Yes, this is a Q Win. But we are family and now a lot of Florida pedes are facing a potentially dangerous storm. Some are new Floridians and have no idea of how evacuations work here or may need other help from us experienced Floridians.
So I thought we could do a check-in post here and we can move to another Win to support each other, if needed. I lost my old home at Weather Underground when they got bought by Weather Channel so it would be nice to have a bunch of y’all to chat with.
Right now, TropicalTidbits.com is the best online site outside of the National Hurricane Center. Levi has been hurricane forecasting for many years and is excellent. You can see the Euro and GFS models there also.
So if you are a Floridian and are facing the roller coaster of the next five days, go ahead and say hi!
My daughter is experiencing her first hurricane prep SOLO in Tampa. I'm a little nervous since she's a ride by the seat of her pants 30 something. Thank you for this post.
Don't want to scare you, but remember that the looters and criminals "stage" before hurricanes just like the Red Cross and NatGuard do. They wait just outside the storm zone and start creeping in as soon as it's over, looking for anything they can steal.
Make sure your daughter knows about this and has friends she can stay with - either at her place or theirs - so she isn't alone. Do not go out after dark. Once it's over, many people will leave the area any way they can because it's so wrecked. This makes it easier for criminals, too. Lights of any kind inside a house or apartment clearly indicate one that's occupied.
Fill up the bathtub with water, both for drinking and for flushing toilet (make sure she knows how to deal with that.) Driving will be extremely difficult because roads will be blocked by fallen trees and other debris, and even when cleared will be full of nails and stuff that will flatten your tires.
Help her if you can. Tell her to fill car with gas and use car charger for cell phone. Keep phone in "text only" mode to save battery. Keep in touch with her via text as much as you can.
Also: Local news and weather was way, way better than the drama queens on The Weather Channel who don't know the area like the locals do. And make very sure she knows where the nearest shelters are and has a way to get there once the storm is over.
Source: Rode out a Texas hurricane several years back and had to stay in the aftermath. It's not fun.
We lived through a few in texas as well. Trying to either fly her to me or she can drive if everything's booked. I think the thing that opened her eyes to not wanting the adventure of riding it out was how hot it will be after with no electricity and not being able to flush a potty. We have friends in Orlando expecting her if she doesn't come home. Thank you for all this info and I will send it along to her. She's red pilled and afraid of nothing. Proud of that independent free spirit attitude but it also scares the living crap out of me sometimes!
My youngest daughter just turned 35 but I still see that 12 year old wide eyed girl. I know how you feel.
Got her a flight out by the skin of my teeth. I can relax for awhile. It's an adventure and not for the faint of heart!