Concern For Florida

[Passport1]

This hurricane looks bad. Several BITOG members reside there. Hope they all stay safe and can post with details as soon as possible.

 

[chainblu]

Yeah, looks like Tampa and the I-4 corridor is going to take a beating.

 

[oldcodger]

Been there and done that. I feel for the people in that area. When it comes to a storm of this level you need to get out.

 

[CharBaby]

We had a house down there in the Tampa St.Pete’s area right on the Gulf for 18 years between 1988 and 2006. We had enough!

 

[gfh77665]

I wish Louisiana (exception New Orleans) was cared about as much as NC and FL.

 

[Urshurak776]

My wifes family is in Ocala. Everyone is heading to a shelter this evening. Prayers to all in this. It's going to be a big one.....

 

[Bud_One]

Co-worker of mine has family in Punta Gorda and they've decided to stay... Praying and hoping for the best for them.

 

[I<3oil]

Back up to Cat 5 now

 

[Analog-1]

Co-worker of mine has family in Punta Gorda and they've decided to stay... Praying and hoping for the best for them.

Biden said if people don't leave they will die. Many have decided to ride it out anyway. Guess time will tell.

 

[Dave Hess]

Get Out Now !!!!!!

 

[AZjeff]

90 YO FIL is 50 miles north of Tampa 15 miles inland. Just got informed he was admitted to hospital for chest pains which is a good thing because he wasn’t budging. He’s right on the 100 mph line, he may come home to no home. Stubborn old SOB.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I have them in our thoughts! Storm is headed to some families house on the west coast. I hope it all works out.

Just my $0.02

 

[Dinoburner]

Have a brother in Lakeland who went north to a friends place and wife has several relatives around FL, we are worried.

 

[football]

I’m in the path of the storm near the coast. We are staying. I’m at 12 ft elevation and IF we get the maximum storm surge forecasted at 15 feet, I’ll have 3 feet of water in my house. I have an upstairs and can just go upstairs. We will be fine.

My house went through Cat 5 Hurricane Ian and didn’t get barely any damage. People freaking out don’t understand that houses are built of concrete now and are very strong. Hurricane Andrew hit an area of stick frame houses without properly strapped roofs and obliterated them. Building codes have been continuously updated since then and houses are very strong now in Florida. Houses must have hurricane shutters or 1/2 inch thick hurricane impact windows. My house has the windows. They are fantastic.

I may eat my words in a day or two but I think we will be ok. I’m not right on the coast and any flooding would have to traverse through lots of woods and neighborhoods so it won’t be a coastal type of flooding with rapid wave action. Just a gradual raising of water.

I have my generators ready. I brought a couple of them inside and will put them upstairs to prevent any flooding damage. Im building go bags now in case we have to go in a hurry. I’ll probably park my truck inland a ways at a shopping center to get it away from the coastal flooding.

 

[RhondaHonda]

In-laws in Naples and family on the eastern side of the Tampa area.

The in-laws aren’t going down there until this weekend. Hoping they won’t have much damage but they are 1/2 mile from the Gulf with some estuary between them to slow any storm surge.

 

[Mechanician]

I think the other sheriffs in Florida need to follow the Taylor county sheriff's lead.
This may change some stubborn minds.
https://fox40.com/news/national-and...-didnt-evacuate-to-write-contact-info-on-leg/

 

[football]

The storm rapidly weakened before landfall. I live about 25 miles from Sarasota and we had no damage. In fact, the storm was pretty mild at my house. Glad I stayed and didn’t have to deal with 15 hours of traffic to get away and 15 hours of traffic to get home. Never even lost power. I did drive around town and the damage near the coast is impressive but those that are inland just a bit mostly did pretty good.