Okay, that makes me feel a lot better.
Weird weather
- Thread starter strawman
- Start date
Jacksonville is in the north east corner, and only has a 10-20 percent chance of receiving hurricane force winds, but a 80% chance of receiving tropical storm winds. So they should be fine. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/035210.shtml?hwind120#wcontents
The rest of Florida, though, wow. Nearly the entire peninsula is within the 90% chance of tropical storm winds, and a good portion of it is within 50% of hurricane force winds.
It spun back up to a category five. Hurricane force winds should hit the south west coast Sunday morning, and will perhaps have passed over the entire state by Monday morning.
https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-irma
Things can still change, and given that it's going to hit Cuba harder than earlier models showed, it may lose some of its strength (one possibility is that it'll weaken enough due to cuba to become a category 2 upon Florida landfall, but that seems unlikely, particularly since the strait is warm, and so it'll pick up steam again once it leaves Cuba).
At least it doesn't present the possibility of 36" and more rain, like Harvey did. The storm surge will be rough, and the winds will be bad, but it doesn't look like persistent deep flooding is going to be likely.
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/irma-top-end-cat-4-storm-now-less-two-days-florida
We've switched over to 12 hour shifts. I should really be in bed because I have to be back at 0600 tomorrow.
Even though most projections have this bitch going through Florida to get to us, they're still doing mandatory evacuations, starting at 0800. I'm going to be in traffic control Hell tomorrow, and I can't even toss my rookie at it, because she's never done traffic control before. Not the time to do trial by fire.
They're gonna be sheltering my precinct at a local military school. If, for some reason, it hits Category 3 or above here, they're gonna pull out all non-SWAT personnel, bringing us back in when the storm passes.
And to top it off, by the time I got off shift today, all the liquor stores were closed. Guess Thor and Njall aren't gonna get their offering of mead...
Even though most projections have this bitch going through Florida to get to us, they're still doing mandatory evacuations, starting at 0800. I'm going to be in traffic control Hell tomorrow, and I can't even toss my rookie at it, because she's never done traffic control before. Not the time to do trial by fire.
They're gonna be sheltering my precinct at a local military school. If, for some reason, it hits Category 3 or above here, they're gonna pull out all non-SWAT personnel, bringing us back in when the storm passes.
And to top it off, by the time I got off shift today, all the liquor stores were closed. Guess Thor and Njall aren't gonna get their offering of mead...
figmentPez
Staff member
In case anyone is wondering how @LittleKagsin is doing with all the fires out west, she says it's smoggy where she is, but she's not in any danger.[DOUBLEPOST=1504934328,1504934194][/DOUBLEPOST]Also, apparently Irma is so powerful it's going to wipe NC off the map and replace it with a copy of WV.
My forecast got worse. All it's done is get worse. As of this morning, this is my Sunday forecast:
Hurricane conditions likely. Frequent rain showers will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 100 to 115 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.
Hurricane conditions likely. Frequent rain showers will be accompanied by heavy downpours and strong gusty winds at times. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 100 to 115 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.
It's going to be a rotten few days. Is there anything else you need to do to prepare? Are there any flood concerns at your new location?
My backyard tends to flood, and the anclode river is nearby, although I'm at the border of a C/D evacuation zone. I boarded up my house and have sandbags at my sliding glass door in the back yard where it tends to flood. Although I'm seeing this more of a wind event than a rain one. Now I have the option of going a little further (not much though, like, 15-20 minutes) to my sisters' Unfortunately she only boarded her back windows, but not the front. Although her house is mostly brick, I'm wondering if its safer at all, because all that needs to happen is a window breaks. She is somewhat shielded by trees, though. I honestly have no idea what to do. I wasn't expecting the hurricane eye in my face.
Alright screw it. We're supposed to get gusts up to CAT 4 strength. I'm going to the east coast to Melbourne to a friend's house. I better start packing. I-75 N may be jammed, but I-4 should be clear.
EDIT: And just to be clear, Melbourne (on the east coast) is still forecasted to get hurricane force winds. 70-90mph. However, thats better than here and its not in the path of the eye.
EDIT: And just to be clear, Melbourne (on the east coast) is still forecasted to get hurricane force winds. 70-90mph. However, thats better than here and its not in the path of the eye.
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It sounds like you're well prepared. Even your sister's place sounds ok. I assume you've got your evacuation kit planned should it come to that.
I think the best thing you can do right now is: wait for the 11am update and, unless the news changes your evacuation status, go outside and relax. I call this the 'Waiting for Godot' phase of the hurricane. We know the storm is coming, but there isn't anything we can do about it other than make small talk, and it's kind of mad.
Brick will still provide significant protection from projectile debris compared to other typical siding. If you're facing more than tropical force winds, then you should probably shelter in brick if you don't have better shelter options. Your evacuation order probably comes with instructions for public shelters suitable for this storm if you're very concerned.
I assume you've gone over a hurricane checklist, particularly for supplies. If it does get bad communications, power, water, and food is going to be limited for days and possibly weeks, so make sure you've got a portable radio, and if you have FRS or similar walkie talkie radios make sure you have batteries for them so you can chat with each other, and communicate with others in the area if needed.
Google maps can download local maps, go into settings and make sure you have a map of the local area, and if there's any critical information (phone numbers, medical, etc) which you usually use online make sure you have a local copy. It's not a bad idea to buy a paper map of the area, so you can conserve battery power on your smart phone.
If you have limited cellular after the storm, text messages will often get through when calling may not. If you have an iphone, consider going into settings and imessage, and switching off imessage so everything is sent via the cellular texting system rather than waiting 15 minutes trying to get to apple's servers via the internet.
Bring/pack/protect some board games and books, or movies and a tablet or portable player of some sort. These might help distract you and others for the long hours during the storm when every creak and bang feels threatening. Keep your phones on chargers during the storm so you aren't fighting a low battery situation just as you're trying to understand the extent of the damage and exploring the new situation. I suggest portable chargers rather than wall chargers to reduce the risk of storm related electrical damage, but you'll need to preserve as many portable chargers for after the storm as you can. If you don't have a gasoline generator, make friends with your neighbors who do so you can charge your phone chargers.
My phone is 734-418-8418. I can't do much here from Michigan, but my heart and mind will be with you and if there's anything you want to talk through, questions I can help with, or you just need a distraction just call or text anytime day or night. I have a pretty good handle on home construction, DIY stuff, electronics, communications, and weather safety.
This goes for anyone affected by this or other storms or emergency situations.
Oh, another thing, in situations like this almost all mormon churches turn into command centers of some sort, sometimes shelters, sometimes places for volunteers to gather to help others, and they are almost always within a 5-30 drive of any populated area. If you have a situation you can't handle or the authorities are unable to help in time for, go see if there's anyone at the local mormon church building. As such it might be worthwhile mapping out the nearest 2-3 of these buildings to your home and shelter before the storm hits. You'll usually see the yellow "mormon helping hands" tshirts volunteers wear in a day or two after a storm.
Keep a bike handy. Faster than on foot, but can pass almost as many obstacles as you can on foot.
I assume you've gone over a hurricane checklist, particularly for supplies. If it does get bad communications, power, water, and food is going to be limited for days and possibly weeks, so make sure you've got a portable radio, and if you have FRS or similar walkie talkie radios make sure you have batteries for them so you can chat with each other, and communicate with others in the area if needed.
Google maps can download local maps, go into settings and make sure you have a map of the local area, and if there's any critical information (phone numbers, medical, etc) which you usually use online make sure you have a local copy. It's not a bad idea to buy a paper map of the area, so you can conserve battery power on your smart phone.
If you have limited cellular after the storm, text messages will often get through when calling may not. If you have an iphone, consider going into settings and imessage, and switching off imessage so everything is sent via the cellular texting system rather than waiting 15 minutes trying to get to apple's servers via the internet.
Bring/pack/protect some board games and books, or movies and a tablet or portable player of some sort. These might help distract you and others for the long hours during the storm when every creak and bang feels threatening. Keep your phones on chargers during the storm so you aren't fighting a low battery situation just as you're trying to understand the extent of the damage and exploring the new situation. I suggest portable chargers rather than wall chargers to reduce the risk of storm related electrical damage, but you'll need to preserve as many portable chargers for after the storm as you can. If you don't have a gasoline generator, make friends with your neighbors who do so you can charge your phone chargers.
My phone is 734-418-8418. I can't do much here from Michigan, but my heart and mind will be with you and if there's anything you want to talk through, questions I can help with, or you just need a distraction just call or text anytime day or night. I have a pretty good handle on home construction, DIY stuff, electronics, communications, and weather safety.
This goes for anyone affected by this or other storms or emergency situations.
Oh, another thing, in situations like this almost all mormon churches turn into command centers of some sort, sometimes shelters, sometimes places for volunteers to gather to help others, and they are almost always within a 5-30 drive of any populated area. If you have a situation you can't handle or the authorities are unable to help in time for, go see if there's anyone at the local mormon church building. As such it might be worthwhile mapping out the nearest 2-3 of these buildings to your home and shelter before the storm hits. You'll usually see the yellow "mormon helping hands" tshirts volunteers wear in a day or two after a storm.
Keep a bike handy. Faster than on foot, but can pass almost as many obstacles as you can on foot.
Every update on the path gets worse for me. It looks like it's going to skirt up the west coast, keep a lot of its strength, and hit us directly. They're predicting 115mph winds. Even if I wanted to evacuate now (which I do now want to) I can't, because the gas shortage is still in full effect, there is simply no gas anywhere around here, and the only road out of my neck of the woods is pure gridlock.
The plan now is to hunker down as best we can and hope for the best.
The plan now is to hunker down as best we can and hope for the best.
If you're in a solid structure, that sounds like a reasonable plan.
Btw, where are you getting your wind data from?
The weather channel
Also, I'm in a trailer, which is... not the most sturdy? But it does have storm shutters and hurricane anchors, so maybe.
Hmm. It was just that the wind speed seems a bit aggressive compared to what I see one weather.com or Weather Underground. (I've been using Gainesville to estimate your weather.)
However, I would not recommend staying in a trailer even if the winds are only category 1 strength. Is there a emergency shelter you can go to?
I'm surprised at how well the new regulations protect manufactured homes:
http://www.flhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Hurricanes-and-Manufactured-Housing.pdf
That said, I would suggest you shelter elsewhere if possible as well...
http://www.flhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Hurricanes-and-Manufactured-Housing.pdf
That said, I would suggest you shelter elsewhere if possible as well...
I'm west of Gainesville. A little area called Dixie County.
Depending on how the forecasts change, or don't change, over the next 24 hours, we may head to my grandmother's home, which isn't far away but is a solidly built log cabin. Our only concern there is there are a lot of trees around her home, whereas here we are in a clearing with trees far enough away from anything on every side to hopefully act as wind breaks.
I am aware of this.
The roadways in Florida are a giant mess. Mandatory evacuation is all well and good until there is no way out.
Getting fired for obeying a mandatory evacuation should be grounds for a lawsuit.Lots of misleading "you can be fired if you evacuate" headlines. Then you click on the article and it's full of qualifications that nearly turn it into a non-story.
figmentPez
Staff member
Huh....
Irma is so strong that it literally sucked all the nearby ocean water towards it's core leaving shallow areas without any water.
Irma is so strong that it literally sucked all the nearby ocean water towards it's core leaving shallow areas without any water.
