It’s becoming more likely Hurricane Irma will at least affect U.S., if not make landfall (Tampa: renter, houses)

[Avalon08]

I don't know how to do links but I found an article that describes the difference in hurricane intensity levels on myfox8.com. Above This whole thing is totally my fault -- I'm the one who told the person from MN what a big state FL is and how hurricanes don't hit the whole state, blah blah. OK, will never say that again....if I'm still around.

If this thing hits as Cat 4, it says to expect windows to break and roofs to tear off.

[eands0608]

I'm following this thread closely as well as all hurricane sites. We're not in Sarasota yet physically, but are emotionally, and I have a brother in Tampa who refuses to evacuate. I'm not sure what I'd do, but *think* I'd hightail it with our dog. Stay safe, everyone (even though I think that's an overused phrase!), and keep us informed of your safety, any information you can provide, and anything you need.

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Just looked at the 8PM update from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE IRMA

It looks like the predicted path keeps shifting to the west. Unfortunately as of now it looks like right along the SW FL coast could catch the brunt of this. Just hoping there's a chance that Irma drifts so far west and into the Gulf that we only catch a glancing blow.

You read my mind

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Just looked at the 8PM update from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE IRMA

It looks like the predicted path keeps shifting to the west. Unfortunately as of now it looks like right along the SW FL coast could catch the brunt of this. Just hoping there's a chance that Irma drifts so far west and into the Gulf that we only catch a glancing blow.

Originally Posted by eands0608

I'm following this thread closely as well as all hurricane sites. We're not in Sarasota yet physically, but are emotionally, and I have a brother in Tampa who refuses to evacuate. I'm not sure what I'd do, but *think* I'd hightail it with our dog. Stay safe, everyone (even though I think that's an overused phrase!), and keep us informed of your safety, any information you can provide, and anything you need.

Some Pet shelters are full
People wont leave pets
Bad planning on officials

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by mountbatin

The people who want this to be much ado about nothing are fooling themself. This thing is going to cause a lot of destruction and it it headed for Tampa.

Right now no one KNOWS where it will hit
The turn will be more specific but even then room for error
Storm this wide 25 miles can be mega difference bcuz of eye wall

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

I don't know how to do links but I found an article that describes the difference in hurricane intensity levels on myfox8.com. Above This whole thing is totally my fault -- I'm the one who told the person from MN what a big state FL is and how hurricanes don't hit the whole state, blah blah. OK, will never say that again....if I'm still around.

If this thing hits as Cat 4, it says to expect windows to break and roofs to tear off.

It all depends on the eye
The eye ring/wall is #1 bad
Where it hits is max destruction
My sister in law was in Harvey in Victoria TX and she came out ok--no boarded windows on her brick/stick built newer home. Also no mature trees to fall on homes--
while the eye of Harvey went over Victoria it is 70 mi from Rockport, the initial landfall--damage was severe in both but worse the closer to the Gulf...I heard Victoria had a 4 like Rockport but maybe a 3 because took time to get through there

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by loves2read

It all depends on the eye
The eye ring/wall is #1 bad
Where it hits is max destruction
My sister in law was in Harvey in Victoria TX and she came out ok--no boarded windows on her brick/stick built newer home. Also no mature trees to fall on homes--
while the eye of Harvey went over Victoria it is 70 mi from Rockport, the initial landfall--damage was severe in both but worse the closer to the Gulf...I heard Victoria had a 4 like Rockport but maybe a 3 because took time to get through there

Well that's encouraging but it looks like the eye could be pretty close to me. Although it never seems to hit exactly where they think it's going to. I am going to try to sleep but hope I don't wake up to even worse news tomorrow about the path.

[Avalon08]

Forgot to add -- the one encouraging thing is that I haven't heard a high death toll for the islands that got hit....BUT....it started out low in Houston and progressively got worse, so..

But it gives me hope that even with 95% of the island destroyed, the people were still able to live through it somehow. I've been looking carefully at the structures and it looks like many times the roof is blown off but maybe the first floor remains. It doesn't seem like a tornado where everything in its path is just obliterated. And we are supposed to be having these sustained-force winds for like 12 hours....OMG, my poor dogs...and I have a barker....barks when there's thunder, barks when there are bigger dogs around, so in a loud storm with things flying around, he's going to bark himself til he's hoarse. I do have a sedative for him, which is what the vet has to give him when he's at the boarding kennel since he barks non-stop. He has issues.

[wondermint2]

Are there any of you that are staying in this area (and not in a mandatory evacuation zone) leaving your homes here to go to a local shelter? I'm not currently in an evacuation zone (I'm just east of Hwy. 41 in Nokomis) - however I've spoken to my landlord and she advised me to go to a shelter. I rent a small two bedroom bungalow (about 750 sq. ft) that was built in the 1950's. Concrete block construction except for the second bedroom which a long time ago was a lanai that has been enclosed and converted to the 2nd bedroom. It seems to me that second bedroom is the vulnerable part of the bungalow as the outer walls just seem to be made of cheap siding (not metal). There are no hurricane shutters in place anywhere on the windows here. My landlord says it's a very old vulnerable roof. I don't think we'll get storm surge at my location - but I suppose flash flooding is possible. I'm not weak and elderly so I'm thinking I'll probably stay and ride it out.

[Icemodeled]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Are there any of you that are staying in this area (and not in a mandatory evacuation zone) leaving your homes here to go to a local shelter? I'm not currently in an evacuation zone (I'm just east of Hwy. 41 in Nokomis) - however I've spoken to my landlord and she advised me to go to a shelter. I rent a small two bedroom bungalow (about 750 sq. ft) that was built in the 1950's. Concrete block construction except for the second bedroom which a long time ago was a lanai that has been enclosed and converted to the 2nd bedroom. It seems to me that second bedroom is the vulnerable part of the bungalow as the outer walls just seem to be made of cheap siding (not metal). There are no hurricane shutters in place anywhere on the windows here. My landlord says it's a very old vulnerable roof. I don't think we'll get storm surge at my location - but I suppose flash flooding is possible. I'm not weak and elderly so I'm thinking I'll probably stay and ride it out.

We live in a 1995 block, no shutters or plywood except largest windows. Not in flood zone or evaluation area(were zone D) we left this morning and are currently at a shelter in north port. Feel much more comfortable then at home. If you have doubts and are able to maybe a shelter would be better.. especially since windows aren't protected and roof isn't good.

We are more concerned about the wind force then surge where we are at.