Take care.

As boring as it can be here in Ohio, I'm glad I don't have to deal with nearly as many disasters yet.

They have tornados and the West coast is on fire.

Panhandle area but definitely keeping an eye on it. Can't imagine what it will grow to if it hits the gulf and won't be sticking around to find out. Stay safe.

what I should do but know I cannot wait until the last minute. I'm hearing the Keys and South Florida seem to be targeted right now, just don't know.

May not hurt to go north if you can.

wind that concerns me.

contemplate the fact that services such as water and electric could be out for days. Roads could be impassable. Can you tolerate that life for weeks or months? Be safe.

So many people are weary of the predictions because of the hype over the years. Wait too late and leaving itself becomes a danger. Leave too early and I hope you can enjoy it as a vacation. Still, most of WPB will be just fine unless it's pretty much a direct hit(40 miles one way or the other). That's even at a Cat5. The only other fear for your area would be if it became stationary. Not very likely on the east coats.

batten down the hatches and go for a visit.. You will have AC, food and water..
m
So Fla...

Houston was on the east side of Harvey and took a beating because of it.

West Palm could very well be on the east side of Irma, and the meteorologists are all saying this is a massive storm.

If I were in your shoes, and it didn't take much to pick up and go, I'd go. Get some tickets to a play. Do some shopping. Go to a museum.
Visit with your son. If it turns out you didn't need to go, just think how much fun you had anyway instead of worrying.

and I'm only half joking. Irma is some serious shit coming your way.

Then heading North to Georgia!

and we are still concerned abt family in Houston.

there are no hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme flooding, major forest fires and tornadoes are very rare.

Being a snow bird would be nice..
m

Turkeys are a common sight now and they were unheard of in this area when I was young. Wild turkeys can't survive in places where the winters are long and harsh.

.......

I visited Nassau last year the week after Mathew. What a mess! We've been lucky for the last few years here.

I guess the question is whether to leave Florida?

You may not need to evacuate, but get your kit ready NOW. If it still looks bad late Wednesday, that's the time to skedaddle. You can have a good laugh and heave a big sigh later if it turns out to be nothing, but be ready to make your move before you absolutely have to, along with tens of thousands of others.

Also, if anyone has to get out, TEXT your friends and relatives rather than call. Texting takes a lot less bandwidth, and while everyone would be glad to hear your voice, a short "Am OK sheltering in Orlando" (or wherever) is every bit as comforting and will reach more of your loved ones quicker.

Link to tweet

My dad always boasted that the Merritt Island region on the east coast had never had a direct hit from a hurricane. Had he lived to 100, he'd be eating those words right about now and I'd be absolutely frantic because his assisted living apartment was on the island.

Then again, I once asked him if he wanted to live to be 100. He said "not if I can still buy a gun."

925 mb- Bigger than Katrina.

GA, SC, and NC are going to get walloped.

I'm surprised the governors of these three states haven't issued a state of emergency.

I just hope it doesn't shift west to places still waterlogged from Harvey.

I just got water and goods from Publix who were getting into their emergency water stockpiles from the back room.

Solar and instant chargers for phone and computer are a good idea.

Best

...

The consensus takes it smack over southwest Miami. I keep rooting for a shift one way or the other. There are indications but then like a rubber band it snaps back

We are in South West Broward county so we don't get the same impact that folks on the east side do (like my kid whose apt is near the beach) but with an elderly parent and a sick pet we are caring for along with the rest of the family, we are taking this very seriously and making all the preparations we can to keep every body safe. At this time I am praying for those folks in the Carribean islands near us, they are taking the first punch.

NOAA is predicting it to head for the Gulf but most other models have it going up the east coast of Florida. We'll have to see who's right. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to stock up on water.

Get it in the big bottles with taps. You can refill those with tap water if the storm misses you.

The storm will lose a category or two by the time it hits but it's still a nasty one.

At least Jose is staying out to sea. For now.

While the predictions and models may be accurate, I'll wait to see what happens.

Maybe not so much for Irma, but we're just starting hurricane season.

Mainly worried due to my inlaws and friends living in south FL (Rotonda West). Inlaws missed getting caught in Harvey by just a day or two since they had been planning on taking their RV on a road trip to Galveston, South Padre, etc.

Now one is heading their way and I'm afraid they are just going to stay put. Mom's always saying how safe their development is since it took very little damage and was only without electricity for 13 hours when Punta Gorda was devastated by Hurricane Charley.

They weren't living down there then, and I'm afraid they'll think they're safe and living through an adventure. Not to mention, they're 80 and 85yo and get mad that their kids worry about them.

Everybody please stay safe and err on the side of caution!

Looking for him at Mar El Lago first, then heading for DC.

I wish she could find him without hurting the rest of us.