FL Panhandle DG's

Yep, did a mapquest, just under 6 miles south of you Floridian! And I think we've had just about enough rain already! A little everyday isn't so bad, but my yard is way too squishy for this.. LOL

Thank you Darius. :D

BuriedTreasures, once all this is over maybe we can have a round up.. but in the meantime we can post pictures of the mayhem! Also, with your saying you're leaving is leaving me a bit scared...

Every single lounge chair I own is in the jacuzzi part of my pool.. LOL!

Wait, who's having the crazy booze party? Mmm, I could do with some 99 Apples! Wait, that's you too BuriedTreasures! DON'T LEAVE US NOW! hehehehe. j/k. (:

The booze will be flowing at the office. Corner of kings and lumsden in Brandon.

There's going to be 3 adults, 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. The more the merrier.

Good idea on the RU. I'd thought about combining one with the company's open house at the end of next season. We're on an acre, in a big house, so there's room for out of towners to stay or camp out.

If Charlie upgrades again, all y'all should consider getting out. It's already Cat 2 and expected to increase once it hits the Gulf!

Weeds, you still listenin'? I know most of you are. Wish my FL cousins were on this forum right now... I'd box some of their ears just because I have more experience with 'canes... enough to make me cautious.

This message was edited Aug 12, 2004 2:31 PM

This message was edited Aug 12, 2004 2:38 PM

Keeping an eye on you peeps down there.....take care of yourselves and your pets......hey coopser and bustah!

Lovely. We're now in a tornado watch due to the extreme outer bands of Bonnie.

Couldn't have kept that up there with you Weeds? That storm was yours. We have our own to deal with

BT, maybe you should host a post-'cane RU. Many people will need to replace plants, perhaps.

Good idea on the RU. I'd thought about combining one with the company's open house at the end of next season. We're on an acre, in a big house, so there's room for out of towners to stay or camp out.

sounds perfect!

and.. what does this mean? Hillsborough Co: Zones A & B prepare to evacuate

what's a zone a or b?

http://www.wtsp.com/weather/evacuations.asp

Scarlet, try this. It has evacuation maps, closings, area etc.,etc.,etc. Ilm watching the Polk County doppler, that's where my daughter is. Tampa paper doing SUPER job!
Patihttp://www.tampatrib.com/

Evacuation zones.

Right now they said A, B, and C

You can check it here

http://hurricane.weathercenter.com/shelter/hillsborough.htm

Unless you're on a river in Lutz, it's not mandatory.

this is for the storm surge only. Still have to take precaution against wind. If you're in a mobile home, you should evacuate as well. We're in a large frame house on a foundation, but we're still getting out of it.

BT. sure wish Bonnie had stayed away from ya'll, you have enough to worry about but those canes change directions sometimes....

Scarlette, do you live near the airport by any chance?

Keep safe down there......a combination of tornados and huricanes really doesn't sound like a good mix! Unlike your drinks BuriedTreasures.......don't forget the salt!!

The zones designate flood plains. A is along the coast, b more inland or low lieing etc. I think the Northdale area is in evac or flood zone e. Do you pay flood insurance? If not, you are not in a flood zone because insurance is mandatory in designated areas.

http://hurricane.weathercenter.com/shelter/hillsborough.htm

Mm, Weeds.. well, planes pass over our house all the time.. I think we're just southish of it.. (my direction is awful, but the planes go south over my house.. heh!)

zip is 33624 / Northdale area

I don't think it was mandatory that we pay flood insurance, but we bought some on top of our other insurance just because. I'll have to ask. Definately not in zone a, b, and probably not c either.

Yeah, probably E.., though our streets got really flooded (temp) when those rains hit not long ago. Only came about 10 feet up the drive though.

I think your fine for flooding, according to the map. Make sure your yard is clear of anything that can fly, and there's many things that you normally wouldn't consider.

I have some large 30 gallon clay pots on our deck, and have to get them in. They can definately get tossed in 100+ winds.

I'm outta here for a bit. time to head home and batten down the hatches.

Hurricanes area really amazing things, hurricane shows the true power of nature, and no body shouldnt get messed up with it.
I have never seen one in real life, only in tv, but theys still looks amazing, big and dangerous.
My grandpa told me that when they visited in Miami decades ago they were wishing on boat when the captain told that there was a hurricane coming. He asked if they would like to drive nearer to give a better look, and they did. Grandpa told me that it was really unique, he hasnt ever seen anything like that.
Well, they are dangerous but I guess is worth to take the risk for living in Florida.

Give the updates on Charlie, I still think y'all in Pinellas and other coastal counties are crazy not to evacuate.

My family lost their entire home to a 'cane, but fortunately, no lives.

This is from NOAA..... STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 10 FEET ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST.

The tropical storm force winds extend 125 miles, so if the eye comes ashore at Venice Beach (their prediction now), think where you live in relation to that. As it comes up the west coast we will get the "dirty "side of it...more rain.

Bonnie dragged enough mess behind her that we have been under a Tornado watch here all afternoon. One touchdown, mostly water spouts.

Usually if the 'canes go across Cuba the mountains take a bite out of them. Charley is sliding through the only break in the mountains in Western Cuba. Go figure! As I keep track of my various and sundry children and relatives, I can tell it's going to be a loooooong night.

Darius, how goes it up there? The coast is getting hammered. I hope your plants don't just slide off down the mountain. *grin* Hope everybody keeps power long enough to check in

Pati, we have had light to moderate rain all day. If it continues or increases, my plants probably WILL slide off the mountain! I just dumped the rain guage... 1.5 inches, less than I thought. Bonnie has gone mostly east with her rain although we will still get some of it.

Now, just waiting to see where Charlie goes. More worried about my FL family and friends than any flooding here. Cat 2 and increasing... not good.

A bit worried about my brother & family in Jax... several tornados there this afternoon.

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th. Charlie due to hit Florida tomorrow. Cat 2 and expected to be Cat 3 before Florida.

I am NOT superstitious, just cautious.

Well, no nothing new from our FL west coasters for 2 hours, so I hope y'all are busy evacuating!

Charlie still looks like it could become dangerous.

Hey Darius, I think you are right about them being busy and the storm upsizing. Will keep my eye on this storm and this thread too. How's the rain up your way???

Thankfully, the rain has tapered off as Bonnie went to the East Coast. Thanks, Weeds. This storm (Charlie) makes me nervous for some reason.

Hi Darius. Guess we are the lone rangers. I talked to my daughter in Bartow, finally. She had been out gathering water, feed, generator batteries, etc. She had to drive into Lakeland and said the traffic was horrendus. Everything is ready now, but she is worried about her five new Lychee trees that she just got into the ground. Her daughters, my two grand daughters in the Keys, are all settled in the hurricane shelter, so we aren't too concerned about them. We now have a tropical storm watch from Jupiter Inlet, north up the east coast. So I guess I'll be moving my container plants into a sheltered place. My son will be here to help me. His flight seems to be O.K. coming into West Palm Beach airport. My daughter that lives here talked to her son that lives at Kingsland , Ga. That's about 20 miles north of Jacksonville. He said the storm moved through fast and it was already clear there.

I really hope no news is good news with the DG's in harms way, and you are right about them being busy evacuating. I'll be checking back every so often to see if any of them pops up. STAY DRY AND SAFE!!!!!
Pati

praying for you all and watching the news!!!
hang on!!

Pati, I don't quite remember where Bartow is, although I should. It just nags my brain!

Isn't Kingsland GA mostly a military base area? One of my brothers lives In Jax Beach and said the toronados this afternon were just west of them.

If your daughter gets fresh lychees next year (or more) I shall have to beg for a few, even at a high price!

Y'know, I heard earlier the hurricane expert say this is almost the path of Hurricane Donna, 1960. She came up to almost Ft Myers and then turned due east and hit Miami... 160 MPH by then. So, it doesn't surprise me that you have a Watch on the east coast. Bring in ALL your plants!

I will hold all DG'ers AND my family members in Harm's Way in my heart and best thoughts.

I'm still here, just checking in. Got everything set up and think we'll be ok. MAYBE some minor flooding because of the pool but we're not in any type of a flood zone... it's just the winds that are gonna kick us and our trees around. It's gonna be interesting!

Scarlete, are you not in an evacuation area?

Darius, Bartow is about 30 miles due east of Tampa. Nice little town, typical of the old timey Florida towns.

Yes, Kings Bay is the east coast home of the big "Boomer" submarines, as opposed to the smaller attack subs. My grandson has been in the submarine service for 12 years. I love all my grands and great grands, but he was my first and is the light of my life!

Hi notmartha, nice to know you're standing watch with us! We will get an update on the storm at 11 PM. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Pati

I'll be online until then.

I used to live near the sub base in Key West, when Harry Truman made that his summer home.

Darius,

Scarlete isn't in an evacuation area. The only evacuations are for coastal and low lying areas. She's in neither. Don't know about her home status, so I couldn't answer there, but with regard to high water, she's basically safe.

They keep shifting this a bit further and further west, so who knows. Our Panhandle DG'ers aren't out of the woods on this one either.

we have our peeps open just in case.....seen them dance around out there in the gulf for days.

10:15 the latest shots show the eye just crossing cuba http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/gmex-vis-loop.html

Looks like she's starting her (sorry. the govt may have to be PC, but they'll always be ladies to me) turn now as well. This is going to be key to the forecast.

She's a looker though.

to all in Charlie's path, be wise! I am thinking about my friends over there.

Yeah, it's beginning to look worrisome.

BT, you evacuated... with the margueritas?

Key West is getting some bad storms right now, the first of the feeder bands to get there. I just saw a projection map with 6 possible tracks. 4 of 6 will seriously impact Tampa Bay. Citrus County (40 miles north??) has just announced mandatory coastal evacuation.
We just got back from rescueing a company vehicle. The roads have finally quieted down, today's evacuation has gone pretty well so far. There were a reports of few accidents, some rude people and long delays. The gas pumps had long lines or no gas, the 7-Eleven only had 1 island left open.
ATMs are even running out of money. It's really interesting just to see what's going on. The news keeps us hyped up too! LOL We're waiting for the next update as well. We're hearing that if Charley stays on course our weather will start to degrade by 10 am. To be honest I am a bit apprehensive but I also can't wait to see it!!

Hey, that one looks a lot like Floyd...and looks like it will bump right into tampa area.

I think I'd be aprehensive, too.

Evacuations are always intersting. So few people actually plan in advance when they could... i.e. gas in vehicles, cash on hand, etc.

Haven't been watching the weather/news, just a movie so I don't fret so much.

Will watch the 11 pm news/weather, though, and then bedtime.