Pensacola area here. If any evacuees get this way and need to unwind and rest or stay a bit, we would love to have you.

I know how exhausting it is.

At 1:30 AM last night, we left Naples for Orlando as the forecast for our area got worse. It was an easy drive - not a lot of traffic (but definitely more cars than I expected at that hour and that close to the storm). Gas was easy to find. We made it to Orlando just before 5 AM. We are still expected to get a hurricane up here. Depending on how far west the eye goes, we could still see category two or maybe even three winds, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad. Either way it's better than what is expected in Naples. Now I just have to wonder when I can go back and what I will find.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
At 1:30 AM last night, we left Naples for Orlando as the forecast for our area got worse. It was an easy drive - not a lot of traffic (but definitely more cars than I expected at that hour and that close to the storm). Gas was easy to find. We made it to Orlando just before 5 AM. We are still expected to get a hurricane up here. Depending on how far west the eye goes, we could still see category two or maybe even three winds, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad. Either way it's better than what is expected in Naples. Now I just have to wonder when I can go back and what I will find.

I hear you sigman. Hopefully you will get some wind and rain in the 70-90 mph range. That's really doable without much stress. Don't worry about stuff in Naples. It will look like a war zone for a while, but usually ends up better than before the storm.
I know that sounds a little too easy to say, but stuff ain't important, stuff can be fixed, or replaced. Keep you and yours hunkered down and safe and everything will be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
At 1:30 AM last night, we left Naples for Orlando as the forecast for our area got worse. It was an easy drive - not a lot of traffic (but definitely more cars than I expected at that hour and that close to the storm). Gas was easy to find. We made it to Orlando just before 5 AM. We are still expected to get a hurricane up here. Depending on how far west the eye goes, we could still see category two or maybe even three winds, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad. Either way it's better than what is expected in Naples. Now I just have to wonder when I can go back and what I will find.

Check your e-mail.

G17, 6 mags loaded - Check
MPX 10 Mags loaded - Check
Generator - check
Bourbon - Check
Cigars - check
Gas for generator - check
food and water - check

We're good in CFL, until today sunny hot and humid a bit of showers but nothing ominous yet, that's "predicted" for Sunday afternoon.

Hi all,

I'm running security and public relations at a shelter where I teach. In fact, I had three live interviews with WTSP just today.

We are understaffed and beginning to see an influx of new evacuees. At present, we are at around 650, but the county says that we could handle almost 10 times as many.

Please pray for our area and the folks that will be affected by this storm. Once things are over, I will have some shelter stories to share. Some funny, and some heart-warming.

Stay safe!

Temporary FL resident...

Helping FPL with damage assessment. Currently staged on standby in Orlando area. Dunno what is in store over next minutes, hours, days, weeks...

Left St Petersburg this morning, eating lunch in Ashburn, GA and heading to Atlanta. Stay safe everyone.

Cutler Bay down on the SE Florida coast..

Waiting for rain in Hollywood. No wind yet. We lucked out again.
Good luck left coast.

We're in Land O Lakes. About 22 miles north of Tampa and 5.3 miles east of the closest coast. TSM11 is being recalled to work Sunday morning but she will leave early to make sure she makes it depending on weather. I'm hunkering down here. I have all my AR and P226 mags loaded. I have about 10 gallons of drinking water and 55 gallons of toilet flushing water as well as filling the bath tub. We're working on bringing in all the stuff outside that might fly with the winds. I'm more worried about Rotndad Jr. He is just north of downtwon Tampa in an older apartment. He's on the second floor. He and hos roomie are well prepaped though. Of course they and their 2 cats can come here.

I'll check in as I can and update as much as possible.

My sweet OCD wife asked if we had enough ammo.
We prepped Labor Day.
Emergency Bacon is ready.

quote:

Originally posted by Archie Teuthis:
My sweet OCD wife asked if we had enough ammo.
We prepped Labor Day.
Emergency Bacon is ready.

The answer is ALWAYS no honey I should order another case or two.

Then you say thanks babe, you're definitely the brains of this operation.

You guys are all in my prayers

Any updated word on potential storm surge in Naples? My college room mate's winter home has storm shutters and a new roof, and he's 7 miles inland, but he's still a bit concerned.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refres...?inundation#contents

Local tv should have specific updates as to evacuation zones for his area. There was a Livestream of Fort Meyers tv on you tube that had that information. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_egSTyWb1gk

It looks like he's in the 9 foot area. Talking about it this morning (he's in Wisconsin right now) he doesn't think a surge like that will reach his home, but the map says otherwise.

As long as no one is there, it is just property. Nothing he can do from Wisconsin. Sometimes people get lucky. The public surge forecasts are relatively new, and are designed to be on the safe side. It is calculated at high tide.

Boca Raton. We got lucky, but thoughts and prayers to our Keys and West coast families. Nothing here, water at high tide was still 1' below sea wall cap, biggest gust so far was 30 mph. Weather station KFLBOCAR153. Mom and evacuated from Founders park in Islamorada, not sure if they will have a boat when they get back. West shift has helped them a lot.

Friends in Tampa and Ft Myers beach, likely we will be helping them rebuild.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
As long as no one is there, it is just property...

He has hurricane insurance, but not flood insurance, like so many people. This will wipe out a substantial part of his savings.