So, a page or two ago, you guys helped convince me I wasnt being silly. So i took off today and bought lumber. I finished the East side of the house, trying to build something easy for future storms, and this is what I came up with. Pressure treated 2x4's and pressure treated 3/4" plywood. 1/4" tapcons into the building, and torx deckmate screws elsewhere. Im slow as molasses, but happy enough with the result.














I know its a bit over the top for this storm, but Im excited to have them for next year, and the year after... Tomorrow is the other three sides. 4 more windows and three sliding doors...

Couple more neighbors boarded up today.

A lot of the neighbors are kind of like "whatever!"

Wife is leaving tomorrow afternoon. Will give me some peace and quiet around the house to finish my accounting final.

There is no substitute for preparation. Be sure and label them well. The only time I regretted storm prep is when I was told to put tape on the windows. It does nothing to strengthen windows, and the adhesive is impossible to remove after having been subjected to heat.

Make sure the boards are stacked so they do not warp. Good job. It also is therapeutic for discharging nervous energy.

Even tropical storm force winds blow stuff around. I had a neighbor do heavy trimming on his trees before a hurricane and place them by the street. They blew all over the place. He thought the city would be by and pick it up before the storm.

It looks like Cuba is pretty well screwed. The initial rain bands are approaching Florida and they're saying tornados could form in these well ahead of the hurricane.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
There is no substitute for preparation. Be sure and label them well. The only time I regretted storm prep is when I was told to put tape on the windows. It does nothing to strengthen windows, and the adhesive is impossible to remove after having been subjected to heat.

Make sure the boards are stacked so they do not warp. Good job. It also is therapeutic for discharging nervous energy.

Even tropical storm force winds blow stuff around. I had a neighbor do heavy trimming on his trees before a hurricane and place them by the street. They blew all over the place. He thought the city would be by and pick it up before the storm.

Thanks much. Youre right, it was a very satisfying day. I thought several times of that saying I read here so often; id rather have and not need, than need and not have.

quote:

Originally posted by Delmag Tech:
So, a page or two ago, you guys helped convince me I wasnt being silly. So i took off today and bought lumber. I finished the East side of the house, trying to build something easy for future storms, and this is what I came up with. Pressure treated 2x4's and pressure treated 3/4" plywood. 1/4" tapcons into the building, and torx deckmate screws elsewhere. Im slow as molasses, but happy enough with the result.

Looks like a great job.
Stay safe.

Lookin' pretty good, there, DT.

Back up to a Cat 5.

My mom is going to evac and stay at a local shelter about 4 miles from her house. Plan B was to lock herself in a shipping container she has in her yard. I was not a fan of that plan. I'm still hoping she goes and stays with family or friends down there. She just doesn't want to be too far from her house.

Tiny house in the Ocala National Forest. Trees freaking everywhere.

Sister is still riding it out in St. Augustine.


The eye is about 40 miles wide. Hurricane force winds from 140mph+ down to 74mph+ about 70 miles out from the eye. So is that 180 miles wide of hurricane? Or is the 70 miles measured from the center of the eye vs the eye walls?


As I read all this, I always think about what it must have been like 100+ years ago when you lived on the beach and saw a storm coming. You didn't know if it was a simple squall, or a massive hurricane. I suppose a barometer would give you some heads up, but even then, there was no way to know how much of a monster was coming until it was at your front door.

quote:

My mom is going to evac and stay at a local shelter about 4 miles from her house. Plan B was to lock herself in a shipping container she has in her yard. I was not a fan of that plan. I'm still hoping she goes and stays with family or friends down there. She just doesn't want to be too far from her house.

Good move. A friend of mine had to remove her elderly parents physically from their home prior to Katrina. They would have perished. Trees hitting a shipping container make a lot of noise. LOL.

I am glad she moved to a shelter. They will make sure she is safe.

quote:

As I read all this, I always think about what it must have been like 100+ years ago when you lived on the beach and saw a storm coming. You didn't know if it was a simple squall, or a massive hurricane. I suppose a barometer would give you some heads up, but even then, there was no way to know how much of a monster was coming until it was at your front door.

If interested there is a good documentary on the Great Galveston Hurricane about 100 years ago. It was well done and told the story of the guy who incorrectly forecast the storm.

Damm, Chongo. I can get up early and run down to get her amd she can come hang here in Jax with us. I run down through the Ocala forest all the time. If shes north of Ocala, i can be there in 90 mins. Im happy to go get her and take her back afterwards. Even have an empty bedroom. Ive got a big enough generator for a/c. Emails in my profile.

Or, Ill take her to your sisters in St Aug, and back after...

quote:

Originally posted by Delmag Tech:
Damm, Chongo. I can get up early and run down to get her amd she can come hang here in Jax with us. I run down through the Ocala forest all the time. If shes north of Ocala, i can be there in 90 mins. Im happy to go get her and take her back afterwards. Even have an empty bedroom. Ive got a big enough generator for a/c. Emails in my profile.

Very kind offer. She actually has plenty of options, including the daughter in St. Aug. and family from Deland to Monticello. But she is being hard headed about not wanting to leave her cabin in the woods any longer than necessary. I thought I had her convinced to come to Charlotte, but alas...

She is golden once it's over. She is set up for 100% off grid living. Solar panels, well with hand pump, etc. If the trees (or a tornado) don't destroy it. That, and if the water doesn't get too high. She is between pine scrub and swamp, close to Alexander Springs.

Alexander Springs is 93 mins away

Wierd how 1/2 this post I typed didnt make it...

Anyway- let me know how she fares. I can always surprise with assistance if needed. I dont see much getting accomplished at work next week. We're expecting a week without power.

I'm already gearing up to go that way after the storm. Hopefully she wont need me to cut her out, glad she's going to the school

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
There is no substitute for preparation. Be sure and label them well. The only time I regretted storm prep is when I was told to put tape on the windows. It does nothing to strengthen windows, and the adhesive is impossible to remove after having been subjected to heat.

Make sure the boards are stacked so they do not warp. Good job. It also is therapeutic for discharging nervous energy.

Even tropical storm force winds blow stuff around. I had a neighbor do heavy trimming on his trees before a hurricane and place them by the street. They blew all over the place. He thought the city would be by and pick it up before the storm.

Screw all that. The very best thing I ever spent money on was impact windows. My electric bill went down, my house is super quiet, can hardly hear the lawn man cutting my grass, they're very secure against break ins, and my total prep time of getting my house hurricane ready 10 minutes total.

The tape was to keep the glass from flying all over the place if it broke, not to keep it from breaking. A sharp razor blade removes it and the residue.

I hope your mom is alright, chongo.

The rest of you, too.

quote:

Screw all that. The very best thing I ever spent money on was impact windows. My electric bill went down, my house is super quiet, can hardly hear the lawn man cutting my grass, they're very secure against break ins, and my total prep time of getting my house hurricane ready 10 minutes total.

Not all of us can afford such an expense. Some of us spend money on quality firearms. Windows never offered me much in the way of enjoyment. I guess some folks are different. BTW the tape does little to stop flying glass shards.

You all may find this link interesting as the storm comes ashore

http://hint.fm/wind/

It doesn't look good for Sanibel and Captiva with the new track. I'm guessing Captiva is going to split again.