If you've ever flown over/into Tampa, you've doubtless marveled at the gazillion square miles of "canal neighborhoods" that spread into the ocean. Meaning they are AT sea level.
This Could be Mega-Bad
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I'm no meteorologist, but I can read that graphic pretty well.
Stay safe down there guys.
Stay safe down there guys.
Making land as a Cat3 is devastating. I've been through a Cat1, on the top floor of the Holiday Inn in the French Quarter, and it was scary. My employer at the time sent me there because it was supposed to come ashore as a Cat4, and I was too eager to use my brain and say no thank you, gibe the assignment to someone else. Luckily, Mother Nature decided to save it all for another day and the worst thing that happened was that I couldn't get a decent meal because everything was shut down.
I'm 45 miles South of Tampa in Sarasota. This one certainly looks nasty. Got the hurricane shutters installed today. Have family a mile up the street with a metal building rated for 200 mph. Will probably go there if it still looks as bad as it gets closer.Hoping my tobacco and pipes survive. LOL
Practically the whole damn State is at or near sea level. Florida’s elevation runs from 0 to about 100 meters. Compared to where I grew up (Washington State) Florida is a pancake.
We sold our house in Venice last year. Parts of our old neighborhood are being evacuated based on Evacuation Level. The street we lived on is under evacuation orders. I hope our friends and former neighbors play it safe and leave.
Good luck to all forum members in the storm path. Be safe.
Good luck to all forum members in the storm path. Be safe.
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Good luck. My Prayers are with you and all concerned.
Scary. I'll be going back on the 30th to check in and see if everything is ok. I'm between Jacksonville and Gainesville. The property there is on ancient sea bed (total sand) for at least 10' deep - which is the deepest hole ever dug on my lot to burn the clearing debris. Not too concerned with flooding, but more so with the wind damage and downed trees. Those big ole pines can snap right at the base.
My prayers are with all y'all down there...
My prayers are with all y'all down there...
I pray that it slows down as they have projected... Right now it's a 180 mph CAT 5.
I'd be getting the hell out of there.
I'd be getting the hell out of there.
And go where? I75 is a parking lot. Gas stations are closing or out of fuel. I'd rather take my chances at home versus being stuck on the interstate. This hurricane could go well into Georgia. It's almost 300 mile from here to there. Tell me a time you'll land your helicopter in front of my house tomorrow, I'll be ready. Hopefully, it will decrease to something not so dangerous and devastating. Regardless, everything is moved inside and the storm shutters have been securely installed. It's in God's hands at this point.
If I had one I'd damn sure come get ya.
I saw pictures of the interstate, that's a bad situation. At least you have a good shelter to be in.
Plus I know you're a tough SOB... You and yours will be fine.
Damn right you'd rather be home than stuck on the road.
How's the interstate look heading south?
Take care mate, have just seen footage of that I75 road and it’s going no where fast. I would do what you’re doing, prepare early and hang on.
I just looked (searched on the mega search site) what my elevation is here in Ocala, FL. It says 95'.
I live in a block building, but on the first floor. If I lived on the coast, I'd be freaked out, especially after seeing video of damage done by water with Helene only a week ago.
I-75 is the last place I'd want to be, and all roads going north will be filled with panic stricken, stressed out, unprepared (impossible) pilgrims. That road becomes a parking lot almost on a daily basis with accidents closing it down for hours at a time. I've been there.
Ron White: 'the guy sittin next to me was losing his mind. Apparently, he had a lot to live for."
I live in a block building, but on the first floor. If I lived on the coast, I'd be freaked out, especially after seeing video of damage done by water with Helene only a week ago.
I-75 is the last place I'd want to be, and all roads going north will be filled with panic stricken, stressed out, unprepared (impossible) pilgrims. That road becomes a parking lot almost on a daily basis with accidents closing it down for hours at a time. I've been there.
Ron White: 'the guy sittin next to me was losing his mind. Apparently, he had a lot to live for."
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In Ocala as well. Not too concerned, but will shut my business tomorrow. Tornadoes being our greatest concern. Stay safe.
I thought about heading to fort Lauderdale but the family didn't want to. And no guarantee the storm doesn't get a but south and could end up crossing the. Just no great choices but to bunker down and get through it.
State highways can be your friend when you need to evacuate. When we evacuated Slidell for the big K storm, instead of getting on the interstate we traveled north on a 2 lane state road. It was fairly slow until we got into Mississippi and turned west on a four lane highway but we made it to Texas in six hours.
I knew a radio personality who evacuated New Orleans heading to Houston. He left four hours before we did and made reports on his progress. He crossed the Texas state line about four hours after we did.