I'm thinking about all of you in the Hurricane's path and praying you'll all be safe. Has anyone heard from Patrick? He's traveling, isn't he?

Don't forget prescription meds if you have to evacuate.

I arrived in the US from Britain at the beginning of September, 1977, a couple of days before Hurricane Babe hit Louisiana, right where I was. What a welcome, and that was barely a hurricane!

Good luck.

Thinking of all of you in the path of both of these storms.
One of my closest friends, who is also a much-valued colleague, was in a horrendous car accident on Monday. Miraculously, after being hit by 3 transport trucks (one of which caused the accident and then fled the scene) and 2 cars, she is alive and well other than some scratches and bruises. So are all of the other people that were hit. While it was going on, she says, she was convinced she would die. I'm so grateful that she didn't, and I feel truly hopeful that the rest of you will escape disaster as well. Keep us posted!

I haven't read all 100 replies, but my heart goes out to all of those in the storm's path. Went without power for 4 days after Fran in 1996. Don't want to do that again.

I wouldn't stock up on ice because it will melt. Just learn to drink room temperature drinks. Stock up on water because the town's water/sewer system could go out (did so in Chapel Hill where I was living at the time) making the tap water unsafe for drinking.

Fill up the car with gas because gas pumps work on electricity. Get cash from bank/ATM because the bank might not open and the ATM needs electricity to run.

Do you laundry. After the storm you will work up a sweat cleaning up and if you don't have power (therefore no AC or laundry facilities) .

Bring in all outdoor stuff that can move. Strong winds can blow around the outdoor furniture and make it indoor furniture (maybe in a neighbor's house).

Be strong and let us know you're okay afterwards.

I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the storms and thinking of all you Floridians over the next couple of days. Especially my good friends Scarlett and OO.

Thus far our little rock has managed to steer clear of any the storms this season, so I hope that it stays that way for the duration (knock on wood). When we do get hit, however, there certainly isn't much land here to even begin to slow them down, so our preparations deal more with salvage than stocking up on things.

My main concern is always protecting my irreplaceable belongings in case we lose our roof, which can be common during category fours and above in this area. I box up and store all my photographs and anything else that could never be replaced by insurance and put them in our concrete shelter.
I then move everything from the patio into the house, try to make things as comfortable as possible for the long night/day ahead, and stock up on good wine and plenty of snacks.

If it gets too bad in the house, we ride the hurricane out in our shelter, and hope the roof is still intact when we come out. There is nothing worse than hearing swirling zinc from a darkened room and having no idea if it's your roof or someone elses you hear tearing thru the streets.

You Floridians be sure to check in when you can and let us know how you're doing up there! Batten down, stay high, stay dry, and be safe.

Hope all of you stay safe. Will be thinking of you.

Here in Orlando the grocery stores are really crowded also.
I am just hoping to get off work Friday because the storm is supposed to pass near or over us as it crosses the state.
But so far we are being told to come in to work....

Level C mandatory evacuation orders were just issued for Pinellas County (St. Pete/Clearwater etc) starting at 6 PM tonight. Am going back down to the boat (St Pete) while I can to rethink lines. :( DH thinks Hillsborough (Tampa) will pull the same trigger--they were waiting on an update.

Thanks for all good wishes...Statia you've been so lucky so far since I've "known" you. Knock hard on that wood. You have a good point about those things that can't be replaced.

One sort of amusing incident imbedded in this--I ran this morning and stopped off at my husbandd's office on my way back home. It's humid as can be and I was dripping wet from my run. I walked into the office and his sec'y exclaimed nervously on looking at me, "What, it's raining already?!" Heehee...we take our laughs where we can.

OO, yes we've been very, very lucky since Lefthanded Lenny a couple of years ago. Before that, however, the island was completely devastated by the likes of Luis, Marilyn and Georges over two separate seasons.

Therefore, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can make it through yet another year without a major hurricane. I could certainly deal with that!

The only thing that I could think of to help resist a large wave surge would be to use two or three rubber extenders on each of your mooring lines. With your lines wrapped around the rubber extender, when the lines need to extend they will stretch the rubber extender and will return to normal size when the surge ends. Being a fresh water boater, I have not had the need to experience what you are facing, other than an occasional bad storm crossing the lake. I wish you good luck and safety in this trying time. (OO from my husband. cd)

GoTravel--the tip about filling the bathtub with water for the toilet is very cool! I do not live in hurricane country so most of these tips I have never heard but the bathtub one is very, very cool!

Stay safe.

Statia,

I was on St Lucia for Karen, Luis and Marilyn, and those were bad ones. We had frogs, birds, turtles, bugs, etc., in the bedroom with us. Wouldn't want to go through THAT again!

Here in NC, we've been through so many that we have a pretty good plan in place. We are just supposed to get wind and rain this aft. thru Sun.

Good luck to all my FL buddies, and we'll be thinking of you. %%-

Freaky Friday should sure be an interesting thread this week! Good luck everyone!

Usually I'd be in Europe now, but I returned late last night to face these hurricanes (Charley's the one for us to look out for). Here in Naples there is mass confusion. A while ago, on TV they were saying my area is in a "Mandatory" evacution, while at the same exact time the crawl on the screen said we were in a "Suggested" evacuation. Then I turned to another channel where they said the latest report suggests the storm will hit further north of us and that they just lifted the evacuation for Naples west of US 41.
Friends with a house high above the flood plain have offered us shelter for the night tonight, but nothing should happen until tomorrow. Well, fiddle-dee-dee. Guess we'll think about that tomorrow.

Not to make light of the issue, it is serious, and we are making necessary precautions.

Propane, propane, propane. We don't get hurricanes very often, but last year we were hit with a Cat.2. People didn't take it seriously enough, and the power and water were out for most for 5 days.
I will never be caught again without a full propane tank for the BBQ. Never ate so much meat in my life, but DH and I didn't want to see it go to waste ! Good luck and stay safe, those things are scary.

Patrick, "Fiddle dee dee " ... Exactly what I say :D

Statia, I am happy that these storms have skipped the islands, I hope this continues for you all year :)

We are under Tornado watches right now. Everything is calm and quiet. Although I am noticing the gekkos are very busy doing push ups on the patio..hmmm..a storm preparedness exercise?

I hope we continue to check in with news as long as this goes on..I will be thinking of all of you, hoping the whole thing just fizzles out ( no harm in wishful thinking!)
((L)) Scarlett

Yes, Scarlet, that "fiddle-dee-dee" was for your benefit.

In reading my response, I realize it sounds like I cut short my Europe trip to come home and face the hurricanes. Sorry, that's not what I meant, just that usually this time of year, that's where I am. Actually we came home to Florida from Europe on July 18, spent four days at home, then have been in Oregon, California, and Las Vegas since then until last night. Just wanted to clarify that.

Patrick, did you post a trip report on the Ca/Or/LV trip?

The latest from friends in the newsroom is that the eye is expected to hit Clearwater. This is a worst case scenario for Tampa as that pushes the water to the back of the bay. Surges of 10 feet likely. Yowza.

Folks in Tampa, forget the beaches. We are in the line of fire. Take this one seriously.

Just got back from TI -- Joan, was looking for you. I tried my best to minimize any damage from flooding but what can you do?!? Wrapped the door with plastic for what that was worth.

OK. For the first time ever, I'm a little scared.

But that could pass with a margarita or two! If only I could finish this budget that I'm working on. I have yet to pack up my business to take it to La Quinta. Taxes, computers, printer, dog, cat, jeeeeeez.

And...it is now a Category 3.