TO FLORIDA DU'ERS AND FRIENDS: Friday is too late. TOO LATE. Head by THURSDAY to high ground.

[ancianita]

Last edited Tue Sep 5, 2017, 08:09 PM - Edit history (2)

Head by tomorrow to high ground. Gainesville, at least, if not the state line.

Some older people just can't handle shelters. The electricity will be out, no fresh water and sewerage services will compound the wait until weeks of water draining are over. I suggest that if anyone can get into a car to drive to shelters, they should pack for a week, even a MONTH, vacation -- that means all your valuables, documents, etc., and head toward the Georgia line for a hotel.

I've been through Category 2, 3, and 4 hurricanes. Irma, being the fastest in recorded history, makes it much more dangerous to stay in Bradenton or anywhere West of I-75. I can't stress enough that if you have the resources, you'll be better off as far away from the West Coast as possible.

Don't wait until everyone else goes. Be ready by Wednesday to hit the road. Evacuees from South Florida will make I-75 a parking lot by Thursday. You can always turn back if it dies down to a tropical storm. But it will only dip to Category 2 after it makes landfall in Florida. The islands will slow it down, but since we don't know what these double wide homes can handle, it's best to leave, not stay in them.

I'm wishing you all the graces of the creator. But please. Trust me. I can't stress enough that your lives are more important than your homes. The flooding will be biblical all around the Florida West Coast.

There is no point in crowding in a shelter when you can get better telecommunications, water and sewer service toward the state line. When it comes to a Category 5 hurricane ANYWHERE, it's far, far better to err on the side of too much caution than not enough.

This hurricane is nothing, nothing, to trifle with. Again, plan for crowds from the south on the highways and leave EARLY. Better to endure the hardship of packing and unpacking and leave EARLY than to sit in heavy traffic from coastal evacuees. All alternative routes will be washed out but the major highways. Wherever you live in Florida, this will be a flooding disaster.

Look carefully at the hurricane route for West Florida in this National Weather Service report. This is going to be worse for you than Harvey was for Houston. When it comes to Irma, it's MUCH better to be a wrong pessimist than a wrong optimist. Pack your important documents, valuables, pets and get OUT. Get moving. Be safe.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/05/catastrophic-hurricane-irma-now-a-cat-5-is-on-a-collision-course-with-florida/

?w=640&h=427

[ancianita]

1. k & r cuz this shit's serious

[RandomAccess]

74. Thursday may be too late -- go NOW.

For those who can.

[ancianita]

75. Absolutely. And plan to stay away for awhile until your area is dry enough and has electricity again

[Hortensis]

86. The more serious, though, the more panicky overreacting is inappropriate.

Where are the masses of fragile elders who died in shelters in Texas? Let's get serious, not overwrought. Agree with heading for high ground, unless you're already inland and on it, as many millions in Florida are. The vast majority, just like in Houston, will best shelter in place. Stock up on water and figure out where you're going to toilet if the plumbing goes down; filling toilets that can't flush is not a good idea, as so many families learn with every disaster.

[ancianita]

88. Panic isn't the idea here. Not waiting for Friday is the idea. Staying ahead of panic is the idea.

"Overwrought" is not what's going on here, either.

Thanks for your post.

[Hortensis]

90. Struck me as overwrought. Certainly for those who are leaving or

have vacation places down there, calling friends and telling them where you hid the key so they can get supplies from your house if they shelter in place and need them seemed like a good idea. I mention that because it occurred to me as something helpful we could do.

But - people not in Florida don't know a thing Floridians don't at this point, and are ignorant of a lot they do. What we didn't do was assume they needed us to clue them in from afar. Florida's governor declared a state of emergency already. It's all over the media.

[ancianita]

95. If you're casting shade here, no need. By now, I'm sure you're right about the 'need to know.'

You make fair points, mostly, except for a couple.

Floridians are people I know. I grew up there and live there most of the year, so I'm not from afar.

This OP's timing was as soon as I'd gotten off the phone with my west coast Florida friends who hadn't heard a thing about Irma's Cat 5 stage, who yet have their TV's on all day.

Most responses here were from hours ago, anyway.

Nice to reframe it all at this point, though.

I'm as sure as you are that everyone's doing the best they can.

[Hortensis]

96. Let's hope for that last. Take care yourself.

[snowybirdie]

2. Birth for the summer

but I'm so worried about my friends in sw Florida. Get out, if you can.

[ancianita]

3. I've had to call all my friends to warn them of the major parking lots that I-95 & I-75 will become

The longer anyone waits the more impossible and impassable will be the highways. Better to get out NOW, EARLY, than to be caught up in highway jams.

Please call everyone you know in Florida. A majority of people down there have never experienced a hurricane, nevermind one of this flooding magnitude.

[Nay]

19. I've been begging my brother and SIL to get out NOW. They're in Clearwater.

We're native Floridians and he should know better. They can come to our house in VA -- guest room is ready. Jesus. Just get out of there already. But he's pretty stubborn.

[ancianita]

23. Tell him stubborn will hurt his family, not him. Offer to pay his fare, to entice him.

I'm sure he'd be so grateful to get into civilization that he'd pay you back. Call him again and offer. All the stubborn, tough guys will get beaten down by this disaster, I promise you. He's got. to. go.

Clearwater will be nothing but water. The evacuees from the South are already hitting the two major arteries, by reports from Florida, and the airports are changing their flight schedules, close to cancelling them by the weekend.

Gov. Scott is a jerk, but he'd better be paid attention to this time.

I'm a native Floridian, and I'd be on the road to Alabama by now. This hurricane will dump so much water that your brother won't even be able to get out to get provisions to last the weeks he'll be out of electricity, fridge supplies, fresh water and sewer service. Does he want to be in FEMA lines?

He'd be better off not to wait if he's got family to take care of. He can always pack and unpack, but he can't live in a flooded town or home.

Good luck.

[Nay]

65. Just sent him another text. He and SIL would drive, but they better leave now.

We're both native Floridians, so he knows better. I agree that Clearwater will be Underwater. He's right off 19.

Believe me, I know he needs to leave. I don't think there are any flights left, but I'll look.

Thanks for the hugs.

[Brainstormy]

38. My daughter is in St Pete

She says there's no water in the stores. No gas. No sand in places like Home Depot. She could not find a hotel between there are Atlanta to come here.

[ancianita]

52. She needs to go to Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana. It's better to have your dry stuff, food,

transportation and telecommunications than just be a wet survivor.

St. Pete will flood. Tampa Bay will surge right into St. Pete.

She needs to go. No excuses. It's better to be turn around and come back if you're right than to stay and live in flooding if you're wrong.

[Mariana]

125. That's a hell of a long drive, ancianita.

There comes a point where you're more likely to get hurt or killed on the road than you are to be hurt or killed by the storm. Better to prepare the house or apartment as best you can, and go to a local shelter the day of the storm if necessary.

[Hortensis]

87. Some of residential areas of Clearwater are high ground. Houses can be wiped by winds, of course,

but a lot of people have moved to new subdivisions there because they can have ocean breezes and also be above storm surge. Hour people might even be in one of the subdivisions that advertise their altitude at their entrances. Or go stay with friends in one if it comeds to it.

[Warpy]

4. My father was in his mid 80s in 2004

and living on a barrier island off the east coast of Florida when 4 hurricanes came though that year. He said something was going to kill him off so he wasn't going to evacuate to the mainland. A storm surge would have erased everything on that island but it didn't get a direct hit.

He was without power for 22 days. His main complaint was that he'd run out of booze and the grog shop was closed for the first couple of weeks.

My advice to him was to sit in the interior hallway under one of the foam mattresses if he lost the roof. That advice stands for any old folks who don't want to evacuate but do want to survive.

[ancianita]

53. I've stayed. I'm totally against staying. But people will do what they think best.

[Warpy]

56. it's too soon to flee unless you're flying out of the state

because nobody knows where this thing will end up going for another couple of days.

If you wait to flee, it's gridlock all the way and you'll be lucky to make it to a 2 story cement building that's open to people riding it out.

If you live in a trailer, find a stronger building, even a tract house. Interior hallways are your best bet if you hide under mattresses to ward off any flying debris.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Gainesville could be a problem as well, believe it or not.

I'm in southeastern FL, I have family in the Gainesville area, but the problem is some of the models have Irma bisecting the state right up the middle and near Gainesville. And if it hits that way and it's a 4 or a 5, it could very well likely still be a 1 or 2 by the time it reaches Gainesville. And Gainesville has a) a lot of trees and b) structures that aren't built up to hurricane codes like they are on the coasts. So we're talking about possible power outages and even structural damage up there as well if it takes that bisect route.

Believe me, if this was simply an east to west path across South Florida, I'd be packing for Gainesville already. But literally at this point the entire state of Florida is at risk and we don't know where it will hit and what path it will take. If you are leaving, I'd plan on stopping no shorter than middle to northern Georgia. Otherwise, you have to assess how strong your house is (post-Andrew cement block constructions have the best chance) and if it's near the coast or a flood zone.

[zipplewrath]

6. If you're gonna leave, go far

At this point, no one knows where this is going. Bottom line is, if you can afford it, get west of the Mississippi if you're leaving at all. We might know a bit better by Thursday, but only a little bit.

[ancianita]

12. Amen!

[katmondoo]

7. I live in Gainesville and I saw that track right through the middle of Gainesville

Stores are already out of water, hopefully there will be another shipment soon.

[Mariana]

119. You can put tap water in ANY clean food safe container

as long as you do it BEFORE the storm comes and contaminates the water supply. Be creative and use what you have. If the stores are already out of bottled water, I wouldn't count on being able to buy it, certainly not in any quantity. IF they get more in, they'll be limiting how much you can buy. Better to just put up a bunch of water yourself - and even better than that, freeze some of it so you have ice.

[ancianita]

9. It will. Hotels there are booked up for the UF game. In which case, drive north to the state line.

I can't stress enough how important it is to get ahead of these South Florida evacuees.

Trust me -- the whole of Florida from Okeechobee southward will be a flood zone.

[marybourg]

15. The storm is wider than the state of FL. nt

[ancianita]

54. holy shit ...

[mcar]

34. I live 70 miles S of Gainesville, 70 miles north of Tampa

I 75 is a nightmare on normal days. Our stores are already cleaned out.

We're 25 miles inland from the gulf. We lived through Andrew in SFL. I really don't want to deal with this again.

[marybourg]

8. Just called and offered beds (and board)

to all my SoFl family, east and west coasts.

[ancianita]

10. Solidarity is what times like this are all about.

Everyone outside of FL can help.

[Motley13]

11. I suggest Montreal

[ancianita]

13. Seriously? Making light of this? Even flights out of Florida are being re-arranged by tomorrow.

[OldHippieChick]

21. I actually don't think they are making light.

The track of this storm comes straight up the East Coast and though Montreal might be a bit far, it is not that great an exaggeration. This storm could truly be epic in so many ways.

[ancianita]

24. The computer models I've seen today show it heading up the West Coast.

Check these satellite tracking shots out.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/05/catastrophic-hurricane-irma-now-a-cat-5-is-on-a-collision-course-with-florida/

[OldHippieChick]

28. I was talking the East Coast of the U.S. not

Florida. As it tracks up the East Coast of the US, it is currently tracking as far north as North Carolina. That would make Virginia the northern state to which to flee or to go even further west to Kentucky, etc. That is why the suggestion of Montreal is not that absurd.

[ancianita]

55. It might be the only flights available. I'd go there. I love that city.

[OldHippieChick]

104. Moi aussi

eom

[Motley13]

14. Since I live in Fort Lauderdale, I definitely am not making light of it

but Montreal is not a bad idea

[ancianita]

16. Then hit the airport before tomorrow, or flights may get changed/cancelled due to winds. Just sayin

Pack what's valuable and just go. The cost of staying will be higher than the cost of leaving.

I went through a Cat 4 on Old Griffin Road around 50 years ago. Floods, no food, no electricity for days.

[AngryAmish]

98. Food is good in Montreal.

[Not Ruth]

17. I have been saying to evacuate since last week

[ancianita]

18. This is the predicted impact of Irma. Staying in the state will be like camping with no

nearby restaurants, electricity, water, food, beds or bathrooms.

[Not Ruth]

20. Miami Dade "starts" evacuate tomorrow

[geek tragedy]

22. Where are they supposed to go, Tennessee? nt

[ancianita]

25. The map above shows Alabama and Mississippi as the closest safety points.

[Motley13]

27. not a bad idea

Miami floods in a heavy rainfall, they have a problem

My friend is going to Kissimmee, but not sure how good that is

[geek tragedy]

37. problem is the neighboring states don't have the capacity to take in that many

internal refugees.

Miami is as far away from Atlanta as Baltimore is.

[ancianita]

57. I'd take the chance. This is a big country and those are big states. Add Louisiana, Kentucky.

[geek tragedy]

64. Where are they supposed to stay, in the woods?

Under bridges?

[Nay]

69. Trust me -- that would be better than staying. nt

[ancianita]

72. What the....?? Are you seriously implying that staying is better than leaving? Suffering is more

virtuous in a flooded home than in a dry state?

How people alleviate or endure their suffering is not up to me, but the idea of relocating is not wrong.

I'm not a clearing house, but I have an opinion. Don't make this about me.

[RandomAccess]

78. Gainesville to Atlanta is a solid 6 hours without traffic problems

and if you don't stop every hour and a half, like me.

Miami is a lot more hours from Gainesville.

[Maraya1969]

26. I'm in Fort Myers and I've been trying to make a hotel reservation and none of them

are accepting reservations. They said it is because people tend to make reservations all over the place when these things happen.

Right now it is raining bad and thundering. I'm starting to get scared because it is only frigging Tues

[ancianita]

31. Make hotel reservations in Alabama and go there. Get out of Fort Myers. Your fear is well founded.

[ancianita]

29. A tracking prediction as of 5 pm.

[Motley13]

30. my friend that is going to Kissimmee

gave them a $200 non refundable payment to secure the room

[ancianita]

33. Great! At least one hotel is taking reservations.

[Motley13]

35. Call them direct, I think it works better

[lindysalsagal]

32. Please, everyone, get thee north. I'd be outta there already if it were me.

Not too proud to admit when I'm in over my head.

[mcar]

36. Many of us can't afford a flight or to leave work

We have 2 dogs, one large and 2 little cars. We are not in a position to leave.

We are most of the residents of Florida.

[ancianita]

42. You've never taken them anywhere? No vacation? No trip to Tallahassee? Hilly country?

No relatives north?

I've lived in Florida -- southeast, northwest, west coast and Jacksonville -- and most Floridians don't have two dogs. But as long as you've got two cars...

I don't believe "can't." Do as you wish, but you can't also say that no effort to leave is better than any effort to leave.

And you can't say you weren't warned.

Good luck to you all.

[mcar]

58. No, we haven't

An 80lb dog and a 25 lb dog in a Ford Fiesta with 3 humans isn't exactly optimum. We couldn't afford gas for both cars.

I'm saying that many people don't have the option - that means $$ to evacuate. But thanks for the good wishes.

[mcar]

60. Having said what I did

If I lived in SFL or on the coast, I'd figure something out. We're inland and central. No guarantee, but we're usually where people evacuate to.

We went through Andrew, lived in SFL then. Being northerners, we were clueless but talked about leaving. Problem was, no one knew where it would make landfall till too late. A friend from PA was in Daytona, we were going to join her. They got evacuated to Orlando.

[ancianita]

61. I hear you. It does get unpredictably messy.

I lived through the eye of Hurricane Betsy, and the post slam was worse than the run-up. But I was a kid, poor and didn't know any better.

Glad you're in a relatively safe area. I hope you've got a generator.

[mcar]

62. Don't, but I wish I had one

I really think the entire state is going to be slammed.

[Motley13]

39. I'm staying, I have a cat

[ancianita]

40. If you don't live above Lake Okeechobee, take it with you.

[femmedem]

44. Last time I flew out of Southern Florida, a couple was flying with their cat.

If you have the means, it might still be possible.

I'm not the praying type, but I will be thinking of you both.

[femmedem]

41. I can't persuade my elderly parents in Naples Florida to evacuate.

Dad uses a walker. Mom has moderate dementia, and can barely walk herself. Evacuating would be very difficult, but it wouldn't have been impossible today for them to catch a flight up north to my house.

Instead they got offended that I was worrying and not trusting them to know what they are doing.

[ancianita]

46. This happens. It's their life. They can live it as they see fit. I'm old, too, but I'd get outta

Dodge if I were in their shoes.

I read this about old people a lot.

I hope you told them you love them.

[femmedem]

49. I did. And I will again before the weekend.

Thank you for a wise response.

[beachbum bob]

43. calm down, whats coming at florida wont be whats hitting the islands now or be close

to Harvey....

[Motley13]

48. I agree

nt

[ancianita]

50. Ever been in a Cat 4 hurricane? Do you think that because it drops to Cat 2,

that cubic miles of water still won't flood Florida? Won't render trailer parks ruined?

Best case scenario, the state has massive flooding above Okeechobee, Houston-style flooding below Okeechobee, downed electricity and unavailable road use, except for interstates, for at least a week.

I'm calm, my friend.

I'm not there. But I know what lesser hurricanes are like.

Free country. Think what you like. Do as you wish.

[obamanut2012]

77. Yes, I have -- I'm in PBC, not worried

Quit overreacting and trying to scare people. Not helpful.

[ancianita]

82. I'll say it again. Better to be a wrong pessimist than a wrong optimist. What's PBC?

[steve2470]

109. you and I are on the same page

I've been in FL for 59 years, and seen many many hurricanes. Some have come through or close to Orlando. Never had any serious problems.

Was there damage and other problems in the past ? Yes, of course. Was it anything like Andrew, Harvey or Katrina ? No, not even close. As I said in the thread below, if I was under a similar-to-Andrew-situation, I just might be getting the F out of Dodge. It's not going to be like that. Not good at all, but nowhere close to a catastrophic Category 5. Now if I lived near a lake or river or in a manufactured home, I just might evacuate.

[GulfCoast66]

102. Yes, I have been through a CAT 4. Well, Charlie was CAT 3 when it made it to my house

And the 2 others that year lingered like Harvey and dropped huge amounts of rain. Plus several Cat 1 and 2s in Louisiana and one in the panhandle. I was even vacationing in New York when Irene hit!! Had to rent a car to drive back to Florida since all the flights were cancelled.

While I greatly respect your concern, your scenarios do not reflect the realities of Florida. We are in almost no way similar to Houston from everything to our drainage pattern to the ability of our soil to absorb water.

Doubtless it will be a bad wind event and people in subpar housing or right on the coast should leave ASAP. And Surge will be bad so anyone in the surge zone should leave including all the barrier islands. And people living on flood zones along estuaries and rivers should go And that will be and is being done by order of the state.

But there is no reason every person south of Okeechobee should leave, especially those on the coral ridge in South East Florida. The storm will be here 20 hours or so at the most. It will not flood that ridge. The glades...of course they will flood and staying in everglades city or flamingo will mean death. But even Naples has some areas high enough that they will not be flooded or affected by surge.

Thanks for your sincere concern.

Have a nice evening.

[beachbum bob]

114. I lived in Florida for 4 years, lived in Biloxi, Ms for 2 years

I know hurricanes, I know the hype and I know how to prep....I have 2 kids and 3 grand kids on eastcoast of Florida...just north of lauderdale...so ya, I know wtf I am talking about

[ancianita]

115. Okay, it's just another ho-hummer. Best of luck to all.

[beachbum bob]

116. not a "ho-hummer" but you have to be prepared, panic is the worse enemy

the people in the islands are going to be hit hard for sure

[Mariana]

123. I have been in a Cat. 4 hurricane.

The low areas flood, that's a fact. Trailer parks get flattened. Roads and bridges are destroyed. Electricity goes out and it stays out a while. Municipal and county authorities set up shelters in sturdy buildings on higher ground, and most people who need to use them will do so. The Cat. 4 hurricane I was in had something like seven fatalities. There probably would have been more if EVERYBODY had tried to leave the area. People die in hurricanes, but people die during evacuations, too.

[steve2470]

124. +1 nt

[RandomAccess]

73. I think it's going to be worse than Harvey -- except

it's not likely to get stalled ... and stalled ... and stalled like Harvey. But the storm itself, worse.

[obamanut2012]

79. Actually, it probably won't

The pressure is better, it is more compact, is is moving VERY fast, and it doesnt have that rain like Harvey did.

I am in SOFL, very SOFL. The only people freaking out are those who have never been through a real hurricane - teh rest of us are prepared.

Post-Andrew construction, with hurricane glass and great shutters and great roof. Evacuating from SOFL is almost impossible, and quite futile, esp for those of us who actually live and work here.

[RandomAccess]

91. Well, I wish you well.

You're either braver -- or dumber -- than I am. Hope it's the former.

[ancianita]

80. Moving slowly as it is, it could get totally stalled once it hits Florida. 13 mph isn't very fast.

[obamanut2012]

76. I know, I am in SOFL, and this is needless scare tactics

[defacto7]

81. Hurricanes carry water, bigger hurricanes carry more water

A hurricane that decreases to a tropical storm droppes all that accumulated water. Hurricanes that decrease is size especially to TSs are more deadly by flooding over a larger area than the high winds of the center of the hurricane. Don't underestimate a decreasing storm. Harvey is an example of the devistation of a large hurricane that became a tropical storm.

[GusBob]

108. My first hurricane was Camille, the most recent was Matthew

One thing I have learnt in the meanwhile is never ever succumb to panic

For one thing, a lot of it is media driven, or chicken litlles.

The panic from Frances put me and a lot of my coworkers in debt.

I can't afford a 2 week vacation much

[steve2470]

111. +1 nt

[GusBob]

117. Here's a funny story. I was just up to SAMs Club

The only thing scarcer thane bottled water there were empty shopping carts. 2 elderly Black ladies I know walking out with some Pineapples and Mangoes in their cart. I laughed and said: that's it? Thems your Hurricane supplies?
They laughed back " Oh yeah, ats all we need, you know"

Another thing I learnt: the sooner I can help my boss to straighten out the workplace, the sooner I get back to a paycheck.

Vacation lol

[steve2470]

118. good story, and good thinking! best wishes! nt

[roamer65]

45. If you can, I suggest KY, OH or MI.

We have had remanents of these hurricanes make up it up to us in MI before...like Katrina...but they were a tropical depressions at that point.

Please be safe and get moving if humanly possible.

[jb5150]

47. I live in Flagler County ...

30 mile north of Daytona Beach, on the coast. I'm staying.

[haveahart]

51. Step daughters in Houston. Two nieces in FL.

One step daughter in Houston lost her home. Now staying with other sister who sustained water damage but not totally destroyed.

[ancianita]

59. Glad for you that they're alive. These are times when people come up with creative solutions.

[dixiegrrrrl]

63. You said it perfectly.

sadly, it sometimes takes a hurricane survivor to heed the wisdom.

I would add...call your dr. office NOW and get refills of any crucial meds to take with you.
If you are familiar with your state and neighboring areas, you might could find a workable secondary road to drive on, IF you leave by tomorrow.

I remember what happened to Fla. during Andrew. The pics alone were enough to give you a shock.

[AC_Mem]

66. I'm in Orlando

with the people who mean everything to me, my two children, my 4 grandchildren, and 1 on the way (due 10/11). These pictures are frightening!

My daughter and I work at the VA and my son works at the Orlando airport as an air traffic controller- we are getting updates but nobody is in a real panic - yet. We are just preparing. Storm or no, we have Veterans that we have to consider, and flights that have to be navigated. In the next day we should know more - this thing is looking like a monster. I'm at my son's tonight so they can go celebrate his birthday - I'll be having a heart to heart with he and my pregnant DIL when they get home. We need more of a plan then to get ice and water!!!

[ancianita]

68. Sounds like you're set. And definitely in a good location to move or ride it out. Best of luck!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

70. Earlier today I called a friend who lives in Charleston, SC

and she was blissfully and totally unaware of Irma. I gave her some information and suggested she at least stock up on water and non perishable food. She thinks she'll be just fine no matter what because she's on the fifth or sixth floor of a multi-story building and they have a generator. She thinks it's on the roof. I told her to verify that.

I think she's being foolish because she's still only a few blocks from the ocean. And this is a woman who used to sail sailboats for a living.

[ancianita]

71. Ugh. Sounds like she'll have to learn the hard way. It will be a tropical storm by then, but still..

[WinkyDink]

92. Five floors up is pretty darn high.

[JennyMominFL]

83. Where?

Where do we go really? I'm in Orlando.. We have no clue if this storm with hit the west coast, east coast or go up the center.. My sister is leaving the west coast and coming to us in Orlando...If the storm goes up the spine she was better off staying where she was. I can't go south. The storm may hit there. I can't go east. Same issue. I can't go west, again same issue. Drive north? Maybe... I'd have to go to NW Ga or Parts of alabama or Tennessee to really be out of danger. And I'l be on the road with millions of many other people. And Florida is narrow, there are only a couple of highways that go north in the whole state. I have a solid house with a new roof. I don't live in a flood zone. I'm not really sure what the best solution is. Oh and I have a sister living with me who hasn't left the house in 2 years. I don't think she would go

[ancianita]

85. Orlando may be one of the best places to be if it's got drainage. You're in a good spot. You sound

prepared. Most coastal people west of I-75 and east of I-95 are the audience for this thread.

People in central Florida above Okeechobee should have flooding and loss of electricity, so it's likely you can ride this out, given what you've said.

Best of luck.

[JennyMominFL]

94. Exactly my plan

Yeah, that's exactly my thinking. I'm probably best off here. BUt if this storm goes up the spine of Florida, both coasts will take a hit. It will be ugly

[steve2470]

97. I'm here also.

I'm going nowhere. Years ago I went to Atlanta during one of those 2004 hurricanes, and I lived to regret it. The hurricane wasn't that bad. I went through Charley which was a direct hit. I was in a ground floor apartment about 10 yards from a pond, and I was just fine. It was scary, no lie, but I was fine.

If you are in a fragile residence and/or a low-lying area or have some other rational reason to leave, then it makes sense to go somewhere safer. Otherwise, Orlando is pretty darn safe compared to the coasts. Been here 59 years, and never had a serious problem. Yes, in 2004, the power was out for some people in Osceola County for up to a month. Orlando and its immediate suburbs were in pretty good shape though.

I worry more about a direct hit from a tornado than a hurricane. I guess 59 years of dodging bullets does that to you. However, if this was a Hurricane Andrew-situation with it hitting us from the west or east (instead of the south), then I'd be worried.



Anyway...people need to do what's best for them. I am very confident I will be just fine, but then again I am quite fortunate.

eta: Worst season in memory for me, 2004

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Atlantic_hurricane_season

[ancianita]

105. ...

Glad you're in a good spot there. Stay safe!

[Dustlawyer]

84. Since I am in Beaumont, Texas, former home of Rita, Ike, and most recently,

Harvey, I strongly urge to get out early and be grateful if you reacted to a false alarm. Evacuations do not work in many places unless you chance leaving very early before you know if it will hit you!

We were told we would get a little rain, no wind. Then it was 8-13 inches and a little wind. By the time he came back around it was too late to leave, we were cut off. Now we have water intermittently indefinitely, and that we must boil first. I "shower" with a gallon jug of saved tap water from before the storm.

Stock up on necessities in case you have to stay or get caught evacuating. Do it NOW, others already are!

Best of luck to you!

[csziggy]

89. I'm outside Tallahassee - no water in the stores, gas is going up

Lines at the gas stations. Not a generator to be found anywhere close.

We've survived storms without electricity but it sure was nice when my friends brought over their generator after Hermine and let me borrow it until out power was restored! They got power days before we did so they didn't need it. Without even asking they brought it over, hooked it up to my fridge and freeze, put a window unit in, ran extension cord to everything and had me set.

My husband wanted to buy a generator today and they are all gone. If I order one online, estimated delivery is a week from now. We really need two - one for the house and one for the well. Maybe eventually we'll get solar panels with battery backup or a standby generator for emergencies. We're getting too old to rough it.

We'll get some big jugs, fill them with water and put those in the freezer and refrigerator. I have a big muck bucket - I fill it with water in the shower, then dip water into the toilet tank so I can flush it. Tomorrow I'll get my husband to wash his big cooler and if the storm comes here he can fill it with water in his bathroom for flushing. I got some battery packs to run my LED lights and recharge the cell phones.

We don't worry about flooding - we're almost at the top of a 200 foot ridge.The roads to the farm flooded in some of the storms, but nothing deeper than a few inches. We just won't plan on driving for a few days and if we have to, we will take the Suburban.

[ancianita]

93. Ah, the seven hills of Tallahassee. Thanks for the nuts and bolts of dealing.

You sound like an old hand at this. Thanks for the helpful post.

Sidebar: I worked and graduated from FSU after six years, before I and my daughter left for Chicago, where we live now. She's never been through a hurricane.

[csziggy]

100. The first year I was in Tallahassee there was a hurricane

The first I'd experienced since Hurricane Donna in 1960 as a child.

19 June 1972 Hurricane Agnes hit Panama City but Tallahassee was not ready for even the outer bands of it. Many students who lived in substandard buildings planned to ride it out in Strozier Library, assuming since it was normally open 24 hours a day and was a civil defense shelter that it would be safe. As the first bands hit the town, they closed the library, leaving many of us with no way to get to safe shelter since we had no cars and the buses were erratic at the best of times and had stopped running earlier that day.

Since then I have learned to cope. The worst part is now I am less able to do so physically.

[GulfCoast66]

99. This is just not how evacations occur...

There is no way in hell to evacuate the 10+ million people in the peninsula of Florida even if you start now.

People in shabby housing, low lying ground or in danger of the surge need to get out. But believe it or not, while Florida is relatively low, we are not Houston.

The best thing we have going are the 100,000+ hotel rooms in the center of the state. In the next few days as tourist begin cancelling their reservations we will have 10s of thousands of hotel rooms opening up in this area and they will be filled with people from South Florida. Disney will even be filled with evacuees. It happens every time we have a big one coming.

And there are millions of people in South Florida who are much safer staying where they are rather than taking to the road into unknown circumstances. Especially if they live in houses built several years after Andrew when our building codes were upgrade. Florida has some of the toughest wind load requirements of any state. I just had a new roof put on this is guaranteed to 140mph. Yeah, yeah, the storm has higher winds now, but it will not by the time it travels overland to my part of the state.

Listen, we have done this before. Will some people refuse to leave and die...undoubtedly. But if we send even 2 million people streaming into south Georgia we will have a man made disaster before the natural disaster even arrives.

I do not mean to understate the danger presented by this storm because it has the potential to be a killer, but this is not our first rodeo.

Have a nice evening.

[ancianita]

101. I hear you loud and clear. But a few hours ago, it bore greater awareness. It's many's first rodeo,

and if they can avoid it and leave, I stand by the OP and say they should. If they can, of course.

But if the OP doesn't pertain to you, why diminish the OP. I'm writing to help people avoid evacuation mode by taking early action.

I've got a house in Bradenton just north of Sarasota. I could sit here in Chicago and can easily ignore future problems of my Florida or DU friends, but that's not me.

I have also been through five hurricanes, enough to say that this particular one has first rodeo status, even for veterans, and I'd be on the road right now if I were down there.

Thanks for your post. You have a nice evening, as well.

[GulfCoast66]

106. Respectfully, it does affect me.

At least if everyone takes their advice. I live in Florida and want the best for everyone here. And I cannot disagree that if someone has a place to go and a way to get there then by all means go. But I remember the panic and can develop around these storm. I just heard that some of the grocery stores, after having fighting and brawls break out today when trying to unload water into their store have decided to wait till closing and stock the shelves at night. And have the police in the stores when they open in the morning. I just get concerned about that kind of fear taking hold in an evacuation scenario

And I agree, I were in Bradenton, especially near the rive then I would look to leave. But if you could get a hotel on the central Florida ridge 30 mile to the east you would be fine.

I guess we really both want the best for everyone here and I sincerely appreciate your concern.

Have a good night.

Oh, I hope your house in Bradenton weathers the storm well. I drive through there often on the way to AMI. Where I am a Skinny's fan!

[ancianita]

107. I practically live on AMI in winter. Thanks for your hope for my ol' double wide; we put on a new

roof, added a wider gutter system this past spring, but it's about 50 feet from Palm Lake, so I'm pretty sure we'll get major flooding.

No sense in my worrying about what I can't control, and I'm just glad I'm not there. It's sad that people there feel desperate enough to fight over supplies, but it's probably because it's not their first rodeo, either.

I know Skinny's! It's always crowded. I go to the AMI Moose -- cheap drinks, parking and bathroom, balcony for company to enjoy the beach.

[GulfCoast66]

112. A double wide...Yikes! I would be out of there as well!

Cheap drinks on AMI! I did not know that we legal.

Now I am so jealous I am almost sorry for being nice

I hope you are able to again snowbird down here this winter as well.

[ancianita]

113. Heh heh... RIGHT?? We'll see. We've got friends and a Plan B. Thanks.

[Mariana]

120. Over bottled water, of all things? See, that's just idiotic.

Store bought bottled water is a luxury, it's not a necessity. If you can't get it you just put tap water into any old clean food safe containers you can find around the house. It can go in baggies, even. The water from the tap is just fine, so long as you fill up your containers before the storm comes along.

[recovering_democrat]

103. hotel and route info

we got on internet today and checked hotel rooms on route of I-75 North. found rooms full in some football towns, decent rooms and prices in others. mostly can do no cancellation fee if cancelled 24 hours.

we have 3 reservations depending on which direction Irma appears going no later than thursday. Based on routes, should be safely here or out of here as needed. Check everything. Scott cancelled all toll fees in florida and the price gouging laws here in FL are serious. I saw nothing all day but unleaded signs $2.69.9 no matter what part of town, interstate exits. like they all agreed what would be ok. Hope more gas tomorrow, pretty much out here by evening.

Stay safe!

[XRubicon]

110. It's coming right at us!!!111

27 years in south Florida, last 20 in PBC...

I am staying.

People should prepare and if it makes sense leave, not sure where people should go yet though. I bet the track changes over the next few days.

[raven mad]

121. The worst for me was a 4.

GTFO isn't just a meme for sTrumpet to obey. Please, y'all - GET OUT EARLY.

[ancianita]

122. Same here. Category 4's are enough to justify leaving. It's the aftermath as much the hurricane.

[flyingfysh]

126. My mom (age 92) is evacuating Thursday

She lives just a few yards from a tidal marsh, so her house may be gone after this is all over.

[Sancho]

127. We are packed to go, but there's no gas and the highways are already jammed (I 75).

Hard to get on the moving parking unless there is gas.

[ancianita]

128. Try off-road truckstops on GPS; any gas you can get is usable at this point. Then move northward.