# Hurricane Irma \[and Maria\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446 "2017-09-04T01:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/141 "2017-09-07T19:27:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Holy crap, and there’s another one brewing right behind Irma, Hurricane Jose. It’s already Category 2 and has time and room to get worse. Jose looks like it will veer way east of US coasts. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/142 "2017-09-07T19:27:18Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > The SE quadrant of Georgia is officially under a state of emergency, mandatory evacuations east of I95, along with some low-lying bits west of the interstate. Fuel is becoming a bit scarce around here, so I imagine it won’t get better closer to the get out zones. The Guv has activated the National Guard, and I expect that I’ll soon hear a lot of helicopter traffic, as the DOD starts moving those from Savannah to Augusta. And Interstate 16 will be contra-flowed to westbound only Saturday. > > Locally, the university has cancelled classes and moved the football game to Birmingham, a the Board of Education will announce plans for the k12 schools tomorrow. > > But the good news is that jury summons has been cancelled for Tuesday! Going by past results when trying to evacuate Savannah, this is going to totally bork I16 and, to some extent, I95, which will, in turn, back up the people trying to evacuate Florida. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/143 "2017-09-07T19:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > In anticipation of Hurricane Irma, Florida governor Rick Scott has announced that the state is working with Google’s emergency response team to mark closed roads on Google Maps in real time. This will help with evacuation plans. > > Google Maps already uses Waze to indicate real-time traffic alerts in the area, but the partnership with the state of Florida will help Google learn about upcoming closures without relying on Waze users on the road to report back. This information is key for people who are evacuating ahead of the hurricane. The effort with Google will also help drivers navigate around closed roads in the aftermath of the storm. > > Google elaborated in a statement, “Our thoughts are with those affected by Hurricane Irma. To provide access to accurate and useful transportation information, we use algorithmic and manual methods to account for everyday and emergency road closures. We’re working directly with Florida officials to help provide up-to-date information to those affected by the storm. These road closures will also appear on our Irma Crisis Map, embedded as part of our SOS Alert on Search.” > **[Google Maps will mark road closures in real time in Florida ahead of...](https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/7/16266674/hurricane-irma-google-maps-real-time-closed-roads)** > > The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/144 "2017-09-07T19:38:18Z")
> [@jkirkman](#): > > Going by past results when trying to evacuate Savannah, this is going to totally bork I16 and, to some extent, I95, which will, in turn, back up the people trying to evacuate Florida. Contra-flow is a huge improvement versus the Hurricane Floyd evacuation. But most of Georgia is going to be FUBAR, especially when SC starts evacuations. Refugees from 3 states will clog up all inland roads, and there’s not a hotel room available closer than Tennessee. I’m going to Mama’s, and I’m driving the dirt roads to get there! ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/145 "2017-09-07T19:58:42Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Watching Irma evacuation videos on the highway: they show standstill traffic on one side of the highway - three lanes. And no traffic whatsoever on the other side of the highway - again, three lanes. Why NOT open the other side’s 2 lanes for evacuation traffic, and lower speed limits to like 20 mph to make it safe? All it takes is a crapload of orange traffic cones. There is a lot more to contraflow than traffic cones. ☹ It is a good idea, but it takes a lot of planning and resources. You have to block off all the entrance and exit ramps for one thing-they point in the wrong direction and some fool will always insist on doing things his way. I have been in contraflow. It moves more people but it takes scheduling and planning. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/146 "2017-09-07T20:26:55Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > Contra-flow is a huge improvement versus the Hurricane Floyd evacuation. But most of Georgia is going to be FUBAR, especially when SC starts evacuations. Refugees from 3 states will clog up all inland roads, and there’s not a hotel room available closer than Tennessee. I’m going to Mama’s, and I’m driving the dirt roads to get there! HAH! If you run out of options, I can find you someplace here in the Augusta area, but you had better like dogs. And throwing toys for dogs to fetch. Who drool a lot. (The dogs, not the toys–but, really, with that amount of drool, it is difficult to tell where it is all coming from.) ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/147 "2017-09-07T22:22:50Z")
Father in law who lives in Tampa just had his county call an evacuation order but he’s refusing to leave. So my wife won’t sleep due to worry. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/148 "2017-09-07T22:55:56Z")
Our daughter and son-in-law are leaving Orlando to go stay with her grandparents in Ocala. My in-laws are in their mid-80s, so we feel better knowing they’ll have to young, healthy helpers on hand. And their dog. And 3 cats… :eek: They’ll be heading over there tomorrow after work. I’ll fret till they call us. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/149 "2017-09-07T23:11:27Z")
I’m in Oviedo (just northeast of Orlando, basically a large suburb). Latest track has the eye passing right over my house. It’s a concrete block structure so we won’t be in any danger, but I’m not thrilled about having our house flood again. I’ve also locked myself out of the shed so I can’t cover the windows either. Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/150 "2017-09-07T23:22:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > … I’ve also locked myself out of the shed so I can’t cover the windows either. Best username/post combo of the thread! (But I think I’d be breaking into the shed, if I were you.) Here, we just got notification that the schools are closed through Tuesday. Good, sez I - there’s a lot of extra traffic already (kind of a triangle between US 80/25, and US 301, so people are fleeing from the south and the east.) And I’m feeling better about my in-laws. Their cousin is coming up from Okeechobee to refuge with them, so there will be one able body in the house. (They’re in Blackshear, just north of the Okeefenokee Swamp. The cousin is a fishing and hunting guide, by profession, so he’ll be useful if things get primitive.) ---
**Author:** ![yams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/848f3c/32.png) [@yams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yams)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/151 "2017-09-07T23:41:12Z")
Anybody else here in South Beach?? The evacuation officially started at noon, I think, and I have never had an easier time finding street parking! It is actually kind of nice right now, beautiful weather and empty streets. I live with two roommates, and we won’t evacuate until late Friday/super early on Saturday, and even then only across the bridge to the hospital where we are on call as part of the storm team. In the meantime it is packing up essentials and saying likely goodbyes to everything else. Love Yams!! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/152 "2017-09-07T23:55:53Z")
> [@jkirkman](#): > > Going by past results when trying to evacuate Savannah, this is going to totally bork I16 and, to some extent, I95, which will, in turn, back up the people trying to evacuate Florida. Didn’t do I-26 a lot of good today either, evidently. The in-laws were going 5 to 10 mph along that going west - and this is well before the GA evacuations are necessary. Probably a lot of Floridians as well as Georgia residents getting out early. Last I looked at the NOAA graphic, it seems like it’s projected to go a bit further west (on the mainland) than they had originally thought, [REMNANTS OF ALBERTO](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?cone) My colleague in Greenville will be relieved (though he’s still close enough to the center to get some trouble), ditto the relatives in Asheville. I spoke with the co-worker who lives in the Miami area. She didn’t sound happy. I couldn’t quite follow what she said (her phone connection was crappy) but I think they have a place (or her boyfriend does) on one of the barrier islands, so they’re going further inland to stay with family. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/153 "2017-09-08T00:08:41Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Last I looked at the NOAA graphic, it seems like it’s projected to go a bit further west (on the mainland) than they had originally thought, [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics\_at1.shtml?cone](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?cone) I’m not sure it’s good news. I _think_ (from watching previous hurricanes) that it’s better to be on the west side of it than on the east side. So if the hurricane was going to pass on the west coast of FL, most FL would be on the east of it and would not bear the brunt of it. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/154 "2017-09-08T00:20:27Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I’m not sure it’s good news. I _think_ (from watching previous hurricanes) that it’s better to be on the west side of it than on the east side. So if the hurricane was going to pass on the west coast of FL, most FL would be on the east of it and would not bear the brunt of it. Stronger winds on the east side of the tornado seems to be what [this guy](http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/07/us/hurricane-irma-caribbean-florida/index.html) is saying. So the European model, with the storm further west, is worse. I think. Or maybe if it hugged the coast, the half the storm would be over water, but as it moves west, more of the storm is over land? ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/155 "2017-09-08T00:42:23Z")
**Mama Z** , I know our governor personally, and hate to defend him, but timing Georgia evacuation is tricky. Thanks to the Atlantic Bight, our coastal areas are usually fairly sheltered. But that means that, usually, large swaths of Florida and/or South Carolina are under evacuation at least 2 days ahead of Georgia’'s coast. So our evacuations need to account for a whole lot of extra traffic from 1-2 states, plus the fact that it will probably be a 150-300 mile drive from Savannah or Brunswick before lodging is available. (And, based on my experience evacuating ahead of Floyd, before Georgia DOT started making all west/north interstates 1-way during emergency? 5-10 mph is bad. But it’s an improvement. During Floyd, it took 6 hours to travel about 2/3 across Chatham County Georgia. My husband and I were convoying in 2 vehicles, with 2 kids and pets. I finally hit a road where I could find a convenient bathroom, passed the spouse gesturing that he should follow me, and went and peed about 37 gallons at my mom’s house. It was a calculated risk, but either I was going to die of a burst bladder, or my teenage stepson was gonna die of mortification while I pissed in a bottle. During the same event, a colleague spent 27 hours on interstate 16, and finally slept in his van, on the side of the road, with his wife and 2 kids. 5-10 mph sounds awful. But it’s truly an improvement.) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/156 "2017-09-08T00:58:01Z")
Something I hadn’t thought about, but Wethernation mentioned in a special report: the National Hurricane Center is located in Miami, and may have to shut down due to the storm. Their headquarters building is rated for 150 mph, with a secure section rated for 250 mph. If they have to shut down, then a site in San Antonio, Texas will take over. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/157 "2017-09-08T01:27:08Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > **Mama Z** , I know our governor personally, and hate to defend him, but timing Georgia evacuation is tricky. Thanks to the Atlantic Bight, our coastal areas are usually fairly sheltered. But that means that, usually, large swaths of Florida and/or South Carolina are under evacuation at least 2 days ahead of Georgia’'s coast. So our evacuations need to account for a whole lot of extra traffic from 1-2 states, plus the fact that it will probably be a 150-300 mile drive from Savannah or Brunswick before lodging is available. > > (And, based on my experience evacuating ahead of Floyd, before Georgia DOT started making all west/north interstates 1-way during emergency? 5-10 mph is bad. But it’s an improvement. During Floyd, it took 6 hours to travel about 2/3 across Chatham County Georgia. My husband and I were convoying in 2 vehicles, with 2 kids and pets. I finally hit a road where I could find a convenient bathroom, passed the spouse gesturing that he should follow me, and went and peed about 37 gallons at my mom’s house. It was a calculated risk, but either I was going to die of a burst bladder, or my teenage stepson was gonna die of mortification while I pissed in a bottle. During the same event, a colleague spent 27 hours on interstate 16, and finally slept in his van, on the side of the road, with his wife and 2 kids. 5-10 mph sounds awful. But it’s truly an improvement.) Yes to all of this! I was able to get out of Dodge before all the long I-16 delays for Floyd, but you are very correct about the Georgia coast. That inward curve of our coast is good for us stormwise, but because we catch all the refugees from Florida and SC, it can give us Georgians nowhere to go. I am west of I-95, but in Chatham county, where it is “cooler” ;). I am going to wait until Saturday evening or Sunday morning to see if I am going to bug out to Statesboro now that I see it is tracking somewhat more west. It might actually be worse in Bulloch county than in Chatham in that case. If I see that Irma is chewing the snot out of Florida by late Saturday, I’ll go. If it is slowing down and losing steam, I am staying at home. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/158 "2017-09-08T02:03:45Z")
My youngest cousin just brought my oldest aunt out of cooler spots and at least as far inland as Faulkville. We’re still trying to convince everyone to move west, but at least they’re all in Effingham, where we can call upon the bitter half’s former SO colleagues to help us evacuate a stubborn old broad. I’d feel better if we could convince Aunt Bernice to join us in North Bulloch, though. (I guess the good news is that it doesn’t matter whether the house is destroyed, financially. Thanks to mad growth in Pooler, the double lot is probably worth more without the house. And my cousin did grab the big box of family photos when she kidnapped my aunt.) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/159 "2017-09-08T02:20:23Z")
My parents are effectively stuck in the Up Country of South Carolina taking care of some family business. I had hoped they’d be able to head west before the storm, but it looks like they’re there for whatever Irma throws at the state. Hopefully it’ll be down to a tropical storm or lower by then and they don’t get too much rain. I’ve got other family in the Atlanta and Augusta areas, and I’m not too worried there either. I just have more worries about the possible effects of storms running inland than I used to before Irene devastated Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446/160 "2017-09-08T02:29:27Z")
Figures I forgot the Catskills with Irene. Despite living in upstate NY at the time, the damage in Vermont sticks more in my mind. But it was terrible in the Catskills as well. Anyway, my parents are staying with my great-uncle. It’s been so long since I saw his house, I have no idea how much risk it’s in from wind damage or riparian flooding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-irma-and-maria/795446.md?page=9)