Here’s a couple satellite images that update every hour:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/float-ir4-loop.html
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/watl-ir4-loop.html
Frances looks every bit as ugly as Charley. 
I know the feeling Mr. Bravo I have already wiped out the hurricane beer and crown from Charley where we felt nary a drop of rain. Back to ABC! I suppose I should think about some water and batteries this time.
PS-Hello from another Hogtowne resident!
There’s lots of preparation going on here in West Palm. I’ve been working ahead on my newsletter so I can send it to press by Friday afternoon, just in case my company doesn’t have power next week. My very cool boss already offered to help with the writing if that’s what it takes for me to finish before the weekend.
I mentioned in another thread that I’ll be at my parents’ house up in Inverness this weekend. We’ll probably feel some of the effects of the storm there, but not as bad as on the east coast. Right now I’m more worried about what I’ll find when I come back on Monday.
On preview … damn. I just looked at that moving satellite image of Frances. This is not gonna be pretty.
A report as of 5 PM EDT, dated today.
http://www.wxforecasts.com/cgi-bin/wxforecast/wxforecasts.cgi?forecast=Storm1_Discussion
Bloody frell!, what did Florida do to piss off the Weather Gods™?
hope you Floridopers make it thru this one okay, this Vermontidoper is pulling for you…
My parents are in Melbourne, so I’m keeping an eye on this one, too. I’m hoping that the CNN predicted course will hold (at least for my parents’ sake) and it’ll be the Florida/Georgia border. The south edge of the hurricane is always better than the north edge.
Hang tight, guys!
I was in D.C. on vacation for Charley. A part of me had wished I was here for it - mostly because I was concerned about my family, nearly all of which live in central or southern FL.
I had a night flight back home into Orlando just a few days into the aftermath. It was surreal to see the blackout areas from the sky. But really, now… just because I missed out on the full experience doesn’t mean I need a second chance!
At least folks here seem to be certainly taking this seriously. Water was already in short supply at the grocery store.
My parents are taking bets on who will be the first of us to lose power - me in an already stressed suburban area, or them out in the boonies.
My birthday is Sunday.
This just sucks.
My SO is in Orlando and it looks like they’re going to get hit - again. They didn’t evacuate for Charley because nobody really thought it would hit as hard as it did as quick as it did. You can bet yer ass I’ll be telling him to head up this way if Frances doesn’t change course soon.
I went down to visit afterwards and I couldn’t believe how much destruction there was, even that far inland. I can’t imagine how bad it was in the Ft. Myers area. Nary a single tree was left standing in his entire neighborhood, and all the shingles from their roof on one side were gone. There were tarps over the roofs of just about every house, signs down around town, and huge piles of brush, leaves, and branches in front of every house.
When I was there - almost a week later - there were still areas of the city without power. I can’t imagine being an employee of the power company there right now. I think I’d try for early retirement!
I hope all of you on the east coast can find shelter in time - and here’s to hoping that maybe Frances will pull a reverse-Charley and slow down considerably before landfall.
Happy Birthday, Ivylass. Maybe you can celebrate a little early this year. Stay safe!
ivylass, it’s not looking good for Orlando right now. All the tracks I’ve checked show Frances heading for us dead on. Mr. Anachi has stocked some supplies, ordered a little battery TV and a couple of fans. Today he’s gonna follow a lead on a generator and it would probably be a good idea to get a roof tarp. If Frances hits us, we’ll be looking at category 2 winds compared with a weak category 1 when Charley went through. And we may have house guests…a friend who lives in Cocoa wants to evacuate to our house. We’re talking three people and two dogs to go with our four people, four dogs, two cats, a cockatiel and a lizard. Whee!
I’ve lived in Central Florida since 1968 and Charley was the first time we (orlando area) really got nailed. I can’t believe that it’s looking like it might happen a second time in a number of weeks.
I didn’t prepare for Charley because I was sure it wouldn’t really affect us that much. I don’t think I’m going to be so cocky this time.
Ivylad is making ice and we’re storing up water. Good luck, guys.
Ordinarily, this is my attitude as well, but Charley made me believe it might be possible for a hurricane to get me if it really wanted to! Frances is starting to look as if she really wants to. I think I’m going to be scared by Friday. I can’t quite believe I’d be hurt, but financially, I can’t handle any more setbacks!
Shit. We don’t need this. Now my husband is insisting I go out to the prison he works at with him for this storm. Which means I have to leave my cats at home, and if they let me, bring my dogs with me. Jasmine is a panicker anyway, so that’s not a pretty idea.
Governor Bush has declared a state of emergency for all of Florida.
If you are in the coastal areas of Palm Beach County, or the low-lying areas or mobile homes in Brevard and Martin Counties, you will be ordered to evacuate as of Thursday.
My parents are leaving Friday morning for the west coast of FL. I’ve been through many hurricanes (lived on the coasts of N. Carolina and S. Carolina) and would say that if you may be inclined to ignore evacuation notices or official preparation advice, you should reconsider. Good luck.
I’m really getting scared now. The editorial directors called an emergency meeting at my office this afternoon and announced that we’ll be shutting down at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Here I thought I had two days to meet my deadlines, and it turned out I had about two hours! Fortunately some very lovely coworkers pitched in and helped me finish my issue.
I still have so much to do at home. There’s no way to board up the windows or sliding doors in my apartment. The apartment manager said the doors are made of tempered glass and can withstand 100 mph winds, but Frances is a lot stronger than that. My only option is to tape up the glass and secure my valuables the best I can before I leave on Friday. Anything irreplaceable is coming with me to my parents’ house.
The University of Central Florida is closed. My daughter and her roomie are headed to Ocala to hang with my inlaws - they seem to think it’ll fizzle out by the time it gets there. I think they’re insane… But at least they can take care of each other. I’ll worry and fret till it’s gone.
Be safe, everyone!
Just remember, right until the last moment Charley was supposed to make landfall near Tampa Bay and it ended up missing us entirely. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best, and be careful that you don’t evacuate to someplace more dangerous than you are. Best buy some water and batteries and foods that don’t spoil or really need to be heated.
Best of luck to you all!