Today's weather report from Palm Beach County. First off my barometer has only moved 1/2 a millibar. I got up at 6:30 and it was dead still calm. Radar showed the rain was coming, from the south. My wife got to leave before the rain. Schools will be closed tomorrow because we are now under a tropical storm watch and a tornado watch. Since 7:30 it's been off and on heavy showers. I guess I'm going to Walmart to get a new raincoat and more beer.
Steve, I agree with you. While nobody really wants a hurricane, it is disappointing doing a BUNCH of preparation and then nothing. Happens a lot! I think 2 summers ago there was a Cat 5 storm 70 miles off our coast over Grand Bahama Island. For 5 days the report said it's coming to us, not coming to us, coming to us, not coming to us. One day you would rest and relax 'cause it wasn't coming to us, and the next day it was back to crazy mode. STRESSFUL!!!
Yes, Charlie was devastating. We were in Orlando in 2004 and the eye came right over our house. Put a 40 ft. Sycamore tree on our roof and all told caused us about $35K in damage. There were so many trees down in our subdivision we couldn't drive out the entrance. Power was out for about two weeks and we waited in line for about an hour at Costco to buy a generator. We're much better prepared this time. Got a generator that will run the whole house except for the AC and the 220 stuff and we have lots of shows saved on our DVR. Also got a gallon of Margaritas made!
My sister knew someone in Punta Gorda that went outside just before Charley hit, somehow locking herself out of her house. She made it to her small shed and rode out the bad part in there. When she came out, her house was gone. Not damaged, but gone, just a slab was left. Sanibel had the row of imported Australian pines along the one main road (Periwinkle) that were ornamental and actually formed a really cool canopy. First responders knew if a hurricane hit, the trees would block the road and Sanibel was advised to remove them. They didn't, and what a time rescuers had trying to help people because of the downed, non-native ornamental trees. A lot of equipment and manpower was brought in by boats. Not to get into politics, but I am hearing through the grapevine that folks trying to evacuate in EV's are already dying and slowing down evacuating traffic. Not good.
Dang Ray! That messed up your place for sure!!! Did you go outside in the eye of the storm? I ALWAYS wanted to do that!!! Definitely was on my bucket list. Hurricane Wilma came right across us. Looked like the whole block came outside during the eye! The temperature was cool, no wind, and blue skies. Soooo cool!!!!!! The second half the wind came out of the west. We walked back to the house, opened the garage door and drank bloody marys while watching stuff blowing past the house. It was a blast! I had a big Royal Poinciana tree leaning against my house. The second half of the storm it blew it back off of the house. We went without electric for 17 days. That SUCKED!!!
Bob, no politics were even thought about. It's called reality! Australian Pines.... that's funny that you called them ornamental. They are EXOTIC. > I thought it was a state law that they had to be removed. Their canopy, awesome though! I can't believe crazy people stayed on Sanibel Island. They must have drank more than me.
Even though I'm in NY, I did get the Pinellas County Alert on my phone this morning. Our house is in evacuation zone B. Most neighbors are staying put. Just saw on Spectrum Bay News Nine that the track looks to be more south of us now. We'll see. Everyone stay safe. UticaGeoff
Yup. Went out during the eye passing over. Very eerie but cool too. Walked down the street with neighbors and almost didn't get back in time when the back side hit. That was a very fast mover.
I asked my sister in Punta Gorda what zone she was in. She said "flood"! Will you change your travel plans, Geoff?
When I lived in the Boston area, one of the weather forecasters commented that they would intentionally err on the side of the worst case. He said that the reason was that if the storm was worse then forecast, people could die. If the storm missed or was not as bad as forecast, all it meant was the people wasted some time. Here in not-so-sunny SW Florida we are on the Eastern flank of the storm (we live in Collier County). We have friends in Lee County just north of us who are in a mandatory evacuation area and later today will come stay with us for a couple of days. Lest any of you are thinking that you cannot be forced out of your home, The Lee county Sheriff's department has announced that once the storm starts they will not answer emergency calls from those areas, and a friend of ours with some knowledge of insurance told us that if you are in a mandatory evacuation area and decide to stay put, your health insurance will not pay.
People will always stay. Our rental on Sanibel had everyone leave for Charlie but the caretaker. He was certified in hurricane survival or something. He stayed in an elevator, on the second floor, on a unit facing inland. He had some really interesting stories to tell. I just heard from my nephew in Venice. Looking like Venice might be ground zero for landfall.
We lived in Merrit Island for Mathew (117mph winds at the house)mandatory evacuation from the island. 13ft storm surge predicted, our house built in 1959 was 3 ft above sea level. We stayed and so did about a 1/3 of the neighborhood. It was cool. We have been in the eye a few times over the years. Hurricane Bob was the last eye we experienced. Stay safe, be prepared and do what "you" think you need to do. Hurricanes are fascinating and semi predictable Tornadoes not so much. That is the thing to watch.
An important thing required when this is your forecast. However, drinking and snowblower use is not recommended. Hoping everyone in the hurricane's path stays safe and checks in once it's gone.
Will you change your travel plans, Geoff?[/QUOTE] Bob: We are still going - maybe sooner if needed! UticaGeoff
Tom, you made me laugh out loud buddy! That little arrow at the bottom that says these people should go to the liquor store. Like a Cub Scout or a Boy Scout, always be prepared.
Just found out I will be hosting 6-8 people fleeing from Pinellas county area. Last time they came in 18 the storm changed track and missed their house and sat right over mine.
I just noticed from looking at the radar that you people in Tampa and north of Tampa are not even getting any rain yet. You’re missing out on the fun let me tell you. My driveway is full. If it keeps raining like this the sewer is going to back up. Not in the house. I mean the sewer cap on the neighbors sidewalk. It always overflows into my yard. I guess they say, **** runs downhill
