boredofcanada
Member
If it hits Cuba, South Florida will still be affected. Hurricanes are huge.
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Florida Gov. Declares State Of Emergency Over Hurricane Irma (Up: clean-up begins)
- Thread starter fluffydelusions
- Start date
If it hits Cuba, South Florida will still be affected. Hurricanes are huge.
This hurricane is enormous. Even if it makes a westward turn and goes mainly through the west coast, as some tracks are showing now, South Florida will still get hit hard. The storm is just too big. It's looking like it might consume the entire state.
Hmm, a couple earth anchors seem to be a good idea, thanks.
Carpe Carnim
Member
Rent a garage or dry-slip for the month? Otherwise I would get some helical anchors and steel cord and strap that shit down
I dunno man. The dry-slips in the marinas around here look so flimsy, that I'd rather secure her here.
Welcome to Pensacola! Sorry this was the welcoming party. If it makes you feel better, we usually don't get major storms as often as other parts of Florida.
Especially with FPL cutting out all its senior employees who have dealt with past major disasters (aunt worked for company for 20+ years/still remains with them, but is concerned about job security and pension payout).
Carpe Carnim
Member
My only concern with anchoring near your house is should it get enough draft to float, you might have just tied a floating wrecking ball in your yard. Do you know where your flood maps are, can you haul it somewhere high and dry for a day or two? Behind a Publix or Walmart or something. They at least have up to date storm water management systems.
Poltergust
Member
As someone who lives in Orlando, I'm contemplating my options here.
As for arguments that favor me weathering the storm out, firstly, the risk of damage to my apartment is lower than one would probably expect. I live on the third floor, which should make it extremely hard for flooding to affect me. My apartment faces a small inner courtyard of the building I'm in, so wind damage would get marginalized by the outer exterior of the building (I feel awful for the people living across the hall from me). I also have a safe place to hunker down in in my apartment, away from any windows and such.
Still though, there are problems. I can't put shutters on my windows, so I risk having them break on me even with the wind protection I have. I have no idea how structurally sound the entire building itself is when it comes to category 4/5 hurricanes (this is what worries me the most). I also live on the top floor of my building, so leaks can occur. I'm worried about my car if flooding does indeed happen, despite living at a higher elevation than most of Orlando. And finally, it would be awful if the electricity or water is shut off for any period of time... which may be unavoidable.
I'm going to contact my landlord so they can give me a better idea about how well the building can take the storm. I mean, at first glance it looks like it should be fine, but I need to be sure to ease my nerves.
This doesn't even begin to cover my fears for all of my friends and family living in every corner of Florida, though...
As for arguments that favor me weathering the storm out, firstly, the risk of damage to my apartment is lower than one would probably expect. I live on the third floor, which should make it extremely hard for flooding to affect me. My apartment faces a small inner courtyard of the building I'm in, so wind damage would get marginalized by the outer exterior of the building (I feel awful for the people living across the hall from me). I also have a safe place to hunker down in in my apartment, away from any windows and such.
Still though, there are problems. I can't put shutters on my windows, so I risk having them break on me even with the wind protection I have. I have no idea how structurally sound the entire building itself is when it comes to category 4/5 hurricanes (this is what worries me the most). I also live on the top floor of my building, so leaks can occur. I'm worried about my car if flooding does indeed happen, despite living at a higher elevation than most of Orlando. And finally, it would be awful if the electricity or water is shut off for any period of time... which may be unavoidable.
I'm going to contact my landlord so they can give me a better idea about how well the building can take the storm. I mean, at first glance it looks like it should be fine, but I need to be sure to ease my nerves.
This doesn't even begin to cover my fears for all of my friends and family living in every corner of Florida, though...
I could haul it up on the septic, which would be the highest elevation around, but it would be fully exposed there.
Right now it sits between a couple of trees. I strapped it tightly to the trailer, and its far enough to not hit the house as long as all the straps hold.
I'm more worried flying debris might damage her, then she damaging anything else.
Carpe Carnim
Member
Well sounds like you've chosen the best option for your situation. But don't put it on your septic. The last thing you need is a crushed AND flooded tank. Stay safe
And another Pensacola member, this is crazy lol. Oh and thanks btw for your help in regards to finding a Switch a few months back!
The fact that we haven't had a major storm (small area disasters not withstanding) in so long is honestly what worries me. I know it sounds dumb but I can't help but feel like we've dodged our fair share of bullets and our luck is bound to run out
.Carpe Carnim
Member
And another Pensacola member, this is crazy lol. Oh and thanks btw for your help in regards to finding a Switch a few months back!
The fact that we haven't had a major storm (small area disasters not withstanding) in so long is honestly what worries me. I know it sounds dumb but I can't help but feel like we've dodged our fair share of bullets and our luck is bound to run out
Didn't you guys get smacked during the 2015 Spring floods? I know South Walton did. Oh, and that tornado last year on the FL/AL border was no joke. I guess it's the price to pay living in the Redneck Riviera
Yeah that flooding sucked. Fortunately nothing of mine nor family's was lost or damaged. I did end up sleeping in my car at a Wendy's/Circle K gas station as I got stuck there and couldn't leave. It was my fiancee and I's anniversary and I was trying to get her from her place before the storm got bad. What a bad decision. We live together now though so that shit isn't happening again lol.
That tornado sucked as well. It hit two blocks from my house. Scariest moment in my life by far, I thought we were goners
. My house was undamaged but my fence in my backyard was partially blown away. I never thought I'd experience something like that here. Maybe those will make up for our lack of hurricanes and we'll be safe? :/
I've been on the phone for 80 minutes but we changed the flight and hotel. Going on the 27th of this month now. Actually got an extra half day now lol
Saved $14. Thank god we got the travelers insurance. The airline charged us $400 but Expedia is reimbursing that charge because we bought the insurance.
The hotel gave us a break and gave us a full refund. Thank god. They were no on refundable to begin with.
Saved $14. Thank god we got the travelers insurance. The airline charged us $400 but Expedia is reimbursing that charge because we bought the insurance.
The hotel gave us a break and gave us a full refund. Thank god. They were no on refundable to begin with.
BattleMonkey
Member
Keep seeing people saying to evacuate online.... I don't know a single person planning on leaving down here. Shuttering up and hunkering down, but maybe it's because so many have lived through multiple storms and our homes in FL are not made of sticks? We are fairly in land so flooding wont be that bad.
It's because hurricanes are very scary. If they've never experienced one then it's even scarier.
They mean well, so we should be thankful that there's strangers worried about us.
If you're in somewhere like the Keys or Miami Beach, you should evacuate. Otherwise, everyone else is just going to hunker down.
Stubbornness.
Also, Florida houses are made out of sticks. They are made out of wood because the soil can't handle the weight of a proper concrete home (like in Puerto Rico), which means they are super vulnerable to hurricanes.
GoldenEye 007
Member
Houston is far inland and it flooded everywhere. Usually it is not the case.
BattleMonkey
Member
Our home is concrete, every house in the neighborhood is. From what I understand homes have to be concrete in many areas of FL to be built nowadays.
Houston is not really designed for the amount of rain it got either. FL floods in many areas, but we do have far better water management systems. Anyone by the coat always has to worry.
Huh? I guess depending on regions of the state, but most around me are concrete blocks.
BlazinSkatinAxel
Member
Why would you move back to Pensacola?!?!
Yeah, after Andrew they redid the building codes in many parts of the state.
But there's still numerous houses in the state that were built before Andrew.
Cpt GargameL
Neo Member
Water is gone in most places and gas prices are up. (Miramar area)
BlazinSkatinAxel
Member
You ever got hit with a Level 4? We did and the aftermath was horrible. It took out I-10. A huge cat 5 is much worse.
powersurge
Member
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ivan
Ivan was nightmare fuel. We rode it out in our hallway while multiple tornados went down our street and ripped up some neighbor's houses. We somehow only had minor damage. But that was only 165mph winds. This monster is already higher than that and getting stronger.
Ivan was nightmare fuel. We rode it out in our hallway while multiple tornados went down our street and ripped up some neighbor's houses. We somehow only had minor damage. But that was only 165mph winds. This monster is already higher than that and getting stronger.
Cape Coral checking in. We're evacuating later this week, but I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go. Everywhere I've looked is still in the potential path of the storm, so I'm not sure what the best thing to do is. And to complicate things, I have to make sure wherever we go, I can find a place to board our pets. I'm sure we'll figure it out though.
What?? New construction down here is all concrete block, at least on the first level. Sure, older homes are stick frame, but you can't make blanket statements like that.
What?? New construction down here is all concrete block, at least on the first level. Sure, older homes are stick frame, but you can't make blanket statements like that.
KojiKnight
Member
So I literally just sold my house 4 days ago in central Florida... Looks like it may have been perfect timing. I hope nothing happens to the new owners, but damn am I glad closing happened when it did.
Cpt GargameL
Neo Member
xXCrazyCostaXX
Member
Same. Supposed to go to Orlando for a 4 day business trip today. Big bosses are about to take a phone call to decide if we still have to go
Just a heads up on if you're going to go find a hotel. La Quinta allow free pets. Not sure weight requirements and stuff.
Cpt GargameL
Neo Member
Just read that Irma is now a category 5! This thing is picking up quick. This may just be the very first big hurricane I experience..
BattleMonkey
Member
After Andrew lot of building codes were changed, almost all new homes and buildings are concrete, roofing standards also were strengthened. Many of the light poles and utilities were improved, lot more cables are put underground nowadays too.
superdeluxe
Member
175mph monster
Looks like this might shoot the gap between Cuba and Florida and become a gulf storm