Hurricane watch 2018

[areno79]

I was on the phone last night with the most awesome CM Abel. He was super helpful and very understanding of our situation. I have been up since EARLY this morning looking at available dates to reschedule. IF this big girl hits us, we have another date that will work, and both our resort and flight have availability right now. So once we get the travel advisory my DH will be on the phone with Abel, and I will be on the phone with SWA changing our plans simultaneously. Thank goodness my house/pet sitter is flexible and she is totally cool with changing dates!

Oh, that's good news! You must feel so much better having a more solid plan

 

[Melanie230]

Oh, that's good news! You must feel so much better having a more solid plan

Still waiting to see where she is going to hit. If she hits towards Hatteras we will be fine. If she hits towards Wilmington OH MY!!!! So we still wait.

 

[FeetOffTheTable]

I’m probably totally off, but I keep thinking the longer it takes her to get back to hurricane strength again, the better off we will be

 

[snowwhitesmom]

I’m probably totally off, but I keep thinking the longer it takes her to get back to hurricane strength again, the better off we will be

I like your thinking

 

[Araminta18]

No SW advisory yet.....

 

[snowwhitesmom]

No SW advisory yet.....

And we like this, yes?

 

[areno79]

According to what I've read/seen this morning, they're now saying landfall would likely happen late Thursday/early Friday. The eye is becoming more clear this morning which means she will likely be re-classified as hurricane strength sometime today. I believe there's another NHC update at 11am.
VA also ordered a state of emergency today, so I'm glad to see they're urging people to be prepared. No one wants to repeat the tragedy of Harvey.

 

[Araminta18]

According to what I've read/seen this morning, they're now saying landfall would likely happen late Thursday/early Friday. The eye is becoming more clear this morning which means she will likely be re-classified as hurricane strength sometime today. I believe there's another NHC update at 11am.
VA also ordered a state of emergency today, so I'm glad to see they're urging people to be prepared. No one wants to repeat the tragedy of Harvey.

This works for me—we can get out Wed night without too much trouble... and we have someone willing to check on our home if NoVa gets nasty storms, so I’m feeling better than I was last night. (Seriously don’t go on that subreddit)

 

[areno79]

This works for me—we can get out Wed night without too much trouble... and we have someone willing to check on our home if NoVa gets nasty storms, so I’m feeling better than I was last night. (Seriously don’t go on that subreddit)

The only thing that worries me is no one is talking about the winds and rain coming before the eye officially makes landfall. Depending on how large the storm gets that could make for messy travel conditions.

 

[Araminta18]

The only thing that worries me is no one is talking about the winds and rain coming before the eye officially makes landfall. Depending on how large the storm gets that could make for messy travel conditions.

True. But I feel like it’d be comparatively easier to do a westward arc around the storms ...I mean they want to fly the routes as much as we want them to fly.

 

[fla4fun]

Add us to the list of watching Florence this week. We were scheduled to begin our drive from PA to Savannah GA on Thursday, but had decided this morning to leave Wednesday morning to arrive in Savannah that evening. Now that I'm seeing both Carolina's in the storm path, I'm second guessing that decision thinking we should stay inland more. ?? We drive Rte 81 to 77 to Columbia SC, then 26 to 95. We pick up 95 below Santee SC. I'm concerned about 95 in South Carolina down to the Georgia border. It looks like Savannah is just below the projected storm edge. (For now)

You could always stay on 81 to Knoxville and pick up 75 from there to head south. That would keep you away from the coast.

 

[areno79]

True. But I feel like it’d be comparatively easier to do a westward arc around the storms ...I mean they want to fly the routes as much as we want them to fly.

So I reached out to my uncle (who is an air traffic controller) and he said they'd re-route the flight unless the departure or arrival flight were in the path of storms. That makes me feel a bit better.

 

[FeetOffTheTable]

So I reached out to my uncle (who is an air traffic controller) and he said they'd re-route the flight unless the departure or arrival flight were in the path of storms. That makes me feel a bit better.

That is good to hear. I need to take a look at where my brothers incoming flight is coming from.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

So I reached out to my uncle (who is an air traffic controller) and he said they'd re-route the flight unless the departure or arrival flight were in the path of storms. That makes me feel a bit better.

You are right on top of this! Thanks so much for all your help and information!

 

[FeetOffTheTable]

I like the 11 am update. Hurricane (as expected), still predicting Wilmington area for landfall (again, expected), but the severity of the storm is expected to decrease as it makes landfall, so a cat 2 instead of 3/4. That’s def a good thing, and hope it keeps with that trend

 

[mckennarose]

You could always stay on 81 to Knoxville and pick up 75 from there to head south. That would keep you away from the coast.

Hubby and I were actually looking at 75 this morning. Thanks for the info! We're definitely leaving Wednesday morning; one day earlier.

We were wondering about traveling 81 to 77 into Columbia SC, then veering westward toward Macon GA, possibly staying there overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Then getting on 75 on Thursday morning and traveling to Orlando a day earlier and staying in Disney Springs.

 

[Araminta18]

I like the 11 am update. Hurricane (as expected), still predicting Wilmington area for landfall (again, expected), but the severity of the storm is expected to decrease as it makes landfall, so a cat 2 instead of 3/4. That’s def a good thing, and hope it keeps with that trend

Really? The washingtonpost update seemed to indicate the opposite—hitting as a three possibly a four. Underscores the uncertainty still! Praying for a cat 2, and no landfall at all....

Bright spot: availability at hotels and availability of flights to switch to (knock on wood )

 

[fla4fun]

Hubby and I were actually looking at 75 this morning. Thanks for the info! We're definitely leaving Wednesday morning; one day earlier.

We were wondering about traveling 81 to 77 into Columbia SC, then veering westward toward Macon GA, possibly staying there overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Then getting on 75 on Thursday morning and traveling to Orlando a day earlier and staying in Disney Springs.

Ok, you could take 20 over towards Augusta, but then you would have to leave the interstate to head to Macon unless you specifically want to hit Atlanta (which I assume you don’t). If you are going that way, I would take 20 to Madison, Ga, then take 441 south to Eatonton, Ga, then 129 south from there to Macon and pick up 75. When we go to the Smokies, we take 75 up to Macon and then hop on 129 then 441 and usually overnight in Madison. Both 441 and 129 are decent roads and not a lot of traffic normally (don’t know if Florence will have an impact or not).

 

[CarolynFH]

Don't--seriously. Stay away, otherwise you'll freak out even more. I'm already starting to worry about our house here in DC and it's probably going to be fine up here, but the crazy got to me a little bit.

We rented DVC points for this stay, so we're committed unless we want to lose that money, and we don't want to, so that's got me worrying too. Speculation speculation speculation! just gotta wait and see. (as many times as I've typed that you think it would stick! lol no)

You might reach out now to the owner you rented from. DVC has a hurricane policy similar to the resorts’ policy, allowing cancellations and rescheduling without loss of points under certain circumstances. I can’t get to the Member website right now to quote the policy but it would be good for the owner and you to know what the options are.

 

[FeetOffTheTable]

Really? The washingtonpost update seemed to indicate the opposite—hitting as a three possibly a four. Underscores the uncertainty still! Praying for a cat 2, and no landfall at all....

Bright spot: availability at hotels and availability of flights to switch to (knock on wood )

The NOAA/NHC site has it increasing to a major hurricane through Thursday night and then looks like it will downgrade overnight into Friday morning. I hope that sticks because it will be a lot less devastating for everyone in the path, and as you said more availability for hotels/flights as people might stay put