Hurricane Irma- Now a tropical depression

[ols386]

Prayers to everyone in Florida. This just sucks. We chose to evacuate to the Orlando area because we were worried about running out of gas if we tried to go to Atlanta.

Based upon the latest updates, I don't know if I'll have a home to go back to in Naples. We're in the storm surge 1 area, my house is a little less than 2 miles from the gulf if you drew a straight line.

Praying everyone is safe. Things can be replaced, people people can't.

So true. People cannot be replaced. Stay safe.

 

[ols386]

So true. People cannot be replaced. Stay safe.

Sorry I quoted wrong post.

 

[ols386]

I heard an interview with someone who made a good point. Many people think that if they are on the third floor, they'll be okay, since the storm surge won't get that high, but they couldn't be more wrong. Here's an example from Sandy showing what an 11' storm surge can do:

Oh wow!

 

[sara_s]

Prayers to everyone in Florida. This just sucks. We chose to evacuate to the Orlando area because we were worried about running out of gas if we tried to go to Atlanta.

Based upon the latest updates, I don't know if I'll have a home to go back to in Naples. We're in the storm surge 1 area, my house is a little less than 2 miles from the gulf if you drew a straight line.

Praying everyone is safe. Things can be replaced, people people can't.

So sorry to hear this. Praying for you and your family! It really is just awful.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Andrew compared to Irma.

This is utterly terrifying. God be with all the residents of Florida. You are in my prayers.

 

[kmb584]

Prayers to everyone in Florida. This just sucks. We chose to evacuate to the Orlando area because we were worried about running out of gas if we tried to go to Atlanta.

Based upon the latest updates, I don't know if I'll have a home to go back to in Naples. We're in the storm surge 1 area, my house is a little less than 2 miles from the gulf if you drew a straight line.

Praying everyone is safe. Things can be replaced, people people can't.

I can't even imagine. Stay safe!

My aunt lives in Jupiter and managed to get a flight out of Ft. Lauderdale to Charlotte this morning. She said the airport was incredibly busy and there were over 50 people waiting on standby for the flight she was on. My best friend lives in Vero Beach, and she flew up here (to PA) for a very impromptu visit. She wasn't sure what to expect and decided to evacuate just in case.

 

[wonder whisper]

Latest NHC estimates are that Irma will regain Cat 5 status once it finishes passing Cuba and enters the warm waters south of the keys. As the graphic below shows, it will be a Cat 5 storm at landfall and then go down to Cat 4 as it moves further north. Estimates are it will be between Cat 4 and Cat 3 when it gets up into central Florida. That means the Orlando area will be experiencing winds that are between 111 and 155 mph. Those are described by the NHC as being capable of causing "devastating to catastrophic" damage to structures.

 

[Callie]

My dad lives in the Fort Lauderdale area. He hasn't been able to evacuate due to being semi-disabled from a stroke, and not having the funds. I'm worried about him, but he's braved quite a few down there so I think he should be ok.

Another friend I know drove up from Palm Beach area today.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We moved to Florida 2 months ago and are real excited to have arrived in time to experience one of the biggest and strongest hurricanes to hit the United States /sarcasm

We're in St Pete and Zone A so we are under mandatory evac (be out by 8am Sun) - our house is near Tampa Bay and at risk for storm surge. Evacuation = move to higher ground. If the storm had stayed east, and storm surge threat diminished, we were going to stay put but since she appears to keep moving west, we're going to my office a few miles away to ride it out. It's safe, well stocked, and my dogs can have run of the place.

I'm terrified of storm surge. We have sandbags for all the doors (will fill more tomorrow), are moving important things up high, taking photo/video of everything before we leave, and unplugging everything. I filled the freezer with bags of ice in hopes that if we only lose power a day or so, the food will be okay. We left home today to run stuff up to my office and some houses had boarded up windows. We didn't even think about doing that - I just assumed it was for more front line homes. Even Taco Bell was boarded up (with "OPEN" spraypainted across). There is no plywood to be found so now I'm panicked about my windows blowing out and flooding my house that way.

Augh.

I just keep repeating that things could be worse. And this is why we have flood insurance.

 

[okeydokey]

My dad lives in the Fort Lauderdale area. He hasn't been able to evacuate due to being semi-disabled from a stroke, and not having the funds. I'm worried about him, but he's braved quite a few down there so I think he should be ok.

Another friend I know drove up from Palm Beach area today.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...set=a.3691224164735.2139865.1399178913&type=3

Your Dad has resources he may not be aware of, please let him know.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I fully admit that I know nothing about the logistics of evacuating the tremendous number of people in the path of a hurricane of this magnitude. However, I wish there were more resources dedicated to transporting those who are unable to transport themselves, along with more shelters. Maybe this was more available than I am aware of, but it seems that there are many people who, like Callie's father, were not able to evacuate even though they wanted to.

ETA: I was typing as okeydokey posted. I'm so glad to see that there are still ways to get people to safety.

 

[elphaba91]

My sister is in Orlando doing the Disney College Program. The park is closing at 9pm on Saturday (although she has a closing shift) and will be closed all day Sunday and Monday and hopefully reopening on Tuesday. Apparently they are taking down anything that could get blown around, including the Halloween decorations.

She and 3 of her roommates are just going to bunker down in their apartment in the best area they have (their dining nook) and hope for the best. Unfortunately they are on the ground floor; her last apartment (she moved a couple of months ago) was upstairs and had giant wardrobes so would have been much better! They do have a LOT of towels (2 of her roommates are lifeguards) so will be putting them under the door, although Disney have told them they aren't allowed to tape windows. She did meet one of their upstairs neighbours the other day (while their bus was broken down, but that's another issue!) who did say they're welcome to come up if their apartment starts to flood, although Disney wants them all in their own apartments and will even be locking the gates to make sure nobody goes into other complexes.

They've got what food and water they could and one of her roommates managed to get an empty water cooler bottle from work which they're filling up with fresh water. They'll also be filling up all 3 bathtubs with water. They've got a couple of flashlights, but Disney have reminded them that they are still not allowed any candles!

They've started a Facebook group chat with all 4 of their families so they can keep us updated without depleting their phone batteries too much. I guess we will all be watching and waiting for updates. It's very hard being on the other side of the world and unable to do anything to help!

 

[sara_s]

I'm in Boca Raton (Palm Beach County) - gonna ride it out. Haven't been in a hurricane like this in a while. I was up at UCF for Wilma, so my last major hurricane was probably Frances in 2004. I am a nervous wreck! Just glad the hubs and I can join forces with my parents out in West Boca.

 

[Callie]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...set=a.3691224164735.2139865.1399178913&type=3

Your Dad has resources he may not be aware of, please let him know.

Thank you for this. I will pass it along to my cousin/uncle who have been communicating with him. My mom talked to him today. He was very vague about where he is at. Not sure if it is a homeless shelter, or somewhere else. Its embarrassing to admit my dad is in such a situation, but disability only goes so far, and you can't fix stubborn.

 

[NFLDERS]

My dad lives in the Fort Lauderdale area. He hasn't been able to evacuate due to being semi-disabled from a stroke, and not having the funds. I'm worried about him, but he's braved quite a few down there so I think he should be ok.

Another friend I know drove up from Palm Beach area today.

 

[CarolAnn856]

They've got what food and water they could and one of her roommates managed to get an empty water cooler bottle from work which they're filling up with fresh water. They'll also be filling up all 3 bathtubs with water. They've got a couple of flashlights, but Disney have reminded them that they are still not allowed any candles!

They should fill up any container that they can with water, such as tupperware-type containers, and even ziplocks. Tell them to prepare bug-out bags in case they need to go upstairs quickly (medicine, toiletries, a change of clothes, etc.). Water can rise quickly, so they should move to a higher floor at the first sign of trouble. They should also keep shoes in easy reach, in case a window shatters and there is glass on the floor or, again, in case they need to go to their friends' place in a hurry.

Prayers being said for everyone in Florida and their worried families!

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Having never been in a hurricane.....I have a question. For those of you " riding it out" what do you do while the storm is happening? Will you try to watch weather on tv if you have electricity? Do you just sit and wait?

Play games. Read. Watch tv. Listen to the radio. Sleep when you can.

Matthew was the closest I've come to a hurricane (we got hit with the very outer bands). I'm a bit terrified about Irma right now. We won't get the storm surge (not close enough to any waterways) but the wind and some localized flooding are going to hit.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Play games. Read. Watch tv. Listen to the radio. Sleep when you can.

Matthew was the closest I've come to a hurricane (we got hit with the very outer bands). I'm a bit terrified about Irma right now. We won't get the storm surge (not close enough to any waterways) but the wind and some localized flooding are going to hit.

Stay safe!!

 

[FINFAN]

I live in North Naples and our property became a huge lake from all the rain (we don't live on a lake). It's finally gone down. The ground is so saturated here. We have culverts in front of our home to divert the water out to weir and the culverts were so high, they still have water in them now.

My folks place (when they were alive) is on Central Ave, 6 blocks off the beach in Olde Naples. The thought of it no longer being there is one I didn't ever really expect. I have helped board it up in the past, driven them up to Lakeland to evac, and yes, had a dog so I feel you on the pet situation. Shelter's were out for them as their pooch was their life and most didn't take them. My mom couldn't sit in a hard chair like a folding chair with bad curvature of the spine~ so many things that the elderly deal with that when away from the comforts of their home, are reall, really rough. My Dad was always so proud that he had the "highest lot" in Naples. The pier, the memories...my heart goes out to all affected. Be as safe as you can.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Relieved my family is evacuating..... Thoughts and prayers for DIS friends and their families.