I was thinking exactly that. A one-two punch with severe hurricanes seems highly unusual. Add the massive fires in and it seems unprecedented. I know that all of it is related to climate chang, and we have "leaders" who pretend that climate change isn't real.
It happened in 2005 with Katrina and Rita.
But yes it kind of feels like the end of days. I don't think I'm even joking. Harvey killed my usual optimism.
I forgot about Rita in the wake of Katrina. Which is shameful.
It still is concerning that we are seeing this. And now Jose is forming as well. Hopefully he'll fizzle.
We live in Melbourne and are watching it very closely. We evacuated for Matthew last year and will do it again, if necessary. Some here are ready, prepared, and cautious, and some of course are unconcerned, and of the "it won't affect us" mentality.
Post by seeyalater52 on Sept 5, 2017 14:56:03 GMT -5
My inlaws are in west palm beach and my wife and I are offering to host them here in RI. They don't seek that worried but from up here it's terrifying. I hope they take us up on it.
I am stunned at the number of disasters going on/getting close. The fires. Hurricane Harvey, now Irma. It makes me worry so much because our government sucks right now.
I was thinking exactly that. A one-two punch with severe hurricanes seems highly unusual. Add the massive fires in and it seems unprecedented. I know that all of it is related to climate chang, and we have "leaders" who pretend that climate change isn't real.
It's hard to feel hopeful with one side of the country on fire, the other side drowning/blowing to pieces, and the entire thing rotting from the core from a morally bankrupt, racist, greedy government that cares for nobody but themselves.
Arg. I am going to worry about my grandmother in Orlando. I wonder if I should get them this weekend and drive them up to Atlanta
Does she live with anyone else?
@246baje, is your cousin's house far enough away from the water? Is your brother going to evacuate?
Her husband, who I am more worried for. He has significant medical needs, but he is also quite difficult and will absolutely resist evacuating. I'm going to offer tonight that I will get them. We'll see.
I was thinking exactly that. A one-two punch with severe hurricanes seems highly unusual. Add the massive fires in and it seems unprecedented. I know that all of it is related to climate chang, and we have "leaders" who pretend that climate change isn't real.
It's hard to feel hopeful with one side of the country on fire, the other side drowning/blowing to pieces, and the entire thing rotting from the core from a morally bankrupt, racist, greedy government that cares for nobody but themselves.
I've been reading the water conditions and it is likely to grow even stronger since it has yet to hit the really warm water (86 degrees F+). The only thing that is going to weaken it is land, unfortunately.
This is exactly my question. I was hoping if this thing is out a few days and already a 4 or 5 that wouldn't it die down in a few days before it hit Florida? So with the warm water it will actually get stronger?
Wind shear can disorganize and weaken. I've stopped reading the nws discussions, but it can be a great resource for the hows and why's of specific predictions. It gets really technical
Post by lilypad1126 on Sept 5, 2017 15:44:56 GMT -5
I just texted my sister who lives in Orlando. She's remarkably unconcerned and unprepared. I'm not the least bit surprised, but it still pisses me off. You have family who love you and care about you, could you please at least buy yourself some water and peanut butter and bread, and fill up your car?!?!?!
I lived in Orlando for years and I get that it's hard to know when to take the hurricane seriously and evacuate. The weather folks down there make EVERYTHING into a big deal, even when it's not. But this IS a big deal. Especially after seeing what Houston went through barely a week ago, this should be taken so seriously!
Ugh, now I'm worried about my sister as well as pissed off at her. I'm barely 12 hours north of her and she could easily drive up here for a week and stay with me. But no, she is too unconcerned to think this through.
UGH! My sister and her family - my BIL and her 2 little kids - just got back home after a mandatory evacuation from their Houston suburb. Miraculously, they did not have any flooding. They are supposed to fly to the Dominican Republic on Saturday for vacation, to celebrate my BIL's 40th birthday and their 5th anniversary.
They cannot catch a damned break. After all the stress in Houston they could use a vacation. I know vacation is the least of the worries for people right now - but it just seems so unfair that they should have to deal with more hurricane related BS.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Sept 5, 2017 15:51:51 GMT -5
I'm just south of Jacksonville (on a barrier island), and people here are taking it very seriously. After our mandatory evacuation for Matthew last year, plus seeing everything with Harvey, I think everyone is freaked out. Everywhere is out of bottled water, but I have to believe they will be able to restock before the end of the week. Apparently Costco had a line of 900 people when it opened, and they sold out of bottled water by 10 am.
We have both sets of parents within 5 miles of us (all of us in the same town, east of the intracoastal). BIL and SIL and their week old baby are just on the other side of the intracoastal.
Right now it looks like we won't get a direct hit, so we'll just prepare for a lengthy power outage.
I'm looking at stuff online and making lists of everything I need to buy/gather. What you have to do to stay put vs what you need to do to evacuate are so different, but I'm kind of trying to do both. One benefit to my incredible laziness -- all of our pictures/memories are still in the box I put them into when we evacuated for Matthew last year.
Post by lightbulbsun on Sept 5, 2017 15:54:02 GMT -5
Ugh, H's grandma lives in the Tampa area, and I was just checking flight prices to get her up to us, and they're already around $650 for one way. I hope she'll agree to come stay with us for a while.
All of our friends in Antigua live in wooden houses. And most of them are refusing to go to a shelter. I am worried. So many live with their elderly grandparents and infants--lots of people who aren't super self sufficient.
I don't even know what's going to happen in Barbuda. It's basically all at sea level and they are directly in the path. And most people live in a coastal town with a lagoon.
I really feel terrible about Barbuda. We loved Antigua and Barbuda so much while visiting for our honeymoon and it's scary to think how bad it will be for all of those people.
We live north of Orlando, and Irma is all anyone is talking about around town today. Every place I went to said that they were overwhelmed with storm related phone calls and business.
The vet was getting a lot of calls about boarding, the normally quiet little dog food store was really busy and their phone was ringing off the hook. The little health food store near the dog food store was busier than usual, Dollar Tree was packed and Harbor Freight was almost out of tarps, especially in larger sizes. The gas stations were very busy and people were very impatient. The bagel shop wasn't busy and it was Tuesday, 18 for the price of 12, so I stocked up. lol
Lowes cancelled DH's order for delivery of plywood because they are out. DH had tried to place an order from the airport this morning on his way to Canada, since I had no way to get plywood home by myself. Apparently all of the stores around here are out of plywood, according to everyone talking in the stores today. He changed his ticket from Friday night to Thursday morning, so hopefully we can get fully ready in time.
Talked to my mom and she and my brother are taking it seriously, which is a pleasant surprise. She's worried they'll be under a mandatory evacuation because it's a manufactured home. I told her that if they really, really need to they can come here. It's a 20 hour drive so hopefully it won't come to that.
She's in negotiations to buy the place but that's on hold until she sees if it's still there next week. The same thing happened about 15 years ago when she moved to that part of Florida. She was supposed to close on a house the day Charlie hit.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Sept 5, 2017 17:36:32 GMT -5
My mom, stepdad, sister and her family, uncle, and a big chunk of my friends all live in Florida. As is my grandfather, who is recently widowed and spending time with my mom.
Most of my friends seem to be taking it seriously, but my family is too breezy for my liking. (Well, my mom is being more focused, but I'm irritated with my stepdad and sister.)
I finally saw something from my Fl cousin. It was a pic of a bunch of canned tuna and sausages, and a bunch of wine, so I guess they're getting prepared? They have 2 young daughters there (and cousin has one 16 yo daughter from a previous relationship in PR).
My sister and her fiance are in Tampa Bay, but fortunately are well prepared. It seems like Miami is likely to be the hardest hit - I hope there's a good evacuation route planned and everyone stays safe.
My family in florida (central) seem not at all concerned. Meanwhile, i kind of think itll be pretty bad up the entire coast, so im freaking out a little bit.
My ILs (Melbourne area) are not even remotely entertaining the idea of evacuating, though at least my MIL will likely hole up in a friend's house that isn't directly on the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile my mom (Eastern Panhandle, but inland) is texting me doomsday stuff. To her, the house is already lost.
I'm mostly a lurker, but am in South Palm Beach County and and freaking out. MH, on the other hand seems to think it will all be ok. We have plenty of water, a few boxes of MRE's, flashlights, radio and batteries. No shutters as we were told our impact windows would be good enough, but it all makes me so nervous. We've only lived here for 2 years so this is our first experience. Thinking good thoughts for everyone in her path!
If I were to go and evacuate my grandparents from Orlando, can anyone tell me when I would have to make that decision by? I'm in Atlanta.
16 and 75 will be closed to south bound traffic if a hurricane evacuation is called for. I wouldn't wait too long or you may not be able to get down there. I would see what the reports tomorrow are and if it's still looking to hit go get her.
I just spoke to my grandparents, and I have never heard my grandma so worried. Luckily Spirit air had a $50 flight down tomorrow morning, so I'll be flying down and driving their car up. Heaven help me.
I finally saw something from my Fl cousin. It was a pic of a bunch of canned tuna and sausages, and a bunch of wine, so I guess they're getting prepared? They have 2 young daughters there (and cousin has one 16 yo daughter from a previous relationship in PR).
Make sure they have a mechanical opener. And more wine
Just called my parents near Fort Lauderdale and offered to have them come to NC (RTP area) with my grandma. My parents said that there are had lines and stations are running out of gas. My mom is worried about driving and getting stranded without gas. Their friends tried to get flights out and couldn't find anything. I'm going to look after the kids go to bed and see if I can get a flight with my points.
I don't know if I could get them to come either way, though. Grandma is crazy stubborn and will barely go to my parent's place to ride out the storm when they live down the block.