Hurricane Tips: Here Comes Florence

[Nayan]

If you have a JoAnn's or Michaels near you (and if they are open) hit them up for some LED candles, batteries and phone battery packs (packs usually near the checkout line). Dollar Tree/Dollar General usually have pitchers, buckets, etc. you could use for water and they sometimes carry radios (everyone should have one of these!) if you don't have one.

If you have a laptop, keep it plugged in so it's fully charged but keep it closed. When the power goes out and your phone is running low (about half), you can get 1-3 charges from your laptop (turn down the brightness, open your laptop but don't log in).

Turn off all unnecessary apps on your phone (and ones running in the background) and turn the brightness down as much as you can. Do sign up for texts from your local stations and if they have an app grab it. They may have live streaming and it's the best way to stay informed, especially in cases of flooding or tornados that may directly impact you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Excellent thread! Thinking of all of you and praying! Stay safe!

 

[JaxDad]

I just wanted to bump this thread back up the page. The forecasted track for Florence has changed quite a bit over the past several hours. They are now predicting a stall offshore, then a turn south with landfall as a lower category hurricane. Check the NHC site every three hours or so for updates, as the track will likely continue to change.

 

[OhMari]

They are starting to interview people that will not leave or evacuate. They should start showing people from Louisiana that had to cut holes in their roofs to climb out for safety. This storm is not going to pass thru in an hour or less, it may take over 24 hrs to move once lit hits land.

On August 28, we experienced tropical weather, hot, humid oppressing, in Wisconsin. A thunderstorm developed in 2 hours, we were given 15 minute tornado warning and we were able to get to our basement. Over 19 tornadoes have now been determined. They were F 1 and F2 and it took out barns and trees. Miraculously no one lost their lives. The storm was over in 20 minutes and it did rain for a few more hours. We got up to 4 inches of rain. I cannot imagine what being in a hurricane is like for a few days. People in my area were without power for 3 days. Luckily we have many companies that came from all over Wisconsin and restored power and helped with clean up.

Prayers to everyone that is Florence’s path.

 

[luvsJack]

They are starting to interview people that will not leave or evacuate. They should start showing people from Louisiana that had to cut holes in their roofs to climb out for safety. This storm is not going to pass thru in an hour or less, it may take over 24 hrs to move once lit hits land.

On August 28, we experienced tropical weather, hot, humid oppressing, in Wisconsin. A thunderstorm developed in 2 hours, we were given 15 minute tornado warning and we were able to get to our basement. Over 19 tornadoes have now been determined. They were F 1 and F2 and it took out barns and trees. Miraculously no one lost their lives. The storm was over in 20 minutes and it did rain for a few more hours. We got up to 4 inches of rain. I cannot imagine what being in a hurricane is like for a few days. People in my area were without power for 3 days. Luckily we have many companies that came from all over Wisconsin and restored power and helped with clean up.

Prayers to everyone that is Florence’s path.

Or pictures of Bay St Louis and Pass Christian Mississippi, which were almost completely leveled in Katrina.

 

[Mortlives]

Or pictures of Bay St Louis and Pass Christian Mississippi, which were almost completely leveled in Katrina.

There's a horrific scene in When the Levees Broke where a 911 operator has to tell a woman that no one can rescue her. It really drives home that when they tell you an evacuation is mandatory, you leave.

 

[luvsJack]

There's a horrific scene in When the Levees Broke where a 911 operator has to tell a woman that no one can rescue her. It really drives home that when they tell you an evacuation is mandatory, you leave.

Yeah, it was horrible watching it all take place too. Sad things is, most of the people who didn't evacuate NOLA, couldn't evacuate NOLA. Too many don't have cars or transportation out of the city.

Our coast was devastated. Lots of people lost their lives. And, honestly, they didn't evacuate. But they had nothing to compare Katrina too. Camille was in 1969 the vast majority either didn't live down here or weren't born yet. It was so sad to see those beautiful homes that had been here since before the Civil War, that had withstood so many hurricanes just be completely gone. I think of that any time anyone says "should we evacuate or not?" If you have to ask, you probably should.

 

[Kitty 34]

I really really feel bad for those of you in the path of this storm but I will say do NOT watch the weather channel until they stop smiling when telling the devastating news. Twice now I watched a WC clip and my sound was not on.....you would have thought she was predicting a beautiful sunny day at the beach. Sorry, just my opinion. Maybe I should have turned on the sound and watched her smile thru the hurricane details. Hugs to you guys.

 

[Domo]

Florence DISers please check in when you feel safe... we're all worried for you!

 

[JimMIA]

If you see Jim Cantore in your neighborhood, you need to evacuate.

Actually, you'd be perfectly safe.

My SIL is a sound guy in movie production and when he's not on a movie, he sometimes does pick-up TV work. He was working for one of our local Miami stations a few years ago during Hurricane Charlie (I think) and was sent a beach area up north of Tampa (I think Clearwater Beach). When they got up there, Cantore was also there with a crew.

During a live remote, the director told the cameraman to "pan right" to show the surf. Unfortunately, he meant "pan screen right," which would be the cameraman's LEFT. The cameraman misunderstood and panned to his right, revealing not the surf -- but the wind machine they were using to blow Cantore around because the weather was actually pretty good.

And that, boys and girls, is the downside of LIVE TV!

 

[JimMIA]

I really really feel bad for those of you in the path of this storm but I will say do NOT watch the weather channel until they stop smiling when telling the devastating news. Twice now I watched a WC clip and my sound was not on.....you would have thought she was predicting a beautiful sunny day at the beach. Sorry, just my opinion. Maybe I should have turned on the sound and watched her smile thru the hurricane details. Hugs to you guys.

After too many hurricane scares to remember, and a few real ones (Andrew, Katrina, Wilma, Irma, etc), I have learned where to go, and where NOT to go. The Weather Channel (and ALL cable TV) is at the top of my No-Go list. Their main objective is to sell you Cheetos or Viagra.

I have three recommendations for reliable, accurate information:

1. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ -- the National Hurricane Center (right here in Miami, about 5 miles from my house). Be sure to read the "Forecast Discussion," in addition to the basic stuff. You'll catch on pretty quickly.
   
2. https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane -- Weather Underground's amazing tropical weather page -- some of this is way too technical, but either WU or the NHC will give you what you need without the hype.
   
3. Your LOCAL TV station. If you live in a coastal area, your local station will either have someone who is knowledgeable, or they'll be hooked up with someone who knows what they are talking about. Some of them will hype things a bit, but they generally are just parroting the NHC info, which is accurate.

 

[NotUrsula]

I posted this on another thread, but I'll repeat it here: the New Orleans Times-Picayune page is a great source; they have a Hurricane page that they keep updated with links from every source they can find, for any hurricane anywhere.
https://www.nola.com/hurricane/

 

[luvsJack]

Actually, you'd be perfectly safe.

My SIL is a sound guy in movie production and when he's not on a movie, he sometimes does pick-up TV work. He was working for one of our local Miami stations a few years ago during Hurricane Charlie (I think) and was sent a beach area up north of Tampa (I think Clearwater Beach). When they got up there, Cantore was also there with a crew.

During a live remote, the director told the cameraman to "pan right" to show the surf. Unfortunately, he meant "pan screen right," which would be the cameraman's LEFT. The cameraman misunderstood and panned to his right, revealing not the surf -- but the wind machine they were using to blow Cantore around because the weather was actually pretty good.

And that, boys and girls, is the downside of LIVE TV!

Well I will say Cantore got my respect when he rode out Katrina in MS. He was seriously in the middle of it and it was obvious that it affected him greatly. When he revisited the room he stayed in, he found his shoe and got very emotional.

Not always, but he does seem to go where the storm makes landfall. I don’t know if it’s the WC or if he has some kind of sixth sense or what but he always seems to be there.

Now sometimes they do make it look a bit worse than it is. They will position them in a spot where the wind whips between or through structures so it seems a little harder than it is. But I will also say, I wouldn’t do their job.

 

[Denise W]

Well I will say Cantore got my respect when he rode out Katrina in MS. He was seriously in the middle of it and it was obvious that it affected him greatly. When he revisited the room he stayed in, he found his shoe and got very emotional.

Not always, but he does seem to go where the storm makes landfall. I don’t know if it’s the WC or if he has some kind of sixth sense or what but he always seems to be there.

Now sometimes they do make it look a bit worse than it is. They will position them in a spot where the wind whips between or through structures so it seems a little harder than it is. But I will also say, I wouldn’t do their job.

I love his reactions to thundersnow!!
Denise

 

[Southernmiss]

Well I will say Cantore got my respect when he rode out Katrina in MS. He was seriously in the middle of it and it was obvious that it affected him greatly. When he revisited the room he stayed in, he found his shoe and got very emotional.

Not always, but he does seem to go where the storm makes landfall. I don’t know if it’s the WC or if he has some kind of sixth sense or what but he always seems to be there.

Now sometimes they do make it look a bit worse than it is. They will position them in a spot where the wind whips between or through structures so it seems a little harder than it is. But I will also say, I wouldn’t do their job.

Found this on YouTube the other day and posted on another thread.

Jim Cantore was the real deal during Katrina. He stayed in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport for Katrina and wound up being part of the storm with saving residents and losing company and rented vehicles. This facility is essentially in my mother's front yard...so I often joke, you know it's serious when Jim Cantore rides out the storm in your mother's front yard.

 

[Jennasis]

Just want to tell all my friends in the affected areas to be careful...I CAN NOT afford to go to 20 baby showers in April!

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Right before I read this, I just texted my husband to tell him we needed to get our laundry done this week.

We live inland, but looks like we could get a lot of flooding. We lost power for a week in April when a tornado touched down about 1/2 a mile from our house. I spent hours at a laundromat with a weeks worth of laundry to catch up on. Will not be doing that again this time around.

Then just last month, we were under a voluntary evacuation order due to a dam breach during a terrible flash flood. Luckily our house is on the top of a hill. Neighbors on the same street, further down the hill were mandatory evacuated. Not looking forward to flooding from Florence. We can't take much more water and I'm sure trees are already weakened in our area due to the prior flood and tornado so I expect power outages as well.

At least this time we have warning- getting laundry and dishes done, filling up water and ice, stocking up on batteries, etc. Hoping it won't be as bad as they predict. I feel sorry for those on the coast.

Are you by chance in the Greensboro/High Point area? The tornado last year, and the flash flood last month made me think that of that area. I was down there in that area last month when the floods happened...it literally poured rained every single day, and delayed my flight home by 6 hours!

 

[luvsJack]

Found this on YouTube the other day and posted on another thread.

Jim Cantore was the real deal during Katrina. He stayed in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport for Katrina and wound up being part of the storm with saving residents and losing company and rented vehicles. This facility is essentially in my mother's front yard...so I often joke, you know it's serious when Jim Cantore rides out the storm in your mother's front yard.

Thank you! That is the first time I have seen that. Wow the water. I never really could wrap my brain around that much water coming in at Gulfport. I mean when you think about where the water actually is on a normal day and where the retirement home is--its really mind blowing!

Jim Cantore really does an amazing job.

I like him and Mike Seidel (sp?)--who came from WLOX, didn't he?

 

[Southernmiss]

Thank you! That is the first time I have seen that. Wow the water. I never really could wrap my brain around that much water coming in at Gulfport. I mean when you think about where the water actually is on a normal day and where the retirement home is--its really mind blowing!

Jim Cantore really does an amazing job.

I like him and Mike Seidel (sp?)--who came from WLOX, didn't he?

I don't think Mike Seidel was at WLOX, but I do like his reporting, too.

It truly is mind blowing that the retirement home is set back off the road and on a hill about 15 or so feet above the lower highway. Fortunately, right behind the retirement home are railroad tracks that acted like a levy and protected my mom's home and all the neighborhood behind the Armed Forces Home. We had evacuated to my brother's in Pensacola and talked her into coming with us--glad we did-- We listened to the reports on WLOX (through the computer) and on the Weather Channel during the storm . We knew it would be bad when Jim landed in Gulfport and stayed on the coast.

 

[NotUrsula]

I know Katrina was worse, but I rode out Camille in Biloxi in '69. We lived just off of Brodie Rd. about 1/4 mile from the bay on the East shore. The water went completely over the Bay bridge (that is, the old bridge).

Cantore and his crew were very lucky in one respect: the surge came in during the day. With Camille, the surge rose at about 1 am. With the power out there was no way to see it from the beach, as at the time there were very few structures on the beach side of US90. It also came VERY fast, much faster than Katrina. In the space of an hour it had swept through and receded again, in almost one big, overwhelming wave. By some incredible twist of fate, it stopped about 50 feet short of our house and started flowing back out again. (My Dad had turned on the spotlight on our boat, which was trailered in the carport, and he could see it rolling right up the street.