Hurricane Milton

[AnnaS]

Stay safe everyone!!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Heartfelt prayers of safety for all impacted.

 

[slo]

Good Morning!

I’m showing up late to this thread so I didn’t have time to read everyone’s replies. I just wanted to come on here and say how much we love the state of Florida and how concerned we are about the people there. For all of you that live there, or have family that live there, we are praying for you and for them. Please stay safe everyone

 

[Meriweather]

Stay safe everyone!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Not that I am aware of but they might. I hope these people are ok and rescue teams don’t have to be at risk to save them.

By definition, no rescue teams will be at risk in mandatory evac areas during a storm. That is why they designate them as "mandatory" -- it means no rescue will be sent until afterward. (It does not mean, as I'm sure some people are imagining with the spurious rumors flying around, that LEOs will use force to move residents out. If you are determined to stay there, LEOs will leave you to it, but they usually do record the name and contact info of next of kin in case you are later found dead or go missing. In many cases LEOs will hand you a Sharpie and ask you to write identifying information on your body, just in case. ((That simple Sharpie pen is often the thing that finally convinces some stubborn people to go.))

First responders will not attempt to go into mandatory evacuation areas until the storm has fully passed, the rain has mostly stopped, and the electric and gas utility managers have examined their system grids to locate signs of downed lines and leaks. Once it has been determined that there is no known risk of electricution or gas explosion in a particular area, then and only then will first responders go in.

 

[anniemae]

Stay safe FL friends. Check in when you can.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

The greatest - and more catastrophic - storm in over a century...

 

[Skywalker3]

We are currently at Disney. Drove down Saturday, was still just an unnamed tropical area at that time. Disney/universal closing around 1/2 today, closed tomorrow. We plan to drive back Saturday.
I have 4 cousins and their fss as lilies who’ve lived in Florida. since the 60s. The 2 near Orlando staying and doing their hurricane prep, worrying about losing power, possible damage etc, but hunkering down. One cousin who lives in a mobile home is staying w the cousin here. Cousin in St Pete evacuated.

Follow up question: Are the food places likely to be open during this at Royal Pacific? I'm trying to pack as little as possible - my husband had a heart attack followed by quadruple bypass surgery 2 weeks ago & has to use a walker, so I'll already have my hands full with him, but I could throw some bread & peanut butter in a bag if I have to

Hey I just wanted to send you and your husband some well wishes. Hoping for uncomplicated, speedy recovery, and so very sorry you have to deal with the additional stress of this hurricane. Hoping and praying it just won’t be nearly as bad as predicted. Royal Pacific was so nice to stay this past weekend. Parking lot was across from the hotel. Not too far of a walk. We do like to being extra food. Rooms don’t have microwaves, but maybe there’s one downstairs, and they can be requested for a fee. But the tuk tuk market has more options than expected. I also don’t like driving around Orlando, I4, etc altho our interstates around Nashville are just as bad or worse, but traffic can be stressful, waze helped a lot, and I just took it easy, stayed aware for last minute lane changers . I know it’ll be a lot better when you get settled, and the storm passes, and hoping and praying little to no damage. Best wishes to you and your husband and for his recovery .

 

[disneychick0412]

I pray that most people in the mandatory evacuation areas left. Have there been reports of lots of people still not leaving?
Have they moved nursing home residents out of those areas as well? It breaks my heart thinking about all of it, but especially the most vulnerable of people.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Update! Thanks all for the well wishes & info. Got here fine - light traffic & the rain even eased off a bit for the trip. Already had our room ready !

This place is AWESOME! We usually stay at Cabana Bay for our long trips but we've stayed at Hard Rock - BUT kinda loud for us - & one night at Portofino which we just didn't take to for whatever reason - but this place is just my vibe

Already scooted down to Tuk Tuk for beverages & breakfast sandwiches

 

[NotUrsula]

The nursing homes and hospitals in coastal & low-lying areas (except for Tampa General Hospital, which has an artificial dike system) were the first to be evacuated; they started moving patients out on Sunday. Disaster Mgmt. personnel also instructed at that time that people who are dependent on electrical medical devices should plan to evacuate no matter how high their home's elevation is; hopefully they listened and got out.

The window to decide to completely leave the projected path area has now essentially closed; they don't want people still in their cars on the highways when the storm comes in. Residents can still move locally to higher ground for the next few hours, but it's already raining, and the wind is starting to rise, so they need to get where they are going by nightfall.

The Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay is still open at the moment, but the first wind warnings are up for it, so I'm sure it will be closing within the next few hours. (It gets difficult to drive on when the wind exceeds 25 mph, and closes when sustained gusts reach 40 mph.) UPDATE: The Skyway closed at 12:25 pm today, Wednesday.

FYI: This is a neat short video about TGH's AquaFence barrier & other protective measures.

They have now successfully used the fence for at least 4 storms, although there is some worry that some water may get over it if Milton's surge is as severe as predicted. They do have pumps to send water back over it into the bay, however. It completely surrounds the entire hospital complex, and takes a crew of 60 people 3 days to put up; really amazing feat of engineering (it is made in Norway.)

 

[JLTraveling]

Have they moved nursing home residents out of those areas as well? It breaks my heart thinking about all of it, but especially the most vulnerable of people.

I just hope they moved them to a genuinely safe location. We had a heartbreaking situation in NOLA two years ago, when Ida went through as a strengthening Cat 4/5. The guy who owns a chain of nursing homes had evacuated them all--into a WAREHOUSE. A literal metal warehouse with no A/C, no bathrooms, no food, no water, NOTHING. He was prosecuted of course, but I can't even imagine.

 

[Magical2017]

I hope everyone stays safe!

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

At least it looks like they expect it to be 3 when it hits now, and thankfully it keeps slipping little south with each report. Don’t wish this on anybody but that eye below Tampa would be best thing for Florida.

 

[JLTraveling]

Feeling like I'm in an odd liminal space here in Orlando right now. It's gray and drizzly, but not terrible yet. Very few people on the road, so none of the usual traffic sounds. Watching the continuing storm coverage on TV. Dog is curled up in a ball like she's gone into hibernation mode. It's just so still and quiet and slightly eerie. How's everyone else doing?

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Feeling like I'm in an odd liminal space here in Orlando right now. It's gray and drizzly, but not terrible yet. Very few people on the road, so none of the usual traffic sounds. Watching the continuing storm coverage on TV. Dog is curled up in a ball like she's gone into hibernation mode. It's just so still and quiet and slightly eerie. How's everyone else doing?

Our girl hasn’t left our side. If either my husband or I get up for any reason she whines until we get back. (Not normal for her)
Raining pretty hard here but the wind hasn’t picked up yet.
We live on a cul-de-sac so I can’t speak to that because we never have traffic in front of the house.
Hoping for a break in the rain for at least 5 minutes before the wind starts to take the dog out without getting soaked.

 

[Stratman50th]

Feeling like I'm in an odd liminal space here in Orlando right now. It's gray and drizzly, but not terrible yet. Very few people on the road, so none of the usual traffic sounds. Watching the continuing storm coverage on TV. Dog is curled up in a ball like she's gone into hibernation mode. It's just so still and quiet and slightly eerie. How's everyone else doing?

Well, we're in Polk City and under our second Tornado warning. We've been stuck in our safe room since 2:15. It's getting hot and a little odeforous.
Yay! Out now.

 

[Ursula J]

Sending lots of love and prayer to all our Florida DIS family. I'm praying to shield you all!

 

[MGMmjl]

Some bit of good news: Milton is down to a category 3 now, with 125 mph winds. It will still have strong winds and a significant storm surge, but any weakening prior to landfall is a good thing!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Just found this thread. We live in MA but have a condo just north of Orlando. DH and I had vacation plans to fly down together this weekend. He left on Monday to take in our patio furniture. I know crazy! I think he just wanted an excuse to go early. Haha
I am still planning on flying down Friday night if my flight is still good to go. He works from home so drove to Georgia today in case he loses power to work the next couple of days. What a friggin ordeal.
I’ve had a migraine all week!!
I hope everyone stays safe!!