Florida Keeps Cautious Eye On Ivan

[freetobegay]

It's a catogory 5 with winds at 160mph & wind gusts up to 215mph!

We are still trying to clean up from hurricanes Charley & Francis, gas in in short supply so is bread, milk, & various other items. Going to the grocery store has not been what I'm used to. I even went to (dare I say) wallmart's! Even they are out of the basics.

I said in another thread I don't think Florida will be hit, but as it stands now Florida is right in the middle of the cone on all the models.

As much as I hate to say this I can't leave Florida right now, if it hits I will have to ride out the sotrm here.

[BeachBuckeye]

1. The Mrs. and I will be here with you

You are indeed correct as to the stress and other problems related to this past month or so. Everything is in limbo. All people can talk about right now is hurricane "Ivan". And, with the kind of killer storm it has become it is no wonder it is the topic of conversation. I'm told that with the speed of "Ivan's" winds no home would be safe from complete destruction.

[trumad]

2. My whole life lately is Hurricane related...

I'm deeply considering getting out of town for this one....

[freetobegay]

4. If you can leave I, suggest you do.

This is one bad mother!

[freetobegay]

3. I lived in Homestead in 1992

I feel like I am reliving hurricane Andrew. It basically left nothing standing.

I wish you & the Mrs. the best of luck if we are hit.

[nostamj]

5. damn...

my folks sat out Frances at my brother's place in Richmond. now, they're on their way back to Venice (gulf coast).

I think maybe they should have stayed in VA for this one too...

take care all...

[freetobegay]

6. Maybe you should try to contact them & tell them to make a u-turn.

[nostamj]

7. not possible now...

they don't have a cell phone. and, they've been away much longer than their usual summer trip (to CT) and I'm sure they want to be in their own place again...

[Renew Deal]

12. You would be correct.

Category 5 is catastrophic devestation. Jamaica and Cuba will take something out of it, but it depends on how fast the storm is moving and where it goes.

[Spazito]

8. The news is saying that Ivan destroyed 90% of the homes on...

Granada and that was when it was a category 4. My thoughts are with all those in the path of this monster, stay safe.

[nostamj]

9. CNN is saying 'damaged' not destroyed

and, it was Cat 5 when it hit granada...

Ivan -- the most powerful hurricane to hit the Caribbean in nearly a decade -- has damaged 90 percent of Grenada's homes and destroyed a prison that left criminals running loose, officials said Wednesday.

The storm killed 15 people in Grenada and at least one each in Tobago, Venezuela and Barbados.

It is expected to inflict additional damage as its 140 mph winds churn toward Jamaica, Cuba and possibly the southern United States.

"We are terribly devastated ... It's beyond imagination," Prime Minister Keith Mitchell told his people and the world -- from aboard a British Royal Navy vessel that rushed to the rescue.

Ivan strengthened early Thursday to become a Category 5 on a scale of 5. It packed sustained winds of 160 mph with higher gusts as it passed north of the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.



http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/09/09/hurricane.ivan.ap/index.html

[Renew Deal]

13. Grenada is not as well built as the US.

But I get your point.

[Corgigal]

10. You're much braver then I am

I'm NOT in Florida but Tropical storm Gaston sat over our house for hours and knocked down a tree that messed up the roof and the fence. Yeah I know, it's nothing next to Florida but then Frances came up and more shingles have flown off the house because Gaston weakened them. I live in SC and if I think Ivan is coming, even at a cat 2 level I'm leaving to go north. I can't get the house up to par within just a short amount of time and this is with locals actually being available to work on the house.

I just don't think you can ask a housing structure to do more then it can do. My house went through Hugo, a tornado , Gaston and Frances and I think every time it takes a hit the whole structure is weakened.

It took me 10 days to get a claim from our insurance agent, and this from a tropical storm. I hope the people of Florida get help much faster then we did.

Looks like today I got to find someone to cut down a few more trees near the house. Enough of trees coming through the house for me.

Good luck Florida and if it turns and appears it won't affect SC and you have to leave and have nowhere to go PM me.

[freetobegay]

11. Thats a generous offer, Thank you.

But I will be riding out the storm here.