Post by alleinesein on Sept 7, 2017 23:44:30 GMT -5
My aunt is in Bradenton and can't really go anywhere. We have sent her some $$ since she is on a limited budget and had to spend money to stock up on supplies. Her condo complex has banded together and everyone on the first floor is going to stay with people on higher floors.
If anyone is near Rincon, GA can you do me a huge favor and go to my friend's place and smack some damn sense into her? She is evacuating with her son (H is LEO and has to stay) and her biggest concern is if she can drive to New Orleans with a loaded handgun in the front seat of her car. WTF!?! She will have an 8 year old in the car. Lock the damn gun up and put it in trunk.
Talked to my mother yesterday and she said it would just be "some wind and rain" since it's staying more east. Wake up this morning and see that she's under a mandatory evacuation because of the house.
She has options locally but she is stubborn so I suspect I will be arguing with her later this morning.
Also slightly better news that it'll weaken faster on this new route (Cat 2 around Orlando). That's cold comfort for those bearing the brunt of it though.
I ended up at a community meeting tonight where the guest speaker was from fire dept talking about disaster prep. Go figure.
Apparently I'm a disaster magnet. Hurricanes, earthquakes, taken shelter from tornadoes and tsunamis...
Their biggest suggestion was to have a landline. I was like, no, I hear you and agree with your reasons, but you will not convince people. Its only 10/mo, but even super prepared dad cancelled his.
That's interesting. They also need to make it clear that only a traditional landline does that. When we had a "landline" through fios 11 years ago it went out if the power went out because it was through the fios box, not a "real landline." A real landline couldn't be had for less than $40 a month then, haven't priced it since.
Post by noodleskooze on Sept 8, 2017 7:28:02 GMT -5
I really hate hurricanes! If you want them to weaken, you basically have to hope it hits land somewhere else; it sucks because your close call means someone else's unexpected devastation. There's no best case scenario, really.
My aunt is in Bradenton and can't really go anywhere. We have sent her some $$ since she is on a limited budget and had to spend money to stock up on supplies. Her condo complex has banded together and everyone on the first floor is going to stay with people on higher floors.
If anyone is near Rincon, GA can you do me a huge favor and go to my friend's place and smack some damn sense into her? She is evacuating with her son (H is LEO and has to stay) and her biggest concern is if she can drive to New Orleans with a loaded handgun in the front seat of her car. WTF!?! She will have an 8 year old in the car. Lock the damn gun up and put it in trunk.
I'm pretty sure its illegal for her to drive with a gun, much less a loaded gun, out in the open. Not sure what the CCW laws are down there but at least up here any firearm has to be in a locked case inaccessible. You friend is not smart.
Post by lovelyshoes on Sept 8, 2017 8:40:37 GMT -5
My friend finally heard from her parents in St. Thomas. They are ok, insane amounts of damage and a lot of people missing. There are no words to describe how grateful I feel that her family is ok. My heart is breaking for those who aren't. This is incredibly devastating.
I ended up at a community meeting tonight where the guest speaker was from fire dept talking about disaster prep. Go figure.
Apparently I'm a disaster magnet. Hurricanes, earthquakes, taken shelter from tornadoes and tsunamis...
Their biggest suggestion was to have a landline. I was like, no, I hear you and agree with your reasons, but you will not convince people. Its only 10/mo, but even super prepared dad cancelled his.
That's interesting. They also need to make it clear that only a traditional landline does that. When we had a "landline" through fios 11 years ago it went out if the power went out because it was through the fios box, not a "real landline." A real landline couldn't be had for less than $40 a month then, haven't priced it since.
You need a 'hard wired' landline for this to work. Internet phones - or VOIPs - do not work if the internet is down or there is no electricity. I looked into getting a very basic traditional landline. My house is already wired for it and I thought it was worth the few dollars a month to have in case of emergency. The best price I could get was around $35 a month, and that included only local calls. They no longer offered a basic $10 plan with a per call fee, which is all I wanted.
One of my cousins lives on the eastern coast of FL on a barrier island, and her home was flooded last year during Matthew. They JUST finished renovations. Last night she drove through 12 hrs of traffic, alone, with her 18 month old and 2 month preemie to evacuate to her parent's home. (Her husband is departing this AM.) I hope her home isn't damaged again. She's so overwhelmed.
ETA: I just watched a press conference on the Weather Channel, and they said that even if you think a hotel doesn't accept pets (based on policy online, etc.) the state has asked hotels to be lenient. Call and ask if you think taking your pets with you to a hotel is out of the question. Chances are the hotel will say yes and grant you accommodations for your pet to join you.
My mom woke up everyone on the family chat this morning freaking out about my adult niece in Tampa.
She had said she would try to fly out Sunday. I ended up buying her a ticket to come to me today. My mom has calmed down some.
Are they actually flying out? Miami was cancelling flights yesterday as my mom's godmother was in line boarding to Newark NJ. They claimed that nothing was going out further.
My sister and her fiancé on Tampa Bay are still refusing to evacuate. They claim all their neighbors are staying put despite being in a mandatory evacuation zone.
She said that maybe tomorrow they'd drive inland 20 minutes to a friend's house, but based on today's predictions, they don't think they have to move.
Post by runforrest on Sept 8, 2017 10:57:50 GMT -5
My SIL's mom is in Miami (about a mile from Biscayne Bay and less than two from the Atlantic, according to my brother), and she is staying. My SIL and her five siblings have all tried to convince her to go, but she won't. I'm so nervous for her. My SIL is terrified.
That's interesting. They also need to make it clear that only a traditional landline does that. When we had a "landline" through fios 11 years ago it went out if the power went out because it was through the fios box, not a "real landline." A real landline couldn't be had for less than $40 a month then, haven't priced it since.
You need a 'hard wired' landline for this to work. Internet phones - or VOIPs - do not work if the internet is down or there is no electricity. I looked into getting a very basic traditional landline. My house is already wired for it and I thought it was worth the few dollars a month to have in case of emergency. The best price I could get was around $35 a month, and that included only local calls. They no longer offered a basic $10 plan with a per call fee, which is all I wanted.
If you have a traditional landline you might be able to dial 911 even if you do not currently have service. This article is out of date but it seems the laws on this vary by state.
Post by timorousbeastie on Sept 8, 2017 11:47:55 GMT -5
My aunt lives in a mandatory evacuation zone just north of Ft Lauderdale on a canal, not even a quarter mile off the ocean. Just found out she's not evacuating. She's a diehard 45 supporter who thinks the fake news is just blowing this all out of proportion. But it's all good, she stocked up on beer and snack food, just in case the grocery store is closed for a while. Ugh. I can't believe my grandparents, two of the smartest people I've ever known, raised this woman.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Sept 8, 2017 13:06:41 GMT -5
We're outside Jax on a barrier island in Zone B. Mandatory evacuation by 6am Saturday. We left this morning at 5 to head to my IL's cabin in NC mountains. We took 95 until Savannah, and roads were busy but moving at around 80mph. The back roads we took after that were fine. So if anyone is still debating where to go, head north.
My parents are being idiots. They live 2 miles from me (also mandatory evacuation). They just happened to have a trip planned, so they're currently in NYC with friends. But they (well, my dad) decided to cut their trip short by a week and a half. They're now flying from NY to Jax on Saturday at noon. WHY? They won't even let them cross the bridge to get to their house. I went by to get their important papers and bring all their stuff inside. There's no reason to fly to FL during a hurricane. Stay put!
My dad is insisting it'll all be fine. He's going to call the St John's County police and tell them he needs to CROSS THE DAMN SHUT DOWN BRIDGE to get to his house. For no purpose.
I told him on Tuesday that they might not let him even fly in on Saturday, but he kept telling me that no, no -- it will be fine. He called the airport.
Post by WanderingWinoZ on Sept 8, 2017 14:08:07 GMT -5
Is there any update on the Fatalities on the smaller islands ? I'm seeing really small numbers, I'm wondering if there's people really did well or if they just not have been able to even report from those islands about more casualties. Hoping they are ok despite the destruction all around.
Post by WanderingWinoZ on Sept 8, 2017 14:09:23 GMT -5
Omg - CNN is interviewing people who are deciding to stay on Key West. I think it will get weaker, I think will hit for the north of them, I think their buildings are safe enough to withstand it ... (*they)
Post by captainobvious on Sept 8, 2017 14:15:41 GMT -5
In case anyone hasn't seen/heard this yet.
Stay safe and informed with The Weather Channel‘s continuous coverage on Sirius Ch.137 and XM Ch. 202, starting at 7 pm ET on Friday, September 8th. This Weather Channel simulcast will be available on ALL Sirius XM radios – for both subscribers and non-subscribers – to provide the latest storm updates and potentially life-saving information to those in affected areas.