First the positive :): Many, many thanks to the people who worked so hard and are still working hard to restore power. We've seen tree workers and electrical workers from many other states, who came all this way just to help us. Their performance has exceeded both the time estimates we were given and our expectations. Thanks aren't enought-but it comes from the heart. State and local officials have done a tremendous job of communicating with residents, which isn't an easy task when power and most means of communication are out. We were well informed about boil water notices, trash pick-up schedules, curfews, gas station openings, water, ice and food distribution sites and schedules, and opening/closing schedules for businesses and government agencies. Creative means of communication were employed. Flyers were posted and distributed through neighborhoods. Radio stations devoted their entire broadcast day to disseminating pertinent information. One of my friends told me that the mayor of West Palm Beach used an automated phone calling machine to get pertinent information out to all of her constituents. Kudos to all-we are grateful. Now for the negative :(: If you always do what you always did, you're always going to get what you always got. Where I live traffic lights are suspended from electrical wires that run between poles at intersections. They blow away even in minor storms, which creates a very dangerous situation on the roadways. Every year they are replaced with new signal heads which are put up the same way. I wish some genius would figure out that it might be more prudent to mount the traffic lights on metal and/or concrete poles like the street lights, most of which fared very well in the storm. Since the traffic lights aren't working, our daily commutes have become teeth gnashing and hair raising experiences. Police officers have been dispatched to many intersections, where they sit in their cruisers with lights flashing to warn us that we are approaching an intersection without traffic lights. I appreciate their presence, but for the life of me can't understand why they don't get out of their cars and direct the traffic. I'm willing to do my part. I stay off the roads unless it's essential, and I've revised my schedule to avoid peak traffic hours. But in the absence of traffic signals, I'd really appreciate a police officer to direct traffic.

There are better ways to mount these lights, but I suspect the cost would be about $1000 per light or perhaps as much as $10,000 per intersection... depending on the light standards used. They used to be $500 to $5000 out here and that was 12 years or more ago. If I remember right the average cost was $2500. Another problem with the ways of hanging the lights that I know of is if the whole standard comes crashing down it could do alot more damage to things than just a wire and the traffic lights falling. I, like you, think there must be a better way to do this stuff. If the cops are there, they might as well get out and direct traffic. Who knows, if they are creative enough they might wind up on Candid Camera or something. :)

Where I live traffic lights are suspended from electrical wires that run between poles at intersections. They blow away even in minor storms, which creates a very dangerous situation on the roadways. ********************************************************* Slowly, they are replacing our traffic lights in Collier County with the the huge metal poles that stand up to hurricanes....However with the power outages, we did have police officers directing traffic in our area. I agree it is very scary to be out driving with out traffic signals!

Sounds like they are a little smarter in Collier County than in Palm Beach County. Last year, all our traffic lights blew away with Hurricane Frances. Fortunately, we didn't lose too many with Hurricane Jeanne because many were still missing from Hurricane Frances. Eventually, they were replaced, but they all blew away again with Hurricane Wilma. People who don't live here don't quite understand when I talk about it. We didn't lose SOME of the traffic lights - we lost them ALL - twice now in a little more than a year! Even if it's more expensive to mount them on poles, it must be cheaper in the long run because they won't have to be replaced as often. And the expense also needs to be considered in terms of safety and preservation of human life. Many of our intersections are littered with broken glass from recent accidents. I don't know if people have been killed in those accidents, or how many. But living without traffic signals poses a real safety threat on the roadways. In fairness, I have to give credit to the crews who have been working feverishly to replace the traffic lights. They've worked long hours and are getting new signals up every day, for which I'm grateful. I just think there must be a better way.

Source: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel Broken traffic signals will plague S. Florida drivers for months to come By Michael Turnbell Transportation Writer Posted November 9 2005 The four-way-stop shuffle will continue to be a sore point for commuters, especially those traveling off the beaten path, through at least mid-December... For more of the story, click the link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-csignals09nov09,0,2949503.story?coll=sfla-news-hurricane The article says that nearly 3/4 of Miami-Dade County's traffic lights are mounted on sturdy overhead mast arms. They only lost one. The rest of us in Broward and Palm Beach Counties are still risking our lives to commute back and forth to work every day! At the traffic signal where my neighborhood intersects with a main road this morning I saw 3 motorcycle cops standing off to the side of the intersection next to their motorcycles. Traffic was backed up for miles, and in order to get out of my neighborhood (where I normally turn left) I was forced to turn right, go down the street and make a U-turn. I didn't say anything, but I so badly wanted to open my window and suggest to the police officers that they earn the salary that my tax dollars go towards paying by directing the traffic!

I live in Broward County, where schools just opened today! Yeah! The kids were getting quite bored. We lost all of our traffic lights also. Some days are better than others as far as traffic cops directing traffic. My travel time to and from work is still doubled. I saw a lot more work being done this weekend to get rid of all the debris to get ready for school opening. My next question is what are we going to do with all the damaged trees? They are damaged and have brown leaves. Most of them cannot be saved.

I have no idea what they will do with the damaged trees, or when they will get to them. It's the same way here in Boca. My travel time to and from work has been doubled, too, but like you it gets a little better each day. Our schools re-opened today, as well. The funny thing about the trees is that some companies have started stringing up their holiday lights, although they haven't been turned on yet. I look around and I see dead trees or trees that have been snapped in half wrapped with holiday lights. It's going to be a very funny looking holiday season. Sandy, do you know any hotels in Broward County that are accepting the FEMA Short Term Lodging payments? I'm asking for one of my co-workers, who lives in Tamarac. The roof of the apartment building that he lived in collapsed, and all of the residents were displaced. FEMA gave him a registration ID number and told him that they would pay for a hotel room for him and his family while he looked for another apartment to rent. Unfortunately, FEMA was not able to provide a list of hotels participating in the program. We've been trying to call hotels in the area, but none of them have heard of the program or are willing to give a reservation based on a FEMA payment. Since you live in the area, I thought you might know of participating hotels. If you have any info could you forward it? Thanks!

I havent seen any trees with lights in them but I am sure its a sight! I am sorry, but I have not heard anything about this program. The people that I know that are currently displaced are staying with friends or relatives. I will ask around though. Will let you know if I hear anything!