While I had the opportunity, here's a couple of crazy stories I came across during Frances:

During WFLA's continuing coverage Sunday, one of their photogs was shooting at a convenience store in Polk or Highlands County --- I'm not sure which --- during a time when the cops were off the streets (winds 45+ sustained). This person comes up to the front door of the mom-and-pop store, breaks the glass on the front door, unaware there was a TV camera shooting, takes some items, and makes a getaway. The photog calls 911, and a police car comes and investigates after the culprit had gotten away. Then, shortly after the police leave and the NewsChannel 8 cameraman continues filming, ANOTHER looter comes, takes some smokes, and escapes. Minutes lates, A THIRD looter starts to enter, but sees he's being taped. He approaches the photog and threatens him. The cameraman packs up, but not before calling 911. The schmuck gets picked up and is in the county jail. Three people total are arrested as a result.

There was also tape on one of the stations of a scene, I believe on the east coast, of an SUV driving down a flooded street, pulling along a boogie boarder.

My favorite, though, is the story I mentioned in a previous post of a situation Thursday along I-4 while the freeway was packed with evacuees from the coast attempting to escape the approaching hurricane, only to be halted in Orange County by two 18-wheelers stopped in the middle of the interstate while their drivers were dukin' it out. The OCSD Chief Deputy, who happened upon the scene, would have arrested the two of them, but considering the situation of a backed up freeway simply ordered the combatants to get back in their rigs and move on.

The sun's actually trying to peep out from the clouds now.