Florida people ????

[Hootiss]

Where in PG are you? All of Charlotte County is under a mandatory evac. I don't understand why you think you are not supposed to leave. We live off Collingswood Blvd. before sr 776 and have to be gone by 0600 Sunday.

 

[Hootiss]

Charlotte County:

All 3 local hospitals will remain open and move all patients to 2nd and 3rd floors.
The Justice Center and City of Punta Gorda offices will be closed on Monday.
A mandatory evacuation order (Authority is given under Florida Statutes, Chapter 252) is in effect in Charlotte County in the following phases:
PHASE-1: Effective NOON Saturday for mobile homes, barrier islands, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Charlotte County.
PHASE-2: Effective 6:00 a.m. Sunday for the Greater Punta Gorda area, Port Charlotte west of US-41 (from Peace River to SR-776), Cape Haze south of SR-776, Rotonda, Placida and Englewood.
PHASE-3: Effective 2:00 p.m. Sunday for the remainder of Cape Haze peninsula, Port Charlotte East of US-41 (Peace River to Midway Blvd.).
If your home is at an elevation of 10 foot or below, you should relocate for your own safety.

 

[bsnyder]

ThAnswr,

Is it true that Charlotte County has no evacuation shelters? Was that true for Charley? And if so, where do they expect people to go, if they have no family or friends to turn to?

Also, do you know what kind of storm surge ya'll got from Charley? I haven't seen any information on that, and it's my biggest hurricane fear here in South Tampa. Just looking for a comparision if we got a "worst case scenario".

 

[LIDisneyFan]

I'm not really sure what to do. DW and DD are in NY, flying back Sunday. We're in a newly constructed house, and now in an evacuation zone. We are 12 miles from the coast.

I was planning on staing like the last 2, with the whole family. People here are really panicked, boarding up when they didn't for the last 2 storms, and moving out of state.

I'm waiting until the 5 AM report tomorrow - then either DS, me and the dog get to the northeast (car?plane?), or if this keeps going the way it is, DW and DD will come back and we'll stick it out here.

I think I may be in denial

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by Hootiss
Where in PG are you? All of Charlotte County is under a mandatory evac. I don't understand why you think you are not supposed to leave. We live off Collingswood Blvd. before sr 776 and have to be gone by 0600 Sunday.

No, not all of Charlotte Country is under mandatory evacuation. Most, but not all.

We live in the Deep Creek area east of I-75. We're right outside that phase 3 area.

You live over towards my mother's area. She's right over the Myakka river bridge in El Jobean. She's in a mandatory evacuation area.

However, it looks like Ivan is tracking west away from us. We'll keep an eye on it because Charley was supposed to go towards Tampa not Punta Gorda.

 

[JayBee]

Doesn't Honeywolf live in Bradenton?

 

[bsnyder]

The latest from the NHC has this looking better and better for those of us on the west coast of FL. Not better for those in the Panhandle, unfortunately.

The current satallite loops look like an almost western motion is continuing (maybe a hair north of due west). If that continues for much longer, we'll probably be out of the "cone" by the next advisory.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Staying put in a boarded up block house. We survived Charley and Frances. At this point I feel like -- Oh, another hurricane.

But maybe we will luck out, as we certainly did not the last two!

 

[LIDisneyFan]

And the models http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200409_model.html

are following a much more western track.

OK, Fellow Floridians, after this season, maybe we can play the 'hurricane game'. You know -

What speed is a category 4?
What is wind sheer, and why do we like it?
What is the 'business side' of a storm?
How do you hook up a generator?
What is a transfer switch?
what is the difference between a BAMM and a NOGAPS model?
When do the NOAA advisories come out?

2 months ago, if anyone would have told me that I would know the answers to these questions, I would have thought they were crazy!

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by bsnyder
ThAnswr,

Is it true that Charlotte County has no evacuation shelters? Was that true for Charley? And if so, where do they expect people to go, if they have no family or friends to turn to?

Also, do you know what kind of storm surge ya'll got from Charley? I haven't seen any information on that, and it's my biggest hurricane fear here in South Tampa. Just looking for a comparision if we got a "worst case scenario".

Honestly, Bet, I couldn't tell you about the evacuation shelters because we've never needed one. I had heard there were no Category 4 or 5 shelters and I couldn't tell you for sure, but there are shelters.

People around here are living everywhere. Of the 4 families in our cul-de-sac, we're the only ones left. God bless these metal roofs.

My sister lost her house when it started to come down around here, literally, during Charley. Fans came crashing down from the ceiling, the ceiling dropped, and when they all ran for shelter in the bathroom, they started to see the roof separate from the house.

We've got vets leaving at the American Legion post because their mobile homes were demolished. You should've seen all these grizzled old men patching the roof. The American Legion post even lost their flag pole.

As for a storm surge, the guy who runs one of the marinas in Punta Gorda said there was a 12-14 surge go through the marina. It is demolished. My husband didn't find his boat until earlier this week and was only able to get to it Thursday. One of our friends has a 45 foot shrimp boat and he still can't find it. Another of our friends has a 35 foot trawler, and the only reason he found his boat was because the Coast Guard called to tell him his boat had sunk and was leaking fuel.

A storm surge is nothing to fool with. If there's any possiblity you're in it's path, get out. Think of it this way.......ever been to Typhoon Lagoon? No joke; I saw what happened to the marina.

The insurance adjuster has yet to come here. He was supposed to be here tomorrow. By the time he gets here, the house will be fixed.

Anyway, it looks like Ivan is starting to track to the west.

Stay safe and dry.

 

[Hootiss]

ThAnswr, you are very very lucky, I have seen Deep Creek. My DH is the operations Manager for Ambitrans, there are no shelters in Charlotte county. The people were flown from PG airport to Orlando. There is a sheltor at the Orlando Convention Center. Others were taken to a high school in Naples ,I believe. Some PT's were taken to Haines City others were transfered to nursing homes in Sarasota. We are leaving for Orlando (OKW) in the morning. ThAnswr, I wish you the best please stay safe!!

 

[bsnyder]

Originally posted by ThAnswr
Honestly, Bet, I couldn't tell you about the evacuation shelters because we've never needed one. I had heard there were no Category 4 or 5 shelters and I couldn't tell you for sure, but there are shelters.

People around here are living everywhere. Of the 4 families in our cul-de-sac, we're the only ones left. God bless these metal roofs.

My sister lost her house when it started to come down around here, literally, during Charley. Fans came crashing down from the ceiling, the ceiling dropped, and when they all ran for shelter in the bathroom, they started to see the roof separate from the house.

We've got vets leaving at the American Legion post because their mobile homes were demolished. You should've seen all these grizzled old men patching the roof. The American Legion post even lost their flag pole.

As for a storm surge, the guy who runs one of the marinas in Punta Gorda said there was a 12-14 surge go through the marina. It is demolished. My husband didn't find his boat until earlier this week and was only able to get to it Thursday. One of our friends has a 45 foot shrimp boat and he still can't find it. Another of our friends has a 35 foot trawler, and the only reason he found his boat was because the Coast Guard called to tell him his boat had sunk and was leaking fuel.

A storm surge is nothing to fool with. If there's any possiblity you're in it's path, get out. Think of it this way.......ever been to Typhoon Lagoon? No joke; I saw what happened to the marina.

The insurance adjuster has yet to come here. He was supposed to be here tomorrow. By the time he gets here, the house will be fixed.

Anyway, it looks like Ivan is starting to track to the west.

Stay safe and dry.

Yes, I'm well aware of the danger from storm surge. And still anxious about Ivan, for that reason. In 1996, Tropical Storm Josephine made landfall in the eastern Apalachee Bay and we still saw a storm surge of over 6 feet. That's enough to flood most of my neighborhood. We're in a newer home so we're built up quite a bit off the ground, but most of our neighbors and friends are not so lucky.

Which is why I'm amazed at the number of people that stuck around for Charley, in spite of the mandatory evacuations and are planning to do so for Ivan (even when the forecast had it coming straight into Tampa Bay).

Call me a big chicken, but I'm out of here if the authorities tell me I should go.

 

[ADisneygirl]

Well, as for me, I am getting out of here sometime tomorrow or early Monday morning. Even though they are saying Ivan is going a little more west and out over the water, I am afraid. I am not from Florida originally and I am not used to catastrophic weather. I have been so anxious and scared the last few weeks. Thankfully our house suffered no damages from the last two hurricanes, but we lost some trees and a fence and power for quite some time.

This morning I was out at 5:00am, off to Home Depot. I thought I was doing pretty good getting there an hour before they even opened to buy plywood. Well, the line stretched out around the parking lot, and off into the main road. Seems many others had the same bright idea, only some of them were camped out there overnight, arriving at 12:30am! They ran out of plywood about 7:15 and then sold pressed boards. Ran out of that and sold some wood with a weird name like T-2000. I was LUCKY to get into the store and get a ticket to buy up to 10 sheets of wood. I got out of there at 11:00am. They employees told us that two Home Depot trucks carrying wood from New Orleans were HIJACKED at gunpoint overnight along the highway, so they weren't even sure if they were getting another delivery today. Imagine that?

It's been a long day. I am exhausted. And we are all sick and tired of these storms.

We were planning on driving out of the state, maybe stopping in Georgia, but now that the forecast has changed, I think we may head over to Disney or down toward Miami. We will have to see where the advisory tomorrow morning puts it. We are only 2 miles from the Gulf, so even though my neighborhood is relatively new, the storm surge and wind could be devastating even if Ivan stays over water.

Good luck to everyone and keep praying for Ivan to weaken.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by bsnyder
The latest from the NHC has this looking better and better for those of us on the west coast of FL. Not better for those in the Panhandle, unfortunately.
The current satallite loops look like an almost western motion is continuing (maybe a hair north of due west). If that continues for much longer, we'll probably be out of the "cone" by the next advisory.

I can breathe now. I'm still heading to Miami. You just never know, but at least I feel like my home is going to be okay now and I can get to the other coast.
I'm feeling for those of you in the Panhandle, but it still can change.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by ThAnswr

My husband boarded some of the windows today. If there's one good thing that could be said about Charley, it's that Charley left fewer trees that could hit our house.
It was a real doozy here without power. You don't realize how hot it is in Florida until you have no AC. And, of course, the sliding doors don't have screens.......don't even get me started about the bugs.

I do know, we didn't have it for a week!
I was thinking the same thing about the trees, there aren't many left! I'm down the street from Sanibel and went over the other day, it's bare!! This was an island that was full of large shady trees. Very sad.
oWe also have huge ants everywhere! I heard that after Andrew people had ants for two years after.
Well, I'm off to Miami tomorrow morning. My street flooded with just a T-storm today, so even if we don't get the winds I'm sure we'll ahve some flooding.

 

[peacefulgirl]

I have family in Naples ....... do not know the area well ... are they ok with the path change ??????

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by Hootiss
ThAnswr, you are very very lucky, I have seen Deep Creek. My DH is the operations Manager for Ambitrans, there are no shelters in Charlotte county. The people were flown from PG airport to Orlando. There is a sheltor at the Orlando Convention Center. Others were taken to a high school in Naples ,I believe. Some PT's were taken to Haines City others were transfered to nursing homes in Sarasota. We are leaving for Orlando (OKW) in the morning. ThAnswr, I wish you the best please stay safe!!

Gives you a real warm feeling finding out there really aren't any shelters. Unbelievable!

We'll be fine here, thanks for the good wishes.

It looks like Ivan is travelling west towards the panhandle. We'll just have to keep an eye on it.

Have a good time at the OKW. We'll be at MNSSHP next month.

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by bsnyder
Yes, I'm well aware of the danger from storm surge. And still anxious about Ivan, for that reason. In 1996, Tropical Storm Josephine made landfall in the eastern Apalachee Bay and we still saw a storm surge of over 6 feet. That's enough to flood most of my neighborhood. We're in a newer home so we're built up quite a bit off the ground, but most of our neighbors and friends are not so lucky.

Which is why I'm amazed at the number of people that stuck around for Charley, in spite of the mandatory evacuations and are planning to do so for Ivan (even when the forecast had it coming straight into Tampa Bay).

Call me a big chicken, but I'm out of here if the authorities tell me I should go.

I think people stay because they really have no concept of the power of a category 4 or 5 hurricane. I'd been through hurricanes in NY, but I had never seen anything like the power of Charley. Literally, our garage door was twisted like a piece of aluminum foil. Our oak trees were ripped out of the ground. We were lucky.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by ThAnswr
I think people stay because they really have no concept of the power of a category 4 or 5 hurricane. I'd been through hurricanes in NY, but I had never seen anything like the power of Charley. Literally, our garage door was twisted like a piece of aluminum foil. Our oak trees were ripped out of the ground. We were lucky.

I agree, but It really isn't as easy to leave as people think. First you have to wait and see where it's going. Like Charley a lot of people evacuated to places like Fort Myers from Marco & Naples, then Ft. Myers got hit. People from other areas on the west coast evacuated to Orlando, then Orlando got hit. This is why I am staying put for so long this time. Had I left Friday like everyone else I would have went north and now that area seems worse off then we'll be. If you have a well built home sometimes your better off at home. I laugh because they are using our place of work as a shelter. I know what that place is like, not to mention it's right on the river, I wouldn't want to be in there duringa strong storm!

 

[Luv2Roam]

We just moved to FL this year. Whatta a year to pick to move from the midwest....
Although I feel like FL gets a lot more support and $ after natural disasters than poor little ol' Nebraska which many people have to get out an atlas to locate. (Look towards the staples. )
I work around many long time FL residents. Those who said they had fled in the past said they would not do it again. And mostly for the reasons we all saw recent. Jammed highways. No gas. Motels filled up and turning away guests. And then going through all that heading home to Lord knows what.
It is stressful staying. But stressful either way. Of course we are center state which puts a different slant on the situation. Coastal ...

We still have most of our windows boarded. And no one seems to be taking any down. More were even covered during the week at many houses.
I think we are all taking a wait and see approach. It really is (literally) like a spinning wheel to see who the losers and winners are.

My DH works at a Distribution Center for Home Depot. Not for HD. But for the trucking company who does HD distribution.
I have been a hurricane widow for the last month. He and the others on their team work around the clock, seven days a week, and very long hours. They are shipping everything from bleach to roofing supplies. Their HD delivery trucks are a high risk in many ways right now, and have been. But I know for a fact they are working themselves to death trying to get stores stocked up. Just impossible to do it fast enough right now. And if the panhandle gets hit, trucks will be coming from Orlando to supply them. No HD Distibution Center up there. (As I am sure other dist centers will be shipping to them too.) That will make it harder for all.