To all Floridians and guests in the path of Matthew....

[Sytrace]

Now is the time to hunker down (wow, it has been years since I have said that or heard it) and be safe.

Wishing you well.

 

[openwater]

Hunker down may not be the wisest thing to do in this Cat 4! We packed up and evacuated our home in Cape Canaveral yesterday and hope most fellow citizens are doing the same. Sadly, by Friday morning the place we know and love will probably be changed forever, or at minimum for a very long time. This is a massive storm and in our experience the area is simply not ready to handle this kind of monster. Drainage has always been bad in Canaveral/Cocoa Beach, we have many old trees, suspect power lines and blocks of older homes, many that were neglected in terms of upkeep because it is generally a lower income area.

So we are hoping that we will have a home to return to but in reality things are looking bleak. Hopefully no lives will be lost - that would be how to measure the impact. Nothing else really matters.

 

[Sytrace]

I am glad that you left to be safe. As you said, that is the most important thing to consider and think about. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way for the best possible outcome for your home and property.
We are inland by UCF and are staying put as we did for Charlie and friends in 2004.

 

[Flossbolna]

Hope everyone is safe! It kind of puts my current dissatisfaction with cold rain weather here in Germany in perspective... At least it is only uncomfortable, not life threatening.

 

[Bree]

I'm in Boca Raton and Matthew's outer bands have reached us. Just light wind and rain showers for now.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

So glad you decided to evacuate and be safe. Cape CanaveralCocoa Beach is one of our favorite places to visit. Locals are really nice and welcoming. Prayers that the destruction to your personal property is minimal. May you, your friends, family and neighbors all be safe.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Stay safe everyone!!

 

[redsonja76]

Please keep us all updated on your whereabouts and condition. We are all thinking about you all!!!

 

[tink1970]

You're in our thoughts and prayers..best to be safe than sorry, glad you evacuated.

 

[JonesFamilyTravels]

Thank you! You guys, too!

 

[AquaDame]

Thank you for getting out! Hopefully everyone made the right choices for their family and all weather this storm.

 

[Sytrace]

On and off rain and some slightly stronger winds this evening in Orlando. The reports now Matthew coming ashore in Daytona Beach which is slightly above us.
We have been placed on a curfew from 10:00 PM tonight until 7:00 AM Saturday morning. Unless you have to go to work and then come right home.

Folks at the Disney resorts are being told to stay in their rooms tomorrow and the food courts are giving /selling boxed lunches for guests to take to their rooms. Dining plan credits are allowed to be used although there was some confusion about that earlier today. The lines for the food courts are long and in some cases are outside the buildings. They will close those at 11:00 PM this evening.

I believe I read that CMs are being housed at the Convention center at Grand Floridan until this is over. It is definitely being taken seriously around here and I have not seen such panic since Charley took a wrong turn 12 years ago and ended up in Central Florida.

Stay safe Florida friends and guests.

 

[Laundress]

stay safe everyone. don't take any chances. sending best wishes for safety

 

[redsonja76]

I believe I read that CMs are being housed at the Convention center at Grand Floridan until this is over. It is definitely being taken seriously around here and I have not seen such panic since Charley took a wrong turn 12 years ago and ended up in Central Florida.

Stay safe Florida friends and guests.

I remember Charley. We lived in Tampa and were preparing for the landfall when 30 minutes before he was suppose to hit us, he turned 90 degrees and destroyed Port Charlotte. Charley was bad, Matthew is worse. Stay safe!

 

[jerseygal]

STAY SAFE everyone. Prayers and good thoughts!

 

[Jess_S]

I'm thinking of you as well and sending my positive thoughts South.

 

[Sytrace]

Matthew went a bit East over night and lessened the strength a bit as well.
We are getting some intense gusts, but they are not sustained for any length of time. There is light rain but it arrived as a Category 3 instead of the 4. Which is excellent news.

I am still keeping those that stayed at Cape Canaveral and other coastline communities in my thoughts and prayers. I have no doubt they are suffering some damages and more intense winds than here in Orlando 45 miles inland.