The Crazy Life of a New Floridian & Ongoing TRs

[MAGICFOR2]

Yeah, I think you're right about the direct hits. We've been pretty lucky over the years with hurricanes. They usually hit south of us or are pulled up north to the Carolinas. It's made us FL "natives" kind of lazy with getting ready for hurricane season - I don't even have a hurricane box! The last bad season I remember was 2004 when several hurricanes or tropical storms passed through FL. We got some bad weather, but nothing more than tropical storm force here. It just resulted in some very inconvenient power outages for a few hours (or a couple of days if you lived in Ortega).

A friend of mine just moved to Houston about a month ago. She went to the grocery store looking for supplies, but all the water and bread were already sold out! So she bought beer, wine and applesauce! Luckily, they really didn't get anything but wind or she would have been in trouble!

I, too, have doppler running all the time! I thought I might want to go back to school and get a meteorology degree until I saw the classes they have to take! It's quite a lot of work for people that only accurately tell us what's happening at this very moment! I swear, you can't trust any extended forecast around here. Which site do you use that told you about the tropical disturbances? I like to check out NOAA when hurricanes get close. It gives probabilities for it hitting certain places. I'm a geek, I know!

I remember 2004 - we got into Orlando after Ivan hit twice, and some other one, I think. There were trees down, windows broken everywhere, signs ripped off... Not at WDW - you couldn't tell anything had ever happened!



Kara, don't forget glasses in your box! On second thought, maybe during a hurricane it's better to drink out of the bottle!

 

[JaxJags08]

Kara, have you already left town? TS Fay might be headed this way!

 

[karajeboo]

Kara, have you already left town? TS Fay might be headed this way!

Are you making fun of me??? I'm typing this from a hotel in Seattle - is that far enough away??

I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even know it had been named yet! I've been out school shopping this afternoon. Guess it's time to check it out!

 

[karajeboo]

OK, just checked up on NOAA and right now looks like Fay will stay a TS but produce a lot of rain. I guess I'm holding down the fort.... for now! But you know I'll be checking it out!!! And of course I've got my hurricane tracking map and I'm plotting it out. Yup, weather nerd.

 

[JaxJags08]

Are you making fun of me??? I'm typing this from a hotel in Seattle - is that far enough away??

I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even know it had been named yet! I've been out school shopping this afternoon. Guess it's time to check it out!

No, definitely not! I will be watching the forecast track intently myself. It looks like it will be over land for a while, so that's a good thing. I do need to stock up on some batteries and a battery powered lantern. I think I saw one of those at Publix right at the start of hurricane season. I wonder if they still have some. And I guess I should sort of figure out what kind of non-perishable food items to get for DD. She was BF during last year's hurricane season, so I didn't have to worry about such things. Aaahh...so much to think about!

BTW, I checked out Weather Underground and it's great! I love reading the blogs, especially when weather geeks try to put each other down in weather-speak. I'm a geek for reading, but they must be bigger geeks than me for posting some of that stuff! I think????

 

[karajeboo]

No, definitely not! I will be watching the forecast track intently myself. It looks like it will be over land for a while, so that's a good thing. I do need to stock up on some batteries and a battery powered lantern. I think I saw one of those at Publix right at the start of hurricane season. I wonder if they still have some. And I guess I should sort of figure out what kind of non-perishable food items to get for DD. She was BF during last year's hurricane season, so I didn't have to worry about such things. Aaahh...so much to think about!

BTW, I checked out Weather Underground and it's great! I love reading the blogs, especially when weather geeks try to put each other down in weather-speak. I'm a geek for reading, but they must be bigger geeks than me for posting some of that stuff! I think????

OK, so seriously, will we lose power with a TS coming up over land? I have a battery operated/hand crank flashlight and same type of weather radio. I've used the weather radio for some nasty storms when I was huddling in my laundry room. I know, I'm pathetic!

Do I seriously need to stock up on non-perishables? I mean, if it's forecast to be bad, we won't stay.....

 

[JaxJags08]

OK, so seriously, will we lose power with a TS coming up over land? I have a battery operated/hand crank flashlight and same type of weather radio. I've used the weather radio for some nasty storms when I was huddling in my laundry room. I know, I'm pathetic!

Do I seriously need to stock up on non-perishables? I mean, if it's forecast to be bad, we won't stay.....

In my personal experience, I haven't had power go out for more than about 4-5 hours due to a TS. My parents, who also live in N FL, have gone about 18 hours. And when I worked in Jax, I knew people who lived in Mandarin and Ortega that were without power for a couple of days. It is really a crapshoot and seemed to be because of tree limbs falling and hitting power lines more than anything else. There was a lot of wind and rain, but nothing scarier than the normal afternoon thunderstorms we've been getting. Actually, the TS's I've been in are just like windy summer storms that last much longer.

In my case, I feel like I need to think about non-perishables because DD is still pretty young and doesn't like PB&J . She's also a HUGE milk drinker, and if power goes out for an extended period, I'll need to figure out what to do about milk. Horizon makes individual size milk cartons that don't need to be refrigerated, so I'll probably buy those soon so I don't have to worry about people making a mad rush to the store if the storm does come close. And I like to make sure I have enough batteries for flashlights because you never know if the storm will hit at night. It's no fun to sit in the dark during a storm.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Kara, come out West - we only have earthquakes!

 

[karajeboo]

Kara, come out West - we only have earthquakes!

 

[podsnel]

Kara, come out West - we only have earthquakes!

I'm sorry, but that is just sooo funny! Hang in there, sweetie!!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So just to be safe, I've got my hurricane box. You know what people pack - priceless photos, insurance documents, etc.

My box? Beer. Tequila. Margarita mix. Dog food. And juice boxes.

I think that's sufficient.

Of course I"m kidding! Who could outrun a hurricane without rum??? Duh!

So here's to watching the approaching storms.

Oh, Kara. I'm definately rooming with you! You just keep me in stitches!

Seriously - have you thought about becoming a certified weather spotter? They have them here where you go to a Meterologist NOAA class, get your certification and learn how to use gadgets and report "live from the field". They call in the TV stations and report during storms here. Then again - maybe it is just something they do here. The class is free though, and you could call in with your bottle of rum in hand and say, "This is Kara Boozer, reporting to you live... (as the wind blows your mullet sideways).



Goodnight, my friend. Thanks for they laugh. My cheeks now hurt from smiling so much!

 

[askelton]

My box? Beer. Tequila. Margarita mix. Dog food. And juice boxes.

Last night I find we're out of vodka! How can I be facing a hurricane without vodka? We have gin but still. Maybe I'll come to your house.

 

[karajeboo]

Angela - seriously, should I be worried? They guys working on our outdoor kitchen just tole me to expect power outages, trees will snap (and our backyard is heavily wooded!). Then they told me to get rope and secure all our patio furniture. Seriously? Now I'm nervous!

 

[karajeboo]

Last night I find we're out of vodka! How can I be facing a hurricane without vodka? We have gin but still. Maybe I'll come to your house.

I have a HUGE jug o vodka! C'mon!!!! You sound so calm, you're my new hero!

 

[karajeboo]

Oh, Kara. I'm definately rooming with you! You just keep me in stitches!

Seriously - have you thought about becoming a certified weather spotter? They have them here where you go to a Meterologist NOAA class, get your certification and learn how to use gadgets and report "live from the field". They call in the TV stations and report during storms here. Then again - maybe it is just something they do here. The class is free though, and you could call in with your bottle of rum in hand and say, "This is Kara Boozer, reporting to you live... (as the wind blows your mullet sideways).



Goodnight, my friend. Thanks for they laugh. My cheeks now hurt from smiling so much!

OK, no more jokes! I"m a nervous wreck right now!!!! My nicely polished fingernails are going to be nubs by the time this is over - probably my nicely polished toes, too! Nah, not that limber anymore!

OK, forecast: 1-2 inches of rain tonight, 1-2 inches of rain tomorrow and that is BEFORE the nasty old Fay shows up!!!! I really hope they cancel school on WEdnesday, Ally will help keep my sane.

 

[DisneyJen]

OK, no more jokes! I"m a nervous wreck right now!!!! My nicely polished fingernails are going to be nubs by the time this is over - probably my nicely polished toes, too! Nah, not that limber anymore!

OK, forecast: 1-2 inches of rain tonight, 1-2 inches of rain tomorrow and that is BEFORE the nasty old Fay shows up!!!! I really hope they cancel school on WEdnesday, Ally will help keep my sane.

Sending some your way Kara.

We are supposed to go to Charlotte on Thursday night to see Kenny Chesney in an outdoor ampitheater and the weather folks are saying we could start to see Fay's impact by then Granted our seats are undercover ... but you know what can happen if we are on the wrong side of the storm ... tornadoes

See ... someone else who worries as much as you do

 

[askelton]

Angela - seriously, should I be worried? They guys working on our outdoor kitchen just tole me to expect power outages, trees will snap (and our backyard is heavily wooded!). Then they told me to get rope and secure all our patio furniture. Seriously? Now I'm nervous!

DH was in "batch pad" while I was still in Memphis in 2004 when Charlie & all came through. He was not here during the storms but did see the aftermath. So I've never experienced a hurricane and am hoping for the best. Actually I am nervous! He's supposed to go to Indy Wednesday for a meeting but I told him the cats and I can't be here alone! The power outages are what I'm most concerned about. My sister was without power for 9 days during Charlie and my godmother, in West Palm Beach, for almost 2 weeks with Wilma. oy vey.

If you have a pool, put the furniture in there.

 

[JaxJags08]

Hi Kara! Hang in there! I've been anxiously watching all the track updates - we should get one in about another hour. I'll be super busy this afternoon buying supplies. I need to get more water, bread, and non-perishable food. Where did you buy your crank flashlight/radio? DH wants one now, but I don't know where to go to get one. Wal-Mart? Target?

I think it would be a good idea to put your patio furniture away. Things do get knocked around in the storm. We have little tikes stuff in our backyard that I need to take in. I'll definitely put the playhouse in the garage if the storm continues with the current projection, but won't take apart her slide playset.

I'd expect them to release official TS warnings for our area this afternoon and then look for school closure announcements soon after that. I'm sure Ally will get to stay home to keep you company!

 

[karajeboo]

Sending some your way Kara.

We are supposed to go to Charlotte on Thursday night to see Kenny Chesney in an outdoor ampitheater and the weather folks are saying we could start to see Fay's impact by then Granted our seats are undercover ... but you know what can happen if we are on the wrong side of the storm ... tornadoes

See ... someone else who worries as much as you do

Thank you Jen! Here's hoping the rain in Charlotte holds out until Friday! Isn't that the Blockbuster ampitheater or something? When we lived in Spartanburg we were up there a couple of times. Have fun!

DH was in "batch pad" while I was still in Memphis in 2004 when Charlie & all came through. He was not here during the storms but did see the aftermath. So I've never experienced a hurricane and am hoping for the best. Actually I am nervous! He's supposed to go to Indy Wednesday for a meeting but I told him the cats and I can't be here alone! The power outages are what I'm most concerned about. My sister was without power for 9 days during Charlie and my godmother, in West Palm Beach, for almost 2 weeks with Wilma. oy vey.

If you have a pool, put the furniture in there.

No pool, but part of our patio is enclosed so we're just gonna lay the table on it's side and move everything up by the house. Some things I may be able to move into the pool bath (yeah, we have a pool bath but no pool!!! ). Power outages don't bother me too much, except it gets so boring! Best make sure my laptop battery is charged so I can still DIS!!!

Hi Kara! Hang in there! I've been anxiously watching all the track updates - we should get one in about another hour. I'll be super busy this afternoon buying supplies. I need to get more water, bread, and non-perishable food. Where did you buy your crank flashlight/radio? DH wants one now, but I don't know where to go to get one. Wal-Mart? Target?

I think it would be a good idea to put your patio furniture away. Things do get knocked around in the storm. We have little tikes stuff in our backyard that I need to take in. I'll definitely put the playhouse in the garage if the storm continues with the current projection, but won't take apart her slide playset.

I'd expect them to release official TS warnings for our area this afternoon and then look for school closure announcements soon after that. I'm sure Ally will get to stay home to keep you company!

Not sure where my inlaws got the crank flashlight. I'm guessing the Dollar Store if I know my MIL! Actually, I would guess Gander or some outdoor store.

They'd better cancel school! After releasing the kids last spring during a really bad thunderstorm, I'm not so confident in our district!

I've got 5 flashlights (yes, there are only three of us! ), batteries, weather radio, boombox, candles, water, and peanut butter. And of course the booze mentioned before. I"m set!

 

[karajeboo]

Thanx to JaxJags08 and other locals, I have a good grip on what to expect over the next few days, so over the weekend I stocked up.

I now have 2 varieties of beer, a bottle of Relax riesling (heaven knows I'll need to relax!), peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, chips and tuna. But if I drink enough beer I won't worry about being hungry! Oh, also stocked up on tp and paper towels, got paper plates and plasitc utensils.

Also now have 5 flashlights. Yes, there are three of us in the house. Don't ask. I panicked!

Gonna clean out our big garden tub tomorrow morning and fill with water. If I do it tonight Jeff will make so much fun of me. He is soooo NOT the planner. His attitude is "it won't happen to me." Well, I'd rather overprepare for something like this.

Now onto something so much more fun that hurricanes. Banana Spiders!!! I haven't seen one since we moved, but while laying mulch over the weekend, I spotted this little beauty! He's probably 3-4 inches long (back me up fellow Floridians!!!!).

Wonder how well that web will hold up in TS force winds???