General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEvacuated. Returned Home. Hunkering Down.
My family left Brevard County before daybreak yesterday and headed to Gainesville with the intent to continue on to McDonough, GA today. Our drive was uneventful. We had smooth driving on primarily back roads most of the way, but even northbound I-95 and I-75 were fine when we were on them. Found gas stations with gas easily enough, if a bit of a wait for a pump.
Storm models shifted west and converged on where we were headed near Atlanta today. Decision time again!
My brother-in-law stayed behind in his house which has hurricane shutters and a generator. We live in the same neighborhood, walking distance away. We have plenty of food, water, batteries, flashlights, lanterns, etc. We're projected to have Cat 1 gusts and Con5 tornado probabilities. (50%)
Four to five days of evacuees were likely to want to return over the same one to two days when the storm has moved out of the area. The return would be nightmarish and possibly dangerous. And someone fleeing the west coast was probably more in need of our Georgia hotel room than us.
So decision made, we drove home and made great time as we were one of very few cars headed south. Passed mostly fuel, grocery store, and power trucks headed south as well. North bound traffic was a little heavy, but moving at a good clip. When we got back home, we topped off the gas tank, bought some more food and water at the grocery store, filled another gas can for BIL's generator, and will be going to his house first thing in the morning.
The waiting is the worst part. Especially when you've been through these before and you know the last minute wobbles can have huge impacts. This is going to be one of the longest ones I've experienced given it's sheer size. First for my two teenage boys since we evacuated with them when previously threatened.
I'm also in awe that my son at FSU is experiencing the exact same hurricane, 275 miles away from me as the crow flies. Tallahassee got a hurricane hit last year over Labor Day weekend. He says he's prepared, "it's okay mom, I have plenty of food and water and <friends he's staying with> have flashlights and deodorant if the power goes out."
We'll be fine. The structure we'll be in is quite sound. We know what we're doing and we've taken the proper precautions. I fear for those more directly in harms way. Not so much for the storm event, but for the aftermath. That is always so much worse.
Appreciate the well wishes. It's hoping for the best at this point.
mahina
(17,506 posts)Aloha.
Freddie
(9,232 posts)My son lives in Lake Worth, are you anywhere near there? (I'm in PA) He evacuated to Orlando. Hope he has an apartment to come home to and his cat is ok. What is weather like now?
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)No rain or noticeable wind at the moment.
I'm about 120 miles north of Lake Worth on the Atlantic Coast and 45 minutes east of Orlando.
My guess is he'll be fine. Fingers crossed!
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)Unless the odd tornado they warn about pops up I think this area will be fine. Don't see how Irma could swerve enough to hit there as it's the farthest point east in FL. Losing power will probably be the worst of it.
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)looks like you're making good choices.
janterry
(4,429 posts)The city made the decision to allow all of those canopy roads (they do look pretty), but last year Hermine had trees down all over town (on houses, cars). Great big trees - uprooted. We couldn't drive around our neighborhood because of the felled trees.
Power will be out for days (I lived there for more than a decade .
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)He's expecting more of the same.
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)well wishes when you st one time we're away from it.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)Do you think I am asking for well wishes? I am not.
Do you think I drove into a storm? I did not.
I have successfully avoided being in the worst of the storm based on the best information we have at a given time.
Please explain because right now I am interpreting your reply to me to be both ignorant and insulting. Tell me I am wrong.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)But I agree with your interpretation of it.
Lots of judgmental folks here, so don't let it bother you.
You did exactly what many of us would do. People here have no idea of what it's like to leave, only to find you're suddenly in the bullseye again.
whopis01
(3,467 posts)The storm was predicted to hit the east coast of Florida. The OP is on the east coast. So they evacuated and headed north and west.
Then the storm path prediction changed and now has it hitting the west coast of Florida and continuing into Georgia. Which is exactly where the OP was evacuating towards.
The evacuation didn't take them out of the path of the storm. And returning home didn't put them back in the path of the storm.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)barbtries
(28,702 posts)here in Durham, NC, earlier this week it looked like we might take a hit but we seem to be in the clear now, just some rain. now we're prepared though! you seem to have made every sensible decision possible. all the best.
TEB
(12,716 posts)Please keep us posted if you can
malaise
(267,819 posts)murielm99
(30,656 posts)keep checking in!
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)to Ocala. She thought that she could ride it out until it turned West and then she started to "freak out". I am glad she is finally taking our advice.
radical noodle
(7,990 posts)I hope she has a place to stay
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)and to bring her own food, bedding, towels, etc. How are the roads and traffic around there?
radical noodle
(7,990 posts)If she's on the back roads, they aren't quite as bad. There are a lot of shelters around Ocala, but yeah, food, bedding, towels are good to have.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)so she should be familiar with the different routes. My 104 year old grandmother was the most die hard democrat if there ever was one and lived the last few years of her life in a nursing home in Ocala where she had lived for over 50 years. I am glad she doesn't have to go through this. Probably watching 45 become the fake prez would've killed her before this disaster though. I recall visiting her on her 100th birthday and how there was a two lane highway that was always slow and no one would let someone else pass them. That is my concern for my cousin today.
radical noodle
(7,990 posts)Since The Villages have grown so much, most roads are two lanes either way now. There are really "back" roads that are just two lanes but probably nothing she would take. Good for your Grandmother, living so long and so well. You must miss her a lot.
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)since she was a stoic, all I would have to do is mention anything related to politics and Republicans and she would immediately get a burst of energy and start ranting about them using every Italian insult imaginable. Even when she was in the nursing home the nurses could tell when she was talking about politics from way down the hallway. They loved her for it.
radical noodle
(7,990 posts)Dr Hobbitstein
(6,568 posts)Was also gonna head to Atlanta to stay with family. Storm's path changed a bit yesterday when we were getting ready to leave, so we stayed.
Wasn't looking forward to a 7.5+ hour drive with a ferret in tow, however.
StevieM
(10,499 posts)So be careful and stay safe!!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)What a wild and wooly ride, eh?
Dr Hobbitstein
(6,568 posts)'Canes usually don't stress me out, but this one...
Locked in the house with wife, kiddo, roommate, and roommate's new girlfriend. And my "get away from it room" is my recording studio, which is full of ALL the shit that's usually outside or on my back porch... Slowly going crazy.
StevieM
(10,499 posts)Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)In east central Florida. Even odds are a weird place to be.
calimary
(80,699 posts)Thanks for checking in, though. Good luck to all of Florida! Hang in there, everybody!
MyOwnPeace
(16,888 posts)gotta' say - I loved the son's reassuring note to Mom - "We've got flashlights and deodorant!"
Make her feel really good - tell her you've got clean underwear!!
Good luck and blessings to all going through this!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)Tell momma your skivvies are clean. I mean really. 😂
MyOwnPeace
(16,888 posts)Can't tell you the last time I heard "skivvies!"
I'm thinking it was a thing from my Dad, something he'd learned when he was in the Navy!
Good one!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)MyOwnPeace
(16,888 posts)Families are a crucial part of the service to our country!
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)That should be a 3 hour trip tops and they even left at 1am "to avoid traffic". They really planned to fly out from West Palm originally, let's see:
1st to Tenn with 2 connections (canceled flight).
Then DC with 3 connections (canceled flight) and so were then driving to Atlanta to catch a connection anywhere other than the east coast of FL where we are and this storm was suppose to hit. I told them they were nutz cause one never knew for sure three days out where that thing could actually end up and sure enough now they are stuck in a shitty motel in Orlando with no shutters.
They wanted to leave and drive back here tomorrow but I told them forget it, that's when the storm will hit FL for real. Hell, it's just barely off Cuba now and it's blowing pretty good already almost 300 miles away. They said, OK we'll leave tonite but I said forget it, way too dangerous and there's a curfew now anyway.
Meanwhile, I'm in a cement house with metal shutters and all the animals 'cause that's what Dads do, right?
Sometimes the best laid plans...
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)I am gonna assume the "girls" you speak of are your daughters,
I hope they find themselves safe.
samnsara
(17,570 posts)PennyK
(2,300 posts)I'm in Brevard, too. We ordered an air mattress, packed everything we could need for the pet-friendly shelter...and realized we'd be just fine here at home. many neighbors are staying here, too. We're at 33' above sea level and on the side of the main road away from the drainage ditches.
We also have lots of food and water, and we have the advantage of being on the same electrical grid as the fire and police departments and the hospital, so they restore here first.
We evacuated last year for Matthew, it was pretty unpleasant, and our house did just fine. My husband did announce that after this one we'll be buying storm shutters (the windows are definitely a weak point).
Best of luck to all!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)Had minimal damage. Hoping for the same.
We are finally in a position to refinance to include a new roof and hurricane shutters. That was already our plan for later this month. Go figure!
trof
(54,255 posts)Have reservations at a motel in Evergreen, several miles north on I-65.
Looks like we'll be OK to stay home
Anyone needs a room I'll probably cancel in the morning.
IF Irma does finally turn north.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)Yep, been there. Keep away from the beach if you can, and yeah, the after is never fun, but is not - hopefully - going to get bad. You've got all the good wishes and great karma streaming from here your way. Stay safe, and keep us updated.
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)So far it seems the wise thing to do.
Blue_Roses
(12,894 posts)Stay safe! Sounds like you are! We are keeping an eye on you all there in Florida!