After Hurricane Charley, a woman was forbidden to come into Central Fla.

[madfloridian]

I just heard about this, and I never realized this was going on. Someone from Georgia who had a family member in a Polk County nursing home was turned back at Wildwood, Florida. I think that pretty far north.

She could not get through by phone, so she decided to visit. This was 4 days after Charley. This is a verified story, not rumor. I know the person.

Is this typical? I never heard of it, and it concerns me a lot. Our kids are calling from other states, they are worried. They can not believe they would be denied entrance if we needed them after a storm.

:shrug: :shrug:

[freetobegay]

1. Parts of Lee County were under Martial law & even residents of the

affected areas couldn't get in till the area was declared safe. Is it right or wrong? I still don't know.

[Katarina]

2. Which is why

we are wondering if we should even leave at all. If we go out of state I'm worried we will have a hard time getting back in. Right now we are just staying put and going to keep watching the weather channel. we're going to keep the van packed and everything is ready to go in the cooler so we can get out if we need to. I don't put anything past bushco and that includes our wonderful (gag) governor Jethro...er I mean Jeb.

[merh]

3. Please don't take any chances - this is one big storm

(the size of texas) - If you are in a mobile home and in the path of that monster, leave now! If it doesn't hit your area, then you will be able to get back in to your home, if it does, your home may not be there.

Don't take any chances. Good luck, godspeed and praying for you guys!

[madfloridian]

4. And where do you recommend going?

That is the problem. With Charley, people who evacuated moved right into the new path.

This one does NOT have a path yet, and they are being very uncertain.

So where does one go? It is worse to be stuck on the road with no food and facilities. AND no hotel or motel rooms.

[TeeYiYi]

8. How far do you . . .

. . . have to go to find a hotel or motel? Preferably with underground parking?

TYY

[Katarina]

9. I'm up past Daytona

and I cannot tell you where there is any underground parking around here. Is there such a thing in Florida? I'm just disgusted by the whole thing. Listen to this, depending on whatever news station you listen to, one says Daytona will get 75 mph winds, another says 145 mph. Now how fucked is that? There is no consistency in anything these people are saying. None. It's like the blind leading the blind.

[TeeYiYi]

14. See post #13. nt

TYY

[madfloridian]

20. In Florida there is not much of anything underground that I know of.

Because of the nature of the earth. I don't think most folks here even have basements.

I have never seen an underground parking garage here in Florida, but there could be some.

[SoCalDem]

25. Underground anything in places that flood ...BAD IDEA

:scared:..

It looks like New Orleans is outside the area.. can you get there?? in time??

I would NOT stay for this one :scared:


Grab your people, pooches & kitties..and skedaddle :)

[merh]

10. I'd find a motel in the Alabama foothills

better to be find a nice place in the hills than to be stuck in traffic and a storm!

[TeeYiYi]

5. Try to find . . .

. . . the closest hotel or motel with underground parking that isn't closing its doors during 'Frances' and reserve it NOW. Keep calling until you find one.

Just a suggestion.

TYY

[madfloridian]

7. They are all full now. That is the problem.

That is what they just announced on TV local news. The whole state is full.

[TeeYiYi]

13. OK. What about this? . . .

. . . do you know anyone who owns an office building with underground parking where you could set up a temporary shelter on a lower level with sleeping bags, camping equipment, etc. Maybe you could network through friends or neighbors who would want to do the same thing. Perhaps a church group? ELKS Lodge? Surely someone must own or have access to a building where a group of you could set up a temporary shelter?

TYY

[Katarina]

16. There are no underground garages near me

We have 2 shelters set up for the entire county, neither of which accepts pets. The humane society will take pets for special needs people only. There are no motel vacancies around here. Like I said though, we are all packed and if we need to leave we can get out right away. I'm just pissed that you hear different stories on every freaking channel.

[Blue Wally]

19. Not different stories

The newsies are talking about the entire range of possibilites. It could hit anywhere from just south of Miami to St Augustine with the eye. It is a big storm, so 70 plus MPH winds will radiate out for seventy or so miles on each side of the eye. A trmenedous portion of the coast will be hit. If you are in an evacaution zone or in a mobile home, leave when they tell you to and go to the nearest county shelter (probably a school). If you are not in one of those categories, find the safest place in your house and stay put.

[madfloridian]

23. A lot of the shelters have been closed since Jeb. Polk county has only 6

for a very large spread out county. Many of the ones who need to go have no way to get there.
They have been closing shelters, and FEMA funding is cut back.

There is really no place to go. There just is not.

[TeeYiYi]

22. Bag the underground parking . . .

. . . that was a bad idea because of flooding. And apparently there isn't a lot of it in Florida anyway.

However, did you read post #13?:

OK. What about this? . . .

. . . do you know anyone who owns an office building with underground parking where you could set up a temporary shelter on a lower level with sleeping bags, camping equipment, etc. Maybe you could network through friends or neighbors who would want to do the same thing. Perhaps a church group? ELKS Lodge? Surely someone must own or have access to a building where a group of you could set up a temporary shelter?

Maybe you and your friends or neighbors could set up your own shelter. Do you know anyone with an office building or warehouse? Preferably single level and made of brick.

TYY

[Zan_of_Texas]

26. Underground - NO NO NO

We had HUGE flooding in our underground parking garages here in Houston during Tropical Storm Alison. Rivers of water. Underground facilities for the main theatre lost priceless musical instruments and musical scores. Laboratories for the medical center lost experiments that were ongoing -- in some cases, years of experiments.

If you are in a mobile home near the coast, pack up, and -- when the path gets a little more defined -- just drive the heck out of there. Take your pets.

[TheRovingGourmet]

12. This is one kind of story that really ticks me off about the media.

Yes, if you leave, it may be some time until you can come back. You will most likely be out of touch with anyone that stayed. (It is a good idea to look into what HAM operators are in your state) Your conditions while waiting may not be all that great. But most importantly, you will be alive. These kind of stories convince too many people to stay at home and many more will end up dead or injured and be a drain on scarce resources.

[madfloridian]

6. Keep this kicked for those with family in Florida. May be denied entry.

After the storm. I never realized this. This woman was in bad shape in a nursing home, and her family was denied entry to central Florida. She just said officials, not sure if national guard. I guess it would be.

People here need to prepare their family for this eventuality.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. My prayers are with you all during storm season *hugs*

[LunaC]

15. Does anyone know anything about Gainesville?

I STILL haven't been able to make contact with a friend who had been living in a trailer in Gainesville. Can anyone out there tell me how hard Gainesville was hit and if I should continue to have cause for concern?

[democratreformed]

17. I wish all of ya'll could come here.

I'd find a place for ya. It's a little far, though (Arkansas). I'll be thinking about all of you again and hoping for the best.

[Bridget Burke]

18. Why is "underground parking" recommended for shelters?

Flooding can be a big problem even in far less dangerous tropical storms. Underground parking fills up pretty quickly. (And not with cars.)

--Best wishes from Houston.

[lectrobyte]

21. Yeah, I don't think a parking garage or the typical undergound

parking decks I've seen in the South would be very choice. I suppose if you drove to Atlanta or something, it would be OK, but in one of the Florida cities in the path of Frances, it would seem like a mistake. Better to find an official shelter at a school etc. if at all possible, and be roughing it than to be dead. Having been through one cat. 3 too many (Fran), I'd have no problem in just leaving with the clothes on my back than to even think of attempting to stick out a cat. 4, especially in Florida.

[TeeYiYi]

27. That was my idea . . .

. . . and probably a bad one because of flooding. I was trying to think of a place where cars would be safe from flying debris. I wonder, in the event of a flooded underground garage, if the cars would float? I wonder if underground garages have drains? Oh well . . .

My friend who owns a home 5 miles north of Punta Gorda and has a business on Boca Grande told me she'll NEVER stay for another hurricane after Charley. I want to call here but I'm sure she's busy as hell right now. I just hope she's safe.

TYY

[madfloridian]

24. I sent the following ham radio lists to our kids.

Here is a link to ham radio clubs in Florida:
http://www.ku4ay.net/clubs.html

Here is a link to Lakeland/Polk County
http://lakelandarc.homestead.com/

Perhaps if you establish contact with a site now, they will call you if necessary. It is one thing to consider, because I do think there will be many perhaps all denied entry after the storm.

Our kid are in FL, IA, and TX. They are very nervous and worried. This should at least give them an idea.

[madfloridian]

28. News and TV should make people aware of this.

It is something they do not know, and they should.

[TheRovingGourmet]

29. If done carefully, it is not a bad idea. If done with the usual

media hype, it will get people killed.

[madfloridian]

30. I want to know why family would be kept from being with and helping family

That is really worrying my kids.

[TheRovingGourmet]

32. I know it is unpleasant but necessary. It will take time for

emergency personnel to get a grip on the situation and make sure property is protected. Each additional person that is on the scene is just that much more for them to deal with.

It is a good idea to coordinate with family well before the storm and know what services there are to get word in and out of the affected area if needed. I am sure some of the Coast Guard, police, hospitals, and so forth have satellite phones, Internet, or ham radio and volunteers to work them after the storm.

Just keep yourself safe!!!

[TeeYiYi]

31. kick

TYY:kick: