Here we go again, Floridopers: Tracking Hurricane Frances

[Sangre Azul]

Ugh. 12 hour tornado watch for the east central counties. I've never experienced a watch for that long.

[Bambi Hassenpfeffer]

Originally Posted by Sharky

The real-time wave height, wind speed, and tide height data from these stations should be very interesting over the next 24 hours:

Pier Station, Lake Worth (West Palm Beach), FL

"Station failed."

I'm not overly concerned here, because we've been through worse (with little damage) than this, but my customers today, yesterday, and the day before were all a little freaked out. I work in the grocery biz, and over the past three days we've done almost as much in sales as we usually do in a week. We sold through 22 pallets of water (4 gallons per crate, 45 crates per pallet = 3,960 gallons) in approximately 4 hours. Absolutely insane, and of course, my job these three days was to run the cash office, meaning I had to count every single penny worth of sales we made in those days. My only consolation is that we closed early tonight and that we are not open tomorrow.

Just time to wait and see. Orlandoans and Ocalans, watch out. This one is heading straight your way.

[ccwaterback]

I just saw a graphic on CNN that said Frances is roughly the size of Texas.

[ccwaterback]

Well let's see, we get about a week to recover, then we have to deal with Ivan.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap.../050318.shtml?

Let's hope he isn't related to Ivan the Terrible!!!

[Baker]

ccwaterback, are you in a safe enough place?

[ccwaterback]

Originally Posted by Baker

ccwaterback, are you in a safe enough place?

Well I'm in south Pinellas county (St. Pete), it's not supposed to be too awful bad here, but you never know. I am expecting a lot of rain, so I parked my car in the highest spot I could find near my apartment. I suppose I could lose power for awhile, that will be the biggest hassle, but I'm all set for whatever may happen. As long as my windows don't get blown out, and my car doesn't drown, I will feel good about the whole ordeal.

Thanks for asking, I appreciate it.

[Archergal]

You guys be careful down there!

And Ivylass, happy birthday, even if it isn't the best of times.

Archergal, who also has a birthday today

[Really Not All That Bright]

Dave The Roommate and I are refugees again. No damage to the house (except rising damp in the rear wall) but we don't have power. No matter, we're at a powered friends', and I have a giant bottle of Bombay Sapphire and an equally large bottle of tonic.

My worst injury is a hole in my foot where I stepped on a large screw pre-storm. I'll live.

Good luck everyone!

[ivylass]

We lost power twice, each for about 12 hours. It went out about 8am Saturday, came back about 8pm Saturday, went out again at about a quarter to ten Saturday night, and came back this morning at about 8. I think we're through the worst of it. My SIL and BIL are going home to check on their animals, and we're going to take my MIL home. She never lost power (grrrrrr).

I tell you what, I was about ready to French kiss the electrical socket when the power came back on. Our trellis fell over, but that was about it.

My sister is in Tampa, and she doesn't have power.

I am done "hunkering down!" I'm going to take a shower.

[ivylass]

Originally Posted by Really Not All That Bright

My worst injury is a hole in my foot where I stepped on a large screw pre-storm. I'll live.

Get a tetanus shot as soon as you can.

[ladybug]

OOK! Ditto what ivylass said, RNATB. That sounds really painful, and it could cause an infection.

This is my fourth day at my parents' house and I'm starting to get cabin fever. Yesterday, when we started getting tropical storm force winds, the 'rents headed out to the new house they're building to make sure it was secure (did I mention they're insane?). The wind lifted mom almost completely off the ground at one point. She says it means her diet is working.

We're just getting the worst of the storm now. Originally I'd planned to head back to Palm Beach County today, but think I'll be here for at least another day yet. I seriously doubt my office will be open tomorrow. Even if it is, my boss told me last week to work from Inverness until it was safe to come back. Judging by Ivan's predicted path, it looks like I might be right back here next weekend.

[fishbicycle]

Hope everyone is safe and making do as best they can. 88.9 FM in Tallahassee went off the air in the middle of a storm briefing at 9:15, so that source of information is out until the engineer can get to the transmitter to assess the problem. However, they are still streaming on the web at http://wfsu.org if you have power and need to know the latest.

[fishbicycle]

Please disregard my earlier post, the station is back on the air as of 10:20.

[ccwaterback]

We're getting our butt kicked here in St. Pete this morning, today is MUCH worse than yesterday. Lots of wind and rain going on, my lights have flickered and actually went out for a few seconds, but so far, so good.

I went out for a drive this morning, dumb, but my apartment is real sheltered, I didn't think it was too bad out there, until I got out there. All the gas stations around here that I saw had their pumps turned off, no gas. I managed to find a half gallon of milk, but you can forget about finding any bread. Hopefully tomorrow we can start cleaning up, and supplying up, before Ivan stops by.

[ShibbOleth]

Originally Posted by ccwaterback

We're getting our butt kicked here in St. Pete this morning, today is MUCH worse than yesterday. Lots of wind and rain going on, my lights have flickered and actually went out for a few seconds, but so far, so good.

Yes, much worse here today. My power is out, I drove down to Largo this morning to my folks because they have power so I brought the more expensive items from our freezer. Power went out sometime between 6 am and 7:30 (times I woke up and looked over at the clock). Bayshore Blvd in Tampa is underwater, downtown Tampa is flooded, most creeks and other water sources are at flood level or higher. Lots of strong rain and some wind, but not as bad as it could be. Oh, Shore Acres (NE St. Pete) is well flooded.

Mrs. Shibb and the Shibblets have been down in Sarasota/Venice area since Friday noontime. They're itching to come back home but it's obviously not time yet. I'm guessing no school in Pinellas or Hillsborough tomorrow. Work should be interesting.

[Bambi Hassenpfeffer]

And this is next up on our hurricane roster. If this one slams us too, it's gotta be some kind of record for hurricane hits in a small timeframe.

Downtown Tampa is underwater, half a million (out of 2.3 million or so) in the Bay area are without power, "Acidic, radioactive water spills into bay", all in all, it's just a mess.

[Bambi Hassenpfeffer]

Forgot to add: if you want to see pictures of what's going on, go here. That's our largest local newspaper, and they've got some good shots of the damage around here.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by ivylass

Get a tetanus shot as soon as you can.

Got a booster shot last month, and it didn't really break the skin, more separated the bones in my foot. I have very thick soles.

On a happy note, power is back already, unlike last week when we waited a week.

[Carm6773]

We lost power from midnight-4AM on Sunday, then from 8AM Sunday until 1:40 Monday afternoon . People just down the road from us never lost power . My Mom has COPD, and right now she is practically married to her nebulizer (sp?).

Other than the power being out for that long and having to throw out some food, our other problem is the patches of wet carpet we have along some walls. I have no idea where the water came from (yes, I know, the rain, but how did it get inside?). Who do I contact, the builder or the insurance company?

We also have a tree leaning like this: /.

BTW, I grew up about 15 minutes south of where that acidic water is. Cargill (the phosphate company) has been bad news for the environment for as long as I can remember.

Off to use the Shop-Vac .....

[Tupug Anachi]

Just got our power back and I sure hope it stays on. Yeah, we had the generator so were able to run some lights, the TV and the fridge, but, Florida is really sticky and smelly without AC.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, IVYLASS!!!

I have to tell you I think Frances was much scarier than Charley. First of all Charley went through in about an hour and it was night time. Frances was mostly in the daylight and hours and hours and hours! We have a clump of 60-foot oak trees in our backyard that you could actually see lifting the ground up. They are going to have to go. They are still reporting an incredible amount of tornadic activity.

I'm afraid we'll go down with the count if Round 3 (Ivan) gets here.

[ShibbOleth]

Good to see most of the regulars checking in. How are the Panhandle Dopers doing? It's calmed down around here and isn't even raining right now. The Southern expedition portion of my family is cleared to cross back over the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I'm sure it will still be breezy. Haven't found out yet if the power is back on at the condo.

Carmelita, I heard a couple of "hunker downs" on the news last night and had warm thoughts for you (but had nothing that I could drink shots of). I think that they both came from Polk County. We Pinellasans don't so much hunker as we do cower.

[Carm6773]

Originally Posted by ShibbOleth

Carmelita, I heard a couple of "hunker downs" on the news last night and had warm thoughts for you (but had nothing that I could drink shots of). I think that they both came from Polk County. We Pinellasans don't so much hunker as we do cower.

I heard it too, but because of the lack of power, I couldn't go into the fridge and get anything to drink .

No school for kids in Hillsborough, but teachers and staff have to report .

Be safe, y'all.

Happy Belated B-day IvyLass!

[fishbicycle]

Hi, Panhandle Dopers. Hanging in there? Good. At 4:42 it has all but stopped raining for the moment, and is only a bit breezy. I'm checking in from work at 88.9 FM, where we went off the air again, during the storm briefing - same as what happened during the 9 AM one! The engineer has gone back to the transmitter. We're still on in Panama City on 89.1 and streaming on the web at http://wfsu.org with live news on the hour until at least 6 PM. Decisions will be made at that time on whether to continue into the evening.

[Carm6773]

Originally Posted by fishbicycle

We're still on in Panama City on 89.1 and streaming on the web at http://wfsu.org with live news on the hour until at least 6 PM. Decisions will be made at that time on whether to continue into the evening.

Speaking of FSU, did you hear about Bobby Bowden's grandson and former son in law dying in a vehicle crash?

Here's the article.

[ShibbOleth]

Originally Posted by Carm6773

No school for kids in Hillsborough, but teachers and staff have to report .

Any news on Pinellas Schools?

[Carm6773]

Originally Posted by ShibbOleth

Any news on Pinellas Schools?

No school in Pinellas, but I don't know if teachers have to report.

[Baker]

Glad to hear our Dopers are ok! Hope Ivan the Terrible turns out to sea.

[ivylass]

Kids have school tomorrow (private school) and my MIL's Dish satellite has been knocked off kilter. It will be at least a week before she has TV again.

I'm off to work tomorrow (I think).

If Ivan hits I think I'm going to cry. Really, just sit down in the middle of the floor and cry. I have found I'm really addicted to electricity.

[Johnny Bravo]

It's been raining for a good 36 hours here, but things haven't been too bad overall. Glad to hear that you more southwardly dopers are doing all right.

[milroyj]

My parents have gone missing.

Originally, they were supposed to start driving from Chicago to Tampa on Friday, arriving on Saturday. When it became apparent that wasn't exactly feasible, they delayed their trip to leave on Sat and arrive on Sun. Or possibly hang out in their hotel in TN and wait another day, which would still put them there sometime today. I called the inn they are supposed to be staying in (they don't take possesion of their new house until Friday), but there was no answer. Maybe there's no power, or something, I don't know. I called my brother, and my aunt, and they haven't heard anything either.

I hate hurricanes.

[ivylass]

Oh, milroyj, I'm so sorry.

If it's any consolation, I think your parents are fine. They may be just without power now. Hang tight, and try again in a couple of hours.

We're here.

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by ivylass

Oh, milroyj, I'm so sorry.

If it's any consolation, I think your parents are fine. They may be just without power now. Hang tight, and try again in a couple of hours.

We're here.

I'm sure they're OK too, it's just a little scary. Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it.

[fishbicycle]

milroyj, in the last press briefing I heard, the spokesman for the Emergency Services team said that there were six million people without electricity in central and south Florida. I'm betting that your parents are fine, and that they are just in a place where there is no power. My thoughts are with you, but it's hopefully a situation that you shouldn't get worked up over. They would call you if they were able, right? Hang on, crews are out and working around the clock to restore services.

[XJETGIRLX]

Glad to hear everyone made it through without major incident. My brother and his wife came over to Tallahassee from Jacksonville. They went back this evening. When they got there they discovered that the units adjoining their apartment had their roofs caved in. Their unit didn't sustain any damage, but everyone from their next door neighbor on down is without a roof. There wasn't anyone at the management office and everyone in their block was gone, so they've decided not to stay there and are looking for somewhere to spend the night

Here in Tally the storm wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought. We lost power a few times yesterday and today, but it was back on within a few hours. All the local schools and state offices are closed tomorrow, except for necessary personnel, but I have to go into work

[ccwaterback]

You know it's bad when ...

I stopped by McD tonight and got a cheeseburger and a coke. Just then they locked the doors. I asked the manager why they were closing, they were obviously very busy. He said they ran out of supplies!!!

[harmless]

Yeah, it's quiet right now.
Last I saw on the weather channel before the cable went out was that the worst of the tropical storm was headed right for us.
According to tdo.com it looks like it's past us.

[ivylass]

Originally Posted by XJETGIRLX

My brother and his wife came over to Tallahassee from Jacksonville. They went back this evening. When they got there they discovered that the units adjoining their apartment had their roofs caved in. Their unit didn't sustain any damage, but everyone from their next door neighbor on down is without a roof.

Holy cow! Good thing they weren't there...they would have fainted from fright!!

[Baker]

Where is Ivan supposed to be tracking now?

[ivylass]

Ivan.

Now, before everyone freaks out, this storm is still several days away, and anything could happen. Let's just keep an eye on it for the time being.

Really, though, I will cry. I will kick my heels and throw a tantrum to shame a three-year-old denied a lollipop. Three hurricanes in a month is four too many.

[C3]

I just got in touch with my parents. Everyone's fine. Some minor damage to their house, but easily fixable. Charley had cleared out most of the dead branches on their trees, so they didn't have that to worry about. My mom did say that all of the leaves have been completely stripped off all their bushes.

I think Ivan's going to scoot around south of Florida. That's based on absolutely nothing except wishful thinking.

[ShibbOleth]

In case of problems with communications: well before my power went out, I lost my phone signal (cell) at my house. My guess is the nearest relay tower took some damage. This can often explain when you can't reach someone, phone lines or cell towers down, or even mobile phone battery ran down and nowhere to recharge.

[bittersweet]

milroyj, will you pleeeease let us know when you get ahold of your parents? In the meantime, I'm sure many dopers are sending good thoughts your way.

In my area of Tampa, we lost power from 1am to about 8pm Monday; not so bad, considering. Just a lot of downed branches, and a few trees. In fact, I'm about to go clean up the front yard in a few minutes!

To all you Panhandle dopers: STAY SAFE!

[smartini]

All you Floridopers, I am thinking of you...my mom, who lives in middle Georgia, had a huge oak tree blown down last night. I am not complaining and neither is she...it just really hits home what you guys must be going through with this kind of force a whole state away! I am glad you have this link to each other.

Speaking of Georgia, I see Florida tags all over when I go out. FYI, it is supposedly (sorry I don't have a cite) a declared disaster situation here in Georgia also specifically to make price-gouging over hotels, etc, illegal. If you hear about that happening to anyone, tell them to report it.

Good luck! We are hoping for the best for you guys here!

[TroubleAgain]

Checking in, folks. Kitties fine, house fine. Fence blown all to hell, but "frankensteined" back together. Power came back on Monday morning around 0900.

[Sangre Azul]

Surveying the damage at my condo complex in Altamonte Springs (outside Orlando), I have to wonder at the wisdom of some folks parking directly under oak and pine trees that were already half-fallen over from Charley. Needless to say, there are a few flattened cars (and SUVs) here.

Worst ain't over for some folks, though - flooding will continue throughout the week as everything drains into the rivers and lakes.

[bittersweet]

Originally Posted by Sangre Azul

...I have to wonder at the wisdom of some folks parking directly under oak and pine trees that were already half-fallen over from Charley. Needless to say, there are a few flattened cars (and SUVs) here.

Yeah. Unfortunately, some people think it's smart to park their vehicle under a tree, hoping it'll get flattened, then file an insurance claim to get a new car. (Those are the people that really piss me off.)

[Sassafras]

I had to evacuate Friday ( Ormond By The Sea) but my Brother decided to stay home at the last minute. Thank goodness, because he saved my house from flooding! It wasnt actual flood water- the rain was pelting the back door so hard that water was coming in all around the door frame! That door faces the beach and is normally protected by a fence, but the fence that was left after Charley is gone now as well...
Anyways- finally was able to get back home yesterday after they opened the bridges to the beachside. Doesn't look too bad over here- I was at a friend's in DeLand and it's WAY worse over there. Of course , I have no power again. Lost it for 4 days after Charley and now FPL is saying they won't even have ESTIMATES of when it will be back on until Thursday. This is miserable and expensive and I will slit my wrists if Ivan heads this way.....

[ladybug]

I finally made it back to Palm Beach County this afternoon. I didn't have any damage to my apartment, but I'm so glad I wasn't here for the storm. Two huge trees in my parking lot are uprooted. One of them, about four or five feet in diameter, ripped up the cement curb, too. There are trees down everywhere, and pieces of the roof are scattered all over the ground. It would've scared the hell out of me if I'd been here!

milroyj, I hope you get word from your parents soon. I'm sure they're fine. I tried calling my mom this afternoon and I couldn't get through to either her home number or her cell phone, even though they were both working. A few hours later I got through without a problem. It's possible you haven't heard from your parents because of problems with the power/phone lines.

[Revtim]

Wow, did that suck. I had to sleep in my safe room, the bathroom. For the first time in my life, I was passed on on the bathroom floor, and there was no alcohol involved.....

I was lucky, it just ripped the shit out of the screen of my patio, and knocked down some fence. The association will fix the fence, but I'll have to pay for the screen repair. Not a big deal.

If I have time, I'll try to pick up a disposable camera and take some picks of the neighborhood and post 'em. If uprooted trees are your thing, you'll love it.

Driving blows, most of the lights are down and the simple concept of "treat the intersections like a 4-way stop" are beyond most people's comprehension. Fucking idiots.

Everything's up, even my cable modem internet service, except my phone!

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by bittersweet

milroyj, will you pleeeease let us know when you get ahold of your parents? In the meantime, I'm sure many dopers are sending good thoughts your way.STAY SAFE!

Update: I got an email from my aunt in Ft Myers, my parents arrived safely, and no damage to their house, just some trees down on the golf course, as if that matters Thanks, guys, for the support, it means a lot.