HURRICANE--what, again?

[Pernicious Atavist]

Okay, all. here we go again. :( we have YET another hurricane barreling down on us in florida. let's make this the site for postings for the current storm...jeanne? dang. :rolleyes:

i can tell you first-hand, as can some of our fellow forumites, that we're developing hurricane fatigue here. i've spoken to a lot of folks who are refusing to evacuate; they just can't take any more of this and can't see leaving yet again; some can't afford to, either.

as before, i'll keep posting more frequently as time passes. if i don't show up for awhile, i've lost power YET again! (12 days last time!)

sheesh..... :rolleyes: :confused:

[Popeye]

---------------

The wind bloweth where it listeth; and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth.

-- St John

[Pernicious Atavist]

yeah, popeye, i often can't tell if i'm coming or going, either!

any forumites in colorado? need a house guest? :rolleyes:

[rbgarr]

My mother's place in Vero Beach had the storm shutters damaged by Frances, but that was all. Fourteen weeks wait for replacement units!

Looking at the prospective track of Jeanne it looks like evacuations may be called for Florida, Georgia and even South Carolina coastal areas.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

What a nightmare that would be!

[Concordia..41]

This is beyond nuts. I've had little or no damage, and little or no inconvenience, but I still feel like dropping to my knees or screaming in frustration (doing both is also an option).

- M

[ 09-24-2004, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Donn]

It's hard to imagine what it must be like. Have you all had time to resupply your hurricane kits? Have the stores and gas stations gotten resupplied?

Maybe a weekend in the Keys is in order?

[Concordia..41]

I have it from a reliable source that due to the recent increase in hurricane parties that margarita mix is in very short supply. ;)

[Concordia..41]

A fan large enough to keep Jeanne off shore. Pretty please. smile.gif

(Giant fan or not, please stop by.)

[ 09-24-2004, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[bamamick]

May the Lord have mercy on you folks in Florida and in the Bahamas.

Enough is enough is enough is......

Mickey Lake

[Pernicious Atavist]

well, it doesn't look promising, does it? people here in brevard county--that's about cape canaveral south through melbourne for those of you who aren't familiar with the sunshine..uhhhhh...plywood...state--are fed up, done in, etc. i had a fuel truck fill my regular gas tank at my store at 2 today and by 6 we had pumped about 4500 gallons and had to stop pumping. we sure as hell need a break...winter, anyone?

[Bob P]

Latest forecast here on the Georgia coast may just give us a tropical storm here.
But my prayers are with those poor souls in Florida.
Old Sailor

[brian.cunningham]

Just curious, after this many times to the home center to buy plywood to cover up thier windows, why aren't more people down there building permenant storm shutters? :confused:

[Concordia..41]

Actually Brian if you're looking for a stock tip, hurricane shutter and generators are hot picks right now. FWIW - prior to Charlie there was a 14 week storm shutter back order in the Ft. Pierce area. Gosh only knows what it is now.

I, for one, have had my first and last plywood experience (we bought the house in December). If I have to build them myself, I'll have storm shutters before next July. Probably a hard-wired generator too :D

- M

[Pernicious Atavist]

brian, i'm a native floridian. as a kid, all homes seem to have had permanent shutters. the houses were well-built, too. now, with this building boom over the last decades, they are building crap, wood-frame houses that can't stand a blow. quantity, not quality is the byword.

a lot of new immigrants to florida--that would be anyone from north of say... jacksonville... don't have the experience we have. of course the folks fom here to the carolina shore sure do! the rest just plain DO NOT UNDERSTAND, and i've had yankees scoff at 'canes because "we've been through blizzards." now, having been through blizzards and 'canes, they're no more alike than a kayak and an aircraft carrier. since so many don't understand, the have a flippant attitude about 'canes and think taping windows will keep them safe.

i, like my fellow miamians who lived through andrew, have a different attitude and i know many folks here are learning their lessons.
when i came home after the military, i looked for a concrete house with shutters. i can hatch-batten in less than 60 minutes!

now, if i can keep the lights on.... :cool:

[NormMessinger]

Can't do much from here but watch, worry and hope, for what ever that'll be worth. Oh, and I'll keep my fingers crossed. That' has proven effective in the past at times. Best wishes.

[Pernicious Atavist]

thanks, norm! worry won't help. i don't--why should you?

wind's picking up here. bands coming through. i'll have to finish battening in a little while. we figure to start getting tropical storm-force winds about 2100.

[Pernicious Atavist]

it's getting closer......

[Pernicious Atavist]

power's fluxuating.... :(

[Donn]

Good luck!

[Ross M]

Good luck, PA!

Ross

[Pernicious Atavist]

thanks! the 'cane is slated to come ashore at midnight about 45 miles south of me. we should be getting hurricane-force winds about 2100. i think earlier i said tropical storm force winds at that time. oops.

[Donn]

http://maps.wunderground.com/data/images/at200411_sat.jpg

[Concordia..41]

http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/ruinkai/lightingzapA.gif
Already NNE @ 26 with gusts to 37. Checking on tides as there was more water than I've ever seen around 6 pm. :(

Have I mentioned I've had enough??????

I hate hurricanes. I hate hurricanes. I hate hurricanes. I hate hurricanes. I hate hurricanes.

The latest is the weather guy's chart colored to indicate power outages. Egads! http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/ruinkai/lightingzapA.gif

[ 09-25-2004, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I'm just standing by like Norm watching and listening with my fingers crossed. ;) I'm here if anyone needs to vent. smile.gif Would it help if I reminded ya'll it's probably gonna be snowing up here pretty soon? :D

[Ken Hutchins]

Best of luck to all in the path.

[Ross M]

First hard gusts are hitting us now. Imagine PA is WOP. yutyt (that was Miss Kitty coming in from porch, via keyboard). Just 8 more hours and the eye will be here - with significantly reduced wind velocities, thankfully.

Ross

[ 09-25-2004, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: Ross M ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I'm thinking about ya'll and hopeing all is well with my friends in Florida. smile.gif
Hang in there. ;)

[Norske3]

Jeanne on top of Florida......a NIGHTMARE. http://image.weather.com/images/maps/tropical/spec_trop5_720x486.jpg

[ 09-26-2004, 06:39 AM: Message edited by: Norske3 ]

[Concordia..41]

Fortunately for us and unfortunately for Ross, it's going his way. Also Mark is going to be in the mangroves for a bit. There aren't words to describe how bad this sucks.

The wind sounds horrible, but per local airport readings is only gusting to 33. I'm waiting for a sliver of daylight to make a boatyard run.

They're predicting a 100% chance of rain today. DUH!!!!

[Norske3]

...is that vertical or horizontal rain?

[Frank Wentzel]

My wife left for work a hour or so ago. She runs the local "Hardee's" which was the only restaurant in town to stay open through Frances. She feels it's her duty to be there for her customers (many without power to cook) and hungry aid workers (you can eat only so many cold sandwiches). I'll be going out later to help - don't work there, can't get paid, but I can be useful! My wife feels there is an unwritten statute in Florida "You have to eat fried chicken after a hurricane" so I'll go there to help out on the fryers.

/// Frank ///

[Concordia..41]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

30 things that Charley and Frances taught us, as described by the Orlando Sentinel:

1. An oak tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing up.
2. Even after all these years it is still nice to spend time with Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the lead pipe.
3. When house hunting , look for closets with lots of leg room.
4. Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen sink---and tastes just as bad.
5. AAA, AA, C and D are the only alphabet we need.
6. The four-way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.
7. Radio can be the best way to watch television.
8. Chainsaw wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.
9. SUV's are the best makeshift tents on the market.
10. You can use your washing machine as a cooler.
11. It's your God given right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese takeout by candlelight in your underwear.
12. We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage-- we actually DO need a generator.
13. You can't spell "priceless" without I-C-E.
14. Downed power lines make an excellent security system.
15. Any peanut butter will do.
16. Gasoline is a value at any price.
17. Cell phones: Breaking up isn't hard to do.
18. The life blood of any disaster recovery is COFFEE.
19. The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm.
20. Candlelight is better than botox--- it takes years off your appearance.
21. Air Conditioning: BEST. INVENTION. EVER.
22. Water is a comfort food. But 3-day-old Cheetos are too.
23. Shadow animals on the wall---Still fun.
24. No matter how hard the wind blows, roadside campaign signs will survive.
25. You should never admit to having power at your house in the presence of co-workers or neighbors who do not.
26. There's a plus to having NOTHING in the refrigerator.
27. Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.
28. The movie theater can be a most pleasant place, even if the feature is Alien vs. Predator.
29. Somebody's got it worse.
30. Somebody's got it better. Obviously, they are getting preferential treatment :D

[Donn]

:D

[Concordia..41]

:D

"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane."

- JB

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Originally posted by Frank Wentzel:
My wife left for work a hour or so ago. She runs the local "Hardee's" which was the only restaurant in town to stay open through Frances. She feels it's her duty to be there for her customers (many without power to cook) and hungry aid workers (you can eat only so many cold sandwiches). I'll be going out later to help - don't work there, can't get paid, but I can be useful! My wife feels there is an unwritten statute in Florida "You have to eat fried chicken after a hurricane" so I'll go there to help out on the fryers.

/// Frank ///Blessed are the chicken fryers for they shall inherit smiles and good karma! smile.gif :D :cool:

[Donn]

CNN just had a reporter in St. Augustine. She said sustained wind at 25 with gusts to 35, rain just starting, and it's approaching high tide.

How's Sarah?

[Concordia..41]

She's soggy & wind blown. But there's zero damage and that is what matters :cool: .

I hung out down there from daylight through high tide. It's high, but not over the dock or up into the yard. Airport showing ENE @ 32 with gusts to 39. That and predictions to 50 with higher gusts are manageable.

It'll get worse as the day progresses, but I really believe we're ok.

Cheers!
- M

[Bill Dodson]

I'm still waiting for word from my daughter in Daytona Beach this morning. She goes to college (Embry-Riddle) there... or at least she tries to. It's been a heck of a way to start a semester :eek:

:confused: Bill :confused:

(later)
I got word from her that they are doing OK and even have electricity still smile.gif

[ 09-26-2004, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: Bill Dodson ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

OK....who still has power besides Bill's daughter?

Is Sarah still OK Margo?
(I've been praying ;) )

Ross? :confused:

Hello?

Anybody there?

[Concordia..41]

All's well. We lost cable (read internet) at the house about 3:30 p.m. and power about 8 p.m. Power was back on by this morning.

No damage at the boatyard. :cool:

At my 6 p.m. boat check I found two storage containers blown over - one of which holds varnish, epoxy, paint, etc.

I figured I had a real mess on my hands - nothing like a nice chemical spill to brighten your hurricane day :eek: , and the stench was something awful. In between wind gusts I manage to right the thing and the only spill (and smell) was a tub of Gojo hand cleaner :cool:

It was all over everything, but really a rather simple process in the pouring rain to rinse things off :D

Hope everyone else made out as good.

- M

[PaulC]

Our Florida Tech son stayed in Melbourne for this storm. He and some friends spent some anxious hours under a table moved into the hallway (central room with good structure...) through Saturday night.

He called home at 7:45am Sunday to report that he was ok!

The power is out of course and there are a lot of damaged roofs. Guess we won't hear from P.A. again for a while.

The classes will resume again tomorrow. The college must have a generator hidden among all of those buildings smile.gif

[Pernicious Atavist]

hi, all! i'm back! my "defensable position" made it throguh yet another 'cane. winds here, i think, since i did this one, too, without power, were about 115 - 120 mph.... only minor damage, thankfully.

okay...i have power, airCONDITIONING, and a cold fridge. maybe it'll be for only a week or so...who knows anymore?

geez....

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

They were just saying on TV that a million people were still with out power. :( Thats down from 2 million yesterday. smile.gif I guess you can say you've survived another PA. :rolleyes: Did you hear about the earthquake in California? :eek: I'm afraid to ask what's next? :confused: :D

The sun has to come out someday soon for sure,after all you're in the sunshine state. :cool:

Glad to hear everyone's OK. I saw Ross posted on another thread so he has power now too I guess. ;)

[Ross M]

"maybe it'll be for only a week or so...who knows anymore?"

;)

Power returned this AM. Very grateful. Getting good at temporary roof repairs...

Ross