From S2K Admins and Staff!

[Rainband]

The officer that lives next door said we will be as safe here as anywhere

[southerngale]

sooner...I got a red x with that link.

I'm guessing that you don't have a web browser plug-in to view Adobe pdf files...

Well, I did. I'm not surprised though...the idiot who custom-built my computer made me a piece of crap and then sold his business and took off to the Philippines. Every time I send it back to get it worked on, (they're supposedly "honoring" the warranty) it comes back with something else not working right. I don't even have JAVA on here anymore and it won't let me download it. I don't know how to fix any of it. Ugh...lesson learned and a lot of money lost.

Find yourself a computer geek to be a friend. Ask people you know about who they know that is a wizard with computers. Meet that person and offer a small payment in return for their help, like a free barbecue or something, with trimmings.

You'd be surprised how many people out there are quite capable and more than willing to help.

Good idea...thanks sooner!

[soonertwister]

As safe as I am now in Colorado? Somehow the wisdom of a statement that you are as safe as anywhere where you are strikes me as a little hollow with a potential major hurricane projected to come very near to your location, and you living in an area that is projected to possibly be flooded by surge in a less-than-major hurricane.

But hey, he wears a badge, he must know something.

[breeze]

Johnathan, get your patoosh (pardon)OUT of
there, Sir!!

I don't even live in a hurricane area, and, I still
know that where you are is NOT a good place!

[southerngale]

The officer that lives next door said we will be as safe here as anywhere

I wouldn't trust ONE officer who may not even know what he's talking about over the EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS who say evacuate. You talk about complacency all the time...you need to leave, even if it's alone.

[GalvestonDuck]

I agree...I wouldn't stay!

But if you do, get an ax! Someone posted earlier about clawmarks on the ceilings where people got stranded inside and in the rising water and the only way out was UP...and, unless you have a sunroof, you're probably not going to be able to just open a door or window and climb out.

Seriously, go!

Johnathan! YOU TOO, darn it! I'm worried about ya, buddy!

[southerngale]

KayFL...you too! GO! Better safe than sorry!

[Pebbles]

I am in evacuation zone A and we have been given a mandatory evac by 6am tomorrow. I think we are staying. We are about a mile and a half from Tampa Bay. Our house was built in 1995 and has many hurricane upgrades so I think it will be okay. My only worry is flooding. They are predicting a 14 ft surge within Tampa Bay.

I have a question - if I live 1 1/2 miles from the bay and the bay at our location has a 14 foot tide surge, how much of that surge will reach me if most of the area in between is 0 to 8 ft above sea level and my neighborhood is 10-12 ft.?
Thanks,
KayFL

Kay, since no one has responded I'm going to offer my own .02.

You are in an "A" evacuation zone, and at 6:00 am tomorrow if I understand correctly, everyone who is in an A or B zone will be under a mandatory evacuation order. I personally think it would be VERY foolish to stay where you are.

Have you made alternate plans? I would be next to impossible at this late time to find hotel accommodations anywhere near the Tampa area. If you have any family or friends a little ways inland I would suggest that you start by asking those folks to put you up for a short time. Don't risk being a statistic with this storm, it's just too much risk.

Storm surge into bays on the right side of a strong hurricane can be difficult to exactly predict ahead of time, and the evacuation zones are based upon probability. Based upon the probability zone that you are in, if you stay, you'd better be lucky or you'd better be a very good swimmer.

I'm not kidding, get your butt out of there, away from the coast and on higher ground. Your life may not depend on it, but it very well could. There's no reason for you to take that risk.

I am going to say Ditto to this and add my hope that you will SERIOUSLY reconsider. If the predicted storm surge comes in you and your family could be in very real danger.

[cswitwer]

I don't think it's the number of feet of water that's most dangerous in a surge situation-- (and I'm not expert here), but I think it's the force of the moving water that is so terrifying. Homes get ripped from foundations, boats float down the street and into houses, etc. Don't wanna scare ya, but storm surge is just super-powerful, so please don't underestimate it! Best of luck tonight and tomorrow!

[vbhoutex]

JOHNATHAN!!! GET OUT OF THERE!!!! You may be on the second floor, but if Charley comes in as progged right over you as a CAT3 unless your apt is to strict hurricane code you could easily lose your roof and/or windows if he holds true and landfalls on top of you! I'm not trying to scare you, I'm telling you facts. Been there Done that buddy! Don't want to do it again nor do I want to find out one of my friends was injured or worse!!!! GET OUT!!!!

KAYFL YOU DO THE SAME. Nothing you own is worth your life!! Nothing!!! If you are in a mandatory evac zone then get out now before you can't!!!! I don't know how else to say it. I've watched 30 foot waves wash clear over barrier islands before and seen what a 14 foot storm surge can do 15 miles inland on a bay. Now is the time to leave, before you can't. Please do so EVERYONE WHO IS IN AN EVAC ZONE.

As the poster above said it is also the force of the water coming in with the surge. During Opal my parents sailboat, secured at the marina 10 miles inland ended up with a 35 foot cabin cruiser on top of it due to some fool trying to ride the surge out on his boat. Folks that was in a bayou 10 miles inland from Destin!!!

[caribepr]

Just a thought rainband...being on the second floor won't help much if the foundations go - and having lived in Fla most of my life, I'd be hardpressed to believe in the soundness of foundations. Height really has nothing to do with safety, and from reading many of your posts, you aren't a stupid person. If you are a speed reader, check out Condiminium by John McDonald - fiction but true enough. Be safe.

[birdwomn]

Please do not try to ride out this storm in zone A or B near Tampa Bay. It is foolhardy at best.

Please don't forget that they may decide tomorrow that since it is a stronger storm than expected MORE people will need to evacuate, not less.

[mf_dolphin]

I just spoke with Johnathan and he is leaving!

[azsnowman]

Indeed, everyone in the path has my prayers and the prayers of my family. I've never been faced with a hurricane, tornado, the only thing I have to worry about is wildfires and I've only been evac'd once, I can't IMAGINE the STRESS of having to leave because of a hurricane.....take care folks and rest assured, your in my thoughts and prayers!

Dennis

[bfez1]

To everyone in Charley's path pls be careful and stay safe. Check in with us as soon as possible.
Sending prayers your way!!!
Love,
Bon

[stormraiser]

What Bonnie said. And those of you in the Evac Zones, take the advice here. We wouldn't want to lose any of you because of some police officer's bravado.

[j]

My thoughts and prayers go out to katwood, aka as kristen. Last I knew she lived in Boca. If you should chack in Kristen, we are praying for your safety.

[KayFL]

OOOOO I am sooo relieved for us in the Tampa area.
But my in-laws are in Ft Myers.