Floridians in Wilma's Path - Check In!

[ducklite]

Anybody have generators? How does it work out for you?

We've got a generator. Never had to use it, but loaned it out after Jeanne last year.

It will run the window a/c unit we have, which is enough to cool the kitchen/family room to "bearable". At the same time it will run the fridge and a couple lamps and a radio. The true neccessities. I'd have to unplug the fridge or a/c to run the microwave for example.

We bought a couple heavy duty bike chains and padlocks, and we'll put it on the lanai and chain it to the table--remember the one too big to get out the door, LOL! Not 100%, but I can't imagine one of my neighbors not noticing someone trying to haul it off--two of every three are home all day.

Of course right now it's buried under about 20 boxes of "stuff" in the garage. Eh, I'll get to it if I need to.

Anne

 

[crzy4pooh]

Brevard County here. I think we'll be okay, but not looking forward to possibly losing power like last year... Neighbors have boarded up, but we aren't planning on it unless a significant change in the track.

for all!

 

[ducklite]

I'm being lazy, mostly because I'm just not sure how crazy I need to get. I pulled down the glass votive holders out of the wall candleabra on the lanai. (The candlelabra it'self is cast iron and bolted to the wall with a Hilti Gun.)

I pulled down the patio lights (the little plastic flamingo's with Christmas lights in them. Brought in the windchimes and wrought iron hangers that they hook to. Brought in the plastic chairs.

Not sure what to do with the potted palms. Thinking if I just tuck them into the corner in the lanai they will be fine.

Waiting for my son to get out of work to move the rest of the lanai furniture.

I think I'll just go to Kohl's for a bit.

Anne

 

[twocat]

I think I'll just go to Kohl's for a bit.

Anne

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

 

[Brianne]

Same for Pasco Co....This is our Monday forecast...I do not think I will be sending the kids to school.

Monday: Periods of showers, mainly before 11am. Temperature falling to around 67 by 5pm. Windy, with a north northeast wind 34 to 37 mph decreasing to between 26 and 29 mph. Winds could gust as high as 53 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between one and two inches possible.

Hillsborough County just woke up & cancelled for tomorrow, so hopefully Pasco will too.

Now I'm happy---I get to sleep in.

(edit to add that everyone needs a silver lining--not to make light of a nasty situation. Hopefully this is the last hurricane we see this year!)

 

[anewvance]

1pm and my husband is finally getting started in putting the shutters up... aye!

 

[Disney845]

Located just about 15 min north of Disney's Vero Beach Resort. We have some of the shutters up (SO will finish the rest when he gets home from work this afternoon). Our neighborhood I would estimate has about 50% of the homes with shutters (and some with plywood) up. Are not really planning for anything terribly bad, but SO's mother and step father live in a manufactured home in a golfing community in Indiantown so they are evacuating up to our house (because we are the only cat friendly relatives nearby) and she put the guilt trip on SO that they wouldn't come unless he put the shutters up Sebastian and Vero seem to be smart this time around, at least as far as traffic lights are concerned (we lost so many during last years two hurricanes) that they have taken down many of the traffic lights, just having one light for each side now. I am SURE that we will lose power. Our power is terrible and is always going out, even in not too bad weather.

 

[marlasmom]

Governor Bush just said Wilma is expected to make landfall in SW Florida on Monday and we can expect hurricane winds as far north as Route I-4 - which of course includes you and me Virgo.

How smart you are to have brought your window air conditioners. We gave 2 almost brand new ones away before we moved. The way our house is laid out I think we would need both but if I had air, refrigerator and a lamp for reading I wouldn't care if we lost power.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm in South Brevard County! Hurricane Warning--and in the predictions....we're in the "fancy colors" that indicate category 1 sustained winds. Schools are closed tomorrow as are colleges and bus services.

My brief stint with DISing before we go clear of our back porch and pool deck.

We're not putting our plywood up as hubby doesn't want to dig it out and it makes the house pitch black dark. On my long run yesterday up in Cocoa/Rockledge--I saw one house boarded and on my way home yesterday I saw one house boarded.

Beautiful skies--in fact we just came home from the beach to do our family portrait for Christmas .

Not looking forward to the blustery day tomorrow . And I hope they don't interrupt my shows tonight to tell use repeatedly what we already know.

 

[diznygirl]

This just in - Orange County and Osceola County have cancelled school for tomorrow. One less thing to worry about.

 

[RobynK]

I with you Lisa! I just got back from Walmart and ran into so many people who while we are taking the storm seriously are really just trying to buy enough food to feed our teenagers since they are off from school!

BTW I am in Suntree

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I with you Lisa! I just got back from Walmart and ran into so many people who while we are taking the storm seriously are really just trying to buy enough food to feed our teenagers since they are off from school!

BTW I am in Suntree

I slacked on my grocery shopping and did it before church this morning to avoid the rush!

10 deep in Winn Dixie with one cashier at 8am in the morning! So much for that effort!

 

[Poohbear123]

Down the front shutters, the others are down YEAR ROUND! Also, my bay window on the bedroom has to be shut, that will be last! Its already getting windy here, and LOTS of neighbors have borded up! Hope it won't be too bad, and hope we don't get much damage, I am terrified of Tornados! My Store where I work, Publix will be closed tomorrow, but may open up around 12 noon after the storm has gone thru. Don't know for sure as yet. We also have 2 generators and will most likely be firing those up after the lights go out, which I am SURE they will. Take care all.......

 

[torismom]

Lake County has called off school for Monday.

 

[makinorlando]

I'm glad they closed schools (Orange Cty here) - I would much rather then err on the side of caution, then have to have a mass early dismissal or worse yet the kids stuck at school. My DD is glad - since she hasn't finished her science project yet......

Again - everyone stay safe!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We're in Broward County--2 miles from the entrance to "Alligator Alley". My DH just now decided to put up our hurricane shutters after driving thru the neighborhood. All schools and govt buildings are closed tomorrow in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

 

[floridafam]

Dh is putting up plywood.

DD just went down for a nap. Thank goodness. I feel like we have a million things to do.

I have a feeling it's going to stay South of us but who knows.

Stay safe.

I just know we are going to lose power. We lose power during every storm. Our area is the worst for that.

 

[Southern4sure]

Well, the counties to my north and south and east have closed their schools for tomorrow. My county has not decided but we wont be going if they are opened.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I'm in Central Brevard, work in Southern Brevard. We are expected to get some hurricane force winds tonight and through tomorrow. I work overnights at a group home for teens so I should be in for a night of fun. Charging my new laptop and bought myself a Tink MP3 player today...lol. Got lots to go without power, but hoping we don't lose it. I'm going to be working from 9-10pm tonight till around 3-4pm tomorrow since I can't cross the causeways in winds (nor would I want to). I normally work alone but tonight another staff is coming in to keep me company... How is everyone else?

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Wow, just peeked out the window and the clouds look almost like smoke. Creepy. I hope this one spares us, we got it bad last year.