Hurricane Matthew October 6, 2016 9:32 AM Subscribe
Matthew is now a Category 4 hurricane and the latest forecast has it headed straight up the coast of Florida and points North. MeFites that are fleeing this beast, let us know you're OK and update us if you desire. Once the storm passes, let us know how we can help.
You can help now by donating blood ahead of the storm and donating to the redcross.
What comes in before is useful because it can be distributed quicker and be on hand as soon as it passes
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:41 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
What comes in before is useful because it can be distributed quicker and be on hand as soon as it passes
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:41 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
In addition, if you live along an evacuation route, you can volunteer at local shelters, and/or offer space in your home for people or pets. Some shelters won't allow pets, so people choose to stay in very dangerous conditions, and animal shelters get very overcrowded fast.
Also, if you are in an area that may be inundated with evacuees, try to do grocery shopping and such now, while supply lines are smoothly running.
Katrina caused many difficulties in cities along evacuation routes because I 10 was damaged and nothing could come in through the port. There were food riots and lack of housing (and rental spaces period) in cities such as Baton Rouge, Memphis and Huston.
Remember stay calm and be kind.
Hugs to all.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:52 AM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Also, if you are in an area that may be inundated with evacuees, try to do grocery shopping and such now, while supply lines are smoothly running.
Katrina caused many difficulties in cities along evacuation routes because I 10 was damaged and nothing could come in through the port. There were food riots and lack of housing (and rental spaces period) in cities such as Baton Rouge, Memphis and Huston.
Remember stay calm and be kind.
Hugs to all.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:52 AM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
So, basically my entire family lives in the path of this hurricane.
My brother lives in Jacksonville and just bought a house (moved in last weekend, so he's barely got himself combobulated), so has all the unfamiliarities of a new home in a heavy storm to deal with. His boss lives in a mandatory evac zone east of my brother, so my brother has invited boss + boss' wife + boss' small child + boss' two large dogs to come stay with him for the storm. My brother also has two large dogs. For those who haven't been counting, this is now four large dogs during what will be a terrible storm at best, plus a small child, plus three adults, in a two bedroom house with very minimal furniture, and possibly at some point no electricity, for an unspecified length of time. Brother emailed the family this morning to check in with everyone, and my dad reminded him that if there's going to be a child in the house he needs to unload all his weapons (Florida, folks) and put them somewhere safely out of the way, ideally locked. My brother confirmed that his "arsenal" (again, Florida) will be safely stowed and out of reach.
Grandma and uncle are south of there, a bit more inland. They'll probably get wind and heavy rain and lose power for a while, but not have too much trouble.
My parents are up farther north in a very marshy part of Savannah. They got a mandatory evac notice today, so tomorrow morning they're going to be heading about 12 miles west to my dad's office. It's a big solid brick building on higher ground and has a backup diesel generator for the factory, so they should be safe and relatively comfortable with electric. It's where we waited out Hugo. (Back then we were alone in the building, but in the ensuing several decades folks have caught on, so they'll probably be sharing the office with several other families.) The big concern is that even if their house gets out of the storm unscathed, there's a lot of road in between the office and home, and they may be stuck for a while before roads are cleared enough to actually make it back. I've already changed my steam password so my mom can set up the Jackbox games for everyone to play, since I figure they'll probably be stuck and bored for a while.
One of the things I've noticed most since moving to Chicago is how big of a difference not having to worry about natural disasters makes to my peace of mind. Growing up, 5 months out of the year was spent watching hurricane and tropical storm forecasts. Even though we were always extremely lucky in terms of home damage, there was always fallout--power outages, flooding in the city, downed trees everywhere, more power outages. There's a palpable difference to me now living somewhere I don't have to deal with it. I could never move back into a danger zone. But of course all of my family still does, so that blows.
Anyway, I'm watching this storm. You guys in the path, be careful, good luck, and please stay safe.
posted by phunniemee at 10:13 AM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
My brother lives in Jacksonville and just bought a house (moved in last weekend, so he's barely got himself combobulated), so has all the unfamiliarities of a new home in a heavy storm to deal with. His boss lives in a mandatory evac zone east of my brother, so my brother has invited boss + boss' wife + boss' small child + boss' two large dogs to come stay with him for the storm. My brother also has two large dogs. For those who haven't been counting, this is now four large dogs during what will be a terrible storm at best, plus a small child, plus three adults, in a two bedroom house with very minimal furniture, and possibly at some point no electricity, for an unspecified length of time. Brother emailed the family this morning to check in with everyone, and my dad reminded him that if there's going to be a child in the house he needs to unload all his weapons (Florida, folks) and put them somewhere safely out of the way, ideally locked. My brother confirmed that his "arsenal" (again, Florida) will be safely stowed and out of reach.
Grandma and uncle are south of there, a bit more inland. They'll probably get wind and heavy rain and lose power for a while, but not have too much trouble.
My parents are up farther north in a very marshy part of Savannah. They got a mandatory evac notice today, so tomorrow morning they're going to be heading about 12 miles west to my dad's office. It's a big solid brick building on higher ground and has a backup diesel generator for the factory, so they should be safe and relatively comfortable with electric. It's where we waited out Hugo. (Back then we were alone in the building, but in the ensuing several decades folks have caught on, so they'll probably be sharing the office with several other families.) The big concern is that even if their house gets out of the storm unscathed, there's a lot of road in between the office and home, and they may be stuck for a while before roads are cleared enough to actually make it back. I've already changed my steam password so my mom can set up the Jackbox games for everyone to play, since I figure they'll probably be stuck and bored for a while.
One of the things I've noticed most since moving to Chicago is how big of a difference not having to worry about natural disasters makes to my peace of mind. Growing up, 5 months out of the year was spent watching hurricane and tropical storm forecasts. Even though we were always extremely lucky in terms of home damage, there was always fallout--power outages, flooding in the city, downed trees everywhere, more power outages. There's a palpable difference to me now living somewhere I don't have to deal with it. I could never move back into a danger zone. But of course all of my family still does, so that blows.
Anyway, I'm watching this storm. You guys in the path, be careful, good luck, and please stay safe.
posted by phunniemee at 10:13 AM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
I'm spending next week on Martha's Vineyard, so that should be interesting.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:14 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:14 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Latest forecast seems to be that the eye may actually make a slight landfall north of me. Just need to fill the bathtubs and we're pretty much as prepared as we can get. The step daughter and her wife are coming over later, they live in a trailer home and so got an evacuation call.
Not worrying so much about house damage. We live in a townhome built about 7 years ago, so it's solid. Not so happy about the thought of being a week or more without power. Especially with our dogs, the girl's dogs and the birds. Birds also mean no candles.
Everybody be safe. See you all on the other side. Of the storm, that is.
posted by Splunge at 10:22 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Not worrying so much about house damage. We live in a townhome built about 7 years ago, so it's solid. Not so happy about the thought of being a week or more without power. Especially with our dogs, the girl's dogs and the birds. Birds also mean no candles.
Everybody be safe. See you all on the other side. Of the storm, that is.
posted by Splunge at 10:22 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's funny. We moved here about 4 years ago. No hurricanes. So we didn't think much about it. Things are different now. Two immediate purchases down the road. A portable generator. A bunch of plastic pallets, to get everything off of the garage floor.
posted by Splunge at 10:34 AM on October 6, 2016
posted by Splunge at 10:34 AM on October 6, 2016
If you are planning to use a generator, keep in mind that the exhaust from it contains carbon monoxide. Don't use it inside your house; put it somewhere with lots of ventilation (like a garage with the garage door open).
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:51 AM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:51 AM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
(Bathtub water is for flushing toilets and light washing, you shouldn't drink straight bathtub water no matter how clean your bathtub is.)
posted by phunniemee at 10:55 AM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:55 AM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Bathtubs are for gin.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:04 AM on October 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:04 AM on October 6, 2016 [15 favorites]
gin sounds about right for flushing a toilet, good call.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:06 AM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 11:06 AM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
gin sounds about right for flushing a toilet, good call.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on October 6 [+] [Flagged]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:10 AM on October 6, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on October 6 [+] [Flagged]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:10 AM on October 6, 2016 [34 favorites]
This is why you really need two bathtubs.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:12 AM on October 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:12 AM on October 6, 2016 [16 favorites]
To hold additional gin?
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:14 AM on October 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 11:14 AM on October 6, 2016 [24 favorites]
This is why my home is made entirely of bathtubs.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:19 AM on October 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:19 AM on October 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
Iodine tablets should be on hand for bathtub water drinking.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:20 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:20 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
As louisianian turned chicagoIan I'll take freezing cold weather and snow over hurricanes any day.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:21 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:21 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Looks like it's landing just north of Boca Raton, where the entire New York Sparber clan, including my father, wound up when they got old enough to migrate south, which seems to be something hardwired into the Jewish experience.
Sparbers, I hope this misses you. I hope it misses everyone.
posted by maxsparber at 12:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Sparbers, I hope this misses you. I hope it misses everyone.
posted by maxsparber at 12:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
As louisianian turned chicagoIan I'll take freezing cold weather and snow over hurricanes any day.
As a lifetime Midwesterner, I couldn't agree more. (The best thing about living in the "city proper" is how I don't have to even freak out about tornado warnings, though as somebody who grew up in rural Illinois, I still have "tornado dreams" a couple of times a year.)
Stay safe friends.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:12 PM on October 6, 2016
As a lifetime Midwesterner, I couldn't agree more. (The best thing about living in the "city proper" is how I don't have to even freak out about tornado warnings, though as somebody who grew up in rural Illinois, I still have "tornado dreams" a couple of times a year.)
Stay safe friends.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:12 PM on October 6, 2016
I'm in St Petersburg and it looks like we wont see much, if any, weather from this. I put the word out on Twitter that I'm happy to take in cats and small animals for anyone evacuating to a shelter or hotel that doesn't take pets, so feel free to pass it on. I can't personally shelter a dog but I do know a few people who might. A friend of mine works with bully breed rescue organizations so she's a resource as well.
When the barrier island I lived on was evacuated for Charley, I went inland to stay with a friend in Cape Coral. When the storm turned at the last minute, we scrambled for Fort Lauderdale as it nipped at our heels. Sitting in that hotel room watching the news reports was gut wrenching but it didn't prepare me for seeing the island I love so much utterly leveled to scrubbed dirt when I returned home. Sitting here for the last couple of days trying to figure out if I'd get boxed in by staying has been one of the hardest things I've done in a while. It took everything I had not to flee to Nebraska or something.
My heart is absolutely breaking for my fellow Floridians in the storm's path. I'll be up with you tonight as Matthew makes landfall and when it passes I'll be right here to help wherever and whenever I can. Just say the word.
posted by _Mona_ at 12:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
When the barrier island I lived on was evacuated for Charley, I went inland to stay with a friend in Cape Coral. When the storm turned at the last minute, we scrambled for Fort Lauderdale as it nipped at our heels. Sitting in that hotel room watching the news reports was gut wrenching but it didn't prepare me for seeing the island I love so much utterly leveled to scrubbed dirt when I returned home. Sitting here for the last couple of days trying to figure out if I'd get boxed in by staying has been one of the hardest things I've done in a while. It took everything I had not to flee to Nebraska or something.
My heart is absolutely breaking for my fellow Floridians in the storm's path. I'll be up with you tonight as Matthew makes landfall and when it passes I'll be right here to help wherever and whenever I can. Just say the word.
posted by _Mona_ at 12:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
As louisianian turned chicagoIan I'll take freezing cold weather and snow over hurricanes any day.
As a Bostonian I say HA WE HAVE BOTH!
And please stay safe, friends.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 12:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
As a Bostonian I say HA WE HAVE BOTH!
And please stay safe, friends.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 12:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
My mom with the bum leg is vacationing in Myrtle Beach, just east of the current evacuation zone. She's not planning on going anywhere. I just hung up the phone with her, I had to, after pointing out that a cooler and ice might be a good idea to have on hand for her INSULIN, which hadn't even OCCURRED to her.
LADY, YOUR BROOKLYN SWAGGER IS INAPPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:22 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
LADY, YOUR BROOKLYN SWAGGER IS INAPPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:22 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
I mean, it usually works so well, so she's fine and unrattled, I'm the one who'll be popping antihistamines like tic-tacs until Monday or so to combat the hives.
Please stay safe, hopefully sane people of MetaFilter.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2016
Please stay safe, hopefully sane people of MetaFilter.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2016
Turns out my 95-year-old grandmother hasn't made the trip to Boca yet, for which I am immensely grateful. She's weathered hurricanes before, but not in many years, and her mobility isn't what it was.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:25 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I live in Myrtle Beach, SC but I'm about 5 miles from the beach in Zone C, and they're only calling for an evacuation of Zone A. I'm a little freaked out by the prediction of 15 inches of rain, our yard flooded a bit when we got about 5-7 inches in that tropical storm right before Labor Day. We've got three different species of pet so evacuation is not something we can do easily. From the looks of my Nextdoor neighborhood group, most people around here are staying.
So we've decided to shelter in place. We've got strong windows and our house is built up enough that I think the house won't flood, though we'll probably get cut off from driving anywhere. We do have a couple boats if absolutely necessary.
We've got about 30 gallons of drinking water, a lot of nonperishable food, plenty of propane for cooking, and a generator. I'm keeping the cell phone charged. I'll report in periodically.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:28 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
So we've decided to shelter in place. We've got strong windows and our house is built up enough that I think the house won't flood, though we'll probably get cut off from driving anywhere. We do have a couple boats if absolutely necessary.
We've got about 30 gallons of drinking water, a lot of nonperishable food, plenty of propane for cooking, and a generator. I'm keeping the cell phone charged. I'll report in periodically.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:28 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
LobsterMitten: "This is why you really need two bathtubs."
I actually have three. None for gin, all just for flushing. And remember, if it's yellow let it mellow. If it's brown flush it down.
posted by Splunge at 12:30 PM on October 6, 2016
I actually have three. None for gin, all just for flushing. And remember, if it's yellow let it mellow. If it's brown flush it down.
posted by Splunge at 12:30 PM on October 6, 2016
Why would your gin be brown
posted by beerperson at 12:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by beerperson at 12:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Why would your gin be brown
Barrel aging
posted by Jahaza at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Barrel aging
posted by Jahaza at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
WARNING: DO NOT BATHE IN A BARREL
posted by beerperson at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by beerperson at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
WARNING: DO NOT BATHE IN A BARREL
Hey I've done that and I lived!
posted by Jalliah at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hey I've done that and I lived!
posted by Jalliah at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
but now my gin tastes funny
posted by beerperson at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by beerperson at 12:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
That cartoon snake was in a barrel that one time and he just got really drunk.
posted by selfnoise at 12:39 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by selfnoise at 12:39 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, having now read the thread... we also have two bathtubs and a lot of gin. :)
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:39 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:39 PM on October 6, 2016
but now my gin tastes funny
It's Jalligin
posted by Jalliah at 12:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's Jalligin
posted by Jalliah at 12:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
WARNING: DO NOT BATHE IN A BARREL
posted by beerperson
Eponysterical.
posted by Melismata at 12:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by beerperson
Eponysterical.
posted by Melismata at 12:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I was traumatized enough by Katrina (evacuee, twas living in Baton Rouge which did just fine comparatively) that I have an ax and iodine tablets. In chicago.
I also have mapped out the stores I concider to most likely have non perishables to purchase.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:54 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I also have mapped out the stores I concider to most likely have non perishables to purchase.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:54 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
beerperson: "but now my gin tastes funny"
Funny strange or funny haha? Funny like a clown? Does it amuse you?
posted by Splunge at 12:59 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Funny strange or funny haha? Funny like a clown? Does it amuse you?
posted by Splunge at 12:59 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
In downtown Miami, in a highrise overlooking the Miami River where it empties into Biscayne Bay... I can see the ocean beyond the container port and Virginia Key and it looks surprisingly calm. It's very quiet out there - not a single boat anywhere in the river or the bay.
No storm surge here as far as I can tell - aside from a couple of rain bands bringing some brief gusts, it's mainly just been a murky and breezy day. If anything, the wind died down as the storm got closer through the early afternoon. Looks like we really dodged a bullet. We still might catch some heavy stuff on the back side of the storm as it continues to angle toward the coast north of us, but I don't think we'll see anything like what they're going to get up there.
Just saw a manatee in the river, enjoying a break from all the knuckleheads in powerboats ignoring the speed limits every other day of the year.
posted by theory at 1:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
No storm surge here as far as I can tell - aside from a couple of rain bands bringing some brief gusts, it's mainly just been a murky and breezy day. If anything, the wind died down as the storm got closer through the early afternoon. Looks like we really dodged a bullet. We still might catch some heavy stuff on the back side of the storm as it continues to angle toward the coast north of us, but I don't think we'll see anything like what they're going to get up there.
Just saw a manatee in the river, enjoying a break from all the knuckleheads in powerboats ignoring the speed limits every other day of the year.
posted by theory at 1:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Um, the actual hurricane is still south of Miami. The calm before the storm. Be safe.
posted by Splunge at 1:02 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 1:02 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
but now my gin tastes funny
duh the iodine was for the water.
posted by Namlit at 1:02 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
duh the iodine was for the water.
posted by Namlit at 1:02 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not saying we're out of the woods, but the eye is actually to the ENE of us now.
posted by theory at 1:04 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by theory at 1:04 PM on October 6, 2016
That cartoon snake was in a barrel that one time and he just got really drunk.
***SPOILERS***But he still knew that the stork was Robin Hood***END SPOILERS***
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
***SPOILERS***But he still knew that the stork was Robin Hood***END SPOILERS***
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
My 82 year old mom lives in Central Florida- she was on a car crash last night- they sent her home with cast on arm and on leg. She is supposed to be on bed rest. Her 86 year old partner is trying to care for her and prep for the storm. I sooo want to hop in car and drive down there!!!
I'm hoping they just get a lot of rain. Ill be glued to weather reports tonight through tommorow....
posted by SyraCarol at 1:13 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm hoping they just get a lot of rain. Ill be glued to weather reports tonight through tommorow....
posted by SyraCarol at 1:13 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm a Florida native; and the beau is a transplanted Hoosier. The very first rule of hurricane prep that I had to teach him was: "If it's under a Cat 3, and you're not in a low-lying area near the beach, you can ride it out at home. Just be prepared for a few days of power outages. If it's anything above that, you leave."
This one's a scary looking one. I have friends, mefites and otherwise, in the areas likely to experience the greatest impact from the storm. I hope there's not too much damage, and power is restored quickly.
(I'd still take this over snow any day.)
posted by PearlRose at 1:13 PM on October 6, 2016
This one's a scary looking one. I have friends, mefites and otherwise, in the areas likely to experience the greatest impact from the storm. I hope there's not too much damage, and power is restored quickly.
(I'd still take this over snow any day.)
posted by PearlRose at 1:13 PM on October 6, 2016
The real happiest place on earth is the St Augustine Alligator Farm, it's really more of a zoo/research & conservation center/home for toothless old gators, and their facebook page provides a little look at what zoos in the storm's path are doing to shelter their critters.
My boyfriend's family in Jacksonville has sent some photos of the St Johns, it's already higher than I've ever seen it and the storm is still a full day away.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:16 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
My boyfriend's family in Jacksonville has sent some photos of the St Johns, it's already higher than I've ever seen it and the storm is still a full day away.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:16 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
AlexiaSky: "As louisianian turned chicagoIan I'll take freezing cold weather and snow over hurricanes any day."
Thanks for your support. Seems like we are lacking a 'gloating over other peoples misfortune' thread. Perhaps you would like to start one?
posted by Splunge at 1:20 PM on October 6, 2016
Thanks for your support. Seems like we are lacking a 'gloating over other peoples misfortune' thread. Perhaps you would like to start one?
posted by Splunge at 1:20 PM on October 6, 2016
Seconding the Alligator Farm.
My whole family lives in Jax, my parents on an island in between the St. John's river and a canal. The canal is behind the across-the-street-neighbor's house. They are in zone c, which is voluntary evacuation, but with a 10-12-foot storm surge, I can't imagine they will escape unscathed.
My mom has limited mobility in one arm because of a torn rotator cuff, and my step-dad is on a walker. I'm worried about them.
I grew up hearing about how Jacksonville never gets hit by hurricanes, which, everyone always said, will make the inevitable time that it does all the more terrible. Looks like that time is now.
I've been watching the Jax local news all day, and they are stone cold freaking out.
Hugs and prayers to everyone in Florida and the path of this storm.
posted by staggering termagant at 1:30 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
My whole family lives in Jax, my parents on an island in between the St. John's river and a canal. The canal is behind the across-the-street-neighbor's house. They are in zone c, which is voluntary evacuation, but with a 10-12-foot storm surge, I can't imagine they will escape unscathed.
My mom has limited mobility in one arm because of a torn rotator cuff, and my step-dad is on a walker. I'm worried about them.
I grew up hearing about how Jacksonville never gets hit by hurricanes, which, everyone always said, will make the inevitable time that it does all the more terrible. Looks like that time is now.
I've been watching the Jax local news all day, and they are stone cold freaking out.
Hugs and prayers to everyone in Florida and the path of this storm.
posted by staggering termagant at 1:30 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
The vast majority of my family are in South FL, and I am glued to so many weather sites, it's ridiculous. They aren't, because they're all too busy shuttering their homes. Sitting here unable to help is misery. I hope everyone stays safe, and that Matthew (and Nicole) turn east as quickly as possible.
Thanks to any mefites in the area who are continuing to give us updates!
posted by blurker at 1:36 PM on October 6, 2016
Thanks to any mefites in the area who are continuing to give us updates!
posted by blurker at 1:36 PM on October 6, 2016
they are stone cold freaking out
Yes they are.
posted by gwint at 1:37 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes they are.
posted by gwint at 1:37 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Maybe you should take my other comments into account Splunge.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm afraid to ask, AlexiaSky, but - what's the axe for?
posted by blurker at 1:44 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by blurker at 1:44 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wow, gwint, they are freaking out so hard that they are combining red and pink text and multiple fonts.
Aside from the layout, the content is also pretty scary.
posted by staggering termagant at 1:44 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Aside from the layout, the content is also pretty scary.
posted by staggering termagant at 1:44 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
A few people up and down the street are boarding up windows. Makes me wonder. We have some really thick and heavy blinds over our windows. I assume they are there to limit blown glass. I'm pretty sure about our downstairs windows. But we're going to hang a heavy blanket over the one window upstairs. I'm actually very nervous now. Thanks prepared neighbors. It's starting to feel very unreal. Dreamlike. Were now expecting, in Orange County, sustained 110 mph winds. Especially overnight. Glad we were able to pay our homeowners insurance.
posted by Splunge at 1:45 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Splunge at 1:45 PM on October 6, 2016
AlexiaSky: "Maybe you should take my other comments into account Splunge."
No thanks. Too busy being terrified.
posted by Splunge at 1:48 PM on October 6, 2016
No thanks. Too busy being terrified.
posted by Splunge at 1:48 PM on October 6, 2016
To hack though an attic in high flood waters. So you don't drown if you stay behind.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:49 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:49 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Splunge if you can, please board up your windows, flying debris (chairs, branches whatever)can easily go through glass and then you do not have protection from wind and rain.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:51 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:51 PM on October 6, 2016
Well, now zone c is mandatory.
posted by staggering termagant at 1:59 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by staggering termagant at 1:59 PM on October 6, 2016
AlexiaSky: "Splunge if you can, please board up your windows, flying debris (chairs, branches whatever)can easily go through glass and then you do not have protection from wind and rain."
Too late. No wood. Raining heavily now. Don't want to chance the roads here. Already flooding.
posted by Splunge at 2:01 PM on October 6, 2016
Too late. No wood. Raining heavily now. Don't want to chance the roads here. Already flooding.
posted by Splunge at 2:01 PM on October 6, 2016
One thing we have here is a decent community. All porch furniture is gone. From every house. The trees are small. They recently trimmed them. It's a crapshoot, I know.
posted by Splunge at 2:03 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 2:03 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Think it's time to watch Key Largo until the power goes.
posted by Splunge at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Be safe Splunge.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Well, now zone c is mandatory.
did they just make it mandatory? Bit late if they did?
posted by futz at 2:06 PM on October 6, 2016
did they just make it mandatory? Bit late if they did?
posted by futz at 2:06 PM on October 6, 2016
Yeah, futz, I feel the same way. It's already raining, the interstates are parking lots, and there are no hotels up north. It's really late.
posted by staggering termagant at 2:08 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by staggering termagant at 2:08 PM on October 6, 2016
The wind and rain are starting to pick up. My hatches are as battened as they get, adequate supplies of food/water/booze have been acquired, and I'm ready to ride it out in West Palm Beach. I'm actually about 15 miles inland and the forecast is much less dire here, though still nothing to sneeze at. I'm hoping we don't lose power for too long, it will be awful being sealed in here with no air conditioning.
posted by Daily Alice at 2:17 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Daily Alice at 2:17 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Be safe everyone. Find some shelter, find some loved ones, and know that we're thinking good thoughts.
posted by Fizz at 2:27 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Fizz at 2:27 PM on October 6, 2016
AlexiaSky: "Be safe Splunge."
Thanks. Sorry for the earlier snark.
posted by Splunge at 2:27 PM on October 6, 2016
Thanks. Sorry for the earlier snark.
posted by Splunge at 2:27 PM on October 6, 2016
Yeah I know I made some jokey comments in this thread but I am thinking of all of you and hoping for the best. Stay safe!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 2:30 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 2:30 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Seconding that.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:31 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:31 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you are now shrltering in place: please remind yourself, friends and family members there are small things that can be done in the house - while the is electricity is on charigng electrical devices and batteries. Unplug things you don't need, move power strips from the floor, move important items birth certificates, photos documents into water safe containers and place up high. Unplug sensative electronic equipment that if the power cycles will break. Take old books, magazines, containers to prop up objects (couches and dressers) in case of light flooding. Pack a backpack for evacuation if need be. Organize first aid kits.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:38 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
We've moved all the stuff off the patio, battened down the hatches and have everything charged up (I honestly wish I'd have gone ahead and splurged on a generator last summer, but oh well). We live in World Golf Village, about 20 minutes from St. Augustine and a half hour from Jacksonville, so the next 24 hours should be fairly... interesting.
I worry for the folks in the flood zones, and I hope they're already someplace else. Here's hoping everything looks mostly the same this time tomorrow.
posted by Mooski at 2:43 PM on October 6, 2016
I worry for the folks in the flood zones, and I hope they're already someplace else. Here's hoping everything looks mostly the same this time tomorrow.
posted by Mooski at 2:43 PM on October 6, 2016
If you need any entertainment and/or are concerned about how Vanilla Ice is doing, hes live-tweeting his Hurricane Matthew experience
Stay safe everyone.
posted by Fig at 2:52 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Stay safe everyone.
posted by Fig at 2:52 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
One thing that might be useful. Run your AC cold. Maybe colder than you like. So if/when the power goes out your home will stay cooler, longer.
At the peak of the wind do not 'crack a window' , the pressure differential can break glass very easily.
When the girls got here we had them park their car across the garage door. On the outside. It will mitigate direct wind and rain attacking the bottom of the door.
You probably have a bunch of jars and pitchers that you never use. Fill them all with water.
We emptied the ice maker in our fridge several times. The freezer is now filled with gallon ziplocks full of ice cubes. They have so many uses. Put a few on the top shelf in the fridge. There you have a high tech 'icebox'. Use some in a travel cooler to keep perishables cold. When they melt, you can drink them.
DO you have a spray bottle that doesn't have anything in it? We have one we use to bathe the birds. Fill it up. Use it on mist to keep cool. Do not use this with things like empty toilet cleaners and the such. They always have dangerous residue in them, even if you rinse them out.
Your car can charge your phone if you have a car adapter.
Be safe. If you have dogs or such, do not walk them when the winds get bad. I have wee wee pads in a back hall. But even if you don't, cleaning it up is better than trying to find your head when a sheet of siding takes it clean off.
When in doubt, don't do the stupid thing. Be very careful and be doubly safe. I love you all. In three days we'll laugh and laugh. YMMV
posted by Splunge at 2:58 PM on October 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
At the peak of the wind do not 'crack a window' , the pressure differential can break glass very easily.
When the girls got here we had them park their car across the garage door. On the outside. It will mitigate direct wind and rain attacking the bottom of the door.
You probably have a bunch of jars and pitchers that you never use. Fill them all with water.
We emptied the ice maker in our fridge several times. The freezer is now filled with gallon ziplocks full of ice cubes. They have so many uses. Put a few on the top shelf in the fridge. There you have a high tech 'icebox'. Use some in a travel cooler to keep perishables cold. When they melt, you can drink them.
DO you have a spray bottle that doesn't have anything in it? We have one we use to bathe the birds. Fill it up. Use it on mist to keep cool. Do not use this with things like empty toilet cleaners and the such. They always have dangerous residue in them, even if you rinse them out.
Your car can charge your phone if you have a car adapter.
Be safe. If you have dogs or such, do not walk them when the winds get bad. I have wee wee pads in a back hall. But even if you don't, cleaning it up is better than trying to find your head when a sheet of siding takes it clean off.
When in doubt, don't do the stupid thing. Be very careful and be doubly safe. I love you all. In three days we'll laugh and laugh. YMMV
posted by Splunge at 2:58 PM on October 6, 2016 [21 favorites]
The local police forces here have been on TV for two days. They are making it clear that price gouging, especially for fuel, will be noted and prosecuted to the fullest. Haven't seen any myself. Of course that doesn't me that it's not happening.
posted by Splunge at 3:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 3:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sending my best wishes for everyone's safety!
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was really upset to hear about the price gouging going on in Florida and hope nobody here has to deal with that kind of nonsense.
I was upset, but not surprised. One day profit motive will be recognized as a disease, but it is not today.
posted by Mooski at 3:21 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was upset, but not surprised. One day profit motive will be recognized as a disease, but it is not today.
posted by Mooski at 3:21 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
A lady on the local buy/sell Facebook group tried to sell plywood for $80/sheet. People called her out, and she'll be banned, but ugh. Around the same time a different person offered up her spare shutters for anyone to borrow for free, though, so my faith in humanity was restored a bit. Disasters really do bring out the best and worst in people.
posted by gatorae at 3:22 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 3:22 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
price gouging was on msnbc. $6-$10 gas and hotel rooms that were $50 last night are $200 tonight.
posted by futz at 3:22 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by futz at 3:22 PM on October 6, 2016
A lot has changed since the Charley/Francis/Jeanne trifecta of 2004. In the years since, my iPhone has become my main piece of tech and I realized about an hour ago that if/when both the power and the cell data signal go out, I won't be able to use the phone to watch the news or listen to updates. I needed my FM radio. Somewhere around here I still have one, but where did I put it? So I started searching the house as best I could without tearing everything apart.
I swear to you, I put my hands on every piece of tech I have ever owned in my life. I found two battery-operated TVs, but they are pre-digital and no longer pick up signals. I found early digital music players with a mighty 64GB of storage, but no FM radio. If I wanted to connect a GPS module to my Handspring Visor and type with the attached keyboard peripheral, I could do that this evening because I found all three items (in separate places as if I had slain Dracula and scattered his dismembered body parts around the land). I found keyboards, mouse, countless wires, a honest to god flatbed scanner, old PC gamepads, a joystick for a Commodore 64, and a voice recorder.
Finally, in the last possible box I had to search, I found a tiny digital music player with a built-in FM radio. I'm saved! Once the storm is passed and everything is back to normal, I'm cleaning out my closets.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
I swear to you, I put my hands on every piece of tech I have ever owned in my life. I found two battery-operated TVs, but they are pre-digital and no longer pick up signals. I found early digital music players with a mighty 64GB of storage, but no FM radio. If I wanted to connect a GPS module to my Handspring Visor and type with the attached keyboard peripheral, I could do that this evening because I found all three items (in separate places as if I had slain Dracula and scattered his dismembered body parts around the land). I found keyboards, mouse, countless wires, a honest to god flatbed scanner, old PC gamepads, a joystick for a Commodore 64, and a voice recorder.
Finally, in the last possible box I had to search, I found a tiny digital music player with a built-in FM radio. I'm saved! Once the storm is passed and everything is back to normal, I'm cleaning out my closets.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
You probably have a bunch of jars and pitchers that you never use. Fill them all with water.
Τοο late now for people in the path of this storm, but this is a handy thing that I learned about in my CERT class - it's a plastic reservoir (one-time use only, unfortunately, but it's not too expensive) that fits into your standard bathtub. Keeps the water potable for up to 12 weeks. Useful if you don't have a lot of space for storing disaster supplies.
posted by longdaysjourney at 3:51 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Τοο late now for people in the path of this storm, but this is a handy thing that I learned about in my CERT class - it's a plastic reservoir (one-time use only, unfortunately, but it's not too expensive) that fits into your standard bathtub. Keeps the water potable for up to 12 weeks. Useful if you don't have a lot of space for storing disaster supplies.
posted by longdaysjourney at 3:51 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can anyone tell me what's the deal with Miami? A cousin just moved there with her family and was complaining earlier that even though the governor was talking about evacuation on TV, that it was actually pretty difficult to evacuate. No gas at gas stations, no flights anywhere, etc. I'm not sure how smart they were about trying to evacuate. They already lived through a hurricane in Cabo (was it wilma?) a few years ago, and had a pretty bad time trying to make it back home.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 3:57 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by CrazyLemonade at 3:57 PM on October 6, 2016
The Miami area as far north as Aventura has not been under a hurricane warning and has not been under an evacuation order. The center of the storm is now well to the NE of the city and is moving away. Nobody in the area should let their guard down, and there will still be strong rain bands coming around on the back side of the storm, but Miami isn't really under threat of hurricane force winds or a storm surge at this point.
posted by theory at 4:28 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by theory at 4:28 PM on October 6, 2016
I dont know the geography of Miami well enough to answer your question specifically but have evacuated before. 1) all traffic is moving in one direction, and generally about the same time which makes huge amounts of congestion because that is not what infrastructure is set up for. Contraflow can help but the roads just aren't big enough.
The evacuation itself has to be done in a wierd window. The hurricane needs to be close enough that one is certian of the path (because no storm you get fired from your job, lose money etc) and far enough away that evacuating isn't dangerous (flood waters, debris). There isn't enough time to bump up capacity for gas and other items, and traffic can move so slow that keeping the car on risks running out of gas. But it gets hot in cars fast. The also isn't alot of time between determining need and adverse effects.
posted by AlexiaSky at 4:31 PM on October 6, 2016
The evacuation itself has to be done in a wierd window. The hurricane needs to be close enough that one is certian of the path (because no storm you get fired from your job, lose money etc) and far enough away that evacuating isn't dangerous (flood waters, debris). There isn't enough time to bump up capacity for gas and other items, and traffic can move so slow that keeping the car on risks running out of gas. But it gets hot in cars fast. The also isn't alot of time between determining need and adverse effects.
posted by AlexiaSky at 4:31 PM on October 6, 2016
During Katrina, LA put a price freeze on gas that wad in n effect for quite awhile. It was one of the things the state did right.
posted by AlexiaSky at 4:34 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by AlexiaSky at 4:34 PM on October 6, 2016
The best thing about living in the "city proper" is how I don't have to even freak out about tornado warnings
don't count on that - kalamazoo, the city i live in, had a tornado go right through downtown
posted by pyramid termite at 4:36 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
don't count on that - kalamazoo, the city i live in, had a tornado go right through downtown
posted by pyramid termite at 4:36 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I've only lived here about a year, but I know if Miami had been ordered to evacuate it would have been a complete mess. Because this storm has been moving from south to north along the coast, the only sensible direction to drive on short notice would have been westward across the Everglades, and there are only two roads leading out of Miami in that direction. Two roads for a metro area of 5 million. Even if only the waterfront areas had been ordered to evacuate it would have still been crazy.
posted by theory at 4:43 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by theory at 4:43 PM on October 6, 2016
Thanks for the answers. Just saw a newish radar image and it seems Miami is now below the center of the storm. When my cousin and her family lived through hurricane Odile, the eye of the storm went straight for them. The whole extended family was up and chatting on Whatsapp with them and we'd receive terrifying videos of wind and water coming into their hotel room.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by CrazyLemonade at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2016
We made it out of St. Augustine at 4 am this morning. Having a hard time processing the very high likelihood that we'll be returning to a muddy pit where our house used to be.
posted by saladin at 5:14 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by saladin at 5:14 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Beloved local newscaster (really) reading the statement from the link gwint sent, and crying.
http://www.news4jax.com/top-stories/message-from-noaa-on-hurricane-matthew
posted by staggering termagant at 5:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
http://www.news4jax.com/top-stories/message-from-noaa-on-hurricane-matthew
posted by staggering termagant at 5:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
I'm in Coral Springs, between Ft. lauderdale and Boca. Bands of intense wind/heavy rain with relative calm between happening now. 8:15 PM EST. It amazes me how many people started relaxing once it looked like the eye was staying offshore by 100 miles. But we still have a risk until around midnight. Auto accidents are common. And we have over 200 miles of canals ... Very easy to mistake them for roads in the dark and in inclement weather.
But we should be in the clear ny the early morning. Then I'm going to stay awake thinking about all my friends and family all along the coast. And my son in Orlando.
Ya'll stay safe! And if it comes your way, remember that tornados are a threat, especially after.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 5:21 PM on October 6, 2016
But we should be in the clear ny the early morning. Then I'm going to stay awake thinking about all my friends and family all along the coast. And my son in Orlando.
Ya'll stay safe! And if it comes your way, remember that tornados are a threat, especially after.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 5:21 PM on October 6, 2016
Stay safe everyone! Been on Weather Underground all afternoon reading up on the latest info. Of course Mrs. Photo Guy is booked to fly to Tampa tomorrow for the long weekend, looks like the weather shouldn't be an issue on the Gulf side (knock on wood) but she's still bracing for major delays.
A friend of ours is in Melbourne and apparently was scheduled to pack out today (moving overseas) - sounds like both her and the movers are now stuck hunkering down in her building for the duration :/
posted by photo guy at 5:22 PM on October 6, 2016
A friend of ours is in Melbourne and apparently was scheduled to pack out today (moving overseas) - sounds like both her and the movers are now stuck hunkering down in her building for the duration :/
posted by photo guy at 5:22 PM on October 6, 2016
Now the Jax newscasters are just sitting there reading to us off of their phones.
posted by staggering termagant at 5:41 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by staggering termagant at 5:41 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
This idiot right here just moved to fort lauderdale. I drove from Toronto with my cat and my dad and arrived Tuesday night. Luckily he managed to get on a plane out Wednesday afternoon. I have been hunkered down in a hotel just west of the 95, so I think i'm fine. Getting cabin fever but I'll stay put. Not much going on here all day except some rain and a bit of wind.
Initial projections had it pretty weak and staying at sea. By the time i found out it was going to be a bit more serious, i was already at the florida border and I figured since I already had a hotel booked that was cat friendly, and away from the beach I might as well head there. Not sure if that was the best move but at least it looks like this area will miss the brunt of it. Lots of people were coming in today with dogs, so maybe some folks in low lying areas evacuating.
posted by captaincrouton at 6:07 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Initial projections had it pretty weak and staying at sea. By the time i found out it was going to be a bit more serious, i was already at the florida border and I figured since I already had a hotel booked that was cat friendly, and away from the beach I might as well head there. Not sure if that was the best move but at least it looks like this area will miss the brunt of it. Lots of people were coming in today with dogs, so maybe some folks in low lying areas evacuating.
posted by captaincrouton at 6:07 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
AlexiaSky: I also have mapped out the stores I concider to most likely have non perishables to purchase.
Did you forget that you HAVE AN AXE? When the power goes out, grab your axe and an empty backpack, and seize what you need!!!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:08 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did you forget that you HAVE AN AXE? When the power goes out, grab your axe and an empty backpack, and seize what you need!!!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:08 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is a big nasty hurricane, if you live in the impact zone get inland. I want to make jokes here and I might later, I love storms, but the flooding from this in Florida especially is going to be bad. Perhaps unprecedented. Hunker down and help each other down there. I'm hoisting my glass to a quick weakening of this storm.
posted by vrakatar at 6:09 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:09 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
AlexiaSky: ...move important items birth certificates, photos documents into water safe containers and place up high
In a hurricane-driven flood here in New England some years ago, a friend had put all their Important & Valuable Stuff in storage bins that were stacked in her basement. When it flooded, the bins floated, then upended, then filled and sank. It was expensive and HEART-BREAKING and her sadness filled a ten-yard dumpster.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:12 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
In a hurricane-driven flood here in New England some years ago, a friend had put all their Important & Valuable Stuff in storage bins that were stacked in her basement. When it flooded, the bins floated, then upended, then filled and sank. It was expensive and HEART-BREAKING and her sadness filled a ten-yard dumpster.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:12 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
From some relatively high ground, waaaay up here in New England, I wish safety and ease of mind for everyone in this storm's path. The college where I work also has a campus in North Miami, and they shut down early on Wednesday so students & staff can prepare. God bless, everyone, and I hope the storm fizzles out ASAP.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:19 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by wenestvedt at 6:19 PM on October 6, 2016
Captain Crouton: welcome to South Florida! In case you missed my earlier comment: we have over 200 miles of canals in the Fort Lauderdale area. It is CRAZY easy to mistake a canal for a street in inclement weather, even in daytime. Please use extra care when driving, even once the Big Danger is passed.
Also, if you need water or food and can't immediately find it, Tunie's Health Food chain isn't on many folks' radar; they sent out emails that they had supplies of bottled water and other necessities. There's one on US 1 south of Sunrise.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 6:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also, if you need water or food and can't immediately find it, Tunie's Health Food chain isn't on many folks' radar; they sent out emails that they had supplies of bottled water and other necessities. There's one on US 1 south of Sunrise.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 6:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I visited my Dad west of Melbourne, FL 2 weeks ago. In his garage are giant sheets of plywood marked for each window. I asked about them. He said they came with the house. He's been there almost 9 years and never used them. Today he sent me a picture of his boarded up windows. When Dad gets serious, that's when I know it's scary.
Stay safe, all.
posted by kimberussell at 6:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Stay safe, all.
posted by kimberussell at 6:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Any time there's a natural disaster of any magnitude the first thing on my mind is whether the local wildlife and people's pets are going to be okay. May all animal friends in the hurricane path stay warm and dry, and their humans, too.
posted by Hermione Granger at 6:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 6:42 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Any time there's a natural disaster of any magnitude the first thing on my mind is whether the local wildlife and people's pets are going to be okay. May all animal friends in the hurricane path stay warm and dry, and their humans, too.
Local news had a report of horses that someone could not take along, so the owner wrote her name, her phone number, her address, and the horse's name on the horses with a Sharpie market. The hope is that someone will call about the horses after the storm. It must be heartbreaking to leave a pet behind like that. I can't imagine.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:57 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Local news had a report of horses that someone could not take along, so the owner wrote her name, her phone number, her address, and the horse's name on the horses with a Sharpie market. The hope is that someone will call about the horses after the storm. It must be heartbreaking to leave a pet behind like that. I can't imagine.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:57 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
The worst part of the storm is scheduled to hit us here in Brevard between midnight and three. We've got steel storm shutters. My spouse assures me we're far enough from the coast that storm surge won't be an issue, but I doubt I'm going to get much sleep tonight.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:03 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:03 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Local news had a report of horses that someone could not take along, so the owner wrote her name, her phone number, her address, and the horse's name on the horses with a Sharpie market. The hope is that someone will call about the horses after the storm. It must be heartbreaking to leave a pet behind like that. I can't imagine.
Oh my god, that must be so devastating. I'm heartbroken just reading about it.
I was born and raised in Florida, in the panhandle area. I still have some family there, but it looks like they are mostly going to be spared since they're far enough west that they'll probably just get some rain. They're also further inland from the gulf, at least as far inland as it's possible to be in Florida. My horse also still lives out there with a family friend (she's old enough that moving her up to New England would just be too hard on her, even if I could afford it), so I get really nervous whenever I hear about storms heading that way. In fact, when I went down to visit in June, I landed in the middle of a tropical storm, though it was mostly just a bunch of rain.
Stay safe, everyone!
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:11 PM on October 6, 2016
Oh my god, that must be so devastating. I'm heartbroken just reading about it.
I was born and raised in Florida, in the panhandle area. I still have some family there, but it looks like they are mostly going to be spared since they're far enough west that they'll probably just get some rain. They're also further inland from the gulf, at least as far inland as it's possible to be in Florida. My horse also still lives out there with a family friend (she's old enough that moving her up to New England would just be too hard on her, even if I could afford it), so I get really nervous whenever I hear about storms heading that way. In fact, when I went down to visit in June, I landed in the middle of a tropical storm, though it was mostly just a bunch of rain.
Stay safe, everyone!
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:11 PM on October 6, 2016
Thinking of y'all. Stay safe!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:13 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:13 PM on October 6, 2016
Oh man JHarris is in Brunswick. Stay safe dude.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:20 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:20 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Reports from my brother in Jacksonville:
This is the first time it's rained since he moved into his house--he's discovered a leak. It's not even raining much there yet and his roof is already leaking.
I was misinformed earlier, his boss does not have two big dogs. The boss has one big dog and a chihuahua. Apparently the chihuahua is "being a dick". (The dog report came in secondhand from my mom.)
posted by phunniemee at 7:39 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
This is the first time it's rained since he moved into his house--he's discovered a leak. It's not even raining much there yet and his roof is already leaking.
I was misinformed earlier, his boss does not have two big dogs. The boss has one big dog and a chihuahua. Apparently the chihuahua is "being a dick". (The dog report came in secondhand from my mom.)
posted by phunniemee at 7:39 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
JHarris evacuated. He's safe.
posted by valkane at 7:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by valkane at 7:40 PM on October 6, 2016 [19 favorites]
Storm track has shifted slightly east, keeping the eye off shore. This is good news.
posted by Servo5678 at 8:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Servo5678 at 8:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
my friend kassie (syncope here at mefi) passed last week and tbh this fucking storm and all its obnoxious inconveniences and general horrors are making me miss her cranky florida-native hurricane-jaded ass more than anything else has so far
posted by poffin boffin at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2016 [18 favorites]
The hurricane's tracking east and possibly weakening, but the latest HRRR model still has it making landfall near Melbourne, FL--and even if the worst of the winds stay offshore, the surge and rainfall projections still look like bad news. Stay safe, everybody.
Also yeah, the NHC just tweeted that noaa.gov and hurricanes.gov are both "experiencing issues"--they're updating on twitter and weather.gov for now, but damn, this is a really bad time for your websites to be going down.
(and staggering termagant, thanks for that clip--much respect to the beloved newscaster.)
posted by karayel at 9:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also yeah, the NHC just tweeted that noaa.gov and hurricanes.gov are both "experiencing issues"--they're updating on twitter and weather.gov for now, but damn, this is a really bad time for your websites to be going down.
(and staggering termagant, thanks for that clip--much respect to the beloved newscaster.)
posted by karayel at 9:19 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
poffin boffin, that's terrible news, I'm so sorry to hear that.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:25 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:25 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
poffin boffin, I am so sorry.
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:32 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:32 PM on October 6, 2016
I'm sorry for your loss poffin boffin.
posted by zachlipton at 9:36 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by zachlipton at 9:36 PM on October 6, 2016
Daytona Beach metro area (which rides from the Flagler County line down to Port Orange, and inland to the marvelous weird-out towns of Deltona and Deland) and St. Augustine are about to Get Wrecked in ways they haven't been in recent memory. Usually, there's a little hitch in the peninsula that spares Daytona and points north from the worst of the Hurricanes. Not this time. Kind of the opposite.
I spent a lot of my early adulthood in Daytona. I hope to christ everyone evacs west of the Intracoastal, at a minimum.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:49 PM on October 6, 2016
I spent a lot of my early adulthood in Daytona. I hope to christ everyone evacs west of the Intracoastal, at a minimum.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:49 PM on October 6, 2016
In case this is useful to anyone in here: list of social media accounts of official outlets (local governments and local emergency services, FEMA for different affected areas, etc) to follow.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:57 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:57 PM on October 6, 2016
The worst part of the storm is scheduled to hit us here in Brevard between midnight and three.
Stay safe, Kitty Stardust!
CNN reports: "Brevard County Fire and Rescue says it’s now too dangerous to respond to emergencies, tells people to stay inside."
posted by Jahaza at 10:01 PM on October 6, 2016
Stay safe, Kitty Stardust!
CNN reports: "Brevard County Fire and Rescue says it’s now too dangerous to respond to emergencies, tells people to stay inside."
posted by Jahaza at 10:01 PM on October 6, 2016
noaa.gov loaded for me after a long wait. it's slow to come up, and Google Chrome initially says that its dns cant be found.
weather.gov is working as always though.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:10 PM on October 6, 2016
weather.gov is working as always though.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:10 PM on October 6, 2016
Weather Underground seems to be handling its load nicely.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:15 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:15 PM on October 6, 2016
I keep seeing reports that it is heading northwest, not east.
Here is one report as of 1am.
posted by futz at 10:23 PM on October 6, 2016
Here is one report as of 1am.
posted by futz at 10:23 PM on October 6, 2016
What a shitshow. Late ass mandatory evac call in Savannah, messed up hotel booking, long ass traffice filled drive to Columbus Ga and sleeping an hour, the cops call to say house broken into. The hurricane hasn't even hit yet, sheesh.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:27 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:27 PM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh shit, Brandon, I'm so sorry. I hope the damage isn't too bad and that you stay safe.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:10 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:10 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Brandon, that sucks! I hope you get some sleep at least.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 3:02 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 3:02 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
As always, the NWS Forecast Discussion is the best use of my tax dollars I can point to.
posted by mikelieman at 3:06 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 3:06 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm very stressed about this storm and my elderly parents in Jacksonville. They live on a blob of land in between the St. John's River and the Ortega River, and are in Zone C, which is, as of late yesterday, a mandatory evacuation zone. They live across the street from a canal, and they both have limited mobility.
I'm appreciating updates from Jax and Orange Park as the storm hits. Please keep them coming, if possible.
posted by staggering termagant at 3:08 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm appreciating updates from Jax and Orange Park as the storm hits. Please keep them coming, if possible.
posted by staggering termagant at 3:08 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is a tweet from Jax: 12 hours ago Florida, USA 3-6 feet storm surge near Ortega and NAS.
That's right where they live, across the street from the naval base (NAS). Their whole street has decided to stay, I think because the call for mandatory evac of that zone came so late.
posted by staggering termagant at 3:11 AM on October 7, 2016
That's right where they live, across the street from the naval base (NAS). Their whole street has decided to stay, I think because the call for mandatory evac of that zone came so late.
posted by staggering termagant at 3:11 AM on October 7, 2016
This National Weather Service page let's you pick the regional office for the forecast discussion. Melbourne and Jacksonville are both there, and you can pretty much follow the track up the coast.
Your tax dollars at work.
posted by mikelieman at 3:18 AM on October 7, 2016
Your tax dollars at work.
posted by mikelieman at 3:18 AM on October 7, 2016
Tool for checking the elavation of an address: http://www.mapcoordinates.net/en.
Ridiculously wired at this point, would totally be the King of the Wastelands at this point. But there are cute pics of Chloe the cat and Tiny Dinosaur the bird on the back seat!
We're safe at the daughter's house.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
Ridiculously wired at this point, would totally be the King of the Wastelands at this point. But there are cute pics of Chloe the cat and Tiny Dinosaur the bird on the back seat!
We're safe at the daughter's house.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [24 favorites]
Thanks for these resources. They are 3 meters (9.8 feet?) above sea level according to the elevation checker.
posted by staggering termagant at 3:35 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by staggering termagant at 3:35 AM on October 7, 2016
Here's an elevation checker that does feet and meters and easily switches between the two.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:45 AM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:45 AM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Brandon, you can tell Chloe has important things on her mind, birdie is getting way less attention than I would usually expect from such proximity.
Glad you guys are safe.
posted by kitten magic at 5:28 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Glad you guys are safe.
posted by kitten magic at 5:28 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Checking in from West Palm Beach, still very windy but the worst has passed. I made it through with no damage or power outages.
posted by Daily Alice at 5:30 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Daily Alice at 5:30 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
We never lost power; it flickered a few times but that was it. The storm did a great job of pruning a bunch of old dead palm fronds, and our pool has some leaves but nothing that we can't scoop out in about 10 minutes of work. Very thankful it ended up missing us. Very, very angry that a lot of people seem to be frustrated with the media*/government for "overhyping" a category 4 storm that could easily have bobbled west and been MUCH MUCH worse.
* Shepherd Smith excluded. Fuck that guy.
posted by gatorae at 5:35 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
* Shepherd Smith excluded. Fuck that guy.
posted by gatorae at 5:35 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
The daughter's boyfriend's parents refused to evacuate from Merrit island, which is just one bay inside the barrier & at low altitude. Any outside reports yet on how that area around Canaveral fared?
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:42 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:42 AM on October 7, 2016
In with the morning roof report from brother in Jacksonville:
The storm isn't even supposed to hit them until this afternoon, but they've had constant rain. The leak has gotten to the point where bits of ceiling and wall are peeling off. The paint is doing that thing where it's bubbling and holding pockets of water. He says the wall is the consistency of chewing gum in some places. The concern here is that the primary affected wall has a huge mirror glued to it. He can't take the mirror down because the previous owner glued it to the wall (wtf.) but if the wall weakens enough it could fall. That's an awful lot of glass in a small space with four dogs and a small child. So they're all taking turns on mirror watch.
Grandma is fine, it's not even raining yet where she is. Mom and dad are finishing up wrapping important things in tarps and strapping them into bathtubs. They'll be leaving for dad's office in about an hour or two.
posted by phunniemee at 5:58 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
The storm isn't even supposed to hit them until this afternoon, but they've had constant rain. The leak has gotten to the point where bits of ceiling and wall are peeling off. The paint is doing that thing where it's bubbling and holding pockets of water. He says the wall is the consistency of chewing gum in some places. The concern here is that the primary affected wall has a huge mirror glued to it. He can't take the mirror down because the previous owner glued it to the wall (wtf.) but if the wall weakens enough it could fall. That's an awful lot of glass in a small space with four dogs and a small child. So they're all taking turns on mirror watch.
Grandma is fine, it's not even raining yet where she is. Mom and dad are finishing up wrapping important things in tarps and strapping them into bathtubs. They'll be leaving for dad's office in about an hour or two.
posted by phunniemee at 5:58 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Phunniemee, could your brother tape the mirror? If it cracks, some tape might keep it from completely blowing out everywhere.
posted by Mouse Army at 6:09 AM on October 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Mouse Army at 6:09 AM on October 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Hey phunniemee, yeah, my family's glass company will duct tape large pieces of glass in a criss-cross or starburst pattern to minimize flying or falling pieces in case of breakage. This YT video also shows that being done, albeit for intended removal. Hope everyone stays safe.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:28 AM on October 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:28 AM on October 7, 2016 [5 favorites]
Of course, only go near the mirror to tape it if it is safe enough to do so!
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:29 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:29 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
On these weather cams, the St Augustine one (it's right about here, west end of the Bridge of Lions) is getting hammered. Meanwhile Jacksonville Landing looks just, like, mildly overcast.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 6:42 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by everybody had matching towels at 6:42 AM on October 7, 2016
Our cucumber sprouts are fucked.
posted by saladin at 7:27 AM on October 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by saladin at 7:27 AM on October 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
Savannah Ga on curfew, national guard in town, outer islands officially cut off from any response, major bridge to South Carolina shutting down.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:31 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:31 AM on October 7, 2016
Is this thing moving at the usual speed? It feels like it's crawling, but maybe that's just because I'm worried.
Phunniemae, I feel for your brother. I had to bail my basement out three weeks after buying my first house because we got the greatest per-hour rainfall ever recorded in my town.
posted by selfnoise at 7:33 AM on October 7, 2016
Phunniemae, I feel for your brother. I had to bail my basement out three weeks after buying my first house because we got the greatest per-hour rainfall ever recorded in my town.
posted by selfnoise at 7:33 AM on October 7, 2016
I checked in with my parents to see where they were at--they're still at home. I told her they were shutting down Talmadge (my dad's office is real close to the bridge) and my mom says they're going to eat lunch first and that the neighbors across the street are staying. Grr...
posted by phunniemee at 7:44 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by phunniemee at 7:44 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mefite Mareli is staying in Savannah, along with a number of locals. She's all good, but just fyi. Things probably won't be bad there.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 AM on October 7, 2016
As far as I can tell within the few blocks around my house about half of the people have decided to stay. So far just light wind and some showers. We've got food and water and headlamps and books and art supplies and egg-laying chickens. Oh and keys to various evacuated neighbors' houses in case we get bored and need a change of scene.
posted by mareli at 8:01 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mareli at 8:01 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nothing happening in Myrtle Beach except my kid is driving me nuts already.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:07 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:07 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Everything's okay here in Melbourne so far. Our neighborhood hasn't lost power. Still very windy, but there don't appear to be trees down from what I can see out the windows.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 8:57 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by Kitty Stardust at 8:57 AM on October 7, 2016
Thank you all for updating, I am tuned in and hoping for the best.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Parents finally left for dad's office. Mom sent a text update rife with spelling and grammar errors, which means she's scared. She teaches language arts, it's really weird seeing typos from her.
Brother reports they're seeing constant light rain and occasional wind gusts, but nothing remarkable outside yet.
posted by phunniemee at 9:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Brother reports they're seeing constant light rain and occasional wind gusts, but nothing remarkable outside yet.
posted by phunniemee at 9:24 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
The front of today's Orlando Sentinel is like something out of a horror movie (the Newseum's Front Pages are always really interesting on days like these).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 9:26 AM on October 7, 2016
posted by everybody had matching towels at 9:26 AM on October 7, 2016
Jacksonville update: still just rain and wind, nothing too hard yet. Mirror is still on the wall.
Savannah update: no real wind yet, but a lot of rain and the roads in from east of town were starting to flood.
So far apparently only one other person has sought refuge at the office.
posted by phunniemee at 11:02 AM on October 7, 2016
Savannah update: no real wind yet, but a lot of rain and the roads in from east of town were starting to flood.
So far apparently only one other person has sought refuge at the office.
posted by phunniemee at 11:02 AM on October 7, 2016
I'm glad to hear that everyone in your family is OK so far, phunniemee.
My friend is two blocks from the beach in Ormond Beach, which is in northeastern Volusia county. She evacuated to the mainland yesterday. I last heard from her about an hour ago, and she says that trees are down in many yards, and one tree in particular has caused a water main to break. All still in the area are on a boil water notice. Power is out to most in the area, hers came back briefly, but is out again.
I have another friend in DeLand, and a third friend also in Ormond Beach. I haven't heard from either of them in a few hours. I really hope they're just chilling out with no power and trying to conserve battery and cell data.
posted by PearlRose at 11:41 AM on October 7, 2016
My friend is two blocks from the beach in Ormond Beach, which is in northeastern Volusia county. She evacuated to the mainland yesterday. I last heard from her about an hour ago, and she says that trees are down in many yards, and one tree in particular has caused a water main to break. All still in the area are on a boil water notice. Power is out to most in the area, hers came back briefly, but is out again.
I have another friend in DeLand, and a third friend also in Ormond Beach. I haven't heard from either of them in a few hours. I really hope they're just chilling out with no power and trying to conserve battery and cell data.
posted by PearlRose at 11:41 AM on October 7, 2016
Looking like it's going to just miss Jacksonville. If it comes ashore, it looks like it'll be near or just east of Brunswick, GA, assuming it doesn't turn right in the next couple of hours. (It may well, but I don't trust forecasts when this close to land)
posted by wierdo at 12:00 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wierdo at 12:00 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Scheduling a flight through Atlanta this weekend was not one of my better recent decisions.
(On the off chance that anybody else has been stuck here all afternoon, hi! I'm the guy reading the debate thread in public.)
posted by rorgy at 12:13 PM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
(On the off chance that anybody else has been stuck here all afternoon, hi! I'm the guy reading the debate thread in public.)
posted by rorgy at 12:13 PM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
My parents are both in Orlando, which now looks like it will miss the worst of it -- my dad just went into a nursing home in July and this is the first day my mom won't be able to visit him (they're both stuck where they are under curfew). He has Parkinson's, so he'll be aware she isn't there and also not aware of why. I tried calling him a couple of times but he doesn't have his phone on, or on him. So glad this isn't going to be as bad as they feared, but it's still so scary - I'm praying everyone down there stays safe and the storm keeps moving off to sea - and doesn't circle back.
Also, for perspective, apparently this is only the fourth time Disney World ever closed (other times were also for hurricanes).
posted by Mchelly at 12:41 PM on October 7, 2016
Also, for perspective, apparently this is only the fourth time Disney World ever closed (other times were also for hurricanes).
posted by Mchelly at 12:41 PM on October 7, 2016
All clear at my place and family and friends around the state are all OK. I slept about 3 hours last night and had the news on the whole time. I will sleep well tonight!
posted by Servo5678 at 1:13 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Servo5678 at 1:13 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is Clinton, a great guy who runs a "gently loved" art supply store in Savannah. He's been posting live.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:14 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:14 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
We got lucky. Real lucky. When I went to bed I was positive that I'd wake to a hot house with no power. Every hour or so, I'd wake to check the clock. This was the first time I ever appreciated the neon red numbers.
Awoke to the smell of pancakes and the sound of dogs playing.
To those of you yet to be hit or experiencing it now, be safe. Our thoughts are with you.
posted by Splunge at 1:15 PM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
Awoke to the smell of pancakes and the sound of dogs playing.
To those of you yet to be hit or experiencing it now, be safe. Our thoughts are with you.
posted by Splunge at 1:15 PM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]
oh man I hope Savannah is OK (not that I want anywhere to be flooded)
posted by thelonius at 1:29 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by thelonius at 1:29 PM on October 7, 2016
oh man I hope Savannah is OK (not that I want anywhere to be flooded)
My parents are in a spot where they can look out and see the Savannah River. My mom just sent me (terribly grainy, otherwise I'd share it) video of water cresting up over the top of the shipping docks along River Street.
Evidently my dad was able to convince their neighbors across the street (the only ones near them who were still there) to pack up and leave. I'm really glad they've gone to higher ground, because if the water is that high downtown already, that means many of the roads around their house are already flooded.
Brother says the wind is picking up in Jacksonville, and that he managed to get about a 20 minute nap in. Now he's lecturing my mom on how to change the settings on her phone so she can take higher quality video, so I assume he's doing fine.
posted by phunniemee at 1:55 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
My parents are in a spot where they can look out and see the Savannah River. My mom just sent me (terribly grainy, otherwise I'd share it) video of water cresting up over the top of the shipping docks along River Street.
Evidently my dad was able to convince their neighbors across the street (the only ones near them who were still there) to pack up and leave. I'm really glad they've gone to higher ground, because if the water is that high downtown already, that means many of the roads around their house are already flooded.
Brother says the wind is picking up in Jacksonville, and that he managed to get about a 20 minute nap in. Now he's lecturing my mom on how to change the settings on her phone so she can take higher quality video, so I assume he's doing fine.
posted by phunniemee at 1:55 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's high tide on the River, there's a 20 foot or so wall (complete with historic steps) that leads up to the main streets. If lots of water comes over that, then that's when things get really ugly.
The next high tide is at 11pm or so, when the storm will be raging near its worst, so we'll see what happens then.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:34 PM on October 7, 2016
The next high tide is at 11pm or so, when the storm will be raging near its worst, so we'll see what happens then.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:34 PM on October 7, 2016
Brother just lost power.
posted by phunniemee at 2:34 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by phunniemee at 2:34 PM on October 7, 2016
I'm in Savannah (mid-townish) and still have power. It's flickered twice today, once a few hours ago and once just a few minutes ago. Seems like many of the folks on my street have decided to stay.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 2:54 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by Hal Mumkin at 2:54 PM on October 7, 2016
The center of the storm is a bit north of Jacksonville now. It appears on radar that the eyewall is only about 10-15 miles off shore, tracking just slightly west of due north. Hopefully that is an indication that it is making the previously forecasted turn since it was moving closer to northwest earlier.
I saw a tide gauge report a couple of hours ago showing that Amelia Island is mostly underwater already, not including the 15-20 foot waves, so I'm glad that RolandOfEld evacuated. The worst is yet to come there, but things should be winding down a bit in Jacksonville over the next few hours.
posted by wierdo at 3:06 PM on October 7, 2016
I saw a tide gauge report a couple of hours ago showing that Amelia Island is mostly underwater already, not including the 15-20 foot waves, so I'm glad that RolandOfEld evacuated. The worst is yet to come there, but things should be winding down a bit in Jacksonville over the next few hours.
posted by wierdo at 3:06 PM on October 7, 2016
Hal, what are you defining as Mid-town, between Victory and Derenne?
For non-Savannahians, this is an ongoing discussion to some locals, heh.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:10 PM on October 7, 2016
For non-Savannahians, this is an ongoing discussion to some locals, heh.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:10 PM on October 7, 2016
Yeah pretty much.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 3:20 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by Hal Mumkin at 3:20 PM on October 7, 2016
Charleston here. So far everything is good since I'm inland enough to really be in Summerville.
posted by theichibun at 5:09 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by theichibun at 5:09 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Savanna commentary from a local about half an hour ago.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:21 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:21 PM on October 7, 2016
Savannah, midtown, Baldwin Park area, getting stronger gusts, we are lucky, still have power. Houses across the street do not. The worst of it is about to happen according to weather geeks. No flooding here, couple of new roof leaks though. South Carolina's gonna get it next. I worry about my many coworkers who live over there in the Lowcountry.
posted by mareli at 9:45 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mareli at 9:45 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Post storm meetup!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:46 AM on October 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:46 AM on October 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
My power went off around 0130 or so (id gone to bed by then, woke up to UPS beeping). We have a tree down in our yard, well Hermine took a tree too, at least this one didn't fall on the house unlike that one). I discovered in the traditional way where the outside cat has designated as the litter box (hint, its not the litter box). Still raining, can hear the wind but the house is rock solid. going back to bed now and conserve phone. Good luck to the rest of you.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 1:54 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Hal Mumkin at 1:54 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm near wilmington nc. Sitting in my vehicle waiting for my retail job to open. Winds are pretty high. The truck is rocking. Gas stations are closed but for Dog , we are open.
posted by mightshould at 2:45 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by mightshould at 2:45 AM on October 8, 2016
I haven't left the station in Wrightsville Beach yet; we finished making preparations yesterday and put an IAP in place. I have 0800-2000 off and then come back for extra coverage. I'm going to pick up my furchild from the boardingk kennel and he will weather the storm with me, including coming back to the station tonight. My house is buttoned up as well as it can be, and I loaned my generator to some friends because I thought I'd be stuck at the station all weekend. I figure if we lose power at the house, I'll just come back into work early.
People have mostly done what they've been asked to do and are staying off the beach and filling sandbags and buying bottled water and boarding windows or putting their shutters up.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 2:54 AM on October 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
People have mostly done what they've been asked to do and are staying off the beach and filling sandbags and buying bottled water and boarding windows or putting their shutters up.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 2:54 AM on October 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm not looking forward to Monday at all if I have to work. I'm at a lumber yard/ building supply place. I know I'm going to get bitched at because we won't take plywood returns.
posted by theichibun at 3:59 AM on October 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by theichibun at 3:59 AM on October 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
Morning report:
Haven't heard anything from the brother since early last night, but by then the rain had stopped and it was windy. The power went out there and is probably still out, and we suspect he's either not got service or not got battery or both, but his area is probably fine.
Parents in Savannah are ok, too. Said it sounded like the roof of the office was coming off and it was noisy all night. You know those foam drop ceiling tiles? That's what the office has. I guess those started falling out all over and then bursting upon impact with the floor, so the office is a mess. Mom sent a video of the flagpole out don't--it's still very windy and the flag is just threads, but it looks like there's not much damage where they are.
They're going to stay at the office for now. There's almost certainly no power where they live and the roads are probably not going to be drivable for a while anyway.
posted by phunniemee at 4:58 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Haven't heard anything from the brother since early last night, but by then the rain had stopped and it was windy. The power went out there and is probably still out, and we suspect he's either not got service or not got battery or both, but his area is probably fine.
Parents in Savannah are ok, too. Said it sounded like the roof of the office was coming off and it was noisy all night. You know those foam drop ceiling tiles? That's what the office has. I guess those started falling out all over and then bursting upon impact with the floor, so the office is a mess. Mom sent a video of the flagpole out don't--it's still very windy and the flag is just threads, but it looks like there's not much damage where they are.
They're going to stay at the office for now. There's almost certainly no power where they live and the roads are probably not going to be drivable for a while anyway.
posted by phunniemee at 4:58 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
A huge tree fell on the back of mom's house and sort of cleft it in two. It's majorly damaged. So is the house.
posted by staggering termagant at 5:14 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by staggering termagant at 5:14 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Another update:
Parents have been on generator power since sometime around 1am. Mom just noticed that a brick wall that's usually between two buildings out here is gone. I guess CEMA issued some notice that no one will be allowed back until power is restored everywhere, and since they live out on the islands that may be a while.
Dad is champing at the bit to get home and see if the house was damaged. So sorry about your mom's house, st. My parents have always been so lucky, there are so many huge trees in their yard but they've lived in that house nearly 30 years and so far trees have only fallen away from them. When it's flooded it's only come up to to the very edge of the garage. I don't know how long they can keep being lucky.
posted by phunniemee at 5:31 AM on October 8, 2016
Parents have been on generator power since sometime around 1am. Mom just noticed that a brick wall that's usually between two buildings out here is gone. I guess CEMA issued some notice that no one will be allowed back until power is restored everywhere, and since they live out on the islands that may be a while.
Dad is champing at the bit to get home and see if the house was damaged. So sorry about your mom's house, st. My parents have always been so lucky, there are so many huge trees in their yard but they've lived in that house nearly 30 years and so far trees have only fallen away from them. When it's flooded it's only come up to to the very edge of the garage. I don't know how long they can keep being lucky.
posted by phunniemee at 5:31 AM on October 8, 2016
Lots of downed trees and power lines in Savannah, be a few days before things are secured.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:08 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:08 AM on October 8, 2016
Savannah peeps: another update.
My dad and the other guy staying in the office both just hopped in their cars on scouting missions to see what was going on. President Street is flooded and impassable. Thunderbolt is flooded and impassable. No other news yet except that trees are down everywhere and across major roads.
posted by phunniemee at 6:10 AM on October 8, 2016
My dad and the other guy staying in the office both just hopped in their cars on scouting missions to see what was going on. President Street is flooded and impassable. Thunderbolt is flooded and impassable. No other news yet except that trees are down everywhere and across major roads.
posted by phunniemee at 6:10 AM on October 8, 2016
Ok, report from Jacksonville is in.
Power still isn't on, but the boss+family have left to go back home. There's no damage at their house so that's great. No power there either though. Brother's neighbor (recall: he JUST bought this house and moved in last week, discovered there was a roof leak during this storm) says that the people who sold my brother his house had THREE trees fall on their new house. Karma went a little overboard for the undisclosed roof leak. THREE. No other damage at my brother's place aside from the ceiling/wall/roof that will all need repair work.
Now my mom is going through an extensive inventory and history of all the trees in their yard and fretting big time. There's nothing they can do but wait and see.
posted by phunniemee at 6:30 AM on October 8, 2016
Power still isn't on, but the boss+family have left to go back home. There's no damage at their house so that's great. No power there either though. Brother's neighbor (recall: he JUST bought this house and moved in last week, discovered there was a roof leak during this storm) says that the people who sold my brother his house had THREE trees fall on their new house. Karma went a little overboard for the undisclosed roof leak. THREE. No other damage at my brother's place aside from the ceiling/wall/roof that will all need repair work.
Now my mom is going through an extensive inventory and history of all the trees in their yard and fretting big time. There's nothing they can do but wait and see.
posted by phunniemee at 6:30 AM on October 8, 2016
Well, because my dad is my dad, he ignored all warnings and drove back home to check on the house. Islands Expressway is a mess apparently but very slowly drivable. Trees are down everywhere and he had to take a pretty circuitous route to avoid downed power lines. Several new poles that went up after Hermine just a month ago are going to have to be replaced again. He said driving through the neighborhood is more like driving through the woods, you can barely even see the road underneath--he had to get out and walk to our house because it's not drivable. He's been taking pictures of all the damage for the neighbors--I guess there's a tree through the first house in the neighborhood and fences have been blown down. Lots of downed trees and missing patches of roof. Somehow, remarkably, our house remains untouched. I don't even know how that's possible. Several trees in the yard lost huge branches but they all managed to fall straight down and safely away from the house. I think it's the only house in the neighborhood that's never sustained any storm damage. I can't believe it.
posted by phunniemee at 7:41 AM on October 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 7:41 AM on October 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
All is well as chez Mooski, 'cept for the power still being out. I really, really feel for the folks in downtown St. Augustine, though - there was four feet of water on Kings street last night. The shop that made our wedding cake had water higher than the doorknob of their front door.
We were profoundly lucky.
posted by Mooski at 8:11 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
We were profoundly lucky.
posted by Mooski at 8:11 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mareli's cell phone gave out, but her son said she's fine.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:54 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:54 AM on October 8, 2016
Myrtle Beach reporting in. We slept last night in between all the weather radio squawks about tornado warnings, we went downstairs to wait out one of them but the others didn't seem close enough to worry about. We still have power. We're at the edge of a swamp and our backyard is starting to flood. Things just seem to be picking up now, looks like heavy rain until this evening and then the wind will pick up so I think we haven't seen the worst of it yet, though it's a Cat 1 now so hopefully it won't be that bad.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:55 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:55 AM on October 8, 2016
I'm now in ilm. 86 y.o. Mom fell. In ER. Has 8 stitches in back of head. Will be doing mri to make sure nothing else. Travel isn't fun.
posted by mightshould at 9:22 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by mightshould at 9:22 AM on October 8, 2016
mightshould, if you need anything, let me know. I'm on the north side of town, but I don't leave for work until closer to 8 PM. I still have power and plenty of food.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2016
posted by sara is disenchanted at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2016
Hmm...well, tomorrow I may not have a completely fenced-in backyard. Also, lots of shingles in my yard. Trees down in the neighborhood. Probably going back to work sooner rather than later.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 1:01 PM on October 8, 2016
posted by sara is disenchanted at 1:01 PM on October 8, 2016
staggering termagent, so sorry to hear about your mom's house. And mightshould, I hope your mom is ok.
posted by kitten magic at 2:20 PM on October 8, 2016
posted by kitten magic at 2:20 PM on October 8, 2016
Thanks for offer, sara is disenchanted. Stay safe travelling. I'm with my mom at her house. No complications apparent other than the corner of the drywall that's dented from her hard head. Will keep watch for concussion etc.
Expecting to have power outages overnight. There will be flooding along rivers the first of the week.
posted by mightshould at 2:51 PM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Expecting to have power outages overnight. There will be flooding along rivers the first of the week.
posted by mightshould at 2:51 PM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fayetteville NC has a mandatory curfew until 7 am Sunday. Parts of I95 closed down, and a number of homes have standing water up to their front doors. Our power has been out since 2:30 pm and we've been ordered by the city to boil water before drinking.
posted by Roger Pittman at 6:12 PM on October 8, 2016
posted by Roger Pittman at 6:12 PM on October 8, 2016
Hey rabbitrabbit we have reports of major structure fires down in MB; are you guys okay?
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2016
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:59 PM on October 8, 2016
Charleston checking in again. We got power back about 10 minutes ago. Being 3:30 am I'm not checking outside, but our damages are Mongolia flower losing its petals and little things like that. I haven't checked the garage for leaks but it does that anyway.
We got pretty lucky.
Also, we don't need anything at my house except to know that you'll help anyone who actually needs it.
posted by theichibun at 12:53 AM on October 9, 2016
We got pretty lucky.
Also, we don't need anything at my house except to know that you'll help anyone who actually needs it.
posted by theichibun at 12:53 AM on October 9, 2016
Charleston, on one of the islands but not right on the beach (James Island), debris but no damage or flooding I JUST WANT MY POWER BACK. But being patient. Matthew not nearly as bad as Hugo. And of course it could have been worse. The Governor was smart to order evacuations early, went very smoothly as opposed to the clusterfuck for Floyd in 1999, and now 200,000 more people live in the area than in 1999.
Today is, as is typical this time of year, a stunning clear fall day, just-cool-enough, in my lovely and gracious city.
posted by it must be bunnies at 7:41 AM on October 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Today is, as is typical this time of year, a stunning clear fall day, just-cool-enough, in my lovely and gracious city.
posted by it must be bunnies at 7:41 AM on October 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm in a town a bit north of where Matthew was supposed to hit, and we weren't supposed to get anything but some rain. Well, boy did we get more than that. We're barely solid as it is. We've had some of the worst flooding I've seen, in the middle of the night they had to string together some emergency shelters last minute. Our underpasses flooded. That's the first time it's happened in at least 30 years. There are cars stuck down there, there's cars abandoned on every road, downed lines, I'm not sure if the pier is still standing. The rivers and the roads are indistinguishable. There's tens of thousands without power last night. The whole city was pretty blindsided.
I work at the hospital, essential but non medic personnel. By the time I get off my shift tonight, it'll have been 32 hours.
The good news is: it's sunny out, they've already started restoring power; my family, my partner, my dog and my home are safe. It's just been a very, very long weekend.
posted by FirstMateKate at 2:20 PM on October 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
I work at the hospital, essential but non medic personnel. By the time I get off my shift tonight, it'll have been 32 hours.
The good news is: it's sunny out, they've already started restoring power; my family, my partner, my dog and my home are safe. It's just been a very, very long weekend.
posted by FirstMateKate at 2:20 PM on October 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Thanks FirstMateKate and all the other essential folks who work throughout to help all of us who need it. You make our world a better world. Thank you all.
posted by mightshould at 3:24 PM on October 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mightshould at 3:24 PM on October 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Even more good news!! (because who doesn't need more good news): Mr Wiggins, a friend of our office, is doing okay. He's an elderly man with dementia that lives in the rural outskirts of the area. He picked up his address book one day years ago and started dialing until he found someone who would answer. We happened to be the first that would actually listen (which is hard, between his extremely rural accent and random thought trails). He calls every so often to tell us how he's doing, which is "purty good" about 99% of the time. I just got news his sister is married now. He said he's excited about batman this fall, I'm not sure what he's talking about, but he was really happy about it.
posted by FirstMateKate at 3:55 PM on October 9, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by FirstMateKate at 3:55 PM on October 9, 2016 [10 favorites]
Oh my god MetaFilter I just spent 30 hours with NO INTERNET good lord it was awful.
Power went out yesterday at 3 when the winds picked up, followed shortly thereafter by what must have been the T-mobile tower because I had no phone or data (but could text). When the power started flickering I was reading the long election thread and did the dumbest thing ever: shut it down instead of pulling the power cord and enjoying the cached page while I was cut off from the world. I have missed you all SO MUCH. Luckily my data came back just in time for tonight's debate.
In more relevant news, power is still out, six of our trees came down though none on the house (but a seventh is leaning on another tree in a bad direction), we got some flooding in outbuildings though none in the house. Our street deadends at the Intracoastal Waterway and they have it MUCH worse down there with the flooding. We've been clearing trees all day.
I work at Coastal Carolina University and we are closed through at least Tuesday due to downed trees and no power. I'm told 90% of Horry Electric customers lost power.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:21 PM on October 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Power went out yesterday at 3 when the winds picked up, followed shortly thereafter by what must have been the T-mobile tower because I had no phone or data (but could text). When the power started flickering I was reading the long election thread and did the dumbest thing ever: shut it down instead of pulling the power cord and enjoying the cached page while I was cut off from the world. I have missed you all SO MUCH. Luckily my data came back just in time for tonight's debate.
In more relevant news, power is still out, six of our trees came down though none on the house (but a seventh is leaning on another tree in a bad direction), we got some flooding in outbuildings though none in the house. Our street deadends at the Intracoastal Waterway and they have it MUCH worse down there with the flooding. We've been clearing trees all day.
I work at Coastal Carolina University and we are closed through at least Tuesday due to downed trees and no power. I'm told 90% of Horry Electric customers lost power.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:21 PM on October 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Storm was mild in Fernandina Beach. Our gate blew open and lots of twigs down.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:12 AM on October 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:12 AM on October 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
I saw a tide gauge report a couple of hours ago showing that Amelia Island is mostly underwater already, not including the 15-20 foot waves
From what I have seen and read from the Facebook page of folks that did ride it out this is very incorrect. People who rode the storm out in their boats in the marina didn't even see waters rise more than a few feet. I'm really tried g to see the places here that got those sort of surge rises (except for maybe directly on the Atlantic ocean) and it's just not happening.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:17 AM on October 10, 2016
And, to be clear, I saw those numbers too, so I'm not doubting the veracity of your statement, just the validity.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:18 AM on October 10, 2016
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:18 AM on October 10, 2016
I mean I'm 3 streets from the Atlantic and we are high and dry. Nobody on the 'riding out matthew' page had more than their dock float a bit or backyard flood. Sure some streets flooded but, from what I can tell since I'm new to the area, nothing that doesnt already happen in a strong rain. I mean within 1 day I saw an official report from local officials hat said 98% of the island had power and only ~20 hones had structural damage.
Some places got it much worse, I'm sure.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:24 AM on October 10, 2016
Some places got it much worse, I'm sure.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:24 AM on October 10, 2016
Holy shit did we get lucky. The mission down the street from us was a lake, but all we got was a little water in the garage and a few hibiscuses down. Even the cucumber sprouts survived.
St. Augustine itself is definitely bruised, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. I'm heading out today to help neighbors clear trees. What a week.
posted by saladin at 7:03 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
St. Augustine itself is definitely bruised, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. I'm heading out today to help neighbors clear trees. What a week.
posted by saladin at 7:03 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
We still don't have power. Schools reopen on Thursday so hopefully we'll have power by then. We've finished clearing the big tree that fell on our front yard so at least we look somewhat respectable again, except for thr gutter hanging off the house. We've got 5 more trees to clear, plus take down another that's leaning toward the house.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2016
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2016
Got power back late last night. Lost trees, minimal damage to houses in our neighborhood.
posted by mareli at 9:04 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 9:04 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
We still don't have power in our section of Jacksonville, so after trying to tough it out since last Friday morning, we're at my mom's house for the night (south of Jax about an hour) for a hot shower and a hot dinner. My son went back to school Tuesday and my husband back to work Monday. We were fortunate that our only real damage was to our fence gates and lots of debris in the yard. Hopefully we'll have power back soon, going on our 6th day and I'm not much for camping.
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:32 PM on October 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:32 PM on October 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
We finally got our power back about an hour ago. WOO! HOT SHOWERS AND CLEAN UNDIES FOR EVERYONE!
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:39 AM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:39 AM on October 13, 2016 [5 favorites]
And... now come the floodwaters. Our yard and outbuildings are flooded and the road just past our house is underwater. I don't THINK the water will come up to the house but I don't like it. I just moved here in April and never thought about the water mechanics of hurricanes before and I guess without thinking I assumed that the flooding just after the hurricane passed through would be the worst of it. But of course all that water that's spread out all over flows down to the rivers, streams, and swamps and then they rise. My husband was already not fond of this area and after our experiences this week I think there's no talking him down from that ledge again.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:41 AM on October 14, 2016
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:41 AM on October 14, 2016
Whereabouts do you live rabitrabit? There is a dataset for North Carolina here that you can use to figure the land height at your home. Floodmaps are here. River levels can be located here.
posted by mightshould at 10:29 AM on October 14, 2016
posted by mightshould at 10:29 AM on October 14, 2016
Unfortunately I live off the Intracoastal Waterway in the Socastee area of Myrtle Beach and they've never kept data on it -- apparently this has never happened before -- so everything right now is a guess, but half of my street is under several feet of water, the water came up to the house last night and they're predicting another foot or two of rise in the next couple days. I thought we were going to get away with just the outbuildings being flooded but now I don't know, it's looking pretty grim.
This was/is me and I had gotten my spouse to agree to stick it out for a few years but after this there is absolutely no way he can be convinced to stay. I'm just hoping that the water doesn't come in the house so we can sell it as soon as I can find a job somewhere else.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:43 AM on October 17, 2016
This was/is me and I had gotten my spouse to agree to stick it out for a few years but after this there is absolutely no way he can be convinced to stay. I'm just hoping that the water doesn't come in the house so we can sell it as soon as I can find a job somewhere else.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:43 AM on October 17, 2016
Bummer rabbitrabbit. Crossing fingers your house doesn't flood. Another foot or two - eek.
Sending job finding vibes and house safety vibes your way.
posted by kitten magic at 9:38 PM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sending job finding vibes and house safety vibes your way.
posted by kitten magic at 9:38 PM on October 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:38 AM on October 6, 2016