Hurricane Michael

[luvsJack]

Panhandle Disers! Check in if you can!

I am watching the coverage with my heart in my throat. My prayers are with you.

So much video and so many pictures that are so reminiscent of Katrina. But this one was so different than most! Gaining strength so close to land, such low pressure and so little time for some to really prepare. It’s scary to think, are these monster storms our new normal?

 

[jerseygal]

Continued positive thoughts for safety who are in Michaels destructive path. Destruction coverage on the television this morning was heartbreaking. Very scary to think IF this is the new normal?

 

[luvsJack]

Continued positive thoughts for safety who are in Michaels destructive path. Destruction coverage on the television this morning was heartbreaking. Very scary to think IF this is the new normal?

Camille was in 1969. And a monster storm. People couldn’t understand why people didn’t evacuate for Katrina. One reason, for some, was that they had experienced storm after storm that they evacuated for and was much less than predicted. I am sure many other areas have had the same experience.

There have been a lot of monster storms, I didn’t mean there haven’t. Just that they seem so much more frequent.

Being used to hurricanes and having lived in the area since I was 3, at 55 suddey every storm seems to be breaking records or worst ever for xxx area or something unusually devastating about it, it’s scary.

 

[OhMari]

I saw the evening news with ABC and they stayed in a hotel and the roof caved in. I know newscasters want to get us the story, but it seems strange that they ask for evacuations and yet these people go rushing in and stay in areas that are dangerous.

 

[luvsJack]

I saw the evening news with ABC and they stayed in a hotel and the roof caved in. I know newscasters want to get us the story, but it seems strange that they ask for evacuations and yet these people go rushing in and stay in areas that are dangerous.

Yeah I decided that was one job I could never do! Seeing a woman from the weather channel up high in a condo and trying to show out the window, saying she couldn’t and wouldn’t go out on the balcony was so scary. I would have been curled up in a corner trembling and crying! Could not do it.

 

[lynxstch]

We have relatives in Pensacola that we haven't heard from yet, hoping it's just that cell towers are still down or spotty service. We also have a niece in Augusta GA, where the center of the hurricane is said to be right now. She hasn't been able to let anyone know how she is, so we are all still saying prayers that they are safe. What a horrible storm it was/is

 

[lynxstch]

I saw the evening news with ABC and they stayed in a hotel and the roof caved in. I know newscasters want to get us the story, but it seems strange that they ask for evacuations and yet these people go rushing in and stay in areas that are dangerous.

I keep thinking that too, that's it too dangerous a job to be doing. But I guess that is the job they do. I saw on the Weather Channel yesterday, that one of the weather women covering the area, decided that it was no longer safe and evacuated her team to another location. It's nuts to be standing in the middle of a hurricane, with trees coming down right by you, to report on the storm!

 

[jerseygal]

We have relatives in Pensacola that we haven't heard from yet, hoping it's just that cell towers are still down or spotty service. We also have a niece in Augusta GA, where the center of the hurricane is said to be right now. She hasn't been able to let anyone know how she is, so we are all still saying prayers that they are safe. What a horrible storm it was/is

Hope that they are safe and you can reach them! If it is any comfort, it was reported on the news this morning that cell coverage has been a challenge.

 

[Southernmiss]

We have relatives in Pensacola that we haven't heard from yet, hoping it's just that cell towers are still down or spotty service. We also have a niece in Augusta GA, where the center of the hurricane is said to be right now. She hasn't been able to let anyone know how she is, so we are all still saying prayers that they are safe. What a horrible storm it was/is

Pensacola was outside the main effects of this storm. They had about 1/2 inch of rain and maybe tropical storm winds--strong summer thunderstorms can bring more than that. A little tidal storm surge on Pensacola Beach, but they'll be fine. (I read Pensacola News Journal this morning and our local station from Mobile, AL reports on Pensacola.

This storm was a monster for sure. Lots of well wishes sent to areas from around Panama City to Tallahassee and beyond affected by the storm. It will be a while before they recover. Very much reminds me of Katrina destruction. Have heard of only 2 lives lost so far. I hope that number does not rise as people are able to get word out.

Still lots of power and cell outages.

 

[SC Minnie]

My brother lives near Panama City. They didn't evacuate and had a large tree go through their roof. They live about 2 blocks from the bay. We haven't heard from them since 1:30 yesterday. We're assuming it's because of no cell or internet service....

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I live in Navarre which is between Pensacola and fort Walton beach. Absolutely nothing really happened here. Some wind and just rain but not even heavy rain. We got lucky.

 

[tink1970]

I'm in pensacola and it was a little light rain and a few wind gusts. We were very fortunate and honestly, had more tree limbs down after TS Gordon last month.

DH works in Port St Joe (fortunately he drove home Tuesday!) and that is a completely different story.

 

[luvsJack]

So, those from the area, correct me if I am wrong but isn't the main source of income for these towns tourism? I mean I know money is the last thing on anyone's mind down there right now but I also I know how long it has taken our coast to build back and we had the added benefit of the casinos bringing in money through it all.

Makes me want to get started planning my summer vacation to make sure I for one can help contribute to what they may desperately need at that time. I had never even heard of Mexico Beach before now. Looks to be an absolutely lovely place.

 

[JaxDad]

So, those from the area, correct me if I am wrong but isn't the main source of income for these towns tourism? I mean I know money is the last thing on anyone's mind down there right now but I also I know how long it has taken our coast to build back and we had the added benefit of the casinos bringing in money through it all.

Makes me want to get started planning my summer vacation to make sure I for one can help contribute to what they may desperately need at that time. I had never even heard of Mexico Beach before now. Looks to be an absolutely lovely place.

I spent time in Mexico Beach fairly regularly about 10 years ago. It was definitely a lovely place then.

Port St. Joe used to have a large paper mill. It closed in the late 1990s, I think, and there was a plan to develop the area for tourism/retirement living.

 

[lynxstch]

Hope that they are safe and you can reach them! If it is any comfort, it was reported on the news this morning that cell coverage has been a challenge.

Haven't heard from brother and sister in law yet, but since other posters have said it wasn't 'too bad' in Pensacola, then we are going to just assume they are okay till we hear otherwise. Good news from niece in GA is that she is fine, and they even have their power restored!

 

[jerseygal]

My brother lives near Panama City. They didn't evacuate and had a large tree go through their roof. They live about 2 blocks from the bay. We haven't heard from them since 1:30 yesterday. We're assuming it's because of no cell or internet service....

Good wishes that they are all okay. On CNN today, the mayor of Panama City was interviewed, and one of the biggest challenges is lack of cell service for many. Must be very difficult and frustrating for your brother wanting to call or communicate on status and probably not being able to get cell service.

 

[LSUmiss]

Camille was in 1969. And a monster storm. People couldn’t understand why people didn’t evacuate for Katrina. One reason, for some, was that they had experienced storm after storm that they evacuated for and was much less than predicted. I am sure many other areas have had the same experience.

There have been a lot of monster storms, I didn’t mean there haven’t. Just that they seem so much more frequent.

Being used to hurricanes and having lived in the area since I was 3, at 55 suddey every storm seems to be breaking records or worst ever for xxx area or something unusually devastating about it, it’s scary.

When I saw this I thought of the thread awhile back about why ppl don’t evacuate. This storm is a perfect example. It was supposed to be a depression at first & then up to a 2. We would have made the decision to stay. But a 4?! And without much notice. Scared me b/c I hadn’t been paying attention to the gulf at all lately. Storm came out of the blue.

 

[tink1970]

So, those from the area, correct me if I am wrong but isn't the main source of income for these towns tourism? I mean I know money is the last thing on anyone's mind down there right now but I also I know how long it has taken our coast to build back and we had the added benefit of the casinos bringing in money through it all.

Makes me want to get started planning my summer vacation to make sure I for one can help contribute to what they may desperately need at that time. I had never even heard of Mexico Beach before now. Looks to be an absolutely lovely place.

Tourism is definitely one of the leading industries, including being a haven for snow birds. Port St Joe is also known for fishing, too. Even here in Pensacola, folks will go there for fishing trips! I applaud your desire to help and who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with the area. My girlfriend who lives in Savannah (quite a touristy town) loves the region for vacation.

 

[NotUrsula]

While tourism *is* a large part of the economy, it isn't the only part. There is a large military presence in the area, so servicing the bases is also a big employment area, as is the fishing industry (primarily shellfish harvesting).

Luckily, the primary tourism season has passed; this area is far enough north that the water gets too cold to swim in the winter months, so their primary tourist season is spring break through Labor Day weekend. (Tourists still go for the fishing and the retirees for the generally warm weather, but this area does often get down to about freezing in winter, so not so much of their winter tourism is beach-centered.)

The St. Joe Company, which used to be the paper processor, is now the largest developer in Florida. They have always been in the land business, first growing pine trees to provide paper pulp, and now growing resort communities.

 

[LilyWDW]

When I saw this I thought of the thread awhile back about why ppl don’t evacuate. This storm is a perfect example. It was supposed to be a depression at first & then up to a 2. We would have made the decision to stay. But a 4?! And without much notice. Scared me b/c I hadn’t been paying attention to the gulf at all lately. Storm came out of the blue.

Yes, this is a very different storm and situation. There wasn't much time to evacuate because of how fast it was moving and how fast it strengthened. It even shocked the professionals as they watched it grow stronger in such a short span of time. There was no need for evacuations until the last moment... and then it was quickly too late.

I hope I am wrong, but I expect to see more deaths related to the storm. There are whole buildings that are just gone and whole areas that emergency crews can not even get to.