Tampa Bay, Orlando and Wilma

[penzish]

Is anyone else flying into Tampa on Friday night? For locals there, should we expect a lot of traffic going into Orlando? Do you every "evacuate" just in case? Sorry for the questions, but this is all new to me. Not sure if we should postpone our trip, or what to expect.

 

[TurnR@TheMouseHouse]

I don't live in Tampa, I am on the other coast, but I do remember last year. My best guess is if by Friday night it looks like Wilma is still going to track south not many from Tampa will be leaving. Last year when Charlie was predicted to hit Tampa everyone headed to Orlando and ended up right in Charlies path and it was a nightmare getting back to Tampa after the storm.

We in FL know there is no telling where this storm is going to make landfall at this point. Most are all making plans but taking a wait and see approach before we make our move. Right now it looks like South around Naples/Ft Myers, but they have not ruled out Tampa either. The FL residents who end up heading to Disney (or Orlando) will depend on where landfall is finally predicted. I don't think we will come close to that answer until late Friday. My best guess is that those who evacuate will make their move late Friday or early Sat. Keep in mind that even if it comes in around Naples we will still have people filling up I-75 and I-4 by late Friday or early Sat. heading north and east.

One thing I would do if you are renting a car. Is call and make sure they are giving a car with a full tank.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Wilma's not coming until late Monday now. There is at least one model showing Tampa as the projected landfall. All others have her headed to my house. About 60,000 of us have a mandatory evacuation today at noon so I-75 will be bumper to bumper.

 

[swilshire]

Motherfletcher,

Forgive me for bothering you with a mundane question when I'm sure you have so much on your mind, but I'm trying to make a decision and would appreciate your input.

I have a vacation scheduled for next march at Fort Myers Beach. I don't usually buy the trip insurance because they don't give you much back if you have a claim. I've been pondering whether this might be a good time to break that policy and insure this week. It's only $29, which isn't much. What would you do? The last article I saw seemed to say that the hurricane was going to hang around Mexico so long that it will be pretty weak by the time it gets to Florida.

Thanks,

Sheila

 

[ducklite]

Motherfletcher,

Forgive me for bothering you with a mundane question when I'm sure you have so much on your mind, but I'm trying to make a decision and would appreciate your input.

I have a vacation scheduled for next march at Fort Myers Beach. I don't usually buy the trip insurance because they don't give you much back if you have a claim. I've been pondering whether this might be a good time to break that policy and insure this week. It's only $29, which isn't much. What would you do? The last article I saw seemed to say that the hurricane was going to hang around Mexico so long that it will be pretty weak by the time it gets to Florida.

Thanks,

Sheila

March isn't hurricane season, if that's your question. But things can always go wrong. It depends on your comfort level for risk. I don't insure domestic trips which cost me under $5000. That's my comfort level for losing my money. I never leave the US or Canada without travel insurance though, mostly for the medical evacuation coverage.

Anne

 

[swilshire]

March isn't hurricane season, if that's your question. But things can always go wrong. It depends on your comfort level for risk. I don't insure domestic trips which cost me under $5000. That's my comfort level for losing my money. I never leave the US or Canada without travel insurance though, mostly for the medical evacuation coverage.

Anne

Hi Anne,

I should have been clearer. If I insure my week before the hurricane hits, I would be covered for March. I can't wait to see if it wipes out the resort and insure the week after the fact.

My concern, since we're staying right on the beach, was damage from a storm surge that would keep the resort closed past March.

Thanks for your response.

Sheila

 

[ducklite]

Hi Anne,

I should have been clearer. If I insure my week before the hurricane hits, I would be covered for March. I can't wait to see if it wipes out the resort and insure the week after the fact.

My concern, since we're staying right on the beach, was damage from a storm surge that would keep the resort closed past March.

Thanks for your response.

Sheila

Sheila,

If the resort is closed, I can't imagine that you wouldn't get a full refund from them, less your plane tickets. You could either book another resort in the a rea, or apply the value of those tickets towards tickets to someplace else, less the change fee. They aren't going to make you pay for a resort stay when the resort isn't open.

Either way, it comes down to your comfort level.

Anne

 

[dvc_john]

Just FYI:
Hurricane Charley was in August 2004. Some Ft Myers Beach resorts were closed for a couple of months. Many Sanibel resorts didn't reopen until April, May, and even July. South Seas Plantation on Captiva is still closed, and won't reopen until at least January. So, in the event of a major hurricane with a direct hit, yes - many resorts may very well be closed in March. Having said that though, I'm very hopeful that Wilma will be much weaker, and will stay south. Latest forecast sounded like a category 1. (BTW, I'm supposed to be at a timeshare resort on Ft Myers Beach tomorrow, but had to cancel. I'm supposed to be in Bonita Springs next week, and am hopeful the resort will be ok.)