Living in Tampa Bay area beaches and am feeling better...

[nickd]

I am feeling a sigh of relief right now. I will watch closely but I don't feel he is coming my way.

[Opal storm]

Nice to hear

[wxwatcher2]

Break out the Sunscreen and beach chairs.

[roostercogburn]

I believe I concur. Watching neighbors putting up plywood though. Guess better safe than sorry. But, an awful lot of money and effort I do believe for nothing right now.

[roostercogburn]

But hold on, Rainband will be here soon telling you to batten down the hatches, it still could make the 90 and roll into Port Richey.

[nickd]

yes alot of money. Get rid of the 5 day forecast. Causes too much panic. Especially in a storm weary state like Florida.

[yoda]

Hold on a sec... 3 day track shows Tampa in it per 5 PM... but just barely...

[roostercogburn]

I could not agree more. I could see someone maybe buying the plywood now, but putting it up with the trends being what they are is insane. I would have waited till I saw the projected path tomorrow. Man they are sweating their ba--- off.

[nickd]

there is no plywood now. when the rush is on you go and get what you need pronto. if you wait you will have nothing. its insane.

[roostercogburn]

Nick I agree that buying the plywood asap is important. I have mine in the shed back from Charley. But I would not put it up until I had a little better idea of the track of this thing. That's all.

[ColdFront77]

Not so fast with a tropical cyclone, especially one this slow and even more unpredictable.

[stormie]

The dilemma with respect to putting up plywood has not only to do with the current trend of the 'cone of terror' but also with one's job. Without an official all-clear, we must still believe it's possible (however unlikely) that Ivan moves near Tampa. If we don't at least start boarding-up today, once the work week starts, we won't have time to board-up if it turns out we need to because we'll be at work.

Many employers required their employees to be at work in Tampa very close to the arrival of Charley and Frances -- even in some cases at the same time that they were supposed to be evacuating! Many were unable to even consider evacuating this Fri/Sat for this exact reason...but I drift off topic...

[feederband]

What, no one and I mean no one can say it will or will not hit Tampa. Stay alert and just pretend it still might be ground zero.....Because it could be.

[birdwomn]

Many employers required their employees to be at work in Tampa very close to the arrival of Charley and Frances -- even in some cases at the same time that they were supposed to be evacuating! Many were unable to even consider evacuating this Fri/Sat for this exact reason...but I drift off topic...

This has beena tough call for employers. I know I have a hard time with it because we need to be open if there is no threat as we serve the public and are an information source. I finally decided upon the following emergency policy: if there is a call for evacuation of the area of our building, or watches/warnings posted, we are clsoed. Otherwise we are open. If you are an employee that cannot report to work due to the emergency for some other reason, contact management. Taking care of home and family comes first. (Note: the entire staff lives within 10 miles of the workplace, most within 2 miles, so it is not like everyone has different weather situations with which to deal)