James Spann's Bonnie Blog

Saturday August 14, 2004
Been watching video of the damage over south Florida from Charley. Nobody knows the death toll right now, but it the loss of life will be high. All of on the Bonnie crew are thankful for a relatively minor system, although it did turn into a killer in North Carolina due to tornadoes in spiral bands around the system. Deep down I am thankful we were not sent to Tampa; I am sure we would have been stationed well north of the hurricane landfall point and our reports would not have been really helpful. Now eyes are on Earl as he heads toward the Gulf of Mexico in about five days. Finally got around to posting pictures from the Panama City trip here!

3:00 p.m. Thursday August 12, 2004
Bonnie took off like a jack rabbit, and we were in sunshine in Panama City by 11:00 a.m. So, we did one final live report for the noon news and are now on the way back home (I am writing this from a wi-fi hot spot in Dothan). We ALMOST were sent down to Tampa to  cover Charley, but the trigger was not pulled. So, bottom line is that we saw little in the way of action on this trip, which is fine with me. I have done over a dozen hurricanes over the years and an easy system like this one is always appreciated! Sorry I never had the time to get the pictures on here... will try to do that late tonight or tomorrow morning. You can get a good look at the really hard working people like Bill Castle and David Polk!

7:00 a.m. Thursday August 12, 2004
Just finished doing live reports for Good Morning Alabama on ABC 33/40. This system looks more like some kind of hybrid storm, not completely tropical. We had some really strong thunderstorms blow through here during the pre-dawn hours, rarely seen with tropical systems. Wind is only 10 to 15 mph right now, and the surf is moderate. Bottom line is that the highest wind with Bonnie will be well to the east of us, and the main issue will be flooding for the rest of the day. Parts of Panama City had over three inches of rain during the night, and the rain is really coming down now as I write this..

11:00 p.m. Wednesday August 11, 2004
I had hoped to do more updates during the evening, but the lack of Internet access at the beach pretty much ended that possibility. We have finished all three live shots (5, 6, and 10:00), and are now at the motel for a quick nap before the action begins tomorrow morning. Bonnie sure has been a strange storm... falling apart early in the evening, but seemingly getting stronger again at this writing. Looks like the center might cross the coast a little east of Panama City, but we will be close. Next TV updates will come during the "Good Morning Alabama" newscast from 5:00 until 7:00 a.m.

Our friend David Peters from Florida State has joined the crew, coming over from Tallahassee earlier today. Sorry... no pix tonight. Too tired! Will get some posted hopefully tomorrow morning after the GMA broadcast.

2:00 p.m. Wednesday August 11, 2004
This update comes from the Bay County pier on the Miracle Strip... across the street from the Panama City Amusement Park, which has been here for many, many years (it will close next month for a new development). Bill Castle is on the scene; David Polk in the satellite truck should be here shortly. We have already bumped into old friends who now work for WTVY in Dothan and WJHG here in Panama City. Bill and J.P. are shooting video and interviews in the rain while I sit in this nice dry mobile weather center writing updates for the web site. Don't worry, I will be soaked before the evening is finished.

Things got a little more serious down here when the hurricane watch was posted this morning, and as reports from hurricane hunters have been arriving. Looks like Bonnie could very well be a hurricane by the time she reaches the coast tomorrow morning. Looks like most schools and businesses here will be shut down tomorrow, and decisions involving evacuation of barrier islands will be made by 4:00. Will try to have some pictures posted soon.

8:00 a.m. Wednesday August 11, 2004
Writing this from Montgomery on the way to the coast. We are sitting in the middle of a parking lot near the point where U.S. 231 heads south, away from the southern blvd. We found a wi-fi hot spot here; don't know who it belongs to but we sure appreciate the bandwidth.

Wow... Bonnie has really come back during the night. Nice CDO, symmetry on the satellite presentation. We hope to be in Panama City by 12 noon; we will file a live report by phone on ABC 33/40 News at noon. We are in the Storm Chaser van; Bill Castle is headed down in his news truck, and David Polk is on the way in the satellite truck. We will try to file another report from the road between now and the time we get to P.C.

8:00 p.m. Tuesday August 10, 2004
Just learned we are headed south for coverage of the landfall of tropical storm Bonnie. Looks like the crew will consist of myself, my son J.P. Spann, Bill Castle, and satellite truck operator David Polk. J.P. and I will be leaving in Storm Chaser 33/40 around 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. Bonnie looks very weak and disorganized at the moment; nothing to really get excited about. But, the water is very warm and the models continue to strongly hint at this thing becoming a hurricane before landfall. It really needs to get its act together in a hurry if we are to have a big story.

The planned first stop will be Panama City. Look for our live reports on ABC 33/40 News Wednesday evening. I plan on keeping this fairly current with a running dairy of our adventure on the "Miracle Strip". This will be my first hurricane run since Floyd in 1999.