anotherlimey

It's following me. Now it's predicted to come within a few miles of where I am now.

So, I might be heading out again tomorrow. I'll probably head NE, if this path is the same, toward Savannah.

Jerseygirl

I thought that when they showed the new projected path on TV.

petitefrancaise

yet another person thinking of you. stay safe.

My street has been eerily quiet all day. It feels like we are all holding our breath for Florida.

zzrmark

Shelter would have been the easy option for us even if they are full, my wife's school is a designated shelter and staff with/without immediate family members are taken in but not counted in the shelter's capacity numbers. Some think it a bit of an unfair perk but the thinking is that there are many areas in the school where you wouldn't want the general public loitering (computer labs, admin areas, etc) but should be able to trust your own staff members who roam the place unhindered any other day of the week and it gets extra hands who know the layout and aren't taking up number capacity in other shelters.

uk_grenada

My relatives evacuated from savannah 2 days ago, looks like it was a smart move...

Chesten

And another. Hoping for the best for everyone.

anotherlimey

Did Ray check in yet? He would be in the sights of this storm.

carcajou

Been through about 20, including a direct hit from a Category 5. That's why I'm so adamant people leave for the big ones. It also depends where you live and how well you know that area. I will always evacuate (now!) in a Category 4 or 5; if I was in Miami for a Category 3, and not in a flood zone or evacuation zone, I would weigh up what was happening. In comparison, if I was on the Gulf Coast (Pensacola/Mobile/Biloxi/Gulfport) - my threshold for evacuation would be a lot lower, and I would unequivocally leave for a Category 3.

Jerseygirl

No. I tried to call him earlier today.

carcajou

Where are you now? Are you on the West Coast of Florida?

1. Do not head out if there is risk that you will be caught up in the hurricane. I don't know where you are but if you are looking at "heading out tomorrow" - that seems concerning. Check with what the local authorities are saying; they may be saying that it is too late to leave. If they are not saying that yet - then leave now, not tomorrow. Depending on where you are - you may be better off going to a local shelter rather than leaving town.

2. Part of why you leave now is you are not just beating out the storm but you are competing for things like gasoline and hotel rooms with everyone else who is leaving. The other part is that if you put it off too late you risk having an unexpected emergency that delays you and then you are stuck and in a life-threatening emergency in a car on the road in a major hurricane. Remember police and ambulances do not operate in a hurricane.

3. Do you know anyone in Savannah? If not - use one of the hotel booking aggregation sites to make sure you can find accommodation before you get there; then book it; then call the hotel direct (not the 800 national number) to confirm and let them know you are definitely arriving and not to give your room away. Generally you should head north and inland from Florida. I checked the hotel situation yesterday and Atlanta still had rooms but virtually everything else in north Florida, southern Alabama and southern Georgia was booked out. Savannah probably still has a few options.

BEVS

I wrote to him and Joycee on their Flopbook yesterday & he posted into that 11 hours ago.
Hopefully everything is sorted out for him but hard to know with Ray's particular sense of humour.

He wrote that they may end up in Bradford? because of the winds. Also that he was sent home from hospital & a concern for losing power for too long as he needs power with regard to his health. They have pals/family offering to help.

I have to hope I am not posting this out of turn.

carcajou

Though Miami will escape the worst of the damage, the outer squalls have now reached Coral Gables, which is where the University of Miami is and not too far from downtown Miami.

Leslie

He evacuated from the Miami area into north central Florida 24 hours ago. I doubt he would have went to the west coast from there.

carcajou

Well, that's why I'm asking. I knew he left Miami but I don't know where he went. Entirely possible he left Miami and went into another hurricane alley town - people do odd things in these circumstances.

If he's in the Tampa Bay area, he needs to consider carefully his situation, and if he is going to leave, do so as soon as possible (and listen to local authority advice if they say, too late to leave).

If he's in "north central Florida" like the Orlando or Gainesville area - that is quite different from being in Ft Myers or Tampa. He needs to take his cue from what the local authorities are saying - and consider if evacuating is actually necessary or an overreaction. If I was in a sturdy hotel in Orlando or Gainesville that wasn't in a flood zone - I doubt very much I would leave there.

RICH

I'm in Pinellas county / St Petersburg. Planning to stay put, but prepared to leg it to a nearby shelter if the house starts to fail.

Nothing but a stiff breeze so far...