Some Florida evacuations ordered ahead of Ivan

[freetobegay]

KEY WEST, Florida - Although Hurricane Ivan is at least four days from Florida, if it reaches the state at all, officials in the Keys on Thursday ordered tourists and residents to evacuate.

Monroe County emergency officials said the order was effective at 9 a.m. Thursday for island tourists. It is the third visitor evacuation ordered in the Keys in a month, the previous two coming for Hurricanes Charley and Frances.

Mobile home residents were urged to begin evacuating at 6 p.m. Thursday, and other residents were told to leave Friday.

The strongest storm so far this season with 160 mph winds, Hurricane Ivan has already devastated Grenada, where it was blamed for at least 15 fatalities.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5927015/

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They are not even sure of the track yet & are ordering evacuations & their telling me not to worry but think about it? I am in S.W. Florida, I think it's time for the Prozac!

[noonwitch]

1. My dad lives near Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda

I hope that if this storm is headed his way, he will evacuate this time! He stuck it out during Charley and is far enough away from the Gulf (Rotunda West) that he had minimal damage (a shrub was destroyed and the wind blew a piece of trim off his condo's porch).

He probably won't. He outdrove a tornado once when I was about 4, with all of us in the car with him. It was scary, but he just knew he could outdrive it and he did.

[freetobegay]

4. If he stays I wish him the best of luck

Punts Gorda, can't survive another direct hit!

[lapfog_1]

11. Mine TOO!

Once, driving down I-35 from KC to Wichita, we had two tornadoes on
the right side of the freeway, and one on the left. Scariest damn
thing I ever saw. Dad just gripped the steering wheel and hit
the accelerator. All three were "small" ones, but man oh man.
I was maybe 6 or 7 at the time.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. I think it's time for the Prozac!

Here here... make mine a double... sheesh... I feel for ya...

http://www.gopbi.com/search/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/frances/0906u1/pre11.html

http://www.gopbi.com/search/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/frances/0906p5/pre10.html

http://www.gopbi.com/search/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/frances/0906p5/pre09.html

http://www.gopbi.com/search/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/frances/0906p7/pre15.html

http://www.gopbi.com/search/content/shared/weather/storm/photos/frances/0906p7/pre14.html

[freetobegay]

5. The biggest problem right now

Is gas is in such short supply, people may have trouble evacuating because of no gas.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. trouble evacuating because of no gas.

Oh my God..... what in the hell is going on with this weather... good luck... hope to hear from you on the other side of the storm. There is a chance it could come to Louisiana... and that would not make my day. Take care... be careful.... damn.

[freetobegay]

8. Thank you.

[demnan]

3. My brother in Naples

will again have to board up schools in Collier County. At least by giving a few days notice of the evacuation, it gives you time to plan or find a place for pets or whatever.

All you Floridians please stay safe!

[freetobegay]

7. I left my shutters down from Francis.

I worried about the storm debris from Charley with Francis, it still has not been picked up. I'm not going to worry about it anymore.

[nostamj]

9. current projection... damn!

[Blue Wally]

10. Keys are a special situation

The keys must be evacauated if they are expecting a major hurricane hit and there is only one evacuation route (up US-1). they need as much advance notice as possible. A majopr hurricane will destroy the bridges and causeways connecting the various keys (as it did in the 1930's (and a whole lot of people drowned). If you are not in a storm surge area (or a mobile home), you should stay put and leave the roads and the gas for those who really have to evacuate. Water is the big killer in hurricanes, not the wind.