Florida Hurricane Irma

[phillyg]

We live in Rotonda West and the Monty is in open storage. The escape plan is to take it north on Thursday. We've never had to execute the escape plan but have been told the few roads become parking lots. Three problems. Even Jim Cantore won't commit to Irma's track, and once we're on the road, will the traffic be bad and will we have difficulty finding diesel on our route. We had difficulty yesterday and this morning finding gas and water although we prevailed. If we can feel confident it's tracking more easterly we'll stay in the hurricane reinforced house and let Irma do as it will to the Monty and our boat.

[gjetzen]

phillyg,

have been lost in the Rotonda many times LOL, trying to find the "short cut" out to Englewood. But if I may give you some friendly advice. Irma is 400 miles in diameter. If the eye is 100 miles off the Atlantic coast you are still going to get wacked. Don't be a fool we don't want to read about you in the abituaries.

[waynemoore]

Get out of there NOW. The longer you wait the greater chance of you not being able to leave. You have choices now soon you won't.

[kc8lvy]

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

[JandC]

We camped up in Ocala last night and will be heading out shortly to continue on to Cottondale FL. Which is pretty far west on I-10. We anticipate the 250 miles today will take us around 7 hours. Yesterday we averaged 32mph on I-75 just getting from home up here. We heard from friends that they drove all night and just made it into Georgia. Also heard by tomorrow the drive from Miami to Georgia could take over 48 hours due to traffic. I think everyone forgets that for several years almost 1,000 people a day have relocated to this state. It is slow going getting them out.

[Arizonacouple]

Last day as camp host on Tybee Island, GA. Got hit really badly by hurricane Matthew last year so we are moving inland as far away from Irma as possible.

[Tfthorp]

I just heard that Atlanta Motor Speedway is open for people fleeing Irma and they have campsites.

[phillyg]

Nope, not leaving. We've been watching the tracks and trying to weed out the hype. Looks like it's going to bash the east coast. While it could change change course it appears unlikely. We and ALL our neighbors have installed the storm shutters, got gasoline and other fuels, lots of food and LOTS of water. Some of us have gensets.

Ninety-nine percent of the homes near me, and mine, are built to the new hurricane resistant standards since the mid-2000 hurricane debacle. Some of Rotonda West is in a flood zone, my area is not, nor are there any historical records indicating it's ever flooded other than ponding in a few low spots (happened just last week after three days of rain).

Our FW is in open storage in the center of Rotonda and it's fully insured and I refuse to stress over it. Our evacuation route is a parking lot as of yesterday, anyway. I'm going to bring the boat and trailer over to the house from its sea level plus 2' storage location, and chain it to my fence posts. I don't know if that will be of any help. My only concern with that is it could become a missile and damage our house (no neighbor on one side). Like the FW, the boat is fully insured even for hurricanes.

I'm betting we don't even get the tropical force winds that are forecast. OTOH, if you don't hear from me after Monday, I might have gotten blown to GA.

[richfaa]

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

[1retired06]

Our snowbird park is under mandatory evacuation. Fortunate we don't arrive until 1 November. Fortunate our fiver is here in NC. Unfortunate our boat and golf cart sitting next to the patio in the park. Certainly not complaining, we are lucky, life is good.

[Phil P]

Hi

We cleaned up everything that could become airborne and put up all the shutters yesterday.

Hooked up the Montana about 2 PM yesterday and spent the night at Wildwood Florida.

Moved today to just south of Chattahoochee Florida going to wait to see what the forecast is tomorrow then decide where to go next.

Phil P

[PackerFan]

Good luck to those who decide to stay put and ride it out the hurricane. Might be a good idea to put a note in your pockets with your name, SSN and names of next of kin with their phone numbers. Would help the rescuers contact them faster.

[JandC]

Glad you left Phil. One of the tracks shows it almost going right through Lake O.

Phillyg, my home was built in 2005 (Lee County) and is wind mitigated also. We have one set of hurricane windows on the front and the rest of the home is protected with accordion hurricane shutters. I know for a fact the roof is strapped because when I bought the home I inspected it myself.

I'm still not sure I would want to sit through several hours inside if the winds were 140 or above with gusts up over 160. I'm pretty sure my sheeting would come off the roof.

Good luck and God bless, maybe it won't be too bad.

[richfaa]

Might want to check the latest track it has moved to the west and the track is right up the middle of Florida. This is a killer storm good luck to those who are staying.

[Good Life]

Come on Floridians Wake up and get OUT! Shame you cant buy brains!!!!

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by richfaa

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

Take a hard look at this and check it every hour.

[mlh]

You that live in Florida know more about these storms than I do but you can believe I'd be camping somewhere other than Florida. I would secure everything the best I could take with me what I could and make like horse stuff and hit the dusty trail before it gets wet.
Lynwood

[richfaa]

this also


http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1...?cone#contents

[dieselguy]

I'm forming a certain scenario in my mind fueled by some "Harvey" interviews ... fast forward to the weekend ... gosh, we just didn't think it would be this bad ... we need help and we need it NOW! I know some assume to be John Wayne tough ... but ...

[Good Life]

Just saw on CNN that Florida Governor ordered 5000 Body Bags!!!