GOOD NEWS: BONNIE NOT VERY STRONG AT ALL. BAD NEWS:

[freetobegay]

CHARLEY FORECAST TO COME CLOSE TO CAT-3 INTENSITY

At least there is some good news this morning for Florida: Bonnie is very weak as far as tropical cyclones go. It will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the Florida Panhandle as the day wears on. HIRT is in Panama City Beach waiting for what effects Bonnie brings. Be sure to see the live data link below.

http://www.hurricanetrack.com/

[Katarina]

1. Just found this in my local paper

<snip>
Did You Know?


Hurricane Donna was one of the most serious storms to hit Volusia and Flagler counties. Hurricane Charley, churning in the Caribbean, is forecast to take a path very similar to that of Donna, which tore through Sept. 9-11, 1960.

THE STORM: Hurricane Donna was a Category 4 hurricane when it struck land north of Fort Myers on Sept. 10, 1960. The storm crossed Central Florida, hitting Volusia County and exiting through Flagler Beach.

INTENSITY: When Donna reached Volusia County, it had winds of 99 mph.

THE DAMAGE: $4.5 million in Volusia County, an estimated $25 million in today's dollars. Flagler damage estimates were unavailable. By the end of Donna's hectic path, which included several states, ending in New England, 50 Americans died. Total property damage was estimated at $387 million.

SOURCES: Florida's Hurricane History, News-Journal archives

-- Compiled by News Researcher Tom Rabeno
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/03NewsCANE01081204.htm

My mom talks about Hurricane Donna every time there is a storm near us. They are supposed to make a decision today about school closings tomorrow. Just sitting here waiting and wondering. (sigh)

[freetobegay]

2. What part of Florida are you in?

I am in Fort Myers.

[Katarina]

5. I'm in Flagler County

on the East Coast. Just north of Daytona Beach. You are right there in it! Are you evacuating? My kids are in portables and the wind worries me because of that. And we are out in the country on a dirt road and with the rain we have had, it's going to be soup out here.

Please stay safe and get out soon if you think you are in danger!

[freetobegay]

6. I have a well built house

I do worry about flooding though! I only live a 1/2 mile from the caloosahatchee river & it's a mile wide!

I survived Hurricane Andrew in Homestead in 1992 (am I a lightning rod or what!)

The first sign of trouble & I'm out of here.

[gpandas]

11. any news on pine island?

i'm in ohio now, but have a little trailer on pine island.

[KayLaw]

17. I love Pine Island

We love to visit there and go to Mango Mania. I can only tell you they have a mandatory evacuation for Sanibel, so I imagine it's the same for Pine Island. I hope your trailer makes it through fine.

[gpandas]

20. thanks for the info..

think i'll call my friend-house-watcher.

[Andy_Stephenson]

35. Don't wait for trouble...

get to high ground NOW!

Better safe than sorry.

[Pithlet]

42. My mother in law is in Ft. Myers.

I just talked to her, and she won't evacuate. So, I'm a little worried. Take care FTBG, and let us know how you are when it's through.

[nickinSTL]

8. crap

Now I'll have to pay attention.

My parents live in Volusia County. South of Daytona Beach.

[ewagner]

10. I remember that

I lived through Hurricane Donna. I was in Sanford and we lost power and water for a couple of days and the flooding on Lake Monroe was intense. The neatest thing was how the neighborhood decided to cook up all the food in the freezers that was in danger of spoiling and feed the whole neighborhood...everybody took turns.

[Lorien]

18. Yikes! I'm in Orlando

my home was built in 1925, so it's survived that long, hope it'll be here a while longer. I'm worried about my big oak trees, though; I LOVE my oaks, it was a major selling point when I bought this place.

Keeping the kitty carriers close at hand, gotta fuel up the car, get some ice, etc. Everyone stay safe out there!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

27. I'm in Orlando too.

My father-in-law and his family are in Largo, in the evacuation zone. I told him he could come over here, but I not sure how much better it will be over here. I guess they will be staying there.

[Cha]

40. I caught that Sept 11, 1960 date! And I remember

hearing about "Donna" where I was at the time in Colorado.


I was in a .5 hurricane on the island of Kauai on 9/11.. 1992.

What is it about that date?

[KayLaw]

3. Thanks so much

Great link, Freetobegay. We live in the Tampa Bay area and right now it's hard to focus on much except Charley.

[freetobegay]

4. Anytime!

Glad to help a fellow Duer & hopefully not to soggy Floridian!

[Corgigal]

7. My in-laws live in Tampa

and they aren't leaving. Of course they have NO flood insurance and live in the TNC area. Hillsborough Ave for the first time flooded this year. They are going to attempt to buy flood insurance today.
I just found this out this morning.

They are both around 70 and you can't tell my father in law anything. He asked his neighbors and they told him they aren't leaving. Of course they aren't 70 with a heart problem. My husband and I can't even get them to move into the Orlando area because they would have to pay for a hotel room. Of course they are trying to get sandbags, like that would matter any.

Gee..this stress. Feel for you guys in Tampa.

[benburch]

9. I doubt anybody will sell them any.

Typically they will not sell flood insurance if you are already in a watch zone.

[freetobegay]

14. When they do sell it in Florida

There is a six month waiting period.

[FlaGranny]

16. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood

insurance takes effect after you've bought it. To buy normal homeowners insurance there must not be any named storm within a certain amount of days from landfall - I don't remember exactly, but I believe it is three days. Different insurance companies probably have slightly differing rules, but that is what mine said a couple of years ago.

[MUSTANG_2004]

12. What's the "TNC area"? N/T

[Corgigal]

13. sorry

Called Town N' Country area. The most west side of the Tampa area.

[FlaGranny]

15. No type of homeowners'

insurance is being sold in Florida right now - you can bet on it. Even if the storm is bad, your in-laws most likely will be fine. If things get bad, make sure they know to get into an inside bathroom or hallway. I'm assuming they do not live in a mobile home (as we do). If they do, they will most likely be safe in a mobile home in a "minimal" hurricane. If they live in a MH and the winds will be over 75-80 mph, get them the heck out.

Edit: If anyone has had settlement for a home purchase scheduled for today or tomorrow, that will be canceled also. No insurance, no settlement.

[Corgigal]

34. They have homeowners

BUT they live right across from a deep water canal that has a boat launch. It's the flood insurance they don't have. Is this insane or what? I guess it depends on what Catagory this hurricane will be. If it's above a 2 then I fear for them and the house. They do live in a house, by the way.

[FlaGranny]

38. Don't worry too much.

I'm sure they'll be okay. Floods in Florida, especially near canals usually just mean a lot of standing or slow-moving water. It is flat, so you don't get the raging torrents like you do in other places unless you are right on the ocean or Gulf and get high waves or storm surge. Most houses that are flooded here have water damage, but houses aren't swept away.

[amazona]

23. can't buy flood insurance while a storm is in the gulf

It's a federal regulation apparently. :-(

[DrWeird]

19. Wow. A hurricane hitting florida.

Geez. How often does that happen?

[freetobegay]

25. Well it hasn't happened since 1999.

[cheezus]

21. sounds like flooding is going to be a bigger problem than wind

ground was already saturated, and both storms are expected to produce lots of rain.

[amazona]

22. please stay safe

And thanks for the updates.

[shanti]

24. oh dang!

my son and his wife are on their honeymoon in the bahamas/florida as we speak! :-(

[bluedog]

26. Pinellas County Flroida...some evacuating now

Pinellas County here...........expected to hit landfall in my county first...we are evacuating all level 2 and 3 homes and mobile homes..schools will be closed tomorrow...

We have light wind now.......sunny skies........the stores are packed.........shelters are opening as of now

[KayLaw]

28. Something weird

We live in a cul-de-sac and just found out that the people across the street are Zone D, but we're zone C. We're under mandatory evacuation, but they aren't.

:shrug:

[qanda]

29. Stay safe...

I'll be praying for ya!

[KayLaw]

32. Thank you

Those prayers are much appreciated.:yourock:

[recoveringrepublican]

30. In Tarpon Springs here. Question

I've lived here since 1998, so have only gone through some tropical storms that for the most part I loved (relief from the heat, I'm originally from Minnesota lol). I'm level C, am I just suppose to go to a shelter? Doesn't make sense to me since the shelter is only about 4 blocks away.

[KayLaw]

33. Yes

Technically, you should evacuate to a safer area or, if worse comes to worse, go to a shelter, but we're waiting until morning to decide. We survived Andrew in a well-prepared home in Homestead and were fine and that house was in a mandatory area. The best choice would be to find someone in a D zone who will let you ride out the storm with them. I've heard conditions at the shelters are pretty spartan. Best of luck to you.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

43. It's not supposed to "hit" there until Friday at noon.

I'd wait for a few hours if I were you to see how bad it gets. Hurricaines have a knack of veering off at the last minute.

How close are you to the water - and how sturdy is your house? Do you have a second floor in your house in case it floods?

[amazona]

44. I wouldn't wait

I wouldn't be happy evacuating to a shelter only 4 blocks away, although it might at least have a generator. Anyway, I can't evacuate to a shelter because I have a pet and pets are not allowed. So you may want to go ahead, get your car gassed and packed up, and make plans to evacuate inland. You may be surprised how far you have to go to find shelter.

When I had to evacuate (mandatory) for Georges, I had to drive 7 hours to Tunica, Mississippi to get a hotel room. My across-the-street neighbor had to go all the way to Dallas, Texas. Other neighbors went as far as Nashville, Tennessee. This is from the New Orleans area. And keep in mind, they did not even have mandatory evacuation of Orleans Parish, because many people don't have cars and don't have a way to get out. So all the hotels were filled just from people evacuating the suburbs. If Georges had not turned and hit on the projected path, over 100,000 people would have been under 20 feet of water...fortunately it did turn.

Taping windows is a superstition and a waste of time. If you don't have plywood or shutters to protect your windows, then you just have to let it go and not worry about it. Don't waste time taping windows that could be used getting to safety. The oak tree that hit my house didn't come through a window. It came right through the roof!

One more thing -- if you shelter in place at your house, and the water starts rising, don't go into the attic. Go up on the roof if you must but not INSIDE the attic. The water can keep rising and you can be trapped.

Please stay safe.

[tilsammans]

31. Wishing you all the best . . .

as you deal with these storms.

Looks like we're gonna get socked over the next few days in this area.

:grouphug:

[gratuitous]

36. Don't worry, Jeb will just call out the Guard!

Oh wait. Nevermind.

Be safe, fellow DUers. Y'all are in my thoughts and prayers.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

37. I've lived in Florida for 10 years and I no longer fret about hurricianes.

There have been about 30 scares since I've been here and to date the only thing that's happened is that there's been a lot of wind, and a lot of rain and that's it....

We were ordered to evacuate a couple of years ago - everyone taped their windows, etc. and nothing happened other than I spent hours having to scrape the tape off of my windows.

[bluedog]

39. I know that damn tape

what a bit** to get off.I've lived here 22 yrs.came from NY.people always had me in panic mode here........I now take it easy.we live in a non flood zone..just worry about the wind..but the price of homeowners.insurance is outrageous..

[greekspeak]

41. Nothing really going on here in Leon County

I just moved to Florida last year, and Bonnie is my first tropical storm. Charley will be my second. It had looked yesterday like it was going to hit us straight on. Needless to say it scared the petunias out of me. Keep in mind that I have made it through major ice storms and countless tornados. But nothing much has happened here today. I guess it hit east of me, so I did not see much. I hope everyone is safe. Still waiting for Charley.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

45. Friggin' pain in the arse.

I've gotta go to my parents place and put towels all over the floor in case it floods. They're up North. This is about the fifth time I've had to go running around for a hurricaine. And nothing ever happens. @$#*)!

If I had a dollar for every hour that I've spent wasting preparing for these things - I'd be a millionaire.

There's a bunch of scared weenies running around in circles here - buying out the stores. I'm tired of hearing about it on the tv. They just love this stuff.

[Katarina]

46. Just checking in

to see if everyone is still ok. We were under a tornado warning until 6:30 but it's been returned to a watch. Schools are closed tomorrow. Everyone stay safe!

[DoYouEverWonder]

47. I've been in Florida for over 25 years

Charlie is a major storm and it is going to hit Florida. Please take the proper precautions.


At the moment I'm in Gainesville. We gotten squalls from the back end of Bonnie during the day. We are probably going to have a fair bit of wind and rain tomorrow, from Charlie. We've already had a lot of rain, so there will be flooding and pro ably a lot of power outages.

They already had an impressive tornado over in Jacksonville a little while ago. So it looks like we're in for some fun the next few days. Traffic is already a mess in a lot of places, so plan ahead and stay safe.

DWEY

[mithnanthy]

48. I live in Ft. Myers

They have called for evacuations of Pine Island, Estero Island, Ft. Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva. We're 5 miles from Sanibel and Ft. Myers Beach, and 2 blocks from the Caloosahatchee River. We're 13 ft. above sea-level. We're staying put with hurricane shutters in place and outdoor furniture and "blow-aways" secured in the garage with car. We've got food, a grill, candles, flashlights, water and our 4 cats. We are as ready as we'll ever be. This is a hurricane to prepare for.