Official Hurricane Frances Thread - Part II

[AprilN]

Nevermind, just move along.

 

[selvey]

Question: Is there a reason that my 9 year old would need quarters? Are there arcade games or something on the Magic? He says he needs lots and lots of them.
Thanks,
karen

 

[JLSE50]

Hopefully someone with kids will answer, but you might find out faster if you start a new thread with QUARTERS FOR THE ARCADE?? in the title somewhere.

We did not cruise with kids, but as I understand it, you pay for a card and the arcade games run off the card. Best wishes on finding out and having a good cruise.

Jan

 

[selvey]

JLSE50,
Great idea and I will do just that. YOu would think I would have thought of that but at this point, I'm a little crazy. Thanks,
Karen

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by selvey
Question: Is there a reason that my 9 year old would need quarters? Are there arcade games or something on the Magic? He says he needs lots and lots of them.
Thanks,
karen

Yes, there is an arcade, but the games don't take quarters. You purchase a card used to "pay" for the games, so you can put it right onto your account, no quarters necessary.

 

[cjsmith]

Guys, think very carefully about driving to Florida. There is no gas anywhere on the east coast and none will be arriving for awhile as the ports are closed. The are reports that there is no gas from the Palm Beach area all the way to Orlando and people are leaving their cars stranded on the side of the road. There are only about 2 gas stations here in Naples that have any gas and when I just went an hour ago they told me that they'll be running out soon. Everyone came here from the other coast and filled up. They have either stayed here or went futher north from here.

Just make sure you have a place to stay before you head down here. Don't take anything for granted.

 

[thewagman]

I second the thoughts of cjsmith - the roads are clogged as people are evacuating and will be clogged when people go back to their homes after the hurricane (2.5 million people are estimated to have evacuated). We live near WDW and gas stations are running dry and will not be replenished until several days after the hurricane passes (which is now projected to pass over Orlando early Sunday morning). We now have a mandatory curfew of 8 pm to 6 am.

Per an article about traffic and hotel room availability (all rooms are filled in Orlando):

I-75 Jammed As People Flee Florida

At the Florida-Georgia border, Interstate 75 is jammed as people flee north ahead of Hurricane Frances. A Georgia State Patrol dispatcher in Valdosta said traffic was either stopped early Friday or moving at about 15 mph.

Six wrecks have been reported since 11 p.m. because of the heavy traffic.

On Georgia's coast, traffic is heavy on Interstate 95. Most of the rest stops in the area are full. The Georgia State Patrol said gas stations in Brunswick were packed early Friday morning and officers in the Valosta were telling motorists stopped in their cars to sleep on I-95 to move along.

The head of the Florida Highway Patrol said he's "very, very pleased" with the evacuation procedures Thursday and Friday. Col. Chris Knight said there are no problems with traffic flow Friday morning.

Conditions on Florida's major roads range from light to heavy. He gave a status report Friday morning at the state Emergency Operations Center:
Florida Turnpike is still heavy -- but gas is available
Beeline Expressway is very slow
I-75 is moderate to heavy
I-95 is moderate
I-4 is very light
I-10 is very light and moving at normal speeds
Most Local Hotels Filled

If you're evacuating Florida's Atlantic coast because of Hurricane Frances and in search of a motel room, good luck.

Tolls have been suspended on the Florida Turnpike, where traffic is heavy. The same can be said of the state's other major thoroughfares. But once you get away, finding a place to stop isn't easy.

All available hotel rooms in the Orlando area were filled Thursday. The state Emergency Operations Center said motels are all full in Columbia and Suwannee counties, near where I-10 and I-75 intersect. They're also full in Taylor County, which is Perry on U.S. Highway 27 in the Big Bend. Along westbound I-10, the EOC said motels are reported full until you get nearly to Tallahassee.

There were still rooms available in Jacksonville, however, since two sporting events -- the Gateway Classic football game and the Labor Day Soccer Shootout -- were canceled.

 

[MaddiesFam]

I dont know if any of you have seen this yet but there is new information on port canaverals website on when DCL is going to be back, and what is going on...

http://portcanaveral.org/news/press/090304.htm

Hope that helps

 

[twhipple]

Doing calculations on the location of Frances's center and Castaway Cay, the center at 5pm's report was less than 14 miles away from CC

 

[CaribGirl]

Agreeing with cjsmiths and thewagman, all gas stations here on the east coast (Brevard County) have all closed, since there is no more gas. They won't be getting anymore for a few days. Any gaspumps with gas will be for emergency vehicles only. About 2.5 million people evacuated coming back home is going to be long and tiring. Please be careful driving down to enjoy a vacation. Most people driving back are anxious to see if they still have a house.
On a better note, just heard on Local6 that the winds are down to 105mph and on Fox35 reporting some shear winds from the SE that should help a liitle. Any little hope to cling to!

 

[MarkRG]

If you want to see the latest info on CC, read this thread.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=638129

With good info from Rinkwide, I am sorry to say it's looking to be the equal of Floyd which really trashed the island last time.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I thought i posted earlier--my CP shows subscribed--so maybe my post was moved

Anyway--checking in to say that my family is safe at the Wilderness Lodge.

I hope you guys can reschedule your cruises

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Just heard on Fox Weather from the National Hurricane Center that Frances is now a 2! Is she getting ready to fall apart?

 

[HumanCookie]

000
WTNT31 KNHC 032344
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE FRANCES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 40A...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 PM EDT FRI SEP 03 2004

CORRECTED GEORGETOWN ON ABACO ISLANDS TO HOPETOWN

...FRANCES WEAKENS SOME AS IT DRIFTS SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD...
...HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL PUMMEL THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
FROM FLORIDA CITY NORTHWARD TO FLAGLER BEACH...INCLUDING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE. A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM
NORTH OF FLAGLER BEACH NORTHWARD TO FERNANDINA BEACH.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER
FLORIDA KEYS FROM SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY SOUTHWARD TO THE SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.

AT 8 PM EDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 25.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.5 WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES...
145 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND AND 200
MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE FLORIDA LOWER EAST COAST.

FRANCES HAS BEEN DRIFTING SLOWLY TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 4
MPH...6 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HOWEVER...STEERING CURRENTS HAVE BECOME WEAK AND
SOME ERRATIC MOTION CAN BE EXPECTED. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE OF
HURRICANE FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY OVER THE
NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS TONIGHT...AND WILL BE NEAR THE FLORIDA EAST
COAST ON SATURDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH...170 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES FRANCES A STRONG CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE. SOME
FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES...295 KM. DURING THE PAST HOUR...HAM RADIO OPERATORS AT
ABACO ISLAND REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 70 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 88 MPH
AT HOPETOWN...AND SUSTAINED WINDS OF 80 MPH AT LITTLE HARBOR. THE
SETTLEMENT POINT C-MAN STATION ON WESTERN GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND
RECENTLY REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 52 MPH WITH A GUST TO 62 MPH
...AND A GUST TO 45 MPH WAS REPORTED AT THE LAKE WORTH FLORIDA
C-MAN STATION.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY A HURRICANE HUNTER
PLANE WAS 960 MB...28.35 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 5 TO 12 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
ALONG WITH DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR THE EYE
OF FRANCES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON
THE WEST SIDE OF THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS. COASTAL STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH
LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO
THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL IN FLORIDA. STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL LAKE WATER LEVEL IS EXPECTED
IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 7 TO 12 INCHES...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 20 INCHES...
ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRANCES OVER THE BAHAMAS.

SWELLS GENERATED BY FRANCES WILL BE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE
DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.

REPEATING THE 8 PM EDT POSITION...25.9 N... 77.5 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 4 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 960 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
AT 11 PM EDT.

FORECASTER STEWART

 

[Moosysmom]

Altho Frances has appeared to go down to a Cat 2, they are still expecting Cat 3 once it gets in the gulf waters. Decided to edit as the 9:00 update just came on. Still Cat 2 at 105 mph, but it reorganizing and they do expect it back to Cat 3 before landfall. It has slowed down and will soon be moving into the warmer gulf waters.
Hopefully all you cruiser's will be able to get on Monday, I'll send pixie dust your way.
Otherwise on the western side of Florida, we are boarding up and waiting.
Prayers to all in Florida in the path, pixie dust too.
Lynn

 

[kennancat]

Does anybody know what time the Magic and Wonder will be in port on Monday? I missed seeing the Wonder when she came over from Italy and sailed in with the Magic, so I thought it might be neat to drive over and see them together. Assuming that it's safe to go out there, of course.

 

[mom2sean_n_alex]

I have been watching the weather channel. Here are the 11pm coordinates of Frances

26.1 N 77.8W

If you have been reading the threads you might recall that CC coordinates are

26.1 N 77.5 W

Frances has been pounding CC since atleast 2:30pm this afternoon..... the Frances coordinates I saw earlier on one of these threads were 25.7W 77.2 N

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hi all...

The eye has dropped farther to the south--unfortunate for Brevard County--b/c the strongest hurricane winds are north of the eye

OT--something I didn't think about--the MDA telethon is this weekend...and Jerry Lewis was saying b/c of the hurricane--he will lose lots of potential donations since obviously our tv stations are preoccupied with the hurricane (it was a touching story--more of a concern of getting the donations--not so much complaining about the coverage). I feel bad for him--this storm has touched everywhere and everything even if it just physically slams Florida. What a ripple effect!

Good night--my hubby is complaining about my alternative life as a DISer! I must learn to discipline myself on these boards


GO AWAY FRANCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are making me crazy!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by lovepuzzles
It looks to me like the storm is due to hit the port late afternoon to evening on Sunday. Do you think they will still dock at Port Canaveral on Monday if this is the case? I just don't see how they could.

Right now, I don't see how they can -- the storm is a huge one, and if it hits on Sunday, it may last for up to 24 hours at each location. This thing is moving so slowly and changing so much that no one knows, not even Disney.

On a good note, we took advantage of WDW being opened today and went to Magic Kingdom -- BEST day ever at Disney! We went on every ride in the park, line free.

 

[MarkRG]

It's beginning to hit already.

http://www.twopalms.com/

It is speeding up movement wise, it still has a good shot at being out of the area by Monday.