Poor amatters:(
I hope it skips Charleston as well as the rest of us..

Anyone whom abandons their pet in the face of a storm should be shot!

i could never leave my ferrets!

Our paper reported yesterday that 3 pet friendly shelters are in the works and a plan should be in place for the next hurricane season. Officials acknowledge (finally) that many pet owners simply will not leave their pets, esp. the elderly. As a result, it put too many people in harms way when Charley came through.

An animal relief center has been set up in East Manatee County. They have plenty of food, toys, bedding etc. However, they are in desparate need of cash and volunteers. If you're so inclined you can reach them at 941-322-9491 or 941-747-8808. Pictures of recovered animals can be found on www.petfinder.com according to the paper.

Would it not be easier for the hotels and shelters to just let people bring their pets?
Just for hurricanes..

Hopefully frances will not hit untill after I leave the area on friday, (actually i hope it dosent hit at all)
From what i am reading they say its a cat. 4 and could go up to a 5 very eaisly. Has a catagory 5 every hit ths US?

I've had to evacuate in the past and hotels seem to be rigid in their rejection of animals. I guess I can see it from a business standpoint. Stressed out animals wreaking havoc on hotel rooms. During an evacuation, no room will go unsold, so there would be no incentive to break the rules.

I was looking for a hotel for Wednesday night in Orlando (I found one Universal hotel:
Royal Pacific). Then a forced march if necessary to somewhere North and Inland: Tennessee?

When we were on vacation the first week in August in Palm Beach I boarded my little ones in Orlando at Miss Emily's Bed and Biscuit ! My thinking was they would be out of harms way if a hurricane should hit and we couldn't get to them. Charlie proved that theory wrong.

My original Plan A included Chalet Suzanne, just because they were high and inland and took pets. I would just have to not think about their incredibly ghastly broiled grapefruit appetizer. ((N))

LMF

Tandoori Girl: Fort Myers really didn't get an evacuation notice. By the time the storm had turned, it was really too late for many. We huddled in our library (which is an interior room with no windows) put mattresses up against the doors and waited it out. I did locate a ladder thinking that we might have to go on the roof to avoid the 17' surge predicted. (we are at 11 ft)

BTW: the evacuation destination for almost all of SW Florida has always been Arcadia, FL. A poor little inland town that was decimated by Charlie. Those of us south have few choices.

LMF

Ah, but LilMsFoodie, you can eat the chicken liver and ignore the broiled grapefruit under it! (or save the chicken liver for the pet!) Funny you mention Chalet Suzanne. We stayed there for a dinner/stay package and there was a huge storm and blackout. We ate dinner by candlelight and had to carry candles back to the room. Dinner got improvised when they couldn't cook by electricity. It was sort of like being there in a hurricane. And it couldn't have been more appropriate than at that wacky place.

Re: Chalet Suzanne: What a crazy place. The rooms were so bizarre and funky, my pets would fit right in. I don't remember the chicken livers. I do remember my husband complaining about the expense of the place, the crappy wine list and dated food. My kitty only likes Julia Child's chicken livers with marsala and parsley (I think that;s the combo). LMF

Am I not remembering that right? I thought that's what you were talking about. Isn't the broiled cinnamon sugary grapefruit always served with a chicken liver? I was thinking there was a story about how one night for a private dinner they forgot to serve the chicken livers and added one on top of each grapefruit and have now been serving them that way ever since. No? I'm not a fan of cinnamon grapefruiet, but I love the chicken liver.

I've been lucky so far. Lived in the Orlando area for 18 years and moved to Gainesville one year ago. My friends in Orlando got a lot of damage from Charley. Today my sister in Key West, who never worries about hurricanes, called to tell me they've rented a car and will be on their way to my house if Frances heads their way.

The only good thing about this will be that my sister gets to see my new house!

LMF, how could you forget the chicken liver? Maybe you've blocked it from your memory. I've often wondered if they pour an entire container of salt into their soup. Patrick, I can imagine a movie like your event at CS. Quite a scene.

LMF, you're right that you didn't have an evacuation notice. I'd forgotten. Weren't there a couple of hours between when she turned and when she hit? I have a van, loaded it up and got out of dodge but I sure as hell hope I don't have to go through that again, that none of us has to.

I'm glad we didn't evacuate: our route would have been inland to Arcadia. What an option! No grin there. LMF

We leave from Orlando to go home on Friday,September 3rd. Hurricane Frances won't be a threat to Orlando if it comes that way will it??
Debbie

On CNN weather , they say that ,as of right now-Frances could hit anywhere in the South east.

OO, I agree with you about Fl emergency resources... We have a son going to school at Florida Tech in Melbourne, staying in a house we bought in Palm Bay. Looks like this is currently a likely site for Frances. LilMsFoodie, I do not think you are overreacting at all. For so many years, we have seen hurricanes turn away from us to lash out at other areas, and it finally was our turn with Charley. I grew in up the San Francisco area...we had an annual preparedness drill (simulated injuries and all) for earthquakes. That, I think, has been very important to prepare people for what to do and what to think in the event of such a disaster. So, I say, prepare. If it is just a drill, count your blessings and be glad for the practice. If it is the real thing, be grateful that you prepared. BTW, I consider being prepared to be prepared for both the catastrophe, should it strike us, as well as for the hurricane party, should it miss us, wherever we may be riding it out. LilMsFoodie, I am glad to hear from you. Hang in there.

Animals in shelters is totally a health issue. Many people are allergic to cats and dogs.

Where in the world did Tropical Storm Hermine come from??

Another one? This IS a busy season.