Ernesto-Much Ado About Nothing

[sunnyday]

Ernesto seems to be much ado about nothing, thank goodness. However, the reaction of people in SE Fl. has been amazing. Yesterday, the lines for gas were often 2 miles long! What disgusts me are the people who have 20, yes 20, huge gas containers to fill, in additon to their cars, while everyone else waits. There should be some limit to the amount that someone can buy when a storm is coming. Many stations ran out of gas yesterday due to such selfishness.
People here are much quicker to prepare than they used to be. No wonder, after all the storms we've had in the past couple of years. Still, we are fortunate that none of them has done huge damage.
I don't understand the hype still continuing for a minimal tropical storm, though. Let it go....

[LizzardInFlorida]

People are now being proactive and need to be prepared.
I say Good for them. Better early than late.

[SouthFloridawx]

Yes I now have more supplies than I had before and will put those away if'n that I don't need then tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for the kick in the butt Ernesto...

[sunnyday]

Definitely. I remember when Andrew was on the way, hardly anyone here was preparing within 24 hours of his arrival. People seemed to get in a panice about 12 hours before it hit. Live and learn; anything can happen with a storm.

[NFLnut]

I'm all for preparedness, but I would absolutely HATE to know I live next door to someone who is storing that much gas in or around their home, especially knowing that this is not exactly a Cat 5 at their doorstep! How long is it going to take for them to use all of that gas now that it appears Ernie will be a Trop storm at best?

And I know how much gas it takes to run a generator for several days. I had that problem quite a lot after Charley, Frances, and Jeanne left gas stations without power to pump out gas for days! But let's get a grip on reality!

[Dean4Storms]

I've always approached the storms here in the Panhandle with the attitude of better safe than sorry. You can't blame those people for taking what they felt were necessary precautions. If Ernesto had deepened rapidly, which could have occured in the right set of circumstances you may have been the one looking into the TV Camera yelling for FEMA to bring you some gas and water while those that prepared laughed at you.

Sorry for the smack of reality, but that very attitude of it won't happen too me is what caused alot of Katrina victims. Better safe than sorry!

[Dean4Storms]

I'm all for preparedness, but I would absolutely HATE to know I live next door to someone who is storing that much gas in or around their home, especially knowing that this is not exactly a Cat 5 at their doorstep! How long is it going to take for them to use all of that gas now that it appears Ernie will be a Trop storm at best?

And I know how much gas it takes to run a generator for several days. I had that problem quite a lot after Charley, Frances, and Jeanne left gas stations without power to pump out gas for days! But let's get a grip on reality!

Some people such as myself have more than one generator, some have businesses that they also need gas to run, e.t.c....

[DelrayMorris]

Sorry for the smack of reality, but that very attitude of it won't happen too me is what caused alot of Katrina victims. Better safe than sorry!

I just want to be fair here, since everyone seems to be taking this idea and running with it today. Most of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were people who COULD NOT prepare for the storm. They were the poorest and most vulnerable among us and were not able to get themselves out of danger.

I'm not saying every single one of them was, but I'm becoming frustrated by what CNN and the rest of the media has been saying all, while re-writing history. Most of those people didn't die or get stranded because they were stupid and didn't prepare. They died because they were vulnerable (whether from poverty, illness, age, or whatever) and couldn't prepare.

[fci]

Problem down here in So. Fla is that "next time" or the time after that; they will be less vigilant.

It is human nature after Katrina and Wilma last year to take all systems very seriously and that is a good thing.

If Ernesto had bombed; then all the preparation would have been put to good use and if another threatens again this season; people are ready after this dry run.

But; if nothing else threatens, I expect next year's reaction (or the year after if there is nothing next year) to be a whole lot more laid back and people will blow off the warning to the old "it won't happen, it never does" attitude.

That is until they get smacked again and the vigilance comes back for a while.

[Dean4Storms]

Sorry for the smack of reality, but that very attitude of it won't happen too me is what caused alot of Katrina victims. Better safe than sorry!

I just want to be fair here, since everyone seems to be taking this idea and running with it today. Most of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were people who COULD NOT prepare for the storm. They were the poorest and most vulnerable among us and were not able to get themselves out of danger.

I'm not saying every single one of them was, but I'm becoming frustrated by what CNN and the rest of the media has been saying all, while re-writing history. Most of those people didn't die or get stranded because they were stupid and didn't prepare. They died because they were vulnerable (whether from poverty, illness, age, or whatever) and couldn't prepare.

The elderly and sick we agree, but poverty doesn't stop anyone from filling up plastic jugs with fresh water before a storm or getting yourself to an evacuation shelter when a Cat.4 storm is approaching. Face it, New Orleans had dodged so many recent bullets that many had come to think they would again and many got caught. I had 10 families at my Church who all said that very thing.

[NFLnut]

I'm all for preparedness, but I would absolutely HATE to know I live next door to someone who is storing that much gas in or around their home, especially knowing that this is not exactly a Cat 5 at their doorstep! How long is it going to take for them to use all of that gas now that it appears Ernie will be a Trop storm at best?

And I know how much gas it takes to run a generator for several days. I had that problem quite a lot after Charley, Frances, and Jeanne left gas stations without power to pump out gas for days! But let's get a grip on reality!

Some people such as myself have more than one generator, some have businesses that they also need gas to run, e.t.c....

I understand that. I'm not saying it's a hard and fast rule, however, we all know that there are usually a large number of those who probably DON'T need to fill 20 gas cans!

As to the business aspect: I'm well aware of that. I have two businesses that were without power for 17 days (7 at one, and 10 at the other) after Hurricane Charley and I had to pay a LOT of money for a commercial, diesel generator to keep them running. In all, we lost tens of thousands of dollars. Jeanne and Frances left us wuthout power at one or the other for several days as well.

[caribepr]

The name of this thread made me want to do something that would probably get me banned, but the actual post was sane and reasonable. PLEASE!!! Let's not turn what is *not* happening at this moment in Florida into something very ugly, connecting it to every storm that ever happened.
There ARE victims of Ernesto, not in the states maybe, but I can bet pretty much with assurance Haiti has some funerals going on soon.
It's WEATHER for goodness sake!! No one can, with total accuracy, predict it...all the held breaths of the last couple of days are now being exhaled with some anger, some with relief, but please, get a grip here...it is still early in the season, and there ARE some victims here.
That said, one thing more. Those of us who tend to watch the weather literally MINUTE BY MINUTE can go insane much more easily than those who simply say, oh, it's hurricane season, better be ready, Oh, it's headed my way, better finish being ready, or not or whatever they say. Remember, weather weenies, we are SUPPOSEDLY intelligent people, using *super tools* flawed though they may be, and are WAY into the weather systems. A very different perspective than a whole lot of people. Just like any little niche group (I mean are you a star person, or a crochet genie, or a farmer? C'mon, think about it a second!), we pay attention to something much more closely than a larger group who depend on commercial sources...so chill out, please. Please. There is enough stress already.

[gilbert88]

Great post CaribePR... I think many (most) of us think likewise.

[krisj]

It may not be for FL, but we are still waiting to see what will happen on the East Coast. It may not be much ado about nothing come Thursday and Friday. It probably isn't only hitting Fl ya know.

[NFLnut]

I've always approached the storms here in the Panhandle with the attitude of better safe than sorry. You can't blame those people for taking what they felt were necessary precautions. If Ernesto had deepened rapidly, which could have occured in the right set of circumstances you may have been the one looking into the TV Camera yelling for FEMA to bring you some gas and water while those that prepared laughed at you.

Sorry for the smack of reality, but that very attitude of it won't happen too me is what caused alot of Katrina victims. Better safe than sorry!

I would never point the finger of blame at anyone but myself. I take the steps every year to make sure that I am prepared at the beginning of the season, and continue to restock as needed. All part of being a fourth-generation Floridian. I don't think the government is responsible for supplying me with food, water, gas, ... There are far too many people who think otherwise!

[caribepr]

It may not be for FL, but we are still waiting to see what will happen on the East Coast. It may not be much ado about nothing come Thursday and Friday. It probably isn't only hitting Fl ya know.

Krisj, then apply it to whatever state you want to. I agree with that part...this could do something horrible somewhere else (or not) and hurt state side people and then everything would shift in opinions and posts.
But that is more or less my point....we don't know WHAT will happen next, only educated guesses...so prepare, watch and see and if your preps are for *nothing* then GOOD FOR YOU!!!

[Texas SpeedDiva]

Sorry for the smack of reality, but that very attitude of it won't happen too me is what caused alot of Katrina victims. Better safe than sorry!

I just want to be fair here, since everyone seems to be taking this idea and running with it today. Most of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were people who COULD NOT prepare for the storm. They were the poorest and most vulnerable among us and were not able to get themselves out of danger.

I'm not saying every single one of them was, but I'm becoming frustrated by what CNN and the rest of the media has been saying all, while re-writing history. Most of those people didn't die or get stranded because they were stupid and didn't prepare. They died because they were vulnerable (whether from poverty, illness, age, or whatever) and couldn't prepare.

Are these the same people who today were complaining that Texas and Houston has not showed them any Southern hospitality, kindness or compassion? Yes, I heard that this morning in an interview with a "spokesperson" for Katrina evacuees here in the Houston area.

I am tired of these people complaining that no one did enough to protect them and no one is doing enough for them now. At some point people have to take some personal responsibility.

[caribepr]

I am tired of these people complaining that no one did enough to protect them and no one is doing enough for them now. At some point people have to take some personal responsibility.

Helloooooooooooo?????? This has been argued to death here, and we all agree...do your part if you can. But this is NOW. Are you ready? If so, good. Then you can help someone else.

[Texas SpeedDiva]

I am tired of these people complaining that no one did enough to protect them and no one is doing enough for them now. At some point people have to take some personal responsibility.

Helloooooooooooo?????? This has been argued to death here, and we all agree...do your part if you can. But this is NOW. Are you ready? If so, good. Then you can help someone else.

I realize this is NOW. I also realize that I am still having to listen to these people complain about this on a daily basis.

Personally, yes, I AM ready. Help someone else. I DID during the aftermath of Katrina and I DID during Rita and I probably will again in the future when the need arises.

I just found it highly insulting that today, on the anniversary of Katrina, that these people who were welcomed to Texas and Houston who were given shelter, free rent and utilities for a year are complaining that they have not been shown Southern hospitality, kindness and compassion. Sorry for the rant, but it's things like that which tend to make people have less sympathy towards the Katrina evacuees and less will to help in the future.

[caribepr]

Ok. I can understand that frustration. But...don't hold back your heart because of a minority. And it IS a minority, just a loud one. Hang in there Diva!