Lets be alert but not panic...

[SouthFLTropics]

It seems to me that tensions are already running high along the SE Florida coast, especially among posters on this board. Now is not the time to panic about Frances. We still have a fair amount of time to watch her and see what path she may take. Now is the time to review your hurricane preparedness plans, check all of your supplies and restock if needed, and then be prepared to implement your plans in the coming week. Stay alert, stay tuned, but don't push the panic button just yet. It doesn't look good for us right now, but we have been through this scenario many times before. If you have planned and prepped accordingly then you will be ready to act when the time comes. Lets lower the tension level just a bit, everyone take a deep breath and relax! It is a beautiful day here in South Florida today. Excellent weather for the beach if all of your hurricane plans are in order!!!

[cycloneye]

Excellent advise that all Floridians have to take.

[LaPlaceFF]

I agree wholeheatedly.

[WeatherEmperor]

Yeah I agree very much. I understand why south floridians are a bit worried and they have right to be considering what Andrew did in 1992 but like you said, we just need to relax for this weekend and perhaps go to South Beach just to clear our heads and get ready for what happens next week.

<RICKY>

[jlauderdal]

It seems to me that tensions are already running high along the SE Florida coast, especially among posters on this board. Now is not the time to panic about Frances. We still have a fair amount of time to watch her and see what path she may take. Now is the time to review your hurricane preparedness plans, check all of your supplies and restock if needed, and then be prepared to implement your plans in the coming week. Stay alert, stay tuned, but don't push the panic button just yet. It doesn't look good for us right now, but we have been through this scenario many times before. If you have planned and prepped accordingly then you will be ready to act when the time comes. Lets lower the tension level just a bit, everyone take a deep breath and relax! It is a beautiful day here in South Florida today. Excellent weather for the beach if all of your hurricane plans are in order!!!

its never a time to panic. everyone should be prepared anyway. look folks, IF a majopr hurricane it is more than likely that you will have one to 2 days of great weather in advance to prepare due to subsidence. kind of like natures way of saying i am going to whack you hard but you have time to prepare.

[jlauderdal]

Yeah I agree very much. I understand why south floridians are a bit worried and they have right to be considering what Andrew did in 1992 but like you said, we just need to relax for this weekend and perhaps go to South Beach just to clear our heads and get ready for what happens next week.

<RICKY>

i have never ever left south beach with a clear head or the dy after for that matter...

[ColdFront77]

IF a majopr hurricane it is more than likely that you will have one to 2 days of great weather in advance to prepare due to subsidence. kind of like natures way of saying i am going to whack you hard but you have time to prepare.

Very true with the "great weather in advance to prepare due to subsidence," however with Charley, showers
and thunderstorms developed due to the seabreeze and outflow boundaries across the Sunshine State.

[WeatherEmperor]

Yeah I agree very much. I understand why south floridians are a bit worried and they have right to be considering what Andrew did in 1992 but like you said, we just need to relax for this weekend and perhaps go to South Beach just to clear our heads and get ready for what happens next week.

<RICKY>

i have never ever left south beach with a clear head or the dy after for that matter...

Really? Why is that, jlauderal?

<RICKY>

[crazycajuncane]

Asn personally I hate the posts that start talking about, "What if a Cat. 5 hit such and such."

Common Logic can answer these questions. I don't think we need to already be planning for mass destructions. Let's loosen up a little bit. We have well over 6 days before this sucker makes landfall.

NICE POST!

[HurricaneJim]

"Asn personally I hate the posts that start talking about, "What if a Cat. 5 hit such and such."

Common Logic can answer these questions. I don't think we need to already be planning for mass destructions. Let's loosen up a little bit."

Problem is, people try to go buy batteries at Wal-Mart three days out. Sorry, but that's too late.

There's a differnece between preparedness and paranoia, I think that's what Cajun is addressing and he's right.

However, it's almost guarenteed that places like FL are going to get hit sooner or later. That's why comprehensive preparedness plans have to be in place long before they start talking about tropical depressions off Africa.

With a solid plan in place, there isn't a need for fear because you have covered all the steps;

Mitigation
Preparedness
Response and
Recovery

Even if the event flattens your house, the event will eventually pass and become fodder for stories to the grandchildren. If you had your Mitigation phase down, you will be less impacted than if you tried to pull it off last minute.

Some of the senior forcasters here, MW, etc. are calling for preparedness now, not later. Hat's off to them. The "Official" world "doesn't want to cause a panic" and hence they are playing this event down. That's not really doing anayone any favors because if people have their act together before hand, they don't by and large panic.

Panic and fear is the product of uncertainty, and uncertainty is the product of not being prepared.

[cape_escape]

I have only lived in Fl for a little over a year and believe me, I learned to prepeare compliments of Charley![/i]

[HurricaneJim]

Charlie was certainly a lesson to be learned and, frankly, I'd start digging in again.

Florida is a known hurricane zone, no maatter where you live.

And it's not just there, right now they're sweeping mud out of shops in KS, they're cleaning up debris in Illinois. My friend Scott lives in central VA. Last yeara a tornado blew his roof off....in VA. Then two weeks later Issabel came through and tore him up again. All told, his "disruptive Events" total stretched out over a month back to back. They suffered over $35,000 in damage to the house alone, not counting 3 vehicles totaled by hail and three barns knocked down.

He, however, was ready for this stuff just because he's a self sufficient, country guy anyway. He reported that his fire pit out back became a center for all his neighbors to gather, they consumed two total deer he had bagged and the entire event "remains the highlight of our nine years in this home" and rated the whole thing "a blast."

Point is, preparedness isn't a set of actions, it's a mindset (sans the paranoia). It's looking at the world anad saying, "Yup, something could happen here that could effect me," and then looking at what basic steps you can take to make sure you are good to go if the services you have come to expect get interrupted.

[cajungal]

I agree. It is no guarantee it will S. Florida. Anything can change. But, now is your time to put your hurricane plan into action. Too early for the plywood yet; of course. But, I would start stocking up on canned food, batteries, and water. Better to be safe than sorry. To avoid the mass rush at Wally World in case Frances does decide to come your way. Also, plan where you are going to go in case of evacuations early.

[HurricaneJim]

Exactly, Cajun Gal....plywood is a phase three action....response.

"It's coming, it's some hours out, time to put on the plywood."

Having the plywood and enough shelf stable food on haand for two weeks completely on your own is phase two...preparedness.

Mitigation is having the insurance paid up, sensitive documents secured in a good container and a house with the right hurricane straps built into it.

Recovery is coming back, slapping a tarp over where the shingles got ripped away and putting the plywood back in the garage. (or, in worst case, salvage what's left and roll with temporary housing, whatever thata looks like.)

And this stuff doesn't just apply to hurricanes....if you carry a spare tire and a jack, you are utilizing phase one and two.

[simplykristi]

I wholeheartedly agree with cajungal's post. Be prepared!

[SouthFLTropics]

Excellent analysis HurricaneJim...These are all great tips that everyone should follow. Hurricane plans need to be reviewed prior to June 1st every year. And then if the big one comes a knocking you are ready to implement those plans with little effort!

[HurricaneJim]

"These are all great tips that everyone should follow. Hurricane plans need to be reviewed prior to June 1st every year. And then if the big one comes a knocking you are ready to implement those plans with little effort!"

Precisely. If the plan is in place, A. it takes away the uncertainty, B. the plan does your thinking for you at a time when you will probably be pretty distracted and C. frees you up to ehlp your neighbor get set or....go to the beach.