# Gulf Coast Dopers: Are you ready for Dennis? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578 "2005-07-08T12:01:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/21 "2005-07-08T19:03:14Z")
> [@Poonther](#): > > It’s true that the Hernando/Pasco/Citrus coast is very undeveloped, but you should see the Nature Coast above Cedar Key. The coastline in Levy/Dixie/Taylor counties makes that area seem like a metropolis. Going to Cedar Key from TPA Bay has gotten easier thanks to the Suncoast Parkway and SunPass. > > If you think going to Cedar Key is a long haul from Tampa Bay, try driving from Tally to Lauderdale. We do that often. We’ll be doing it again on Tuesday. > > I’ve lived in Florida full-time since 1983. Lived in all three regions (North/Central/South) and been to all 67 counties mulitple times. > > Yikes, sorry for the hijack. Back to Dennis the Menace. 🙂 Yeah, sorry, I meant Cedar Key is where it starts to get interesting. Pasco/Hernando is actually fairly developed now. The “armpit” of Florida (not mean derogatorily) is some of the most remote stuff. I used to do regular trips from Cincinnati down to the Tampa Bay area. I know what a long drive is. One reason I’ve never driven up to Tally is that it is such a long drive and still in state. Of course last week it took us more than 6 hours from Tampa to Jax. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/22 "2005-07-08T19:10:41Z")
> [@Poonther](#): > > All of CENTRAL FLORIDA is in the peninsula Ivylass. :rolleyes: :smack: I saw “peninsula” and read “panhandle.” Carry on, then… ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/23 "2005-07-08T19:31:59Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > I was born and grew up in New Orleans, but I swear, there could be a Cat 5+ hurricane bearing down on the mouth of the river, and my mom would still refuse to evacuate. New Orleans is a great place, but does she not comprehend the below sea level thing? Oy. Anyway, we’re waiting to see what it does when it gets done trashing Cuba. And I made reservations for the dogs at a nearby kennel just in case. So everything’s set. I wouldn’t blame people for leaving just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/24 "2005-07-08T19:33:03Z")
My sister is letting some pals from Pensacola bunk at her home here in MS. I was in Destin FL for the 4th of July weekend, and I really hope they dont get hit too hard. Such a pretty area down there! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/25 "2005-07-08T19:53:12Z")
I’m in Houston, so I don’t think we’re going to see too much of Dennis here. However, we’re overdue for one to come visit us. The last big storm was TS Allison in 2001, but the last hurricane that went right over Houston was Alicia, 22 years ago in August. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/26 "2005-07-08T20:00:12Z")
I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. But down here in Fort Myers, we rarely get the full force of a hurricane. Even Charley managed to cut north at the last minute and gave Charlotte County the going over that we were afraid of getting. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/27 "2005-07-08T20:06:20Z")
After being kept off the island for a week after Charley last year, I don’t know if my parents would be willing to evacuate again. Doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t, of course… We’ll be watching and waiting carefully. If Dennis passes at high tide we’ll have water in our backyard, maybe up to the back door. Doesn’t look like he’ll pull a Charley, though. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/28 "2005-07-08T20:26:20Z")
We were planning on driving across from the West Palm area to Sanibel for the weekend, but we’ve postponed. Stay safe, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/29 "2005-07-09T13:11:18Z")
Good morning. The tracking map is a little misleading. Dennis is very wide and Gov Bush told peninsula Floridians to stay inside because it’s going to be very rainy and windy today. Good luck, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/30 "2005-07-09T14:28:11Z")
Also remember the worst stuff is usually on the eastern edge of these things. I hope wherever it makes landfall is as uninhabitated as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Poonther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Poonther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poonther)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/31 "2005-07-09T17:15:43Z")
What the hell does JEB! know about the weather? He’ll probably try and blame this 'cane on poor ole Terry Schiavo’s husband or the Democrats. First rain band just went throught the Mexico Beach/Panama City area. It was really not a big deal. We’ll be leaving the beach later this afternoon for Tally basically for fear of tornadoes since the area we are in now is the prime area for tornadoes if landfall occurs where they expect to: Mobile or P’cola. If Dennis remains a cat. two damage will be less than with a three. The really bad stuff in the panhandle will really not start until after midnight. Hey Shibb. I see you guys are getting a really strong band now with a Tornado warning to boot. Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/32 "2005-07-09T17:49:40Z")
I’m waiting to see if Dennis makes it up into central Mississippi. The tracking map looks like the thing is headed for Memphis! Also predicts it to pass over Jackson about midnight Sunday night. We’ll have to watch for tornadoes and flash flooding. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/33 "2005-07-09T19:35:55Z")
I live about an hour’s drive north of Pensacola. We’re going to stay with some friends a bit farther north. I figure it like this: if it’s really bad, we’ll be glad we left. If it isn’t, we’ve lost nothing more than some travel time and gasoline. AND we get to visit some good friends for the weekend! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Misha77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Misha77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misha77)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/34 "2005-07-09T20:34:05Z")
It looks like we won’t get very much, but I’m still nervous. Mostly I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that the power doesn’t go out. I may be used to heat, but Lilly taught me that heat+nowhere to escape it=me in a perpetual bad mood. That being said, I hope those that are more directly in Dennis’ path get to a safe place. Every time I watch the tracking charts, I try to use my Jedi mind tricks to make it weaken. They’ve never been too reliable, but hey, I do what I can. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/35 "2005-07-09T21:16:12Z")
Mom’s staying put unless it takes a major jog to the west. I just hope it doesn’t pick up too much strength before landfall. Hang tight, Dopers! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/36 "2005-07-09T21:27:38Z")
It just now started raining. Not a drizzle, just black skies and then BOOM rain and wind and no Dish Network signal. Hunker down, guys. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/37 "2005-07-09T21:56:19Z")
Wow, tornado warnings all day! We had one touch down about half a mile down the road! Very scary stuff. I saw there might’ve been a tornado touch down near Westchase, Shibb. Hope all is well. We’re watching the radar now and it looks like another band is headed our way. The clouds are moving so fast and looking out at the sky, we can see the bands moving toward us. It’s pretty gusty out too (the windchimes are havin’ a good time out there!). The wind seems to be moving in a hundred different directions. Anyway, time to turn the computer back off for awhile. Good luck to everyone who is in this storm’s path. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/38 "2005-07-09T22:19:23Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > I’m waiting to see if Dennis makes it up into central Mississippi. The tracking map looks like the thing is headed for Memphis! Get your raincoat ready. I’ve heard predictions of **up to five inches of rain** here in Memphis, 350 miles from the Gulf Coast. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/39 "2005-07-09T23:15:46Z")
Hey, **Logan** , another Brandonite here! From the way you’re describing the tornado this morning, it sounds like you and are very close in proximity. Yes, **Shibb** , Brandon is “Tampa-lite.” It basically is a big suburb. How many of you remember the “Hunker Down!” drinking game from last year? Have a shot (or a swig) everytime someone says “Hunker Down!” That should make Hurricane Season a bit more enjoyable. 🙂 Here comes the rain again… ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578/40 "2005-07-10T00:17:01Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > New Orleans is a great place, but does she not comprehend the below sea level thing? Oy. Oh, I think her brain has mildewed from too many years in the swampland. She figures that she made it through Hurricane Betsy in '65 with no problem. She has no comprehension of the way the landscape has changed since then. Wind is picking up here in Baton Rouge – my hub was estimating maybe 15-20mph – and the temp dropped a bit. We’re also seeing some isolated heavy rain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gulf-coast-dopers-are-you-ready-for-dennis/311578.md?page=3)