The ham radio reports from many of the shelters across Polk County note a mass exodus of evacuees, although the all clear is not expected to be officially given until tomorrow morning, and shelter managers are being urged to encourage people to at least wait until 6:00 PM before leaving. However, those choosing to leave may do so. And they are advised that the county has imposed a dusk-to-darn curfew for those areas which do not have electricity.

It really looks as though the worst of this storm has ended for us. While we may continue to get plenty of rain and gusts of wind over the next several hours, it should be nowhere near what was originally expected...about what you would expect from a normal summer thunderstorm.

The coastal counties around Tampa/St. Petersburg will be hit harder as Frances enters the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters, allowing it to regenerate as it moves toward the Panhandle.

Aside from some scattered tree limbs and shingles from the buildings, there was no significant damage here at my apartment complex. As with Charley, we didn't even have a break in electric or cable service, as the lines are underground within the complex. Apparantly there was some sporadic damage across Lakeland/Polk County, but nowhere near what happened three weeks ago. By the time Frances reached Polk, it had weakened significantly.

We will probably hear more, though, as people move out and about more.