Us folks along the Gulf are just praying that, unlike Andrew, if Isabel does decide to visit Florida, she doesn’t also decide to cross your way-too-skinny peninsula and then come visit US.
A lot of folks don’t know how hard Louisiana was hit by Andrew. I wasn’t here then, fortunately, but if Isabel is heading this way, I have a nice inland friend who’ll even let me bring all the critters. Guess it’s time to start packing the important-documents-evacuation box again…
Isabel is Cat 5 now. 160 mph winds, gusting to 195.
Well, if it stays on track, Jacksonville would seem to be the likely target. But remember that really intense hurricanes never stay really intense for long, so you’ll probably be hit with, say, 130 mph winds. Your house is built for that, right? 
No, seriously, best of luck from another (former) FL doper. My girlfriend’s mother is in Ft. Lauderdale, and her grandma is offering, or threatening, to fly her to Kansas City. I’m not sure which would be worse - her mom enduring her grandmother or riding out the storm. Either way, she’ll need canned food.
I grew up in Orange Park, and I’ve never been through the middle of a hurricane. This has been truer than one would think – they’ve always seemed to veer off. Perhaps sideswipe the area, but not full on.
Of course, I no longer live in O.P., so I guess the hurricane is free to hit there now. (Sorry, FCM! ;))
Actually, I do hope for a veer-off. The rest of my family still lives in Orange Park.
Although, being on the west side of the St. Johns and a little ways inland, chances are that O.P. won’t get the full brunt of the storm anyways. And I could be wrong, but I don’t remember O.P. having major flooding problems (like the city I’m in now – Tallahassee, of the Sucky Storm Drainage).
Also seriously concerned. My area, west-central Florida Gulf coast is not prepared for a hurricane. We haven’t had one make landfall since the mid 1800s.
And of course, the company where I work stays open come Hell or high water (or both, if it’s a Cat 5), so evacuation is difficult for me. My store probably would only close on the day the storm actually makes landfall and only if it did so within a certain area, and of course we wouldn’t know until the last minute whether or not we would be open.
Nervous anticipation on this end.
Oh, this area has had a hurricane make a direct hit: Hurricane Dora in 1964. I didn’t live here at the time, but every time there’s even a hint of a hurricane coming in this direction, the local media have to go one about Dora and how the Beatles performed here in the Gator Bowl the next day.
So we’re not immune. Granted, Dora was decidedly wussy compared to Isabel, but a hurricane no less.
I’ve already decided if she’s gonna hit uncomfortably close, I’m loading the kid and the dog into the van and we’re going to Ocala to stay with my inlaws. And if that area feels the effects, at least we’ll be there to help them out.
Stupid Isable. 
Ouch… When we get hurricaines way up here they’re usually weaker because it is colder and actually the last really bad one was Bob and that was 12 years ago.
Batten down the hatches and I hope Isabel downgrades before she hits anywhere!!
I watch the news and remember Andrew and Hugo and thinking that I can’t even begin to fathom how it would feel to come home from a shelter and find that most of my town didn’t exist.
The only thing scarier than these hurricaines are tornadoes! All the destruction and none of the warning!
Ooh, ick.
Any chance Isabelle will be like Fabian?
I’ve got a tracking map too and it doesn’t look good for Florida.
Hang in there, FCM, hopefully some cold front will swoop in and scootch it back out to the Atlantic.
Either way, one of us is going to get wet.
Another North Floridian here. Wouldn’t you know it, next weekend I was going to take a mini-vacation at Daytona Beach. I’m less worried about the total destruction of my house (in fact, as we are having serious septic tank problems, I tend to fantasize about it.):mad:
Considering I just moved to Jacksonville 3 months ago I have to say that I’m not sure putting on a hurricane is a proper welcome. You don’t do this for all newcomers, do you?
On second thought, the historical map seems encouraging for Jacksonville, and most everyone else.
Yes, Isabelle (which happens to be my mother-in-law’s name) looks like trouble. From the maps it does seem to be coming pretty much right at you. Good luck, and hang on to your hats!
However, I always get a laugh out of the network anchors whenever a major tropical depression is on the screens: “If this storm develops into a hurricane, and if it gets to be a big one, and if it crosses the gulf and picks up a lot of moisture, and if it turns at the last moment, and if it hits a major city, and if it happens on a Tuesday, it maybe, possible, perhaps, just might be the worst disaster of all time!!!.”
Well, bayonet, history is all well and good, but like the flip of the coin, it means nothing about what will happen next. We got an all-hands email this morning with information about how to prepare for a hurricane.
I’ve already informed my daughter that we’re moving the Laser (sailboat) and the dinghy into the basement, along with the patio table, about a dozen chairs, 2 lawnmowers, the wheelbarrow, and whatever else is shoved under the deck. I’m also thinking I should probably get a latch for the side gate - right now, it just sorta sits closed, but a little wind’ll take care of that.
I also think I need to tidy the garage enough to get the kid’s car into it. Of course, if the roof falls in, that won’t make a lot of difference… :eek:
Stoopid Isabel.
You’re thinking of staying through it???!!! As someone who survived Andrew I can tell you that I intend to be many, many, many, miles away from here if it looks like Jacksonville will really get hit.
RTFirefly, Isabel is about a week from landfall. Do you know of a link that shows the projected path of Hugo striking South Carolina when it was a week away? The link that you provide does not show the projected track. I does show that one week from striking South Carolina, Hugo was about a day east of the Leeward Islands.
Thanks.
What a wonderful weekend I picked to vacation at my parent’s beach front condo in lovely and scenic Daytona Beach!!!
Hey, at least the waves will be GREAT for surfing!
tramp, if you’re near Oceans One, maybe I’ll see you there!
Check out this java tracker. Click “Interactive Tracker”.
And to see meteorologists foam at the mouth, click here.
They are saying on the radio here that Isabel’s track is very similiar to that of Floyd.
No no no no no no no way! :eek: If it’s going to hit close to here, we’re going to Ocala to stay with my inlaws. (They don’t know this yet…) But I still need to batten down all the hatches and stuff.
We’re beginning to get very worried here in North Carolina–looking increasingly likely we will be impacted. Cape Hatteras is the meteorological equivalent of leading with your chin when it comes to hurricanes.