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Friday, September 08, 2017
Irma post from our friend Nina...
Pretty much sums up Florida weather.
Not my words, but exactly what is going on between folks in Florida and loved ones that live elsewhere.
Dear everyone who doesn't live in Florida but loves someone who does, here are some things you need to know about hurricanes:
They don't come until they come, so if you ask us how we are on a 93-degree sunshiny day 72 hours before we expect the winds to start, don't be surprised if we tell you we're fine. Please believe us. We're actively preparing, and we're watching the forecast more closely than you are, but we're truly fine at the moment.
Hurricanes are unpredictable. No matter how good the models are, hurricanes often demonstrate a mind of their own. We're always hoping and praying for a turn or "wobble" that sends the monster further from civilization. But if you ask us what's going to happen three or four days from now, we honestly don't know for sure (and neither do the meteorologists).
An entire state can't evacuate. Everyone packing up, jumping into their cars and heading north may seem like a great idea. However, the truth is that those of us in "safer" inland regions generally need to stay put to reserve the roads, gas, hotel rooms, shelters, plane tickets, etc. for the most vulnerable folks who live on the coast in the storm's path (where evacuation orders exist). Some inland folks may choose to leave, but most of us stay put and follow the instructions of our local governments.
We truly appreciate your love and concern, the offers to stay in your homes, and most of all your prayers. Just know that the media is doing a pretty good job of stirring up your anxiety...and ours. Of course we're worried, but we're trying to do all the right things to prepare and not freak out. Thanks for offering words of love and encouragement (and not jumping on the freak-out wagon - it just makes it harder on us).
Praying for Irma to make a hard right turn before Miami,
Your Florida loved ones
Your Florida loved ones
Thoughts about Hurricane Irma, Friday Sept 8th, 2017
The hardest part seems to be the waiting....knowing it's on the way, that's she's aiming dead down the middle of the State but not knowing what the intensity will be when it gets here....hoping for the best, knowing it could be the worst. Watching Weather Channel constantly would have the average person shopping for razor blades. The Governor on downs job is to scare the bejesus out of everyone so that the folks in the evacuation zones do just that.
So we've done all that we feel we can to prepare. Our motor home is fueled up and parked in Christmas Florida. Hopefully if this Town House gets it bad the rig (ten miles West of us) will have gotten through. It has of course a generator, refrigeration etc and would be a good place to live if this one isn't....a hell of a lot better then going to a shelter. But, looking ahead there is NO way of knowing what is going to be affected so you don't know, until it happens, exactly what the problems are. We have water (drinking and cooking), propane for our small stove, a fair amount of canned goods and stuff in the freezer that can be used up if it hits the fan.
This morning its life as usual. Alice is going to get her nails done, I'm going to water the plants and start bring in outside ornaments that could fly around. Tomorrow morning Joanna is going to help me start bringing in stuff from the upper deck, and then the plants will come in and most of the stuff from the Florida room. This is not our first rodeo, but it looks to be one of the worst that could happen.
What keeps me some-what relaxed is that this development of 88 town homes has never, since it was built 45 years ago, ever suffered any major structural damages to any of the units through all the storms. There have been shingles torn off and some siding, trees dropped etc, but nothing horrible. I would not want to be South in Ford Lauderdale or worst yet, Miami or Hollywood. These places get torn up it seems on a very regular basis. Since we moved here to Titusville from CT we've actually ghad very temperate weather.
Update 12:00pm, Sept 8: Well, we went to the Motor Home in Christmas...closed all the vents and did a quick check on her...all ok. Then, we had the thought of getting a few sandbags for the front door. The Town has plenty of sand but ran out of bags, and both Ace hardware stores are also out. So much for being a day late and a dollar short! So, went into Publix and picked a few last minute food provisions...more water, some hot dogs and snacks.
Update, 1pm Sept 8th: Hurricane Irma continued its Category 4 crawl through the Caribbean Friday, with warning cones from the National Hurricane Center showing it overtaking Florida by Sunday evening.
While Irma's exact strength and trajectory could still fluctuate, the 150-mph windspeed storm is guaranteed to make an impact on Brevard County by late Sunday and early Monday.
As of Friday morning, Irma was just under 565 miles away, moving northwest toward Florida at 14 mph.
So what can Brevard residents expect — and when? Meteorologists with the National Weather Service, Melbourne, can't say with certainty exactly how strong the storm will be in a given area at a given time, but a general overview is possible.
More: Brevard Zoo staff prepares animals for Hurricane Irma
Late Sunday morning: Brevard will begin to experience tropical storm-force winds through the early afternoon as the Irma makes its way up the middle of the state and its outer bands begin to lap at the county.
Late Sunday afternoon: Brevard will begin to experience sustained tropical storm-force winds across the county.
Late Sunday morning: Brevard will begin to experience tropical storm-force winds through the early afternoon as the Irma makes its way up the middle of the state and its outer bands begin to lap at the county.
Late Sunday afternoon: Brevard will begin to experience sustained tropical storm-force winds across the county.
Sunday evening: From the afternoon to evening, hurricane-force bands will begin to creep into the county, with parts of southern Brevard experiencing sustained hurricane winds.
Overnight Monday: After midnight Monday is when the brunt of the hurricane-force winds will come into the area. By 2 a.m. Monday, the county should be experiencing sustained hurricane-force winds.
Irma is nearly 400 miles wide, and meteorologists say hurricane-force winds can extend up to 70 miles from the eye, with tropical storm-force winds extending 185 miles from the eye.
The NWS did not mince words in its Friday morning statement about Irma's impact on the area:
"It is now very likely that this major hurricane will have significant and potentially life-threatening impacts to the citizens of east central Florida!! Extreme winds are of life-threatening concern and will have the potential for devastating to catastrophic impacts along Irma`s track."
Structural damage to buildings, heavy flooding from storm surges and rain and tornadoes are all possibilities due to Irma, according to the NWS.
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