Florida Hurricane Irma

[JandC]

Yesterday if someone asked me about Irma being a threat to SW Florida I would have kind of blown it off. Tonight watching the latest computer models, listening to several different weather programs, and hearing about Gov. Scott declaring a state of emergency already, I guess it could get serious down here.

Most stores are out of bottled water already and this thing isn't even going to approach the Florida Keys until Friday or Saturday!

We would consider hunkering down because our home is wind mitigated and we have all the latest in hurricane shutters, etc. But I'm just not comfortable having my RV sit in an open storage facility during a major hurricane.

So we will begin loading things up tomorrow and probably head north on a mini vacation Thursday morning.

What are other Florida MOCers doing?

[DQDick]

Good choice. Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[Loneoak]

I think you are doing the right thing. Good luck!

[Eagleback]

Were in Naples in imperial wilderness rv and we are starting to pack it up and head to sebring to our friends. Unfortunately our cargo trailer and golf cart will have to ride out the storm here in storage but the monty has to be saved being its our home. We should and will be ready to pull out by Friday if things here look to go bad. The track still has it ether a east coast or west coast Florida storm but it looks like tropical storm force winds ether way but we will see. Ether way Friday looks like the day to pull the trigger.

[1retired06]

We don't get down there until 1 Nov. If there, we would be hooking up and leaving.

[JandC]

Eagleback, I'm guessing by Wednesday evening they will have a pretty good idea on the track. Right now it sounds like Miami could get some of the strong outer band winds by Friday. If they upgrade this to a cat-5 this morning and really start predicting it coming up through Florida we are afraid I-75 will turn into a parking lot by late Friday morning. You may or may not want to consider leaving Thursday.

[K0LCB]

She doesn't look very friendly this morning

[Eagleback]

Originally Posted by JandC

Eagleback, I'm guessing by Wednesday evening they will have a pretty good idea on the track. Right now it sounds like Miami could get some of the strong outer band winds by Friday. If they upgrade this to a cat-5 this morning and really start predicting it coming up through Florida we are afraid I-75 will turn into a parking lot by late Friday morning. You may or may not want to consider leaving Thursday.

That option is open, i should be ready to go Thursday Morning. Im taking the next several days off from work and preparing, but friday will be the last day to pull the trigger.

[BB_TX]

Living in Florida I am sure you know that hurricanes are so unpredictable that trying to out guess them is futile. Better safe than sorry.

[DadsHemi]

Take care down that way, it's not looking so good according to the weather channel

[Ram Montana High Country]

Sure hope IRMA treats FL better than Harvey did TX! Some areas of Houston got over 50" of rain

[awheeler]

Being originally from Houston, Texas, having lived in Northwest Florida for 18 years, and surviving the F5 Tornado in Joplin, MO, I can say without reservation, it is always better to be safe than sorry! We are now full-timers and I will not hesitate to leave any area threatened by bad weather.

[sambam]

Good luck down there, whatever your decisions. As of right now, it doesn't look good for south Fla.

[mlh]

Quote
We are quickly running out of adjectives to describe the destructive potential of Hurricane Irma. As of 2pm ET on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm's sustained winds to 185mph. This is near-record speed for a storm in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.
Bad news
Lynwood

[Loneoak]

Good things about having an RV are knowing you can escape a bad situation if you have to, and knowing that regardless of where you are, you will always have a roof over your head. You can also go in any direction necessary to escape the danger.

Last year we saw on the news the thousands of people fleeing forest fires in the Fort MacMurray area in northern Alberta. Those with RVs knew they would not have to stay in shelters with several thousand other people.

[Good Life]

CAT 5 w/185+ winds leaves nothing standing 15-25 miles from center of eye

[JandC]

RV loaded and house closed up. We slept in RV last night, got up this morning to see 5am hurricane center update, and made final decision. We are heading out immediately. Storm is the size of Texas, now moving at 16mph, strongest storm ever recorded in Atlantic, and has 225mph gusts. Gusts anywhere close to that range will level most block buildings, including my "wind mitigated" modern house. I am certainly hoping the track of this monster changes and stays more off shore to spare my fellow residents, but it is getting serious.

[Loneoak]

Originally Posted by JandC

RV loaded and house closed up. We slept in RV last night, got up this morning to see 5am hurricane center update, and made final decision. We are heading out immediately. Storm is the size of Texas, now moving at 16mph, strongest storm ever recorded in Atlantic, and has 225mph gusts. Gusts anywhere close to that range will level most block buildings, including my "wind mitigated" modern house. I am certainly hoping the track of this monster changes and stays more off shore to spare my fellow residents, but it is getting serious.

So glad to hear you are getting out while you can. I sure hope your home is still intact when you get back! Keep us posted.

[mlh]

225 MPH winds WOW. How would anyone, anything survive that??
I feet so sorry for everyone in its path from all the islands to Florida.
Lynwood

[Tfthorp]

If I was in Fl I would be getting out of dodge. Just hope it doesn't hit I have a condo in Ft Myers don't need to have to go there later to do repairs.