the storm as possible," Mills said Monday. of residents to last throughout the day. Sanibel and advised us from the start where the storm City Engineer Gates Castle said the Sanibel Public By 11 a.m. Tuesday morning Erin had an increased was headed." Works Department also began preparations early wind velocity of 85 mph. Last week Erin formed as a tropical wave off the Monday morning. Zeliff was now. predicting that Erin would make coast of Africa and became a tropical depression as it "We began our preparation by filling our trucks up landfall near Fort Pierce and exit near Tarpon moved over the Lesser Antilles, and intensifying north with barricades, loaded gas cans and chainsaws," Springs. of Puerto Rico. On Sunday, July 30, Erin became a Castle said. On Sanibel Tuesday, it was business as usual for tropical storm when winds exceeded 60 mph. According to Castle, the chainsaws are to remove downed trees blocking roadways. Castle expected Periwinkle Way to be in the same -PREPARATION condition it was in last Saturday—flooded. •from page 1A caution was foresight for the possible aftermath. knockout blow from Hurricane Erin. "By using only one station, we prevent the entire Weather But by Wednesday morning, it was evident the system from blowing if the hurricane were to hit," High Low islands had safely escaped the path of another hurri- Isler explained, "leaving water for the time after the hit." July 27 86 74 cane. July 28 92 71 Since then, Hurricane Erin crossed the state and Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) pre- July 29 84 73 left the barrier islands free of danger.