Hurricane Irma

[imoldernu]

Grandaughter is a junior in Fl University Tampa, grandson a sophomore in Univ of Miami in Coral Gables, Son and DIL are in Sarasota in their brand new home (now for three weeks)... Grandkids are on their way to Sarasota right now. Food for a week... Shutters on (dark house) water for a week, bath tub filled,cars gassed and extra cans filled. everything moved to second floor. Roads jammed, stores empty, gas station waiting fuel deliveries.

Another thought... We have a smallish generator that we've never used. Looked up "how"... and came across this warning website. Refresher for anyone who has one but never used... What not to do.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-use-a-generator-safely-after-severe-weather-strikes/70002591

Looks like the median line for Irma could be near my FL home at Lake Griffin Harbor in Leesburg...
Oh well....

 

[wrigley]

Based on the Wednesday morning predicted storm track, I'd rather be in Sarasota than Jacksonville. Irma is sufficiently powerful that even if it goes up the east coast it will cause lots of thrashing around here on the west coast. It's still early - the experts might change their minds (again).

On the positive side, no one is predicting that the storm is going to stall out and hang around for days dumping huge amounts of rain.

Matthew skirted the coast all the way up past Jacksonville as a Cat 3 if I remember correctly. It was a little hairy but we never lost power and the bad stuff was over in about 24 hours. Irma currently looks like it will make landfall in south Florida and weaken to a Cat 3 rather quickly. If it stays on land and continues north it will most likely just be a tropical storm by the time it hits Jacksonville. If it continues on in an east bound direction and goes back out into the Atlantic it can strengthen. Still to early to predict.

Mike

 

[socca]

My favorite place for the latest predictions regarding the path of the eye: Hurricane Irma

Click on 'Computer Models' and 'Ensemble Models' to see the latest predictions.

Of course, large storms can have effects a long distance from the eye.

 

[FlaGator]

I'm in Jacksonville and the panic is already setting in. We are more than likely quite safe until Sunday night into Monday. Long lines at gas stations already and some reporting running out of gas. Irma was reporting to have turned east late last night. Hopefully she will continue to turn east right back out into the Atlantic (I know, wishful thinking). Still no concrete plans for me and my family. We'll know more in the next 48 hours.

Mike

Panic in the Panhandle too, even though we're far to the west of the expected track. Stores out of water, people lining up to buy gas.

No extra anxiety in my house-seasoned from my experience in SoFla in 2004-5, well-stocked and a bailout plan in place if needed.

Really feeling for friends and former colleagues down south.

 

[wrigley]

Panic in the Panhandle too, even though we're far to the west of the expected track. Stores out of water, people lining up to buy gas.

No extra anxiety in my house-seasoned from my experience in SoFla in 2004-5, well-stocked and a bailout plan in place if needed.

Really feeling for friends and former colleagues down south.

I suspect by Friday 75 north and 95 north are going to be parking lots!

Mike

 

[meierlde]

I had no trouble filling up the car with gas this morning in Sarasota. Price $2.60/gal - no gouging yet.

For the first time ever I tried to do some hurricane shopping this afternoon. I went to Target and Publix. Both places were out of water (more coming, they both said). No 'D' batteries at Target; I picked up the last package at Publix. Plenty of nutritionally-deficient empty calories still available to keep the body fueled, but potable water is more important.

The local cat shelter is making plans to move 150 kitties to Jacksonville. Can I squeeze into a cat carrier and hitch a ride?

Note that one other idea is to buy empty gallon jugs and fill them with tap water before the storm.
Longer term, just don't throw water bottles away but keep them empty and refill from the tap before a storm.

 

[48Fire]

Based on this morning's models, we decided to stay put in Tampa area for another day. If we didn't have MIL in the neighborhood, we would be long gone to a dry, cool vacation somewhere.

 

[48Fire]

Grandaughter is a junior in Fl University Tampa, grandson a sophomore in Univ of Miami in Coral Gables, Son and DIL are in Sarasota in their brand new home (now for three weeks)... Grandkids are on their way to Sarasota right now. Food for a week... Shutters on (dark house) water for a week, bath tub filled,cars gassed and extra cans filled. everything moved to second floor. Roads jammed, stores empty, gas station waiting fuel deliveries.

Another thought... We have a smallish generator that we've never used. Looked up "how"... and came across this warning website. Refresher for anyone who has one but never used... What not to do.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-use-a-generator-safely-after-severe-weather-strikes/70002591

Looks like the median line for Irma could be near my FL home at Lake Griffin Harbor in Leesburg...
Oh well....

Wow, good luck to all of your family

 

[W2R]

Based on this morning's models, we decided to stay put in Tampa area for another day. If we didn't have MIL in the neighborhood, we would be long gone to a dry, cool vacation somewhere.

The NHC cone has shifted eastward quite a bit overnight. Good luck to all in Florida.

 

[socca]

My favorite place to keep an eye on what Irma is up to: Hurricane: Infrared Loop

In this view, you can see the strong flow to the east in the Gulf of Mexico that might help keep Irma's eye away from Florida. This might be wishful thinking.

 

[Lawrencewendall]

Live video from San Juan
https://livestormchasing.com/stream/brett.adair

Anguilla and St. Maarten:

this is a great resource for finding livestreams. every time somebody goes live (publicly) on Facebook, it gets plotted on this map. there's a bunch of people streaming from the Virgin Islands https://www.facebook.com/livemap#@34...1.689453125,4z

St Croix webcam, close to the water.

https://www.earthcam.com/usa/virgini...m=mmstcroix_hd

Other webcams


St. Croix Casino

Soggy Dollar on BVI Jost Van Dike

Another BVI cam. Hard link from SanMan on St. Croix is the same feed above https://www.earthcam.com/usa/virgini...m=mmstcroix_hd


Check the Weather Underground Wunder Map w/ the Webcam filter turned on. https://www.wunderground.com/wunderm...ellite=1&hur=1

 

[Lawrencewendall]

AMS OPENS CAMPING FACILITIES FOR HURRICANE IRMA EVACUEES

AMS Opens Camping Facilities For Hurricane Irma Evacuees | News Archive | Media | Atlanta Motor Speedway

 

[imoldernu]

2:40 CST ... Sept 6, 2017 Jose officially christened. Look out, Charlotte.

 

[audreyh1]

So heading for Miami? Not direct hit on the keys?

 

[Aerides]

It's so big, it's hard to tell, but as of the latest looks like it will go thru the keys en route to Miami, and up. I'm near Palm Beach, 40 mins south, 2 miles from the Ocean. Not an evac zone... and we have hurricane impact windows installed post-wilma... but getting nervous.

Nothing is rated for a Cat 5, even a 4 + gusts.... worst case we'll hunker down in the interior bathroom with the cats until it's over!

 

[MichaelB]

I just heard an evacuation notice for everyone east of US1 in Broward. That's a big chunk of real estate and population. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article171514387.html

 

[easysurfer]

Looks like Richard Branson is killing two birds with one stone. Riding out the hurricane and enjoying his sense of adventure .

Richard Branson is riding out Hurricane Irma on his private island in the British Virgin Islands, despite it being at risk of taking a direct hit.

Specifically, the billionaire Virgin founder plans to brave the worst of the powerful storm in his wine cellar.
"We are expecting to get the full force of the hurricane in around five hours' time, when we will retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great House," Branson wrote Wednesday.
Branson described the eve of the storm as "a night of howling wind and rain." He added: "The atmosphere is eerie but beautiful."

Richard Branson to ride out Hurricane Irma in wine cellar - Sep. 6, 2017

 

[RunningBum]

Current models from the link provided by socca above show all models in the ensemble hitting the US. 3 of them miss Florida, but hit the Carolinas.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Great, I clicked on one of the links and it shows Irma wants to come visit me! I can not blow up that ensemble picture so im not sure what part on NY its hitting.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Irma Could Leave Puerto Rico Without Power for 6 Months, Um O.K. that would cramp most preppers. Irma Could Leave Puerto Rico Without Power for 6 Months. Seems extreme, is this because the place is broke? or because the island is going to get flattened.?

 

[Khan]

We accomplished things. Wiring from temp house to new house. Generator connected. Much food moved. Boat stored under house. Tomorrow will move stuff to freezer and fridge. Microwave will not work on generator power. We have several days of propane and ~80 gallons of gas.

 

[W2R]

We accomplished things. Wiring from temp house to new house. Generator connected. Much food moved. Boat stored under house. Tomorrow will move stuff to freezer and fridge. Microwave will not work on generator power. We have several days of propane and ~80 gallons of gas.

You have been doing a lot of hard work to prepare for Irma. Good idea to have lots of propane and gasoline. If the microwave won't work on generator power, maybe you can grill things.

 

[W2R]

It's so big, it's hard to tell, but as of the latest looks like it will go thru the keys en route to Miami, and up. I'm near Palm Beach, 40 mins south, 2 miles from the Ocean. Not an evac zone... and we have hurricane impact windows installed post-wilma... but getting nervous.

Nothing is rated for a Cat 5, even a 4 + gusts.... worst case we'll hunker down in the interior bathroom with the cats until it's over!

It seems to me that nearly anyone who has been through a big hurricane (like Wilma) would be just as nervous as you are, or more. I sure hope that something unexpected happens to lessen the danger - - maybe Irma could fizzle, or head out to sea, or something. If not, the outcome may be quite grim. Take care.

 

[dm]

I'm in Punta Gorda. We are loading up the plane and heading out tommorow. My insurance man is even paying to relocate the plane.

I see no reason to stay.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I'm in Punta Gorda. We are loading up the plane and heading out tommorow. My insurance man is even paying to relocate the plane.

I see no reason to stay.

Wow, PM me your insurance guy, he is a keeper, Im on the ignore list when i try to put in a claim.