THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160417
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
2ND STREET AND THE OCEANFRONT.
Lifeguard Mick Sybrandt has been blowing his whistle continuously all day, trying to keep children and adults from venturing farther than knee-deep in the roiling surf.
The cause of the tumbling surf is visible on the horizon, says Sybrandt. ``See that line of clouds there?'' he says, pointing to a low-lying layer of purple clouds to the southeast. ``That's Felix. You could see the tail over there this morning.''
Turning back to the shoreline, which is peppered with bathers, Sybrandt adds: ``Some of them get p---ed off when they can't go any deeper. You can't blame them. They see the surfers in the water and want to know why they can't be out there, too.''
But even surfers have suffered casualties in the last two days.
One surfer has just been sent to the hospital to have a head cut treated. His board had creased his temple, says Sybrandt.
Despite the danger, at least 25 young men are out in the breakers.
- Bill Reed
BUBBA'S MARINA OFF SHORE DRIVE.
Michael Wood cranks the winch that draws his 21-foot Mako boat out of the water and onto the trailer. Wood took the day off from his woodworking business to prepare his trailer to haul out of the water his boat and two boats his father-in-law owns.
``When bad weather comes, this is the first thing we do, get them out of the water,'' says Wood. ``I'd cry like a baby if this thing sank.''
Wood's friend, Steve Christensen, is cheering for Felix to pass.
The Ocean View resident is supposed to get married Saturday and he and his bride have planned an outdoor reception.
``It might end up being a hurricane party,'' says Christensen, who has family members coming in from Tennessee, Colorado and Florida. ``We've got a van all ready and we're just going to pack it up and hit the road if we have to.''
- Lori A. Denney
FAIRFIELD SHOPPING CENTER IN KEMPSVILLE.
The three most crowded places in the shopping center are the ABC store, the drugstore and the supermarket. Running a surprising fourth is the barbershop.
One man is entering as another leaves. Inside two barbers, both females, are cutting hair while an additional customer waits his turn.
``How come you're so busy on the night before a storm is supposed to hit?'' a surprised observer asks.
``They're all getting ready for hurricane parties,'' one of the barbers answers, without missing a snip.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
SANDBRIDGE FIRE STATION NO. 17.
All day, tourists have stopped to seek advice from firefighters like Kenny Askew, who can only advise caution. ``It's been steady all day with people coming by here,'' he says. ``These tourists are truly concerned. A lot of them are from Ohio and Pennsylvania and they don't know what to do.''
Askew says he's been telling people to listen to news reports and to leave when told.
As for the station itself, which is manned by three firefighters, Askew says he's uncertain how long they'll remain.
``We've never had a situation where we've had to leave Sandbridge,'' he explains. ``But that's not our call. . . . But we'll probably be the last ones out.''
- Tom Holden
VILLAS OF GLENWOOD OFF SOUTH INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD.
Mississippi native Bob Emry is applying Rain-Ex to his red Chevy Lumina and gray Chevy Cavalier while exchanging hurricane stories with three neighbors. Emry says that he already filled one of his bathtubs with water and will be taping his first-floor condo windows. He adds that he and his wife, Sandy, have all the batteries they'll need.
One neighbor scoffs at Emry's caution. Another suggests they all pile into his pickup truck and head down to the Oceanfront in a few hours to ``bring it in.'' Emry, smiling, shakes his blonde head.
``I don't think so,'' says Emry, rubbing a soft cloth over the Cavalier's windows. ``When you've been through seven of these things, you know what they can do. I'm not taking any chances.''
- Pam Starr by CNB