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Irma is now a strong Cat 5, 175 MPH.
Models are in general agreement that it will enter the Florida Straits, but then all bets are off. Some still predicting a hard right turn right up the FL Peninsula, others take it NE into the Atlantic, and then others have it smacking the central Gulf Coast.
Wont know until later this week if I need to start buying plywood, water and canned goods.
Time to get water and wait.
A good supply of water and caned or other long term stored food is always a smart thing to have, First aid kit , flashlight and batteries too.
Don't get caught short , If where you are is the target "Get Gone ASAP"
But you that live there already know that , It's not your first rodeo.
I'm not liking the looks of this storm.
I'd say that, beach/near beach residents, if the storm starts heading for Alabama, don't even think of staying and riding it out. It's likely to be as strong as Andrew, depending on where it hits land. Just YIKES! Everyone in its path might want to make contingency plans well in advance. I wouldn't want to wish this one on ANYBODY, ANYWHERE! No need to panic. Yet. But it doesn't hurt to have a plan.
Problem is where do you run to?
Go north and it will take a week to get back.
Go east and you might be in it worse that if you stayed put.
And going west far enough is not an option in post-Harvey world.
Luckily, we are at 250' and don't have to worry about water, "just" trees falling on the house.
But I lived in GS, OB, DI or down in the Bayou, or anywhere waterfront, I'd be pretty nervous right about now.
If I were anywhere in south FL, I'd be downright scared...
I "rode out"Hurricane Fredick back in '79 and my pants are still drying out. If that storm looks like it's even thinking about Orange Beach, I'm gone to the hunting camp. Easier to live there in case of a massive power outage that lasts a while.
If it gets in the gulf, I won't be coming......at least delayed to see where it's headed too......dang all that jerky made
This storm hitting the mainland would be more like Hurricane Andrew hitting Homestead, FL.
If you had that knowledge beforehand, what would you do? If you needed to leave because your house wasn't built to withstand wind gusts of 180 mph, you'd just do it. You'd make arrangements beforehand to take that time away and to keep you and your family safe.
Hurricanes aren't all the same. Some do their damage because of the incredible winds and overwhelming storm surge. Others devastate the region due to flooding which may come from torrential rains. Many spawn scores of tornadoes. If it's a Cat-3 that's just going to blow through, I might try to ride it out. Monster Storms always win, though. No sense in doomsday projections until -- it's time for a doomsday projection. Just know that a million people will have the same idea to wait until absolutely the last minute to evacuate. Prepare, in case it comes close enough to cause outages, but not devastation.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...A8&FORM=IQFRBA
The best odds, according to the models, is for the storm to hit the KEYS and head due north. If I were in the KEYS, I'd be packing for my trip out of town right now, because you can always unpack. System dynamics COULD keep the storm away from seriously affecting AL. It's still early, but something to definitely watch, no matter where you're from or what you're doing!Quote:
Originally Posted by ironman172