I just came through hurricane Helene

[Judge]

This hurricane is so large and strong that Florida likely will experience hurricane strength winds on both the west and east coasts at the same time.

I thought about that as well, particularly if the diameter of this enormous weather system remains what it is presently, even as the "cat" level drops as it makes landfall. Where its outer edges could potentially cover both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida at the same time.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

All the windows are covered with plywood. Got food, water, medications. Now I’ll do the last wash before the power goes out. Bring in the rest of the orchids and other misc stuff. Park truck under pole barn.

Take the last hot bath.

I’m still in the main path. I’ve ridden out cat1s with low cat2 winds. But I don’t know what will happen with strong cat2 coming through. Not supposed to have cat2s in the center of the state.

 

[Mary Terry]

All the windows are covered with plywood. Got food, water, medications. Now I’ll do the last wash before the power goes out. Bring in the rest of the orchids and other misc stuff. Park truck under pole barn.

Take the last hot bath.

I’m still in the main path. I’ve ridden out cat1s with low cat2 winds. But I don’t know what will happen with strong cat2 coming through. Not supposed to have cat2s in the center of the state.

I'm worried about y'all. Please stay in touch with us here if you can.

 

[Judge]

All the windows are covered with plywood. Got food, water, medications. Now I’ll do the last wash before the power goes out. Bring in the rest of the orchids and other misc stuff. Park truck under pole barn.

Take the last hot bath.

I’m still in the main path. I’ve ridden out cat1s with low cat2 winds. But I don’t know what will happen with strong cat2 coming through. Not supposed to have cat2s in the center of the state.

Take care. That's so much- too much for people to have to deal with in too short a time! From time to time we may get 75mph winds...but that's nothing in comparison.

 

[Heroine of Winds]

To everyone living in Florida, I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope for the best.

 

[RemyZee]

Just a curious question. Australia gets a lot of cyclones across it's north coast, a cyclone is exactly the same as a hurricane except it spins in the opposite direction. A cyclone usually brings a lot of rain, but I noticed living in Darwin that whenever North Queensland was having a cyclone it sucked all the rain out of weather systems around Darwin, and when Darwin gets a cyclone North Queensland misses out on rainfall. A few years back Queensland got three huge cyclones in one season and lost 6 million head of cattle in the floods, and during that time Darwin near suffered a drought.

So When Florida and your east coast are getting hurricanes who is it that loses out on rainfall? Or does that not happen there?

Don't know how to answer that question but my grandfather used to tell a story about when he saw fish rain from the sky. All my life we laughed thinking he made it up or maybe was a bit delusional, but I read a story recently: fish do at rare times come raining from the sky...apparently cyclo es can pick them up and drop them down on land.

 

[RemyZee]

Milton is heading my direction as well but I'm on the outer path. Another one is brewing too out in the Atlantic. And i was supposed to visit my family in Florida this weekend. Bizarrely enough they are pushing me to travel anyway and saying I don't care enough because I am thinking of not coming, but the thought of getting on a plane and flying through all of that is just scary, and theyve canceledthe trains.. They are in the western area and it's pretty calm there.

 

[Outdated]

Don't know how to answer that question but my grandfather used to tell a story about when he saw fish rain from the sky. All my life we laughed thinking he made it up or maybe was a bit delusional, but I read a story recently: fish do at rare times come raining from the sky...apparently cyclo es can pick them up and drop them down on land.

There's areas in central Australia where that happens from time to time, probably about every ten years. One time a news crew drove out to a remote town to do a story on fish raining from the sky, and while they were there it happened again and they got to film it. Sometimes it rains frogs too.

This doesn't happen during cyclone season though. We believe fish and frog eggs are picked up from dry creek beds during dust storms.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I'm worried about y'all. Please stay in touch with us here if you can.

It is unlikely I can stay in touch with anyone. If predictions are correct, I will lose power (and internet, phone and water) for a week +. Trees will almost certainly fall across my access road. Sometimes they are thicker than my chain saw can handle. If so, I'll have to wait for somone to finish up with their own and their relative's yards to come get me out.

OTOH, recent forecasts have predicted a small tick to the north, which would be better for me, but undoubtedly worse for others.

The forecast has put arrival time back about 12 hours, so I should have some more time to finish up, which is good because I've done as much as I can do today and have run out of steam.

I greatly appreciate whatever kind thoughts you'll have sent to all the people in Florida. I have years of experience dealing with hurricanes and am well stocked, etc. Many city dwellers have no such resource.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

The forecast pushes the storm further south and the size is expected to be great. It looks like I am in for it. I’ve got a few more hours of last minute preparations.

My Hurricane prep always consists of being over-prepared and having great optimism.

 

[Mary Terry]

The forecast pushes the storm further south and the size is expected to be great. It looks like I am in for it. I’ve got a few more hours of last minute preparations.

My Hurricane prep always consists of being over-prepared and having great optimism.

You sound like you're as ready as you can be. Experience is a great teacher when preparing for a hurricane. I hope you have some good books to read and one of those battery-operated headlamps so you can see at night while leaving your hands free to do whatever you need to do. I know that feeling of dread that the electricity will be out for days. Jigsaw puzzles, handicrafts, books, card and board games help me stave off the boredom.

Maybe when the eye passes over, you and your neighbors can quickly check on each other.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

You sound like you're as ready as you can be. Experience is a great teacher when preparing for a hurricane. I hope you have some good books to read and one of those battery-operated headlamps so you can see at night while leaving your hands free to do whatever you need to do. I know that feeling of dread that the electricity will be out for days. Jigsaw puzzles, handicrafts, books, card and board games help me stave off the boredom.

Maybe when the eye passes over, you and your neighbors can quickly check on each other.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I have lots and lots of paper books, and in two locations: house and outbuilding. Food in 3 locations. Water water everywhere and purifying capabilities. There is usually more than enough clean up work to do after a Hurricane that there is little time for recreation.

I have no close neighbors. If it’s a bad storm there are a couple who may try to come and find me.

It looks like there is another storm - Lily or Lila or something like that - hot on the heels of Milton.

As I try to do my best, I keep seeing more to do and I know I’ll forget something. I always do. But there are always workarounds too.

 

[Mary Terry]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I have lots and lots of paper books, and in two locations: house and outbuilding. Food in 3 locations. Water water everywhere and purifying capabilities. There is usually more than enough clean up work to do after a Hurricane that there is little time for recreation.

I have no close neighbors. If it’s a bad storm there are a couple who may try to come and find me.

It looks like there is another storm - Lily or Lila or something like that - hot on the heels of Milton.

As I try to do my best, I keep seeing more to do and I know I’ll forget something. I always do. But there are always workarounds too.

I hope the mango trees survive. Stay safe!

 

[FayetheAspie]

What area do you live in? I have cousins along the Gulf Coast that I've been waiting to hear from.

Did you hear from your cousins yet?

 

[Heroine of Winds]

Anybody in Florida doing alright after Hurricane Milton made landfall?

 

[FayetheAspie]

Anybody in Florida doing alright after Hurricane Milton made landfall?

Hurricane Milton has its own thread now where some of the Floridians have verified that they are ok. We are still waiting to hear from some others.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Did you hear from your cousins yet?

My cousins in Orlando are went through it all right. Some property damage. But it could be far worse.

I am waiting to hear from the others.