Hurricane Milton

[JLTraveling]

I know there are a couple of planning threads for those visiting during this thing...but what about those of us who live in the path? Are you staying or leaving? Storm prep complete? We're about 2 miles from Universal on the third floor of a strong apartment building and planning to ride it out. I'm jumpy though, especially with the latest wind speeds. Check in here and let us know what your plans are!

 

[Christine]

I know there are a couple of planning threads for those visiting during this thing...but what about those of us who live in the path? Are you staying or leaving? Storm prep complete? We're about 2 miles from Universal on the third floor of a strong apartment building and planning to ride it out. I'm jumpy though, especially with the latest wind speeds. Check in here and let us know what your plans are!

I don't live there, but thinking of you all. I heard it quickly ramped up to Cat 5. I know it will drop down on landfall, but that sure would make me nervous.

 

[MamaMermaid]

We are staying — we are at the bottom of the cone. Hoping for the best.

 

[JLTraveling]

We are staying — we are at the bottom of the cone. Hoping for the best.

Are you on the coast?

 

[sam_gordon]

My mom is close to the center of the cone, but at least inland quite a bit. We've offered her space, my sister offered her space, Mom's sister, Mom's niece, and a friend (in another state) all offered her space.

As of yesterday, she said she doesn't want to leave in case something happens to the house and she needs to file an insurance claim. SMH.

I texted her today to see if she's changed her mind and haven't heard back.

One way flights out of MCO are $550 minimum when I looked an hour ago (they're $84 on Friday. )

 

[easyas123]

My folks are in Ft. Myers, on the Caloosahatchee. They are staying put.

 

[Mle8308]

Mine in Sarasota (won't evacuate) and brother and lots of friends/former colleagues in Orlando/WDW. Keeping our fingers crossed.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My mom is close to the center of the cone, but at least inland quite a bit. We've offered her space, my sister offered her space, Mom's sister, Mom's niece, and a friend (in another state) all offered her space.

As of yesterday, she said she doesn't want to leave in case something happens to the house and she needs to file an insurance claim. SMH.

I texted her today to see if she's changed her mind and haven't heard back.

One way flights out of MCO are $550 minimum when I looked an hour ago (they're $84 on Friday. )

She can still file the claim after she gets back. She probably thinks she can do something to prevent damage if she is there. In reality there is nothing she can do even if she is there other than make things worse by putting her own life in danger.

 

[sam_gordon]

She can still file the claim after she gets back. She probably thinks she can do something to prevent damage if she is there. In reality there is nothing she can do even if she is there other than make things worse by putting her own life in danger.

I know that. Convincing her is a different story. Just did a family chat and she said she's staying put.

I suggested at least getting together with friends and riding out together. "If it gets bad, I'll go somewhere." To me, at that point it's too late. Convince an 81yo of that though.

 

[JLTraveling]

I know that. Convincing her is a different story. Just did a family chat and she said she's staying put.

I suggested at least getting together with friends and riding out together. "If it gets bad, I'll go somewhere." To me, at that point it's too late. Convince an 81yo of that though.

That is so tough. My dad once rode out a hurricane in his RV (thankfully inland and only a Cat 1). I was staying with friends in a condo literally 30 minutes down the road, but I could NOT get him to get out of the RV. People just get fixated on something, and that's that.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Listening to a news-talk station in So Cal RN and they just had on a guy from their sister station in FL. He said if you haven't left by now, don't bother. Roads are clogged, gas stations are out of gas. You seriously run the risk of riding out the storm in your car on the side of the road. Hunker down.

 

[ClaraOswald]

My mom is close to the center of the cone, but at least inland quite a bit. We've offered her space, my sister offered her space, Mom's sister, Mom's niece, and a friend (in another state) all offered her space.

As of yesterday, she said she doesn't want to leave in case something happens to the house and she needs to file an insurance claim. SMH.

I texted her today to see if she's changed her mind and haven't heard back.

One way flights out of MCO are $550 minimum when I looked an hour ago (they're $84 on Friday. )

I saw Tiktok videos during Helene from a woman who decided to stay home. Your mom needs to see them. The woman said she wanted to stay because of her house. Not sure what she thought she'd be able to do. The first videos were here outside on her dock. Then videos showing a couple inches of rain on her first floor. Then she's upstairs because her entire 1st floor is flooded. She said her neighborhood was electrocuted. She finally realized her mistake and someone with a boat picked her up in the middle of the night. Another neighbor had drowned. Very sad and scary.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They've said if you are in the evacuations zones and want to stay, as with other major hurricanes, write your name and social security number on an arm and a leg with a permanent marker so if you don't make it they can more quickly identify you.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

We are in central Florida. A little less than an hour northwest of Disney.
We are staying and 100% prepared with things to have to buy. Haven’t brought in outdoor stuff yet but Will do that tomorrow.

Getting pretty nervous about this one. Being inland, we usually don’t have to worry much.

Everytime I check to news, it seems to get worse. Ugh.

My thoughts go out to those that are in the coast and have threats of your homes flooding.

 

[Tigerlulu]

My mom is close to the center of the cone, but at least inland quite a bit. We've offered her space, my sister offered her space, Mom's sister, Mom's niece, and a friend (in another state) all offered her space.

As of yesterday, she said she doesn't want to leave in case something happens to the house and she needs to file an insurance claim. SMH.

I texted her today to see if she's changed her mind and haven't heard back.

One way flights out of MCO are $550 minimum when I looked an hour ago (they're $84 on Friday. )

We are 38 miles from the coast of La and Laura’s eye passed over us. Nowhere near flood/surge threats and yet the storm still completely tore up our whole town. Another 30 miles north of us still had major damage and no power for weeks. (We were 5 weeks no power, and like a week and a half with no water.)

I say all that to say that being inland isn’t good if you’re in the direct path! I wish she would leave!

 

[Suz333]

Inland and not in an evac zone - Here’s the advice I gave my aunt and uncle (upper 80’s, not near the coast at all):

Treat it like severe tornado risk. Since it might arrive in the wee hours Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning, decide now where you will spend time, and tomorrow make that room comfortable in case you need to spend several hours there. Water, food, battery powered lights and fans, something to read or a puzzle or just a fun distraction. If the safest room is a bathroom, figure out a way to make it a little comfortable - pillows, blankets, camping pad, mattress topper, or even couch cushions will be a lot more comfortable than a tile floor.

Reminder -rvs and mobile homes will not fare well …. find a shelter.

Re “clogged roads” … that caller must be super impatient. Yeah, it’s slow, but every time they showed I75 near Tampa it was moving. Slowly, but moving. Here in Atlanta that looks like a Friday afternoon!

In addition to charging your devices, consider texting (text only, no pics, etc) instead of calling. It uses less power and needs less signal.

Good luck with the stubborn relatives, and stay safe!

 

[jeneric997]

Listening to a news-talk station in So Cal RN and they just had on a guy from their sister station in FL. He said if you haven't left by now, don't bother. Roads are clogged, gas stations are out of gas. You seriously run the risk of riding out the storm in your car on the side of the road. Hunker down.

I don't know about gas, but I just routed from my mom's in Sarasota to Disney and it's 2 hours 4 minutes, That pretty typical. The hurricane isn't coming until Wednesday night so still time.

Of course my mom is fighting me on leaving....

 

[MICKIMINI]

My brother and SIL lived in VB during Opal. He witnessed the eye going overhead and said never again. They moved to western NC. Well, you can guess how that turned out 10 days ago. His family is fine, house survived, but cut off from all major roads. He but was able to get food and gas enough to share with neighbors, somehow. Power is back on, but he used his generator to pump water for those same neighbors before it did as they all have wells. I haven't heard from him for a week and am sure they are okay, just busy helping the neighbors survive. All the towns and roads and bridges all around him are decimated. It will never be the same.

It got real really quickly for him. He was driving to work and decided to turn around by divine intervention I believe. Thank goodness, otherwise his wife would have been alone and who knows if he would have survived a landslide, mountain flooding or trees falling all around him. Colleagues are missing and presumed dead.

You don't know what is going to happen. Better safe than sorry. Be safe Florida!

 

[lisaviolet]

I know that. Convincing her is a different story. Just did a family chat and she said she's staying put.

I suggested at least getting together with friends and riding out together. "If it gets bad, I'll go somewhere." To me, at that point it's too late. Convince an 81yo of that though.

I fully understand our parents are their own entity & decision-makers in their own lives, but is anyone close enough to literally go get her while there is still time? In person it is sometimes easier to convey how utterly awful it will be for all of you not being in constant contact with her, during the emergency.

And to receive a simple "Let me help you get everything in order & I've got the rest all organized" kind of speech. Seeing the emotion on a loved ones face in person might be a game changer.

Anyway, all the best to you. And everyone facing this storm.

 

[NotUrsula]

I don't know about gas, but I just routed from my mom's in Sarasota to Disney and it's 2 hours 4 minutes, That pretty typical. The hurricane isn't coming until Wednesday night so still time.

Of course my mom is fighting me on leaving....

While I would agree that is not at all too late to evacuate now, the evacuation is in full swing, and it's slowing drive times.

Look at the live maps on Google. Right now large stretches of I-75/I275 northbound in the Tampa area are solid red on the map. A lot of people still had to work today and left as soon as they got off work. Current drive time from the TPA airport to Brandon is an hour and 40 minutes; that is normally a 20 minute drive. There are traffic jams here and there from Palmetto up to Gainesville on I-75, and heavy traffic all the way from Tampa to Downtown Orlando on I-4. If I had to guess, I'd say realistic drive time from Sarasota to LBV this evening is probably going to be about 4 hours, give or take.

My DS lives in St. Pete. He's on safely high ground re: storm surge, but only 12 blocks from the bayside waterfront, so wind is a major threat with this storm. He is currently working on the decision of whether to stay or go, pending a last-minute path change, but if he goes, he'll be leaving around midnight when the roads are much less clogged. (He'll be headed to relatives in mid-Alabama)

Gas will be available at major interchanges; the state now stations extra tankers along the evac routes to keep the stations supplied for as long as possible. However, the lines at stations can get quite long. The usual recommendation is not to let your tank get below half if at all possible, because jams develop quickly in an evacuation.