Florida Hurricane Irma

[Former StClairSailor]

To all of our MOC friends in FL, GA, SC and NC. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care and be safe.

[CaptnJohn]

The bad news for FL is really bad. They will be hit once from the Atlantic side and again as it comes around from the gulf side. My family and I have sat through several; cat 1 storms. I have been through 1 cat 2 and 1 cat 3. Never again a cat 3, not even a possible cat 3. Being on the SE NC coast it looks now like all we will get a little tropical storm weather. My prayers go out to all evacuating. Those that stay that are not required ~~ well the gene pool will not be impacted.

[Golfmedik]

To answer a previous post, yes, Atlanta Motor Speedway has opened the camping area for evacuees seeking a place to stay. If you are headed to Alabama, Talladega Super Speedway has done the same.

[JandC]

I have been through a couple tornadoes, but never a hurricane. You really don't get a chance to evac from an approaching tornado, you just hope the warning sirens go off in time for you to get below ground. They are no fun.

When we moved to Florida I knew some friends and family who had stayed and went through Charlie. My DW and I never understood why you would make a decision like that when you have days and days of warning. I think most people always have that "nothing bad can happen to me" mind set. The big problem with this storm is that the track is almost unpredictable. There could be winds over 150mph in Naples or Ft. Myers, or they could be that high or higher inland and only 100mph on the coast. The next huge issue with staying is there may not be any power for weeks or even months to some areas. "Well I have a gen set and 10 gallons of water" you say. That is great, you can last for a week or two because no gas will be available.

Depending on the level of damage, we are not even sure if we could get back into our neighborhood next week or next month. Just removing debris from roads will take days and days, then what bridges did not fail or have damage will have to be inspected, all down power lines have to be moved from streets, on and on it goes.

Your city and neighborhood will not be recognizable. Trees, signs, many building, and all street signs, traffic signs/signals will be gone. The names of streets will be spray painted at each intersection to help residents figure out where in the heck they are. Officials will enforce a strict curfew from sunrise to sunset for weeks and weeks. If you have any type of medical emergency good luck because your doctors and hospitals are going to be maxed out.

So if some folks want to stay, make jokes about what is ahead, I guess they are adults and they can make that decision. Like Packerfan said they should mark their bodies with their name and DOB just in case. I just feel sorry for the First Responders who have to stay through this storm so they can help save people that decided it was a good idea to stay.

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by kc8lvy

I am strapped down and ready. Just got to hurry and drink up before it blows my beer away. Lol

Hi

I went thru Andrew and this storm is much worse than that I wouldn’t stay for any reason!

Andrew twisted 12 inch I beams like they were licorice sticks.

Phil P

[waynemoore]

I guess we are back to " you just can't cure stupid". For a good deal of folks In Southern Florida it may be to late to get out now. Roads jam packed and no fuel.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by waynemoore

I guess we are back to " you just can't cure stupid". For a good deal of folks In Southern Florida it may be to late to get out now. Roads jam packed and no fuel.

They are bringing gas in by police escort but probably too late. Everyone waiting to the last minute jams everywhere. I visit Fl every winter but would never live there, too hot in summer and the people as seen now

[richfaa]

Irma is a killer storm and it will kill a lot of people. The track and projected wind speed even as far North as Orlando is very destructive. Good thinking on the part of those who left. We are hoping we will have a place left to go to.




http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...nd120#contents

[mlh]

The ones you feel sore for and worry about are the ones that can't leave for one reason or another. Those that don't have a car or are in poor health or other reasons. The ones I don't worry about are the ones that have a million dollar + vacation house they might loose.
Lynwood

[shovelhead86]

Anyone leaving Fl shuld do so immediately. I hear from friends that are there that I-75 is a parking lot. y'all should have boogied a few days ago

[JandC]

Got up this morning and of course turned on the Weather Channel. When we went to bed the projected eye track of Irma was going to pass within 10 miles of our Cape Coral home. Now that eye has shifted just west of our home. A few minutes ago one of the "talking heads" speculated it could shift further west and even come ashore at Port Charlotte like Charlie did!

We still may sit here today (Cottondale FL) but anticipate having to move west on I-10. The way this thing is moving around it may just start cutting across the Gulf and hit Mobile.

[gjetzen]

richfaa,

The DW and I were wondering the same thing. Don't know where you and yours go but our site is in Arcadia and it looks like they will get pummeled. Oh well glad I'm where I am at right now and we are praying for all the people who actually can not leave. Those that will not leave that is another story.

[Loneoak]

It's at times like this that I am so glad we don't own a permanent unit in our park near a Tampa. We having been hauling a trailer down there for nine years.

[Ladybug8881]

Hi -- yes the NASCAR racetracks in FL & AL plus all. GA parks & I think DNR parks are open - no charge. Restrooms & hot showers available. I noticed a lot of tired Floridians & returning tourists in town -- bottled water supplies run out but get replenished every day to Walmart & Publix supermrkts. There are nice parks around Lake Alatoona just off I-75. Weather is cool in evenings, we are moving outdoor patio stuff undercover/ratcheted down. Hopefully we will only have high winds, rain (2-4")-- Atlanta area is known for �� to come down interrupting power in areas but they work quickly to restore, although we will not be as high priority as FL -- lots of power trucks staged to be where needed. After 2014 "snow-magedon", GA has tried to be more prepared!
If you need help in this area, give us a call.
Ed & Susan

[Ladybug8881]

Note: no toll fees, animals ok in campgrounds - no charge; no charge to camp, including tents in GA parks for evacuees.

[awheeler]

We are currently in Augusta, GA and will be leaving for Waynesville, NC in the morning. We are taking the I25 to I26 into Asheville and then Waynesville. There are back roads should traffic stall. If anyone has any news about these areas please post and I will do the same as we travel north. As a side note; we were planning to be in Key West for October - December. Probably going to head to Kentucky and Pennsylvania instead.

Everyone stay safe.

[gjetzen]

The most current models that I have seen on Irma show it heading towards Atlanta for Monday.

[JandC]

Been up watching the news reports since 5:30am. The eye will be slamming into the keys anytime now. Outer bands are already blasting everyplace from Miami over to Naples. Our forecast for the next 24 hours in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers has changed twice in the last couple of hours. Basically they keep changing the maximum wind speeds this afternoon from 100 to 115, then back to 100. We are assuming the gusts will be in the 130 to 140 mph range.

If it tracks close to where they think through tomorrow, we may be okay in Cottondale FL., Any unexpected or sudden turns to the west will have us breaking camp and heading north. We are camped next to some good friends that live in our neighborhood. We all considered heading toward Mobile this morning but all campgrounds are full between here and there plus traffic back-ups are starting to be an issue as you get close to Mobile. We figure 90% of the folks will continue to load up I-10 toward Mobile so we will be better off going northwest up US Rt. 231 toward Montgomery. Have already scouted out two Walmarts that would offer some pretty good protection up in Dothan and Troy.

[Eagleback]

we are in sebring florida. we left naples 2 days ago. we could not take everything. left the cargo trailer and golf cart at the property, probably gone now but we will see. may everybody stay safe.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Eagleback

we are in sebring florida. we left naples 2 days ago. we could not take everything. left the cargo trailer and golf cart at the property, probably gone now but we will see. may everybody stay safe.

Happy you are gone! Have a cousin and her daughter in Naples. Speed of 142 recorded at Naples airport. Down to a cat 2 now at 110 mph. Stay safe and hope when you return things look better than you think.