Well the news tonight just told central Floridians to go ahead and start preparing for Hurricane Francis. We all saw with Charlie how unpredictable these things are, but the computer models have it going to a category 4 or possibly 5, before hitting the Florida East coast around Vero Beach, then crossing up through Ocala and Gainesville this weekend, probably Sat. night.
They're telling people to pick up all loose yard items, and to go ahead and board up windows and get supplies, so the weather people must think we have a very high chance of getting hit.
Some of us who were supposed to be in the path of Charlie got lucky 2 weeks ago, but is our luck running out? Lets hope not. I'm thinking about 2 tall pine trees that are next to my shop. I may be out there with a chainsaw soon.....
Hope all you other Florida folks take time to get ready for this one just in case. I'm definitely getting all my computer junk in a safe, dry place, wrapped in plastic.....
Never a dull moment.....eh ? Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
Jeff,
Gonna board up the place here, with a peep hole.
Hindsight: TV & Generator!
I would have liked to have had a visual (TV) during hurricane Charley. Our county, turned off the electricity at 3pm, just as the storm took a left hand turn and was about to hit Sanibel, FL. Electric, didn't come back on until a week later, i.e. Generator...
Our local media hasn't left us out of the path of the storm.
Good luck, Cher.
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Yeah Jeff, I saw that on the news also. Very good idea to prepare big time, I saw some of the people in Home Depot loading up sheets of 4x8's, others in the grocery stores packing up the carts to the top. That's pretty bad what all the damage them Hurricanes do. I remember when I was in the Keys in '98, Carribean Mike McCloud gave me a tour of Big Pine. It looked like an aftermath, and the guy who just wrote a big story about Charley gave a very good description what's it like. All I can say is take care and if you really don't need them pine trees, I would cut em down. To me a shop is more important. Take care amigo, and also to all the rest of you Floridians I had the pleasure of staying and meeting with. God Bless...
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Excuse me for not mentioning to all the other people in that area who visit the BB, take care also. I also see what's happening up north with Hermine. Take care everybody...
Posted by Jim Bagaas (Member # 3808) on :
Geeeez Jeff, I was thinking of coming up for a visit during "francis". But it looks like you'll be all boarded up. If you lose your trees you can have mine,Their all in small bits to make them easier to move. The small blue thing on the left is my landlord trying to find our power pole that was knocked over by the trees. Anywho,Everyone take care and be well,Myself,I'm heading out of town(again)and find a nice motel to hide in.A mobile home and 105mph winds don't go togeather well.
P.S. Just noticed,I'm still listed as colorado. Better change that since i'm here in Orlando now.
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
We will be preparing for this one all week. The house we live in never had shutters so a lot of my old scrap signs are now going to be spending the rest of there lives as hurricane shutters.
We are still stocked up from Charlie so no need for us to go out and get food and water - only rum and beer - ice is stocked up too.
Della and the boys are leaving early Friday morning and heading right past you Jeff - up to Live Oak. We already have reservations made at a hotel up there.
I stay in town to look after the shop, my house, my sister's house, my parents house and our rental properties. I have a nice "rabbit hole" setup in the shop where I have weathered a few storms already.
My old generator hasn't been running so I took that and my chainsaw to the small engine fix-it guy yesterday and I was also fortunate enough to get a new generator ordered from Grainger yesterday - that should be in tomorrow.
The lastest track that I saw takes the storm directly over Melbourne so we are very serious about it. Even if it hits north or south of us, hurricane force winds are extending out from the center a lot farther than Charlie and are expected to strike us either late Friday or early Saturday.
When the time comes, I will try to stay online either here on the board or in the chat room.
Wish us luck.
Posted by Luke Scanlan (Member # 2481) on :
Yeah, I'm ready. Ready to move to Canada! Central Canada.
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
Everybody, take care and leave the area if it really looks threatening. We don't need to lose anyone.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Already got hit from the left coast, now it's coming from the right! If it goes in around Vero Beach or Melbourne we'll get strong Tropical Storm winds again I believe. If it moves north about 25 miles or more we'll be in hurricane force most likely.
My biggest concern is all the trees piled up in our streets waiting for pick up from Charley.
Probably make my decision whether to head out or not on Thursday.
This is starting to get old!!
Hang on everyone. God bless.
[ August 31, 2004, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Well now I'm in the direct path, again. The just said the eye is so big it would be 5 times more destructive than Charley was in Punta Gorda. Just great! Still time to move in either direction. Everyone be prepared.
Anyone in northwest FL have space for three people and two dogs? I can't go to a hotel with the dogs.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Amy, Sure wish I could help you out...this is the best I can do from here -
this is a link to Pet Friendly hotels in Florida...
[ August 31, 2004, 06:32 PM: Message edited by: Kimberly Zanetti ]
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
We may leave on Friday. During Floyd we ended up camping out at a state park by the Georgia Alabama state line. If it wasn't for the 87 ant bites I got it wouldn't have been bad at all. This time I'm taking lots of bug spray.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Would everyone in the possible path please write down a phone number of someone from here you can check in with? If this one goes down like it looks like it will, I'm sure we'll have another check-in post.
Amy, it's a long drive, but you're welcome here. My mutts would love the company and I can always use a few extra arms working on the shop. Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Thanks Kim & Kissy.
My cell is 386-848-1532 if I'm not home at 386-228-0908.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Amy if the shyte gets too deep, you and Robert and your daughter and dogs are welcome to crash at my place/shop but be prepared to work your butts off. Im way behind here Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
After Charley, our electric and phone lines were down. Cell phone towers were leveled and cable internet access was not available. At my home, I was without electricity for 7 days and my home phone was disabled for 17 days.
Technology, has most of us running around with a cordless phone to our ear, but they don't work without electricity. It's a good thing, to have an old fashion one on hand. Remember the ones with a cord attached to the handset? lol
I charged my cell phone before the storm hit, but afterwards it became frustrating to make and receive calls. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. Having a charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your vehicle, will keep it up and running, worthless or not.
If ya don't do your laundry before the storm, hopefully you have a washboard and plenty of water on hand. BTW, don't use too much soap if ya need to was by hand, with lack of water the rinse and wear could become uncomfortable. I never lost water at my house, but the pressure was extremely low, didn't do me any good, the washer and dryer balked without electric.
Been meaning to clean your fridge? Do so before trash day and well before the storm. Your scheduled trash day, may not be what you expect, afterwards. Stock the fridge with soda, juice, bottled water, etc. A full fridge will stay colder, longer. I found too, that small containers took up less space when I transferred items into the cooler and usage allowed for more turnover.
Put a thermometor in your freezer and don't open the door unless absolutely necessary. We were told our meats were good only up to two days at 40 degrees.
Ice, became quite a commodity while I was campin' out! In hindsight, I would have stocked my coolers with block ice, it lasts longer than the bags from the grocery store. Our local ice houses were inoperable without electric. Before you drain the cold water from your cooler, use it to cool any warm items you want to rotate into the cooler.
Have a stock of ziplock baggies on hand. The good ones will keep food and medication dry, when placed into a wet cooler. Paper towels, plates, plastic ware and tiolet paper will come in handy, too!
Without a generator, think camping! If you're into hot java in the morning, your Bunn or Mr. Coffee makers won't work without electric! Ha! Hope you have an old fashioned perculator...
My grill, came in handy when I had to cook the dead meat I had stored in the freezer, but the Coleman stove became a prized item and the hot lick! Hot coffee and fried eggs in the morning, brought some normalcy to a newfound, rather dreary lifestyle. Fill your propane tanks, stock up on charcole, lighter fluid and lighters, etc.
If you have a generator, make sure to stock up on fuel. Don't forget to fill up the vehicles too. Lines at the pump are frustrating and rediculous.
Check your battery operated radio's and make sure they work and you are well stocked in batteries. The radio, was our ONLY means of mass communication, BEFORE and well after the storm. Electric companies disabled electric well before the storm hit! I would have loved to have had a TV, I still haven't seen the doppler image of Charley passing across the state of Florida!
If you have a chain saw, make sure you have fuel and oil. Charge your hand drill, etc. Stock up on anything ya might need from the hardware store.
Hope this helps. Good luck everyone!
Cher.
Posted by Tim (Member # 1699) on :
RUN!
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
It's a good idea to document the contents of your home and business, with a written list and photographs. Gather all important papers, memorebilia, photo's, etc.
I secured all equipment in my work shop, under tarps. Office equipment: all electronics were covered with heavy duty trash bags and placed under counters and elevated off the floor. I unplugged EVERYTHING, including phone lines.
If you RUN from an area that receives a direct hit, be prepared for extended travel time upon your return and potentially being denied access to your properties. You will be required to produce ID and proof of address to maintain access.
Don't wait until the last minute to RUN.
Cher.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Looks like this is gonna be a last minute decision on the part of Hurricane Francis. The way they keep bouncing the path north and south makes it hard to decide which direction to go. Oh the fun.
Bob, thanks for the invite. If it makes landfall south like is predicted now we'll probably ride it out. Hopefully make a decision by tomorrow afternoon. They said I-4 may open all lanes to drive westbound if evacuations come about.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
any of you people are welcome to camp out in my shop. bring sleeping bags, air mattress or anything to sleep on.
i promise not to work anyone to hard.
Posted by Robert Salyers (Member # 5) on :
I just officially reopened this week after a quite a while away with a tougher job! I could use a few days off already! Just keep your families secure. All else can be replaced! God Bless!
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
LOL, Cheryl Quote:
"Dont' wait until the last minute to RUN"
UH!!
So I take it that this time you're NOT gonna stand at the window and watch?? LOL Posted by Jay Nichols (Member # 2842) on :
Good luck, everyone. Looks like Florida is gonna take another hit.
All my stuff is still in storage- goin over tomorrow and with plastic and duct tape to wrap the valuables and hope the roof on that cheesy tin building holds. The boat is still underwater-- gonna leave it there for the time being.
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Cheryl, your post is a definate keeper! I hope to never need it but gonna save it in case.
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