Florida members check in thread

September 08, 2017, 08:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Thanks ZSMICHAEL and smithnsig. I didn't leave for Charley, but I didn't have a wife and three kids either. This is a much larger storm than Charley. I don't know why I feel the need to make sure my kids don't miss school. I was relieved on Tuesday when the school canceled classes for Thursday, Friday, and Monday. It made the decision to leave when we did easy. I'm also glad we did leave when we did as it wasn't a bad trip.

We aren't the only ones at this state park in GA. The people in the campsite next to us are from Sarasota. They got here about 5:00pm. They left late last night and spent a few hours resting in a parking lot. They work for Lowes and were worried that they'd lose their jobs if they left. Their boss told them not to worry about it. The couple next to them came up from the Jolly Roger RV Resort on Marathon with their two kids. There's another couple with three kids from Tampa that arrived this morning. There are at least a dozen other Floridians here that I haven't met yet.

Hah! Yeah a bunch of things run through your mind. And it's completely different with kids. Heck, I used to be a bit of a storm chaser before I got married. Now with kids it's nerve wracking.

ZS and I have a little bit of experience with big ones looks like.

September 08, 2017, 08:45 PM

ZSMICHAEL

quote:
Does he have a personal flotation device and locator beacon? 12+ foot surge in south Florida.

There were very few deaths when hurricanes struck Cuba. Their construction is generally horrible. Castro simply sent in troops and made them leave at gunpoint. Not suggesting that here. Could relate some tales about Katrina, but do not think it appropriate on this forum. Denial is a powerful defense mechanism. Telling people to write their SSN on their arm for ID later and that no help will come when dialing 911 sometimes gets their attention.

September 08, 2017, 08:54 PM

BigNC

quote:
Originally posted by Twosigs:
We live just east of Tallahassee in the panhandle. I crossed over I-10 several times today and witnessed bumper to bumper traffic headed west. Barely moving 20 mph at times. Secondary roads heading west all had heavy traffic. I witnessed gas tankers with their FHP escorts resupplying stations. These stations were packed as you can imagine. We are praying that the storms eye stays east of us. We are prepared here for all but a direct hit.
Prey for those traveling so far from home.

I live on the line between Jefferson and Madison counties. I have met and heard of Tally folks but we must about be neighbors. My office is in Madison co and my observation matches.
I feel like T.S. winds or lite cat 1 will be ok here but many in Tally lost power even in Hermine (sister off Old Bainbridge lost for 10 days....)
Really concerned for SFL. If anyone needs to park somewhere, we have land and there are shelters.
On that note, RV folk have been welcomed to park at the Tallahassee Auto Museum. Check their FB page for info!

September 08, 2017, 08:54 PM

bubbatime

The last Cat 5 to hit the keys was the 1935 Labor Day storm.

Here is the RESCUE train, that was washed off the tracks.

The keys are in SERIOUS trouble. I bet the bridge is destroyed. No supplies in. Limited help via helicopter. It is going to be a damn mess. Anyone who stayed is in serious threat of death.

Collecting bodies in the keys

1935 storm track. Looks similar, if it continues going west.

September 08, 2017, 08:57 PM

rushfan65

South Florida here, Broward county. Andrew and Wilma veteran. House is shuttered up, plenty of food and water. Now just waiting. Stay safe everyone!!!

September 08, 2017, 11:27 PM

soflaac

Some of our support folks in Alabama called today over a loss of communication with one of our sites in the Keys.

"Sugarloaf Key dropped out, no comm - need you to take a look at it"

Maybe in a couple more days guy. I'm pretty content to stay up in north Broward for now.

September 09, 2017, 08:46 AM

jehzsa

Riding it out in beautiful downtown Land O Lakes along with wife and daughter. Father-in-law, sister-in-law and her dog (Popcorn, which I renamed Sasquatch) are staying with us. Son and girlfriend have yet to confirm that they'll stay with us.

Not particularly stressed. As far as wind projections for Irma go, the no-name storm decades back was worse.

In any event, my pet finch, Marlon, has never experienced a Cat 3 hurricane. Already told him that he's spending Sun-Mon outside. He seems quite giddy about it.

Best of luck to everyone...

September 09, 2017, 08:54 AM

clipper1

Well, I'm in NW Marion cty. I'm staying put. Not surrounded by huge trees and in a fairly new house (7 yrs old). Necessaries in BOB. More concerned about possibility of looters afterwards, and possibility of snakes from 2 near by water sources but will at least have protection on self, and more close at hand. If roof holds up I should be fine.

September 09, 2017, 09:15 AM

jehzsa

I have the feeling that Irma is going to scrape Cuba all the way to just east of Havana and then head northwesterly into the gulf.

The high over Bermuda seems to be main driver. If correct, should be set by today late afternoon or early evening.

That's what I'm seeing. However, there's still a high probability of sharknados and groupernados for the west Florida coast.

September 09, 2017, 09:42 AM

charlie12

My cousin is in Tampa

September 09, 2017, 09:47 AM

Skins2881

quote:
Originally posted by jehzsa:
Riding it out in beautiful downtown Land O Lakes along with wife and daughter. Father-in-law, sister-in-law and her dog (Popcorn, which I renamed Sasquatch) are staying with us. Son and girlfriend have yet to confirm that they'll stay with us.

Not particularly stressed. As far as wind projections for Irma go, the no-name storm decades back was worse.

In any event, my pet finch, Marlon, has never experienced a Cat 3 hurricane. Already told him that he's spending Sun-Mon outside. He seems quite giddy about it.

Best of luck to everyone...

Marlon will soon be an eclipse and hurricane surviver, worldly bird you've got. I wonder if he'll act strange with the low pressure and how his instincts will kick in, or if it's just another day to him?

September 09, 2017, 09:51 AM

Paten

I'm still in Tampa right now. Temple Terrace really. I don't plan on leaving unless Irma is still a Cat 4 and heading directly for Tampa tomorrow. Then I'll just drive east.

September 09, 2017, 09:53 AM

chellim1

quote:
Originally posted by jehzsa:
I have the feeling that Irma is going to scrape Cuba all the way to just east of Havana and then head northwesterly into the gulf.

That's what it looks like, as of now:

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

September 09, 2017, 09:55 AM

jehzsa

quote:
Marlon

He seems quite relaxed now. Chirping, flying around in his cage, spilling food all over the place.

Purchased yesterday a raincoat for him. Tough to eyeball it at the store, he's not exactly a therapy pet. More like the reason for my having to go to therapy.

If he gets jittery, already have the meds. A couple of grains of fentanyl should quiet him down.

September 09, 2017, 10:04 AM

molachi

I'm in NW Fl and we have many people here who have evacuted S FL. Those that stay please be safe.

September 09, 2017, 10:07 AM

gloucestermen

My older brother and his wife live on the water in St Petersburg and have decided to stay and ride out the storm. He said most everyone else around him has left. They have supplies,a generator, plenty of beer/vodka, food/water. Time will tell if he has made the right choice or not. His house is perhaps 4 or 5 feet above the canal behind their house.. He told me he'd post updates on Facebook. I would have locked up and left long ago!

September 09, 2017, 10:09 AM

sigmonkey

quote:
Originally posted by molachi:
I'm in NW Fl and we have many people here who have evacuted S FL. Those that stay please be safe.

Yep.

Having done the evac thing quite a few times since 1973, we in the Panhandle welcome any of youse guys from da south.

We were welcomed and accommodated in the food joints, gas stations, hotels and motels, including 5 dogs and we never forgot that hospitality.

Now, any of you (doubtful you'll read this) that are of the, let's say; "opportunistic cut of cloth", don't come here. Cuz "ain't nobody got time for that!"

September 09, 2017, 10:26 AM

jehzsa

Irma has been slowly but surely heading west. Right now straight west and turn expected at some point. Still hasn't made the turn. Two days ago, it was forecasted that it would have made the turn by now.

Early this morning the center was expected east of I-75. The track is now on top or west of I-75.

Darn thing about being on the east side of the storm is that that's the worst quadrant.