Tropical Depression #9 has Florida officials paying attention as the storm is forecast to become a major hurricane early next week (Monday/Tuesday) in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida’s west coast. [National Hurricane Center Advisory] In the background several Civilian Emergency Response Teams (CERT) have been activated. Due to the confluence of events, everyone is taking this storm very seriously.
After two years of relatively uneventful hurricane activity, and with two years of massive migration into the state since the COVID pandemic, there are millions of people potentially going to experience their first hurricane. Thus, Florida emergency officials are being proactive in their alerts.
(NHC) – At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Nine was located near latitude 14.7 North, longitude 71.3 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h). A westward motion is expected to begin tonight and continue through Saturday night, followed by a turn toward the northwest and north-northwest on Sunday and Monday. On the forecast track, the center of the cyclone is forecast to move across the central Caribbean Sea through Saturday, pass south of Jamaica on Saturday night and Sunday, and approach the Cayman Islands on Sunday night and early Monday. (more)
With this much advanced notice residents along the west coast of Florida should begin reviewing their prior supplies and updating their hurricane preparations. Much could change over the next 72-hours, but a review of supplies and locating stored material is a prudent approach.
Check your hurricane supplies of shelf-stable food, water, medicine and don’t forget pets. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Everything is replaceable, except you and your family. We have a lot of Treepers in the path of this storm. If you need assistance, use the comments section of any ‘Update thread’ to reach out, or use the email address in the upper right of the site.
Right now, you are in control. Have a solid plan, work that plan – stay busy, and don’t get caught up in the hysteria. Try to avoid national media hype. Stay updated via your local news stations. Monday afternoon/evening looks like the key day impact zones will be identified. Reach out to your neighbors; touch-base and check to see if they are okay or need anything. Community restoration begins before the storm arrives. Look out for each-other.
Additionally, I hate to note this, but Joe Biden is in charge of FEMA response… So plan accordingly.
Regarding any evacuation plan, please pay attention to your local officials who will be coordinating with state Dept. of Transportation. As the path and impact zone of the storm becomes more predictable your local officials will alert to best route(s) for evacuation.
For those in the cone of uncertainty; remember, planning and proactive measures taken now can significantly reduce stress in the days ahead. Plan when to make the best decision on any evacuation (if needed) consider Monday the decision time-frame. As a general rule: take cover from wind – but evacuate away from water.
DAY ONE (Saturday)
- Determine Your Risk
- Make a Written Plan
- Develop and Evacuation Plan
- Inventory hurricane/storm supplies.
- Withdraw cash based on plan/need.
- Get gas and storm supplies
DAY TWO (Sunday)
- Get Storm Update
- Assemble and purchase any missing Hurricane Supplies
- Contact Insurance Company – Updates
- Secure Important Papers.
- Update/upload your phone data.
- Strengthen and Secure Your Home
- Discuss Evacuation Decision with your Family.
- Fill freezer with 3/4 full water jugs.
DAY THREE (Monday)
- Get Storm Update
- Re-Evaluate your Supplies based on storm update
- Finish last minute preparation
- Plan for a minimum of THREE DAYS without power
- Assist Your Neighbors
- If Needed – Evacuate Your Family
.
Communication is important. Update your friends and family contact list. Stay in touch with family and friends, let them know your plans. Select a single point of contact for communication from you that all others can then contact for updates if needed.
Today/tomorrow are good days to organize your important papers, insurance forms, personal papers and place them in one ‘ready-to-go’ location.
Evaluate your personal hurricane and storm supplies; update and replace anything you might have used. Assess, modify and/or update any possible evacuation plans based on your location, and/or any changes to your family status. Fill car with gasoline. Review prescriptions, refill if needed.
Check your shutters and window coverings; test your generator; re-organize and familiarize yourself with all of your supplies and hardware. Check batteries in portable tools; locate tools you might need; walk your property to consider what you may need to do based on the storms path. All decisions are yours. You are in control.
Consider travel plans based on roads and traffic density. Being proactive now helps to keep any future stress level low. You are in control. If you have pets, additional plans may be needed.
One possible proactive measure is to make a hotel reservation further inland that you would consider evacuating to. Follow updates of the storms’ progress; make reservations tomorrow if determined; you can always cancel if not needed. It is better to have a secondary evacuation place established in advance. Being proactive reduces stress. Even if you wait until much later to cancel, it is better to pay a cancellation fee (usually one night charge) than to not have a plan on where to go. Trust me, it’s worth it. Protect your family. Make the booking decision in the next 36 hrs.
♦ Look over the National Hurricane Center resources for planning assistance.
♦ Also a great resource – CREATE A PLAN
A small prayer for those in Florida will help.
unless he is too busy SD acts as a part of a CERT in FL in the event of emergencies and helps to prepare and alleviate the effects of things like hurricanes
Thank you for reminding everyone.
Yes. My schedule for writing and posting at CTH changes when these events take place. I apologize with not keeping up on current events, but my responsibilities shift rather dramatically.
Warmest best,
Sundance
Stay safe, Sundance. Hope to see you back on here soon.
Sundance, after reading your exploits during the last big hurricane, I believe you are a ham radio operator.
All the very best from your fellow Floridian, N2SN. Yes providing my callsign gives who I am away and exactly where I live. To be truthful, the way things are today I don’t give a tinkers damn! Thanks for being Sundance.
Writing from a NC hurricane-prone area, I am grateful for your vigilance, Sundance! Blessings!
Same here in NC. I don’t like the latest track pulling it North. Prayers for Florida and Sundance.
God bless you Sundance🙏🏻. Thank you!
Just stay safe,, and alive.
Have been “nudge” posting for 3 days to fellow FL peeps to be ahead of the panic buying.
Looks like we’ll be OK on the east side of the state.
Please everyone prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Know that fellow Floridians will be there for you.
Charlie came up from the west coast of Florida and did a lot of damage on the east coast.
Wilma was the worst.
Most don’t know that Katrina came across south Florida before she went for jazz music.
True story, day after K went through SF was at work listening to weather radio, K was getting ready to hit NO, some smart ass that I may or may not know personally was singing—When the levee breaks got no place to go.
Full disclosure—went through Andrew, Charley, Frances, Ivan,Jeanne
and Wilma
Please all be safe we need you.
wow!
I lived through all of those too. Be prepared for no power for some days. But other than that you’ll be fine unless you live on the west coast. Just relax. I’ve lived in central Florida since 1968.
Just fyi. In all those years I’ve never been without water. So get some but don’t fill up your whole garage.
I went through Hazel on the coast of NC in 1954. Look that one up.
Didn’t Andrew as well?
Charlie was Cat 4, small but powerful.
Who knows? Hurricanes do what they will. See “Charley ” for more info.
Hi Edik,
I live on the west side as well, but am able and willing to assist our east side neighbors should it be needed.
Love your statement re: “Know that fellow Floridians will be there for you.”
We are called to do this very thing.
May God protect our west coast neighbors.
I am on the east central side and pray you are correct.
I’m on the mid Atlantic coast. Keeping a watchful eye
Sundance, prayers for you and all fellow Treepers in Florida.
The next couple of days should be busy for everyone there.
Be safe everyone…things can be replaced…you cannot be replaced. Look out for each other.
Do what you need to do. We’ll be here.
I still remember the story about you and your friend taking over one day for the pool guy so he could work on his place and the homeowner watching you from his deck.
I’m sending this post to our transplanted Virginian friends near Sarasota. (They always brag about the good life in Florida). To all Floridians: Best wishes and take care.
This is why you are more than just a reporter of information and analyst and solid dependable investigative journalists.
You have the compassion and the responsibility to put that experience into action.
Highly commendable. Honorable.
God Bless America
Thank you for all you do. I’m not in FL, but around Tornado Alley in W. KY, so your preparedness lists and recommendations are appropriate for here and much appreciated. Prayers for safety for you and yours, fellow Treepers in the path, and everyone else!
Thank you, dear Sundance, for all that you do. We are beyond fortunate to have you in our lives.
You take care and be safe, too. Much love to you and your family. ❤️
Yup, activate the CTH Prayer network, its POWERFUL.
We prayed for mumble, stumble, grumble,…and we got BIDEN.
So lets all pray for SLOW, so it goes back out into the gulf.
Dutchman,
Thank you for your prayers and, well, just your plain kindness!
You represent the American neighbors and friends from days long past, who would pull together for anyone in need.
You made my heart happy!
activated! Did a prayer meeting tonight. Will be doing this again on Sunday.
God Bless America
Thanks Regi…. much appreciated for those of us in the direct path. Hope to keep our roof and landscape this time.. Irma did a number. Prayers appreciated. .. held back the storm surge last time.
Thanks, those of us in Florida who know God appreciate your prayers.
Prayers from GA, know many hams. Always can count on them.
A big prayer for family in Florida.
I’ve always wondered about the gasoline stations.
So, you got a gas station sitting on tens of thousands of gallons of gas but they can’t pump it because they have no power.
You’d figure they’d have a few jerry cans of gas and a couple of generators, huh?
Keeping the fuel in the tanks is the prudent thing to do.
Any attempt to operate by the “Seat of your pants” (whatever the rationalization) during an EMERGENCY, invites massive PERSONAL Liability ISSUES.
You might help a few…
Then, again, you might level the neighborhood.
Bump-dee-bump!
They could PLAN and TRAIN for it… so it doesn’t become a seat of the pants affair.
Hurricanes, for the most part, are prepare, prepare, prepare…then, hopefully, it goes where it can’t harm you (or, anyone else either, as I always pray!)
I prefer just plain old tropical storms — that’s how we get a lot of our water around here!
Umm… generators have been around for years and are not usually seat of the pants items. All you’d need is one sized correctly to run at least some of the pumps plus the lights. Not at all difficult.
the state and power companies prioritize getting gas stations power so they can pump, and if need be they send extra tankers on the roadway to alleviate shortages
Said it for years. If FEMA could do anything right, first step would be generators at strategic located gas stations. Stage ice/water from these and allow those that can get there get gasoline.
I don’t remember the law, but Fl passed something like that in FL. Even some grocery stores but many have gen back ups and still lose items. On this first run looks like right over my house, It’s always something! Will watch it for sure.
My best friend lives in Largo. We talked today about the storm. Praying for all. 🙏
I’m in Clearwater, about 3 miles north of Largo. I’m almost 80, so all I can do is watch.
Correct on the law/generators in some locations. Publix has had nat gas (where available) generators since Frances/Jean. Lots of other retailers.
I think this one will be my 11th or maybe 12th. Irma gave us 113 mph. Trims the trees just fine.
Irma put a tree through my parents roof.
They say if it travels fast once it goes over Cuba it will hit the west coast of Florida. If it travels slow it will go out into the Gulf. Looks like Monday will be the key day for which way it heads.
There is a cool front headed to Texas mid-week. A lot will depend on the strength of the front.
Been watching…a big thank you!! I know a jail is starting to ready its hurricane staffing plans. Daughter is a sherif’s deputy.
Make sure to charge up your EV so they do not become an anchor on the freeway
EV….?
Electric vehicle
Electric Vehicle…
Good one. Lets hope the EV’s don’t go on I75 or I95
And if your a sane person and thus have a vehicle with an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) make sure your spare gas cans are full since the gas stations where this thing hits will most likely not have power to run their pumps for awhile.
Watch MSNBC say it’s all due to climate change and the nuttier Leftists saying its proof that God hates DeSantis and/or Trump.
Wonder how prepped DeSantis has Florida for hurricane season?
Being prepared is a personal one. Not government.
Exactly right!
Rode out many storms on the upper Texas coast.
You take care of you and yours and your neighbors.
Shouldn’t be any different for anyone in any area subjected to blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, or any other natural disaster really.
Decent people look out for their neighbors from being a part of the same community.
Right on.
One good thing I am able to say about Rick Scott was his hurricane activation plans ahead of a storm, and his presence on TV during the state preparations.
Are you kidding me. DeSantis is ready. You must not be from Florida.
Thanks Obama for joining our discussion.
…………………..the comment I was replying to is already gone. Good.
Puddy/Weed/Stella/Menagerie – go ahead and remove this if ya wantz. Luvz y’all.
Just got a better idea~!!!! I’ll take care of it myself!! Duh….
Excellent comment….no reason. 😘
Ad rem, Why after so many years do my comments suddenly have to await approval? The Bat!!!
You dangling participles or something?
DB….I saw you popping up in pending, so I checked. Saw your name on the moderation list (???), but I deleted it. You should have no further problems. 🙁
Looks like Irma II. I think the projected eye will pass over my roof. Plans all set, supplies set, but there are hordes of hysterical people crowding the stores and gas pumps already.
I prayed for everyone to be spared this year. I am in FL and have had up to 2 weeks with no electric following a hurricane. This year, if people lose the food in their freezers, it will be a hardship to replace for many families with the inflation prices.
Prayers going out for you Floridians. Here in Ohio we only get blizzards , ice storms and snow. Sounds strange , but I always wanted to see the inside of a hurricane. But then, maybe not! 🙂. Good luck to all!!
Best way to do that is via YT:
Thanks! Amazing!!!
From someone who has been in the eye of several hurricanes I can tell you exactly what it is like. When the hurricane first hits all Hell breaks loose. After a while the sky clears and the 360 degree view is like being inside a huge doughnut of clouds with a diameter of many miles across.
The doughnut then closes as the back end of the storm approaches. This is followed by all Hell breaking loose again. After it passes the sky usually clears up and the sun shines again. It’s a very weird experience.
After the hurricane passes the electricity is obviously out and one has to deal with that. Camping stoves are used to cook dinner outside (their fumes can kill if used indoors). One then relies on their liquor cabinet for entertainment as well as eating all the ice cream in the freezer before it all melts.
I noticed that Sundance did not have alcohol on his list of items needed. Going out Monday to make sure I have some for next weekend. Live in St. Pete and the model looks like it may pass over me.
You forgot to mention that if the center of the eye passes over you, the winds will come in from the opposite direction from those experienced before. This change in wind direction generally enhances the damage caused and the danger of being out where lose objects and debris are flying about.
Thanks for the first-hand perspective! It’s got to be an awesome display. Maybe someday! The aftermath of a blizzard or ice storm is pretty similar to that of a hurricane…..except it’s so dang cold!!! I’m a Life Scout ……Be prepared! And Stay Safe!!
LOL@ “relying on liquor and ice cream”! We do pizzas up here in the winter…with liquor and ice cream!
I don’t know where you live in Ohio but where I live in Ohio we get some serious tornadoes!
Unlike hurricanes tornadoes don’t give you any warning.
My ex in-laws lost a house in Xenia and my ex-wife got flying lessons in her car in 1974 on N. Detroit Street..
Oh we did get Ike here in SW Ohio and our power was off for 10 days but it was all wind no rain September 14, 2008.
Live in a small town south of Cleveland called Strongsville. Yeah those tornados can get pretty hairy! Had one go thru our town back in the early sixties, destroying a neighborhood! I was overseas when the Xenia tornado happened. It made Armed Forces radio news! Lol! Poor ex-wife!!
In OH, Hurricane Ike knocked out the grid for a week.
A cold front is coming down the State at this time. It will likely stall after passing the Lake and then exist as a stationary front for 2-3 days. This mid-state stationary front activity in late September and early October historicalgly has moved late season tropical storms from west to east across the state from a Naples to Ft.Pierce line. An old book called The Atlantic Hurricane shows this historical pattern has happened on many occasions. In addition the water temperature in the Everglades is very high now and the storm will be able to use that heat for maintaining it’s strength. The stationary front remains will help the storm develop .
State?
Lake?
Florida and Lake Okeechobee (I am thinking that is what is meant).
For a minute I had to think and almost typed Lake Michigan…LOL.
The trough associated with that cold front is the major factor that is causing this storm, which will probably be named Hermine, to turn north so suddenly.
I just noticed the name Hermine was taken earlier today by a Tropical Storm coming off the coast of Africa. So this depression that may hit Florida will be named Idalia when it reaches TS strength,
Here is a great place to learn the nitty gritty about current storm activity. Dr. Levi Cowen knows his stuff.
Tropical Tidbits
I hate to say it but I suspect the Junta is cheering on this storm and has sappers ready to rock at energy facilities around the Gulf.
It’s a crisis after all.
And it’s all going to be the fault of those MAGA extremists and their carbon emissions.
Will likely queue the blame for President Trump and Governor DeSantis should anything not go right.
Trump supporters in big trucks caused this!!!
it was the Trump Flotillas churning up all the waves….watch for that tidal wash
Florida had the last hurricane in October 2018 in Mexico Beach, Florida. I believe there are evil people out there that
do control weather patterns. How appropriate with the Midterms being 47 DAYS away. Too much of a coincidence for me.
Make sure your cordless tool batteries are charged
Fresh sawzall blades
Sharpen your chainsaw blade and axe
Fill ducttape over bathtub drain then fill them with water so you can drink or flush toilets
Pray.
I’ve grown rather cynical if the whole hurricane predictions thing. I do not remember ever seen a “cone of uncertainty” for a depression. The local news has been covering this as if it were a category 5 hours away from landfall.
My guess is that with an extremely calm August they’re trying to get the panic to set before the season is over.
In Florida, one should have all their preps ready June 1st. There should never be any scrambling for supplies. The only supplies that expire are gas for generators and even that can be kept for a good bit of time.
We’ll see what the next few days brings, but the reaction to this tropical depression has been very suspiciously overblown, in my opinion.
I’m in coastal NC. If a hurricane is coming there is nothing I need to buy.
20 miles from coast in SC. Nothing for me to buy, either. I have the sandbags it turned out we didn’t need back in 2019 in my garage.
I grew up there.
The Weather Channel must be having orgasms right about now being the hurricane season has been a dud. I bet they are down here in Florida telling the viewers that Florida will be swept into the Gulf.
Once the weather God, Jim Cantore shows up in your town you know it’ll be nothing. LOL
Gets one going to Home Depot, Walmart and Publix now, doesn’t it. With the market tanking today….makes me wonder.
But there are many people where common sense does not grown in their garden.
I agree. Too much Hype ,Just trying to boost grocery and supplies sales.
People in Florida know the Hurricane drill from previous experience. If you do not check your preparedness each year when a storm is possible and buy what you need to replace or restore your supplies to protect your property early on you will find that stores are sold out. After a Hurricane Watch is issued it is too late. After doing this for years it is amazing that you forgot to start your standby generator and the old gas has screwed the carburetor. Your battery supply is out of date or minimal. No backup gas or propane or it’s too old and screws up the generator. You can’t find the extension cords for the generator. Your supply of fasteners for window storm panels are not where you thought they were. After you find them you realize that you do not have enough. Those fasteners seem to disappear every year. The plants in your yard are ALL overgrown and need trimming. Fruit on trees that become ballistic missiles in Hurricanes need to be thinned and removed if Warning are posted. Yes I forgot to get the Coconuts removed once again. Flying coconuts are Hurricane Nukes even for shuttered windows. Have to deal with those garbage cans. Maybe I should get a can of starting fluid for that generator. If I don’t use it I can wiff the fumes or use it to kill cold sour virus on lips. Where did I put the charcoal??? I might want to bring the Grill inside. Oh!!! The chain saw needs to be checked and chain sharpened or have a backup chain. That saw need chain oil. Now you see what has to be done by those that know the hurricane drill; imagine what a newbee who plans on going to a hurricane party has to learn.
Well said! At this point it’s all a guess. How many time have you retired for the night looking at an Invest or TD and the next morning POOF it’s gone.
May be a thing or if may be FUD*
*FUD stands for “fear, uncertainty, and doubt.”. It’s a communication tactic used to influence people towards having a negative perception of something, generally through deliberate misinformation or inciting fear. Historically, FUD has also been used to mean “fear, uncertainty, and disinformation,” which has essentially the same
BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis declares a State of Emergency for 24 counties in the potential path of Tropical Depression 9.
The Florida National Guard will be activated and on standby.
DESANTIS: “This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations.”
“We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.”
https://flgov.com/2022/09/23/governor-ron-desantis-declares-state-of-emergency-for-24-counties-urges-floridians-to-prepare-for-impacts-from-tropical-depression-9/
The list stops at the county next to us. Too close.
Thank you, Aggiegirl.
Thanks Sundance got family down there appreciate the heads up will keep you all in my prayers be well
R.D.
It’s not too late to secure a decent solar charger for your cell phones / laptops, either.
Really tough choice but we’ll trade you one communist WEF washington govenor for one Cat 5. At least the cat 5 is there and gone. Communist governors just keep right on destroying things.
Too late… we offered Premier Loathsom Gruesom but Florida refused. They said they’d rather deal with ten Cat 5s.
In the meantime:
Washingtonians! Oregunians! (*) Send us your power or we’ll send you more people from the Bay Area!
(*) Just having some fun there….
I’ve been watching this storm developing and I hoped it would stray more to the west, but it looks like it’s going to sweep right back at us. I live in Madison, in the armpit of Florida. I’m in an odd place with a steep (for Florida!) hill to my immediate north and trees on the other three sides.
We’ve had a few storms move through here, but nothing with this intensity. Most of the wind blows over us due to the hill and the trees.
#FJB has caused me to be prepared for the possibility of being without power and still be able to eat.
I’ve lived in Florida for a total of 13 years, but I just moved back here from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last December.
I hope everyone stays safe. As the storm gets closer, I will keep you posted on events as they happen.
St Lucie here…
or there…somewhere…I know they know I know they know I know where I am….LOL (that is for the lurking feebs).
The stars at night are big and bright …deep in the heart of Texas. I walked the walk that Jake and Elwood walked and have an emotional attachment to the area known as Queens, NY!….and my favorite cruising song at 64 is “Lake Shore Drive”. I am getting punchy. Sorry guys…trying to decide to head south or not.
We lived in PSLfor 9 months when my wife was a traveling nurse back in 2007. I loved it. We spent a lot of time at Jensen Beach.
For those who don’t know FL acronymns, PSL is Port St. Lucie. It’s about 115 miles north of Miami.
First FJB hoses my 401Ks… now FJB is trying to hose my real estate… now FJB is gonna hose Key West.
FJB wants me to work until I die, while he and his owners become richer.
Well, you will have something to live for then, right?
I have accepted that fact for my life.
Okay, we know the drill. Be Prepared.
As Sundance said, now is the time to stock-up and check-up on all supplies and family-neighbors.
Hopefully, prayerfully, this will not become a large and dangerous storm.
My daughter filled her propane tanks this morning.
Four comments:
1) Print everything that’s currently in electronic form, which you might need. (Ex: contact info, prescriptions.) If you lose the electricity to power your electronic devices, you’ll need that information printed on paper.
2) I like the “Local maps” in the “Basic” list of things to have. Internet connections and GPS might go out, so you might need a paper map.
3) Know at least two routes to evacuate. Know them for memory. If you learn that one evacuation route is blocked, you can go the other route.
4) https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/145524.shtml?cone has the following legend:
D: Tropical Depression – wind speed less than 39 MPH
S: Tropical Storm – wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH
H: Hurricane – wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH
M: Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH
The map on that web page (and the map at the top of this Conservative Treehouse web page) shows an “M” in a circle for 2 PM Wed. I guess that means the hurricane will be a “Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH” then.
Unless you live directly on the coast where the hurricane is going to hit you do not need to evacuate. Where do you think the people who live in the Islands evacuate to? They don’t. If you have a sturdy house, especially one built to the new building code after 2003, just stay where you are unless it’s a low lying area. Don’t fall for the media hysteria.
Cars topped off, sitting around… waiting.
1921 Tampa Bay hurricane is the benchmark storm for them. Map shows how lucky Fla to the heast coast has been the last 50 years or so compared to previous 50 with half the major hit. SO why would there not be an increase? has increase in co2 lead to. LESS MAJOR HITS?
Fortunately, Florida has a competent governor.
The direction and path of this storm will change and the accuracy is the same as the local weather reader.
We don’t need no more stinking rain in northern florida
I hear you. I’m sick of rain. I’m enjoying an unflooded yard right now.I live in Pensacola.
Good news source for tracking and updates.
https://www.local10.com/hurricane/
Hopefully Duke Energy doesn’t take 8 days to get the power back on out here in the sticks like they did during Irma. The CEO looked silly when he said he have all customers in the State back online in one day. I have a river behind me to fill 5 gallon water cooler jugs to flush the toilets, so that is a major plus. I typically ride these things out because I live in a remote part of the County on a dirt road. The Sheriff does not patrol unpaved roads, and meth heads love to break into houses post storm. I have a feeling many Newbies will be headed for North Carolina and Tennessee after their first big storm.
Former Florida resident here. Please don’t come to Tennessee. Moved here 2 years ago and it’s a horrible place. 😉
My family in East Tennessee/Western NC say the same thing..:)
Yup. NE Tennessee also. I mean the weather is 4 seasons,rather mild. The trees are changing right now and looking to the mountains that surround me is just going to be way too colorful. Heh.
why do you say that?
You didn’t see the 😉.
Thank you SD! My sister is going back down to her condo in Bradenton, and I gave her a call with the info (never watches the news-don’t know how she turned into a leftie!) but I still love her! She’s on a third floor but I’ll try to get her to take extra water and batteries or candles.
Biden is in charge of FEMA response…
Heaven help us! Be save, Florida friends!
** Safe
Thank You , Sundance , for this Yearly Preparation Guide !
Although , in Washington State we don’t have Hurricanes , most of the Preparation List should be Common Sense Preparation for All States in case of Any Type of Crisis .
Especially Now , with Winter Coming On and Considering the Political Climate we Live In !
May God Bless You , Sundance , and Hold You and Yours in the Palms of His Hands 😊
Please , Lord , keep All in the path Safe 🙏
Do your laundry while you have power.
Back in 1969, Hurricane Camille hit us in western Pennsylvania. My dad bought groceries before picking me up from a summer typing class at lunch time (not gonna lie, I thought something happened to my mom because dad did NOT leave work early or buy groceries). He got a lot of cold cuts, cheese, fruit, milk, bread, cookies, chips, etc. Mom asked him what meal she was supposed to make with this and he said none. My sister and I were 13 and 15 and we could all make whatever sandwiches and get fruit when we were hungry and mom could relax and read her books in peace. He got jigsaw puzzles, too. I remember this as a very relaxing 2 days. Consider buying cold cuts.
Good idea. You have a thoughtful Pop!
He was but he was a little annoyed that I asked him why he was there picking me up and if Mom was dead.
giggling here
Irma was our last one before we moved back to Georgia (not because of the storm). When they updated the track showing her headed for the Tampa Bay area we were like “uh-oh!”, but she turned east of us.
Local news was phenomenal! As long as you have power, stay tuned. They shine during these times!
Also, fill your tubs with water so you can use it to clean, drink, etc if the taps stop working.
Pray that it weakens and heads northwest and stalls out. The midwest is in the worst drought since 1980. (in places) A hurricane remnant this time of year is great for replenishing much needed water.
Remember folks..
God can turn any curse into a blessing for His own.
It’s His trademark..
A few years ago, when a hurricane was ready to clobber Cuba and we had been cruising there, we returned to Florida and got the next-to-last rental car to make a run for home in Georgia because we were not confident that our flights would fly. (They did.) We chose back roads and kept our gas tank full. But along the way we briefly saw the Interstates … now set for “all lanes point North,” and we saw: a parking lot. No one was going anywhere, and no gas station near the freeway had any gas. We kept moving on our back roads and we made it. But, this made me think that “evacuating by car along the Interstate” is probably a pointless idea. You’d be far better off at home, or in a proper and sturdy municipal shelter, than camping in a rest area with nowhere to go when a hurricane hit.
Florida backroads can be confusing to say the least. Goolag maps and GPS are spotty at best out here. Get a folding map.
Definitely … and, we had one. “US 27” and “US 41” were our BFFs. But, we know them well.
And, we had both car-GPSes and mobile (“geocaching”) applications with off-line maps and routing capabilities. We had no need for Internet access. This is of course also critically important.
But – “trying to run away” is probably not the best option because “everyone else” will have the same idea. And you’re probably going to run out of gas, along with tens of thousands of your friends who are also now stuck in the middle of somewhere.
We took one hell of a chance, and made it.
I think it was Irma that came up thru the whole state and everyone was evacuating. I knew that the roads would be jammed so we decided to stay. I live across the street from the Atlantic Ocean on a marsh and we went thru Matthew just fine so we thought it would be ok. Around two in the morning it felt like the roof was about to come off, found out next day a tornado had touch down a mile from house. The worst part is losing electricity and having no air conditioning. We made it only one day and then found hotel for a week.
A good time to test all those new recently installed Solar Panels on your roof. I’ve noticed every other home in my neighbohood has had them installed this past few months. I’m anxious to see the consequences.
A lot if not most solar panels on homes are grid connected w/o house batteries…..
So the joke is you cannot use your solar panels w/o a live grid.
They will no longer be on your roof if it is above Cat 2. They will help your roof fly away. Get a generator and Gas. Green stuff does not meet the dependable standard. The lightning in a Hurricane will make EMP and destroy the electronics of the panels if they happen to remain on your roof.
Certainly solar panels that aren’t there won’t work 😉
I predict additional debris fly around due to broken solar panel.
Great Article with lots of info.
For the people new to Florida please take advantage of all the resources linked and the advice of people who have weathered these storms.
2 most important things:
Don’t panic and if you need to evacuate go early.
Formulate your plan, list any supplies you need, divide the tasks and complete what is needed. There is plenty of time to prepare.
Here are a few things I have learned.
If your roof is older and may be damaged there are some things you can do to mitigate the water damage.
You can wrap electronics and other items in plastic. DON’T due this if you are using them.
If water breaches your house anything on the floor may be damaged. You can set smaller items on tables and put small blocks of wood under the feet of couches and chairs.
If you stay or return home without power you will also not have a/c. Be prepared to sleep with windows open. If you can’t handle the heat have an alternate plan.
Food and water are a necessity.
Fill a bathtub with water, fill buckets with water, fill any Tupperware or like containers with water. You can easily fill 6 or 8 buckets with water inexpensively without leaving home.
Have basic food available.
10 or 12 cans of beans and 5 pounds of rice will give you a week of provisions. Along with a few cans of soup and vegetables
you will be able to easily survive for a few weeks. It may take that long for power to be restored. A few years back my parents were powerless for that long.
While most of us have propane grills, a small portable grill like the ones used to camp or boat will be sufficient.
An open fire with just a grate will also work.
Most likely a few local eateries will be open but don’t count on that.
Everyone in Fl. should have these basic items on hand at all times. Take this time to prepare and if this storm takes a different track and spares Fl. use this experience as a practice run.
Remember that after a storm your neighbors may need help. We all need to come together and work as one to ensure everyone is safe. Possessions can be replaced, people can’t.
Excellent article! Thank you. Empowers and motivates personal responsibility.
This bit of advise should have been issued for Jan 21 2021 as well.
Major Demshovik sh it storm of the century on the way. Evacuate while you can, if you can’t, and plan to ride it out in your current location, make sure you have preps for long term off the grid living. Wait days of even months before emerging from your secured position, be prepared mentally and physically for changes that will be life altering. We cannot predict where this real stinker of a disaster will hit hardest, only that all will be certain you have lived through a SHTF moment in History. This is not a drill.
None will be spared.
Time to send 500K illegal aliens up to the North East….
… it’s for their safety, you know?
Godspeed to all Treepers in the affected area.
Gawd, I miss Florida!
Prayers for all those in the path of the storm.
Well, shoot. It took an entire year for my insurance company to cough up the money to replace my roof. An 80 foot tree fell on it.
My home is about 40 mins. west from Pensacola
Damaged from Hurricane Sally
I just had a new roof put on last week. Time to break it in.
New roof is good protection. 25 years in sw fl. Anna Maria Island for 23, now in Naples. “What me worry”?. It’s out of my hands.Pray and pray more.
I had spent a LOT of money to redo my flower beds & trees about 2 months before Sally hit. Sally kicked it dead as a door nail.
I was finally going to replace the beds next week.
You must have my kind of luck which is no luck. ;-0
Your new roof depends upon your window shutter system. If window system fail in Cat 3 or above your roof will definitely get a test. Uplift in Andrew from my hurricane proof window system that failed because they used bolts that were too small to hold the windows in the framing of the house, cause my roof to fly away. Windows being hit by large debris like roof tiles and coconuts really take a beating.
Really based upon what I have seen and heard from Levi Cowan at Tropical Tidbits I would suggest anyone on the Gulf coast between Louisiana and the Florida Keys should be keeping a close eye on this thing. There is still a great deal of uncertainty about that actual track of this storm. The track shown by the National Hurricane Center is their best shot based on what the models are saying but there are steering factors that could change that considerably.
Levi is pretty good. I was worried he was vakks injured as I hadn’t seen a post from him about the storm that just passed over Bermuda. Sidebar question, why is it always at least $10 Billion in damage every-dang-time a storm comes anywhere near Puerto Rico?
In addition, for all major weather events, I always recommend YouTuber “Ryan Hall Y’all”. He’s in eastern Kentucky, and covers bad weather live, and better than anyone I’ve seen.
Has anyone tried one of those self-heating meal kits? I mean a kit in which your food is heated after you add water.
Did this kit work well for you? Something like that would be handy if the power went out, but I don’t know if they work well. What brand do you recommend? Thanks.
Meals Ready to Eat (MRE)……need a supply of fresh water and they have a heating pack in them for their hot serving….they run a bit on the costly side to purchase though about $10 and up each
On that, one could make friends with your local National Guard members.
Some of them might have some MREs they could spare from what is commonly issued to them from the periodic training that they do.
Once upon a day, I ate some of those. My recall is they were good source of calories, but I could hardly gag them down. Hopefully better now.
Just gassed up my car at BJs in Clearwater. There was a 30 minute wait for a pump. Water is nearly gone there, Walmart and Publix were already out. I feel blessed to have been able to stock up. We are ready to rock for up to Cat 3 now. If it’s a 4 well then, that’s a different story. I was sitting there waiting at the pump today and thinking…imagine all these people, needing to fast charge an electric vehicle…@ 2 hours each….how many charging stations would that require? Took me just over 5 minutes to put 15.5 gallons of gas in my tank. Imagine how insane it would be if we all needed electric power charges and couldn’t get to a charger? I’m praying for all of us here in West Central Florida and beyond. Prayers all around for the people in the path of these storms. Please pray for me. I’m praying for all of you.
Was around for Charlie. The track of that hurricane was predicted to make landfall right around Sarasota , Bradenton area. If it hit Anna Maria island, many people predicted there would be nothing left. We evacuated 100 miles south to a freinds house in Northport. The hurricane makes a sharp turn and hits port charlotte and punta gorda areas hard. Freinds house damaged , many roofs gone in area. Freinds stayed with us for 10 days because of no power. Anna Maria island= no damage. In fl. hurricanes can hit anywhere, not just the coasts. Prayers for all. Stay safe and help others.
Done. Prayers have been sent out.
Here are some of my favorite Bible verses:
Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, …
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psalms 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Deuteronomy 33:12 … The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him;
and the Lord shall cover him all the day long,
and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Thank you for the prayers and scriptures! God bless you!
Thank you. God bless you, too!
A religious teacher used to say, “God bless you. Don’t worry – He’ll bless you. Just let Him.”
Prayers Obake.. stay safe. Thanks for your prayers too.
Praying Psalm 91 over all of Florida!!
Sundance, so kind of you to provide a mechanism to seek help/assistance for the Treepers!
Blessings and protection for all, including Sundance and family! 🙏
I moved to FL CD1 (Matt Gaetz) last year and live on a bay. I have been checking supplies and readiness the last two days. I am a bit nervous but I have gas, propane, culligan water jugs, generator and ammo. Fishing gear as well for the reds we can catch in the street but hopefully not the first floor of the house.
Thank you Sundance for your stalwart efforts to focus preparedness.
I appreciate your good nature and sound judgement and advice.
God Bless America