Island Dunes Neighbors

Wilma Update - Sunday Oct. 30

2005-10-31T00:32:00.000-07:00

Good news! The power is back on. As of Sunday night, we have power again. Mimi and John Rozek report that the power is now on, although the air conditioning is not working yet. Here's their report:

The cooling towers on the roof were damaged--so no Air Conditioning until the repairs are complete. Don't know when. Weather is very comfortable, so this is not much of a problem. Cable is still not working. Aside from the hurricane, we are losing our tennis pro--Carlos. He has decided to take a job selling insurance. He is a big loss to those of us that enjoy tennis. His last day is tomorrow.

Thanks Mimi and John for the report. It's very helpful for those of us who are thinking of visiting.

Wilma Update - Friday Oct. 28, 2005

2005-10-28T22:40:00.000-06:00

Still no power for the buildings, and no update from FPL as to when we might get power.

There's a good picture of our complex on the TCPalm website. Follow this link:
http://web.tcpalm.com/photos/2005/10/28/readersphotos/

and look at picture #12

Wilma Update - Wednesday Oct. 26 2005

2005-10-26T10:39:00.000-06:00

Here we go again. I have some news from Barbara today. Many of the units have water penetration due to the wind-driven rain. Units have been checked, and those with serious water penetration are being contacted. Many units are only a little damp, and owners are not being contacted if that is the case.
There is no power on yet, and there are some indications it may be as long as two or three weeks before it's back on.
There was damage to the landscaping, but not as severe as last year. The dunes seem to still be in place.
That's all I know for now. If anyone knows any more, or has pictures, please contact me

Update - Island Dunes Oceanside I-- Thursday, Oct. 28

2004-10-28T19:07:00.000-06:00

For those who may not have gotten the email from Barbara, here's the text of a message from association president Gerry Long:

Dear Unit Owner,
This is another update on the condition of the property and our restoration efforts. Significant progress has been made in the past few weeks. Major cleanup efforts of both the building and grounds are completed, and demolition of the damaged common areas of the building is almost complete. Blowing sand continues to be a problem.
New water pumps and temporary roof vents have been installed, a temporary dunewalk is in place, the fire alarm system and mailboxes are on order, a line of credit has been established, and progress is being made repairing the individual units that were damaged.
The board has approved North American Resource Group, Inc., as our general contractor. They have had an engineer and representatives of their various subcontractors on site within the past few days, and detailed cost estimates are being developed.
The dune has been rebuilt, but will be vulnerable until vegetation is in place. No firm date for planting has been set because water cannot be provided by the country club for at least two weeks. After that, the irrigation system will have to be tested and repaired. The POA is pursuing alternative methods of providing water to the dunes. As I stated in my last letter, no ground floor building restoration will begin until protective vegetation is in place.
Good news – the golf course will open on Monday, November 1st. It will play quite differently because of the loss of trees and other vegetation, and no irrigation is available. However, it will be great to have it back. The country club pool may also open within a week.
Our staff continues to perform exceptionally well under difficult circumstances. I will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,
Gerry Long

Update - Oceanside I-- Friday, Oct. 22

2004-10-22T11:03:00.000-06:00

Some updates on Oceanside I:

Most of the demolition work in the common areas has been completed. The damaged equipment and wallboard has been removed. Areas exposed to the outside have been boarded up, and the interior work areas are also boarded up. The storage rooms have been completely gutted, and are cleaned and ready for rebuilding. However, no rebuilding will be started on any of the lower areas until the dunes are stabilized and we can have some assurance the areas will not be flooded again (see the related posting below). Repairs are, however, in progress for all units that were damaged in the storms.

There will be a board meeting next Tuesday night to approve a general contractor for the building for all future repairs. Please plan to attend if you are in town.

2004-10-22T11:01:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- View from the lobby into the social room

2004-10-22T11:00:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- The social room kitchen

2004-10-22T10:58:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- View of the South storage room, from the social room

2004-10-22T10:57:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- North storage room

2004-10-22T10:38:00.000-06:00

Oct. 21 -- Parking lot in front of Oceanside I

Island Dunes Update -- Friday, Oct. 22

2004-10-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

Some general updates:

The POA has made good progress getting the grounds cleaned up as much as possible. The dirt and sand have been cleaned up from the parking lots and common areas. A temporary dune walk is being built and will be completed in a few more days.

The pools will not be ready for some time. One pool needs some repairs, and sand from the exposed dunes continues to blow into the area, so the pools cannot be refilled at this time. The board is looking into the possibility of some fencing or netting that could keep the sand from blowing into the area.

There are plans to re-vegetate the dunes, but this work can not be started until the irrigation system is in place. The irrigation system, is turn, is waiting for repairs to be made to the water reclamation plant which is on the country club property. Some bad news -- we are expecting rough seas with 5 to 6 foot waves this weekend. Let's hope our barren dunes can withstand the onslaught!

Island Dunes Country Club - Friday, Oct. 22

2004-10-22T10:01:00.000-06:00

Here's a brief update on the situation with the country club:

The paved tennis courts and the Fairways restaurant are the only facilities open at this time. The restaurant is open daily for dinner.

The clay tennis courts, swimming pool, and golf course are still closed while restoration plans are being worked on.

There will be a board meeting and workshop next Thursday to discuss plans and a timetable for all the work that needs to be done. Expect a formal communication to all residents from the board in early November.

Restoration News -- Sunday, Oct. 17

2004-10-17T10:44:00.000-06:00

Two interesting articles on condominium and beach restoration:

> Loss of sand leaves beaches, homes at risk

> Owners assess condo repairs

2004-10-17T09:45:00.000-06:00

We still have our sunsets!

Update - Island Dunes -- Sunday, Oct. 17

2004-10-17T09:29:00.000-06:00

To all:
Sorry if my updates are getting fewer and farther between. We have returned to our home in Colorado, so I'm relying on input from others to get the latest news. Most owners probably have their own sources of information by now anyway, but I'm glad I was able to fill a gap for those didn't during the early days of these hurricanes. I'll continue to post updates on the progress of restoration activities as often as possible, so stay tuned. I'm also going to have some follow-up information on what's being done to try to get "permanent" dune restoration going, as well as beach renourishment.

Here's some news from Cindy Flood:

The POA at Oceanside I and II got a lot done this week. I don't know all the details, but I noticed that there was lots of scraping and cleaning of the parking lot. The car wash was turned on at the south end of the parking lot. A stop sign was posted at the exit by the guardhouse. We are all lucky to have Doug Smith and the POA board doing such a great job for us.

Oceanside II: Plywood doors were put up to block off the social area. Now the workers can work without worrying about the safety of the residents. All of the cages have been dismantled and removed. The walkway to the bike room was shoveled out. The bike room survived in great shape.

2004-10-13T11:54:00.000-06:00

Some good cleanup progress at Oceanside II

Update - Oceanside II-- Wednesday, Oct. 13

2004-10-13T11:44:00.000-06:00

Update from Cindy Flood:

Oceanside II now has all of the trash and debris removed from the portico. The sand has been shoveled out and the area has been swept and hosed down. The crew also cleaned the catwalks on all of the floors today. The POA had crews cleaning the parking lot. Joanne was back in the office, but she still does not have phone service restored. Hill/York worked on the A/C units again today and we will reset A/C units Wednesday morning.

Important Notice From Marian Ream!!

Due to all the hurricane damage, the storage lockers on the ground floor both in the North and South Locker areas will have to be removed and replaced when renovation takes place. Anything that is in or above the lockers must be removed by this Friday, October 15. Unfortunately, most of the items in all of the storage bins will or has been discarded because of mold and mildew as a result of the water damage. We are planning on having a storage bin for some of the salvageable items but there is no guarantee what the items will be like as a result of being stored.

All of the work in the storage locker area must be completed before we can finally power wash and sanitize the ground floor. Please bear with us regarding this work as it is necessary before we can proceed restoring our building.

If anyone is removing items for friends, please do not place them on the balconies as we are having the balconies cleaned and this will only create more sand and dirt on the walkways and in the elevators.

Thank you for your cooperation.

*Please note that mold and mildew can be very infectious to some people. Please take special care when dealing with the exposed items.

2004-10-09T21:55:00.000-06:00

Optimisim abounds! Things are returning to normal already!

Update - Island Dunes Oceanside II-- Saturday, Oct. 09

2004-10-09T21:30:00.000-06:00

The following update and picture comes from Cindy Flood:

I just thought everyone would be happy to see some great progress. The sand has all been removed from most of the first floor. The lobby is shiny and bright (well compared to last week!) and we are all set to start mail delivery.
Cindy

2004-10-09T21:29:00.000-06:00

Oceanside II Lobby -- 10/9/04

Update -- Oceanside I -- Saturday, Oct. 09

2004-10-09T08:37:00.000-06:00

Gerry Long, association president, sent out the following update via email. I'm repeating it here in case some people are not on the email list. To get on the email list, contact Barbara Blanchard at islanddunes1@adelphia.net

Dear Unit Owner,

In order to keep you informed and help you plan, we will periodically send information on the condition of the property and our restoration plans. Our top priority is the safety and security of the owners and the building. We are currently working on restoration of damaged units, replacement of the fire alarm system and roof vents, new water pumps, electrical repairs, debris removal, and many other requirements.

Adjusters from our insurance companies and FEMA have been working with us and letting us know what we need to do to support our claims. The estimating process will require significant effort; we will try to compress the timeframe as much as possible.

At this point I cannot give you an estimate of our loss or the assessments required to cover it; however, I can say our deductible on the hurricane policy is approximately $320,000. Please remember that we will have additional financial responsibilities, such as content loss that may exceed FEMA limits. The board will be seeking a line of credit of $500,000 to be used only as necessary. The POA and Country Club will also have to develop estimates for our portion of their losses.

Restoration of our common areas will not begin until the dune is stabilized and vegetation is in place. Hopefully, planting can begin in a few weeks. We are working with contractors to assure that work schedules are as aggressive as possible.

For your planning purposes, I want to emphasize that this is basically a construction site with no amenities. There are no social, game, or exercise rooms, no pools, spa, or dunewalk. We have a number of contractors and pieces of heavy equipment on site. Therefore, the area is not conducive to relaxation and, for safety reasons, is certainly not a place for children.

As soon as project schedules are developed, I will share them with you. We will once again have the best condominium on the island, but it is going to take a great deal of time and resources to accomplish that task.
Sincerely,

Gerry Long

2004-10-09T08:28:00.000-06:00

New temporary dune -- looking south

2004-10-09T08:27:00.000-06:00

New temporary dune -- looking north

2004-10-09T08:26:00.000-06:00

Oceanside II

2004-10-09T08:24:00.000-06:00

Pool area

2004-10-09T08:18:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- anyone want to buy some slightly used recreation equipment?

2004-10-09T08:16:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- our once-beautiful entryway

2004-10-09T08:15:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I -- Wall between the south storage room and the social room

2004-10-09T08:13:00.001-06:00

Our pools

2004-10-09T08:13:00.000-06:00

Common area cleanup

2004-10-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

The new view from the social room

Update -- Oceanside II Thursday, Oct. 7

2004-10-08T00:52:00.000-06:00

I visited the Oceanside II building today and talked to Cindy Flood - a resident, and Marian Ream - wife of the association president Chuck. Both indicated that good progress is being made, although there is a lot to do. One elevator is working, and there is power and water to all units.

The damage to the building seemed to be similar to what we experienced in Bldg. I, with the social room, lobby, and exercise rooms completely blown out by the storm surge. The north storage lockers were completely destroyed, and the south lockers were damaged by about 2 feet of water and sand. Everything will need to be removed from storage and the rooms rebuilt. Temporary walls are being put in place so that the office can be set up again by Monday. Contractors have been in and building supplies are being put in place so that reconstruction can begin soon.

The primary concern right now is clearing the grounds and pushing the sand from the parking lots and lawn back to the beach to reconstruct the dunes. We need to have protective dunes in place (for both buildings) before investing in repairs to the lobby level, or the first storm will flood the area again. Also critical for both buildings is to seal up the back walls on the lower level. Both buildings have a clear view of the beach from the lobby, and are exposed to the elements.

Chuck and Marian have sent out letters to all owners detailing progress. Marian also has an email address that you can reach her on. If you send her you're email address, she will create a master list to send out additional update information. Her address is marianream@aol.com.

Cindy and Ozine Hemperley have been working hard as volunteers to help with the recovery. Today they were checking the interior of all units to look for damage. If any issues are found, you will be notified. (If you don't hear anything -- that's a good thing!).

The following update comes from Cindy Flood:

We are making tremendous progress considering the fact that we lack a building manager. Chuck and Marian Ream are working very hard for us. Things have really turned around this week. If anyone wants info on Oceanside II, feel free to have them call me at 800-247-4862.

Regards,

Cindy Flood
cindyflood@earthlink.net

Update - Island Dunes Oceanside I-- Monday, Oct. 04

2004-10-05T00:54:00.000-06:00

Donna Draper provides this update:

We spent a few hours at Island Dunes yesterday. The building above the first floor looks fine except for 1401 which must not have secured the shutters very well. There may be a couple of others that have minor damage, dents, etc., but overall our building looks OK. Sunday it was quiet and nobody was really around. The parking lot has a couple of cars sideways and is dirty, so the entry looks far less inviting that it did! "Kinda napalmed" as my husband puts it. We went through Andrew in Miami, and it looks very much the same but this is not as bad. The good news is that things really do return to normal; it just takes time...and money.

The first floor common area is pretty much blown out and all torn up but has been cleared of most of the mud and sand. The surge took out the wall to the south storage area (mine) and bent the cages in that first row. There must have been at least 2 ft. of wet sand and water in both storage area cages at one point. The north storage area is still wet and muddy but the floor is visible. You can walk in there but will get muddy feet. Upon entry to the lobby, there is a lovely breeze coming through the social room and a clear shot of the beach. It would be wonderful were it not for all the destruction that first meets your eyes.

All power was on yesterday but there is a "use at your own risk" sign in the elevators. The pools are cleared out with huge mounds of sand all around the edges. The little room where they store the patio furniture is full of sand. Nevertheless, it is apparent that there has been lots of work going on in Bldg. 1 in comparison with Bldg. 2 which is a disaster on the first floor. They also have more damage to shutters and balconies it looks like. We are lucky in that regard, and I think Ted and Barbara as well as others have been working hard.

Basically, it looks like we are undergoing a massive renovation, which we are--just not elected, I guess, and we can only assume that "special assessment" is coming down the pike to cover the deductible.

They were checking ID at the Stuart bridge and again at the entry to St. Lucie county, so bring an electric bill in case they're still there.

Donna

Update - Island Dunes Oceanside I-- Friday, Oct. 01

2004-10-02T14:30:00.000-06:00

More progress -- Elevators, A/C, and water are all working. A unit-by-unit inspection is taking place to determine if there is any damage. As of Friday, all units on levels 14 through 9 have been completed. The rest should be done today. Owners will be contacted if there is any damage noted in their units. If you don't get contacted, that's a good thing!

The storage areas need to be completely emptied due to the water damage there. Every owner needs to make arrangements to empty their storage locker -- either personally or through a third party. Gerry Long has sent out a letter to all owners regarding this matter, a part of which I've pasted below.

Please note: Barbara has a master email list of Oceanside I residents. If you have not gotten any emails from her, it means you are not on the list. To get on the list, email her at islanddunes1@adelphia.net and give her your name and unit number.

The following update is from Barbara:

Hi,
We now have electric, water, AC, and the elevators are working (AMEN). Attached is a copy of a letter written by Gerry Long that went out to all owners today.

We are temporarily set up in unit 206 as unit 103 had sand come into their unit. Thanks to both the Ripper's and the Monin's for letting us use their unit for the office. That was so thoughtful of both couples to do that. These are convenient units as they are on the lower floors.

Take care!

Barb

Part of Gerry Long's letter:

One common problem that requires your immediate attention is the storage cages on the ground floor. The contents were damaged by water and mud. The FEMA adjuster said they would have to be removed and redone.

For safety and health reasons we must take action on getting rid of the material in the storage area. Some owners have been notified that their property was so badly effected it had to be scrapped as the sand and mud was removed. The rest of you must take action to remove your property prior to October 11, 2004 or it will be scrapped as it poses a health threat from mold formation and severely limits our ability to restore the building. Your loss should be covered by your personal insurance so you will want to file a claim as soon as possible.

Update -- Regency - Friday Oct.1

2004-10-02T14:15:00.000-06:00

The following update is from Charlyn.

Please note: Charlyn is compiling an email list of all Regency Residents. If you have not been receiving email updates from her, it means you are not on her list. To get on, email Charlyn at Flwz41@aol.com and give her your name, building, and unit number.

Hi to all. We got back this afternoon. Dick and Barbara Janes did, also. I think we are the only two who have returned.

The elevators are still out in both buildings, with possible service for them - middle of next week. Walking up in the hot stairwells is tough, but it's so good to be home.

The A/C system for the elevator lobbies in Bldg. I will take about 6 weeks. The A/C for the cabana has been approved and is ordered, but will be about two weeks before that is done.

We are under a "boil water" alert. That's a nuisance, but still not a big one, when you look at the "whole" picture. Some of the buildings on the Island are just being razed. They are not even repairable.

There have been so many pictures sent already, I haven't given much thought to walking down to do that yet. It took three loads just to get essentials back up to our place.

Charlyn

Admiral - Regency - Oceanside -- More Pictures!

2004-09-30T17:38:00.000-06:00

Pictures of all buildings are now available. The following information comes from Derek Markey:

I have up-dated the website with photos of the Admiral, Oceanside 1 & 2 and the Regency. Due to the increased photos, the site is running a little slower! Please be patient!

http://www.webspawner.com/users/markey10s/index.html

Respectfully Yours,
Derek Markey

Update - Island Dunes -- Thursday, Sept. 30

2004-09-30T17:30:00.000-06:00

Progress is being made at Oceanside I. Most of the building has water and electricity, and the elevator is running (most of the time). Ted is trying to get the air conditioning running. Much of the cleanup effort has focused on getting the sand out of the lobby and common areas. There was as much as 4 feet of sand in the lobby.

There has not yet been time to go to each unit to assess damage, but they may be able to start on that tomorrow. Several units are known to have damage becasue their shutters were blown in. At least one unit had a window blown in even though the shutters were not damaged! We'll try to get more detailed information out tomorrow.

Update -- Regency - Thursday Sept.30

2004-09-30T17:20:00.000-06:00

Charlyn provides the following update:

Hi, to all. The "bomb" turned out to be a piece of artilliary that was used to practice on our Island during WWII. They removed it and were going to detonate it down the road somewhere. Good thing it didn't blow us up after all good luck we've had surviving the hurricanes.

Pat is going up the roof today to see what condition the A/Cs are in. Then she will make a report to me on that. I know that the central units for Bldg I did not "cure themselves" so they will still be non-functional. Ditto on the elevator in the north tower - Bldg. I.

If the rest of our electrical looks OK, they will start turning on the units, one by one.

I don't have a report on the repairs to the water system. I know that the whole area is under a "boil water" alert, but we can deal with that.

I'll check back later when I know about the water. A meeting is being organized for the "Bldgs. and grounds Committee" to try to devise a "Plan" for restoration. There are just so many issues, i.e. the pool deck, the palm trees, everything............. it will be better to have a good plan to start the recovery process.

Charlyn

Update - Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!

2004-09-30T00:58:00.000-06:00

Juan Bermudez, from Tailers Cove Development LLC, has provided a beautiful set of photo galleries of all of Hutchinson Island. Oceanside I can be seen in the South Hutchinson 1 album, and the Regency can be seen in the South Hutchinson 2 album.

http://www.tailerscove.com/photos/index.php

Update - Regency - Wednesday, Sept. 29

2004-09-29T23:11:00.000-06:00

Charlyn Filewicz provides this update:

Today's news is first, the bomb on the beach. There was, indeed, a bomb uncovered between Bldg. I and Bldg. II. The bulldozer guy nearly had a heart attack, I think. Anyway, the bomb squad was called and everyone had to leave the premises. Pat said they were taking pictures of it. About 1' was sticking out of the ground. She said a news helicopter was circling overhead, taking pictures.

About water. Water is connected to the buildings, but all of our water lines into the buildings are leaking. The leaks must be repaired before we will have water. Hopefully by Friday, the power units will be checked and the main electrical components in the buildings will be tested, THEN the individual units. It will be slow, but methodical.

Barbara Richman said our buildings look good compared to a lot of the others on the Island, so let's be thankful for that.

There have been a lot of "personal" requests for checking specific things in the units. Each person should have a "condo sitter" who is responsible for checking on these things for them. To keep calling Pat to ask Vicki to check these things is taking time away from recovery. There is no power and this means whoever checks these things has to walk up the stairs with a flashlight.

We will addresss all of these things in due time. The first priority now is to get the buildings open and get the A/Cs working to fight the mold problem, which every single building in south Fla. is dealing with.

Charlyn

Update -- The Admiral -- Wednesday, Sept.29

2004-09-29T20:32:00.000-06:00

Jeannie Landl provided this update. She is trying to keep www.the-admiral.com up to date.

This will be brief - - I'm borrowing internet connectivity as I do not have access where Tony & I are staying in St. Lucie West. I was at The Admiral on Monday (Sep. 26) shortly after 5:00pm when A1A from Ft. Pierce was opened. What a shock to see our beautiful island so devastated! The main door to our lobby was blown out as were the windows towards the north & west in the social room. I came back the next day (Tuesday) & today & took pix which you can view at http://community.webshots.com/user/the_admiral100 or go to the Easy Access entry in this guestbook forum & click on the webshots picture. Sorry this is so hurried & unedited but I must run & get back to Tony.
Jeannie

Update -- Regency - Wednesday Sept.29

2004-09-29T20:20:00.000-06:00

A few new reports from Charlyn and Pat:

Just talked to Pat. They bulldozers are on the property. They are pushing the sand back to the dunes??????......FPL is there checking the elec. room and anything else needed. As soon as they finish and the electrical contractor gives us a go, they will start the elec to the bldg.They still don't know if or how the main A/C are doing. As soon as the elec. goes on she will let me know. That is when we will know how all the A/C are doing...both for the common areas and the individual units........more later
....Dick

Well, Barbara Richman just called from the Island. Everything is on hold right now because they found a bomb on the beach - looks like from WWII. I'm not kidding!

They are awaiting the bomb squad, however, I didn't know we had a bomb squad. But, if they can find one, it's coming to check out the bomb.

Pat said hopefully by Friday they will have the power checked and back on for us.
Charlyn

Update - Island Dunes -- Wednesday, Sept. 29

2004-09-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

New pictures from Derek Markey are available on his web site. Go to:

http://www.webspawner.com/users/markey10s/index.html

Also, check his site on Friday, when he plans to post pictures of Oceanside II and The Admiral.

I just spoke to Barbara Blanchard. She is on site and starting the cleanup work. The worst problem is the sand -- it is everywhere. They have a bobcat there today to move sand out of the way. Several units had shutter damage, but they are on the upper floors, and with no elevator service they have not had time to go up and check the damage. 1st floor units seemed to have had water and sand in them.

Ted has gotten water available to lower floors, but until electricity is restored there are no pumps to supply water to the upper floors. Unsure when electricity will be restored, but I understand it is available on the island.

I'll get an additional update at the end of the day today. Stay tuned.

Update -- Regency -- Wednesday, Sept. 29

2004-09-29T11:38:00.000-06:00

The following is from an email to Charlyn Filewicz:

Charlyn,
Just talked with Pat..........She said that we can not get to the generators to turn the power on until the sand can be moved.

She has bulldozers and back-hoes coming this morning to move the sand. As soon as the sand is removed from the doors the electricity can be turned on....We now have electricity to the buildings.

I asked about the other cars........Both Gray's & Scrowcoft's. She said windows were out and they have been taped and plastic put on. She said no contractors, except heavy equipment, can gain access to the property until the sand is cleared. Hopefully it will be done today.

Dick

Pictures from Hutchinson Island

2004-09-29T00:57:00.000-06:00

TCPalm has put some pictures (finally!) from various condominiums on the island, including Island Dunes. Go to www.TCPalm.com and check out Tuesday's photo gallery.

Admiral -- We need information!

2004-09-28T23:30:00.000-06:00

I do not have any contacts at the Admiral building, and so far have not been able to find any information about it. If anyone knows someone at the Admiral, please have them contact me at:
ricklord@att.net

Update -- Regency

2004-09-28T23:11:00.000-06:00

A photographer from the Palm Beach post was on the island today, and Pat showed him around the Regency. Check out the pictures at the following link:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/jeanne/

The following damage report came from Pat today, and was relayed to me via email.

Cars.upper Deck.......Plastic & Tape have been put over the broken windows so no water can get in. Pat seems to think that they are still dry and no water got in.
Bmw..OK...Cadillac broken window..Kunkle
Esclade.....broken window..........Schofield
Toyota......broken Window..........Janes
Volvo.......broken window..........Stamen (spoiler in shop)

Shutters blew open a foot or so. Doesn't seen to be any damage. They were primary bath room/or kitchen

Building 1
1001...........................J Palumbo
501............................D. Walsh
301............................A. Martz
503............................E. Barratt
804............................E. Schreitmueller
306............................K. Miller

Building 2
1201...........................????(Building 2)(was Anderson)
904............................Barringer..Bldg.2
701............................W. Burkart.Bldg.2

Update -- Island Dunes

2004-09-28T15:40:00.000-06:00

We finally have pictures of Island Dunes I. Thank you Derek Markey!!

Go to http://www.webspawner.com/users/markey10s/index.html

Update -- Regency

2004-09-28T15:17:00.000-06:00

The following news came from an email from Charlyn Filewicz:

I spoke with Pat just a few minutes ago. She and Vicki and Mary Jo, her new asst. were on a pile of sand, checking on things. They had to leave the car on A1A. She had to use the Stuart bridge. Contrary to what we've heard, they were not allowing use of the new bridge.

All shutters looked to be intact, except the ones on the Soc. Rm. Bldg. II. The shutters were torn, but the windows held. The pool deck is gone, the foundation to Bldg. II is exposed, but intact. The under side of the portico on Bldg. II is hanging loose. The Social Rooms are dry. The garages are full of water and sand.

ALL cars on the upper decks, EXCEPT Don Chapman's Corvette and one BMW had their windows blown out. Don't ask me any more details; this is all I know.

Pat is "trying" to reach Ray, who has the bulldozers to get the sand out of the driveways again and back to the ocean. He may not have power.

NO ONE has power on the Island. Pat got this info from the sheriff's office, herself.

She will call me again when she has any other news. She wants to get the sand out first, so we can get to the buildings, and she wants to get the power on to prevent mildew.

She will have the rest of our people out there tomorrow to do what they can.

We are lucky, once more, that the shutters held because a lot of the condos did not fare as well as we did.

Sincerely,

Charlyn

Jeanne Update - Tuesday, Sept. 28

2004-09-28T08:32:00.000-06:00

Authorities have finally started to allow access to the island as of late yesterday, and we are beginning to get some reports. Information is still very limited, but I expect to have much more later today. Stay tuned.

The following information came from an email from Gail Enos in Island Dunes I. Thank you, Gail!

Dear Rick: My young tenants in 603 Oceanside I went out to th Island last night. they said both buildings seem to be in good shape as far as shutters are concerned, but the lobby and now the storage area are covered in even more sand. They just called and were cut off. He is sending me pictures as they have power in Stuart where they are staying. I will keep you informed. Gail

Island Dunes Update

2004-09-27T23:36:00.000-06:00

Some first-hand news about Island Dunes!!
The following information came from an email from Sue Brown:

We live in Oceanside 1, #1210. This a.m. I talked to Linda Crane (a fellow tennis player) who along with her husband rode out the storm. they live on the 8th floor several condos south. (not sure which one) She walked up the beach to Island Dunes and gave me a live report. Our shutters were closed; however there were a few condos with shutters off the track. She could not see any broken glass nor curtains or blinds blowing so she assumed that the windows were intact. One of our swimming pools is completely filled with sand; only ladder is showing. She said that the exercise room is now a "dune". meaning that it is filled with sand.

Her comments while lying on her closet floor during the hurricane: intellectually she knew the building was swaying but when she heard her hangers clanging and saw her clothes swaying she got frightened. Plus she almost became seasick. When the eye came over, she and her husband walked outside to get some air. She saw a huge wave crash in the back of the building and then continue right through to the front. She said she probably wouldn't do it again. I also believe she took photos.

Sue Brown

Thanks, Sue.

If anyone else comes across some information, email me at ricklord@att.net

Jeanne Update - Monday, Sept. 27

2004-09-27T11:22:00.000-06:00

No new information on our buildings as yet, but we do have some information on other parts of the island. According to Martin County, the causeway bridges have been repaired, but access to the island is restricted to emergency workers only. The following is from a news release from the Martin County Emergency Operations Center today at 8:00 AM:

MacARTHUR BOULEVARD DESTROYED
Leaves more than 650 homes cut-off from land

Stuart, FL – More than 650 homes on the popular Sailfish Point community have been cut-off by land. Huge waves destroyed at least a mile section of MacArthur Blvd. which is the only way into Sailfish Point.
A special Search and Rescue team from Martin County Fire Rescue has been dispatched to check every home for residents who may have stayed behind.
At least one person did stay in his home and called Martin County Emergency Operations for help.
Today at 2:00 pm county leaders will give members of the media a tour of the barrier island leading into Sailfish Point. Media should meet at 3754 SE Ocean Blvd. (Prawn Broker Restaurant), credentials required.

Hurricane Jeanne

2004-09-26T19:10:00.000-06:00

Well, here we go again.
Jeanne hit us dead-on last night, and early reports suggest the damage will be worse this time. We do not yet have any first-hand information on damage. As of 6:00 PM today, all bridges to the island are still closed, with both Martin county bridges out of commission due to damage. There is no estimate yet as to when they may open. If anyone remained in our buildings on the island, we have not yet heard from them.

If anyone has any first-hand information or pictures concerning our buildings, please contact me at ricklord@att.net so I can get the information out to everyone through this website!

Several people chose to ride out the storm on the island -- I've seen several postings on the discussion forums at TCPalm.com from people who stayed in the Atlantis and in the Dunewalk buildings. Reports from these sources indicate much more severe damage, with as much as 5 feet of sand in the first floor units. You can find the discussion forums by going to www.tcpalm.com and finding the Discussion Forum and Information Sharing box on the lower part of the page. Type "Island Dunes" in the search box to find any new news.

The following information is from the Martin County Emergency Operations Center:

HURRICANE JEANNE UPDATE – 6:00 PM

The Stuart Causeway Bridge has sprung open and is elevated about a foot. The Jensen Beach Causeway Bridge is also springing about 6 inches. Both bridges are unsafe to cross. The Florida Department of Transportation has been notified and will inspect it after the winds die down.
Fire Rescue reports that they are only responding to calls where the conditions are safe for travel. They will stop responding to calls when sustained winds reach 60 mph.
Emergency Dispatch also reports that they are in the midst of assisting with the first baby delivery in Indiantown.
The American Red Cross shelters are currently at 1/3 capacity, or just under 2,000 residents.
Updates from the City of Stuart:
o The City of Stuart has established a rumor control and public information phone number for its residents and employees to receive information.
The phone number is (772) 221-3982.
o The City of Stuart water system is currently on generator power, which has resulted in lower water pressure. No boil water notice is in effect at this time.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that we get through this one.

Progress Update: 9-18-04

2004-09-18T21:47:00.000-06:00

Barbara Blanchard submitted today's pictures of the cleanup around the pool area. It looks messy, but it's good to see the progress. Hopefully, we'll have our sparkling pools back soon.

2004-09-18T20:53:00.000-06:00

Pool cleanup day

2004-09-18T20:49:00.000-06:00

Pool cleanout day

2004-09-18T20:42:00.000-06:00

North pool at Oceanside

2004-09-18T20:41:00.000-06:00

Closeup of pool

2004-09-18T20:38:00.000-06:00

Partial view of new dunes in front of Oceanside I

2004-09-18T20:37:00.000-06:00

Removing gate from the pool

2004-09-17T22:28:00.000-06:00

Regency entrance.

Progress Update 9-16-04

2004-09-17T22:27:00.000-06:00

The following posting and new pictures were submitted by Charlyn from the Regency:
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Elevators are working in both buildings.

Photos from golf course and marina. Boats up on ground, trees down, cleanup in progress. Good news. Salt water only got up to edges, not on the greens, or fairways.

I spoke with Debbie. She said give her three weeks and she'll try to have it functional.

They are cleaning the muck out of the lower garage. Bob is checking every single in ground light to see if wiring is OK before they attempt to start them up.

Any questions, just email me.

Charlyn

2004-09-17T22:20:00.000-06:00

Regency building.

2004-09-17T22:18:00.000-06:00

Regency entrance

2004-09-17T22:17:00.000-06:00

Regency beach access

2004-09-17T22:16:00.000-06:00

Regency grounds clean-up.

2004-09-17T22:14:00.000-06:00

Regency - everyone's working hard!

2004-09-17T22:13:00.000-06:00

Regency grounds cleanup

2004-09-17T22:11:00.000-06:00

Golf course access road.

2004-09-17T22:09:00.000-06:00

Golf course parking lot.

2004-09-17T22:08:00.000-06:00

Golf course practice range.

2004-09-17T22:07:00.000-06:00

9th Fairway

2004-09-17T22:05:00.000-06:00

The 9th fairway with new hazards.

2004-09-14T21:58:00.000-06:00

Lobby cleanup at Oceanside I

Progress Update 9-14-04

2004-09-14T21:33:00.000-06:00

The following update, as well as 8 new pictures, were provided by Bob and Jo Hammond, Association Director and Architectural Committee co-chair respectively. Bob and Jo are on-site and helping with the cleanup efforts. Thanks Bob and Jo!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things are starting to look better from last week. At least the mud and sand is getting less and less in the social room, lobby etc. They started cutting the sheet rock because it had to be remove and replaced. See the following pictures. All the mirrors in the lobby and the social room have been removed. All the furniture has to be replaced. I personally looked at the furniture thinking that maybe we could save some of it, but I really don't think it is worth it. The kitchen area appliances have to be replaced as well.

We are starting to see progress with the dunes. These men have been working long hours trying to get the dunes back. They start from early morning and work until the evening hours. Let us all pray hard that Jeanne does not decide to come this way.

We finally have the elevators working, and all the crabs have been removed from the elevator shaft which really caused a foul odor. Thank God. I thought we were going to have to wear surgical mask for weeks. I am grateful that I do not have to carry groceries up 10 flights of stairs. We are not encouraging people not to come back yet as we are still having some problems with A/C and things are still not up to par.

Speaking of par, they are still working on the golf course. Many trees were down and the some of the bridges have been damaged from the falling trees. We are starting to see progress there as well. They are working on the bridges first. These need to be repaired and trees removed. We had two boats by the 8th green. They have been removed by sea tow. They were two feet from the green so some repairs need to be made. Or we can leave it as a pot bunker. Just a little humor.

We are all doing what we can to help with the recovery and to keep the condo's in good condition. I will continue to take pictures of the progress and will do my best to keep you all updated. Bob and I will be away for a few days next week but will continue with reports when we get back.
Jo Hammond

2004-09-14T20:32:00.000-06:00

Dunes under repair

2004-09-14T20:31:00.000-06:00

Office & lobby - Oceanside I

2004-09-14T20:30:00.001-06:00

Community room - Oceanside I

2004-09-14T20:30:00.000-06:00

Community room - Oceanside I

2004-09-14T20:29:00.000-06:00

Game room - Oceanside I

2004-09-14T20:28:00.000-06:00

Mail room - Oceanside I

2004-09-14T20:27:00.000-06:00

Repairs to Oceanside I

2004-09-12T21:32:00.000-06:00

Pool Area

Information about Island Dunes

2004-09-12T17:05:00.000-06:00

I started this blog page so that Island Dunes Owners can get and share information on their buildings.
Please feel free to add your comments and questions. Contact me if you have any photos to share.

For those who didn't see them before, I've included excerpts from my original discussion postings from the TCPalm.com website.

Wednesday, Sept. 8:
Island Dunes Oceanside I. We just arrived today to check on our unit. The grounds received considerable damage, but damage to the building was primarily limited to the 1st floor. Water came through the game room, lobby, and storage areas to a depth of about 2 feet. The lobby area has several inches of mud in it. Unsure if any of the first floor units were similarly affected, but will check with Ted tomorrow.
Penthouse unit 1401 on the North side of the building was damaged when the shutters ripped off, taking some railing with it, and breaking at least one of the windows. There is no other outward appearance of damage to any of the other units in Building 1.
The pool area is a mess, both pools filled with mud and debris, many trees down. The dunes are effectively gone and will need to be rebuilt quickly. Sand covers all the grass areas around the pool.
Two cars parked in front of the building were pushed together and damaged. One is a gold colored BMW, the other a white Cadillac.
Ted is trying to get power and water to the buildings tomorrow.

Thursday, Sept. 9:
Island Dunes I Update. Good progress today in cleaning up. Ted and Barbara are doing a super job and working very hard to get our building up and running. Be sure to give them your thanks when you see them. Several resident volunteers have also helped tremendously. The crew did the smelly job of going into each unit today and removing spoiled food from refrigerators that have been off for 5 days! This was not fun, but had to be done.
Water is on in the whole building. Ted expects to get the electricity going tomorrow. Cleaning of the lobby and community room is under way. Hoping to get the elevator and air conditioners going within a few more days.
Damage update: The water level in the storage rooms was not too deep. It looks like it was only an inch or two deep, so everything that was off the floor should be OK. The first floor units appear to be OK also, as they are several feet up off the ground. I also noticed that the shutters on unit #1205 looked to be damaged by the wind.

Friday, Sept. 10:
Island Dunes Update. We left Island Dunes today (Friday) about noon time. There wasn't anything else we could do to help -- the heavy work is in the hands of professionals now, so we decided to go back home to Colorado and get out of Florida before we got trapped by Ivan.
Cleanup is progressing well. Ted got the power on today. The roofing and air conditioning people are there to get the air going. The elevator people are working to get the elevator going. The lobby and community room are being cleaned out. Barbara is setting up a temporary office in a unit graciously loaned by one of the owners. There is still much to be done to get everything back to normal, but I was encouraged by the progress I saw in just 3 days.
All-in-all, I think our building held up well. Other buildings on the island were not so lucky. There appeared to be more damage at The Admiral. They were in the middle of a shutter replacement program, and it looks like the units that had not yet had their shutters replaced took some damage. Several other buildings on the island were even worse. The Island Club lost large sections of balcony railings on the street side. The Atlantis had some first floor units breached by the tidal surge. Shuckers and the attached hotel, as well as the Hutchinson House, were severly damaged. Shuckers lost a part of the roof and the outdoor bar.
Again, our thanks to all who helped out this week, and special thanks to Ted and Barbara for the great job of organizing the recovery efforts.

2004-09-12T16:03:00.000-06:00

Pool Area

2004-09-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

Pool Area

2004-09-12T16:01:00.000-06:00

Another View of Pool Area

2004-09-12T16:00:00.000-06:00

Lobby of Oceanside I

2004-09-12T15:53:00.000-06:00

Workout room windows - Oceanside I

2004-09-12T15:52:00.001-06:00

Workout Room Oceanside I

2004-09-12T15:52:00.000-06:00

Dunes in front of Oceanside I

2004-09-12T15:50:00.001-06:00

Dune Walkover Bridge

2004-09-12T15:50:00.000-06:00

Dunes in front of Oceanside II

2004-09-12T15:49:00.000-06:00

Dunes in front of The Admiral

2004-09-12T15:48:00.000-06:00

Oceanside II - Damage to shutters on 1406

2004-09-12T15:47:00.000-06:00

NOrth side of Oceanside I - damage to shutters on 1401

2004-09-12T15:46:00.000-06:00

Oceanside I - damaged shutters on 1205

2004-09-12T15:45:00.000-06:00

Parking Lot, looking North

2004-09-12T15:44:00.000-06:00

Parking lot Oceanside II

2004-09-12T15:43:00.000-06:00

Parking lot Oceanside II