OT: Hurricane Irma Open Thread

Submitted by UMFanInFlorida on

Good morning from Central Florida. We're just starting to see the outer bands come into Orlando with some rain starting to spit down. South Florida and the Keys have already been feeling it for some time, with the eye wall right on the Keys right now.

Our family is hunkered down with the house prepared. Most of our neighbors have opted to stay as well.. we're ready to ride this one out.

Your thoughts are prayers for all of us in Florida are greatly appreciated! Other FL MGoBloggers, let us know how you're faring as well.

ed: For those tracking the storm, I highly highly recommend this site: http://spaghettimodels.com . Mike has provided lots of information, live updates and his own interpretation of all the data that's out there.

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Recruiting

SWFLWolverine

September 10th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^

After crossing Cuba gained intensity from 110MPH to 145 in 3 hours....I believe the pressure in Irma is dropping once again which indicates strengthening. The low-lying keys are not going to slow this thing down and it is into the Gulf now with 86 to 88 degree waters. Storm is projected to skim Cape Coral and head into Charlotte Harbor. I would expect it to hit as a Category 4 storm. Intensity predictions have not improved in over 25 years, so..... btw, all the experts were so wrong on Charley that people evacuated right into its path.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 2348

CompleteLunacy

September 10th, 2017 at 2:30 PM ^

If your attitude is this is no big deal. This literally one of the strongest and largest hurricanes to ever make landfall in the US. If the death toll is small compared to heat waves - great! But stop pretending that's the only bad thing that can happen with these hurricanes. Look at the aftermath of past storms: Houston is going to be rebuilding for a long time. Katrina misplaced 400,000 residents from New Orleans - some who never returned -and rebuilding has taken over a decade.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

corundum

September 10th, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^

And you're not very good at reading. I never said it was no big deal, these are my exact words from above: It is a dangerous situation, but the news networks have been acting like this will be the South Florida apocalypse for over a week now when that's simply not true. And I was right, it was downgraded to a category 3 by 2:15 PM before it made landfall on the peninsula. Obviously it is a big deal, but it is not as apocalyptic as the major news networks are sensationalizing. If you want a clear-cut no bullshit forecast then stick with the government's National Hurricane Center instead of broadcast journalists who are desperate for a 24 hr story and the accompanied ratings boost.

Joined: 05/10/2012

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CompleteLunacy

September 10th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^

...then fine. That's nothing new, the media sensationalizes things...but maybe sometimes that's not a bad thing, because people need to get the message.

And anyway, every meteorologist I know is taking the storm very very seriously, including those from the NHC. They've been using terms like "catastrophic" and "life-threatening" too. So I'm still not quite getting your point.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

DrewForBlue

September 10th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^

I live in Tampa, right on the coast. 

It's supposed to be a Category 3 or 4 going right over my house tonight.  Maybe it's worse, maybe a lot better.  We just won't know until it hits. 

So this may be the wrong take for many.

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 2133

Perkis-Size Me

September 10th, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^

This storm is bigger than Andrew and Katrina and it's going to destroy the entire Florida Gulf Coast. Quite a few people in the Caribbean are already dead.

You might want to re-evaluate your thoughts on this being "much ado about nothing."

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106010

Clarence Beeks

September 11th, 2017 at 9:50 PM ^

Having gone through this storm in the Tampa Bay area, I can say without a doubt that you were wrong. Heavy storm my ass. Next time, perhaps, don't write something saying an event is "much to do about nothing" fourteen hours before it arrives...

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22848

Everyone Murders

September 10th, 2017 at 9:26 AM ^

All the best to those impacted by this hurricane. Even if folks have evacuated, they will face the risk of returning to a mess. Can someone explain, though, why the Weather Channel people have to do "Wolf Blitzer" shots in the wind and rain in staged "storm sites"? Can't they afford remote cameras and studios? "As you can see ... what? I'm sorry John, I can barely hear you. It's ... windy and ... raining." Can we just send them each a dimestore Emmy mock up and cut to the adults in the studio?

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

Michigan Marshmallow

September 10th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^

Hello from SW Florida! The winds have definitely picked up but lack of heavy rain is keeping the power up. I'm outside of the storm surge area, but that will probably be the most damaging aspect of this storm, especially if/when it reaches Tampa. I'll just be glad when this whole stupid thing is over. Yesterday my local ABC channel was playing the same storm info over and over instead of the game. Had to find a nice stream online.

Joined: 11/06/2011

MGoPoints: 565

freelion

September 10th, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^

But I hope this will stop Florida people with their "oh its down to 70 and so cold" posts in January to try to rub it in when we are suffering through winter

Joined: 10/03/2013

MGoPoints: 9049

Jay Blue

September 10th, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^

We're bunkered down in Brunswick, GA for the hurricane.  The early projections had it headed right for us and up the eastern side of Florida but that continually pushed west with each projection.  We're still on the eastern side though and are expected to get a ton of rain, wind, and storm surge.  Prayers out to all those that are with my family and having to go through this beast the nezt few days.

Joined: 08/20/2017

MGoPoints: 52

bacon

September 10th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^

This storm is all over the place, Category 3, 4, 5. Questions about consistency and motor. It's got impressive size for a September hurricane, and it did some real damage at the high school ranks, not clear this will translate to college. Irma had a top end speed of 175MPH and that got it a 5 star ranking, but those hand timed speeds are notoriously inaccurate. They tried to time it at the Opening in Cuba, but it broke the meter. In terms of its high school tapes, it caused impressive devastation in the Caribbean, but now it's heading into south Florida and it's going to need to up its game big time.

Joined: 01/04/2009

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GordonG

September 10th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^

Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and New Port Richey. comes with the territory...they will survive, rebuild ...not to worry. Let go Let God ✝️☝️

Joined: 11/13/2016

MGoPoints: 2969

Digme 71

September 10th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^

The storm is now over the Keys and its ugly.  Miami Beach is getting 100 mph winds.  It will head up the west coast and make landfall somewhere between Ft. Myers and Tampa (best guess).  Storm surge to be a major player but keeping fingers and toes crossed for them.  Power outages are appox. 450,000 in Miami-Dade county, 250,000 in Broward (Ft. Lauderdale) and 100,000 in Palm Beach County.  Wife and I are well provisioned in house with food, water, ice and good booze. Stay safe & dry and always...GO BLUE!

Joined: 06/04/2014

MGoPoints: 171

michfan23

September 10th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^

Hunkered down in Clearwater. Praying the storm slows down. All the tv stations are focused on news coverage that says the same thing over and over. At this point, I could use some football to watch. Stay safe MGoBlog family.

Joined: 11/06/2015

MGoPoints: 1923

Gwsep

September 10th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^

Checking in from Sarasota. A little scary here. Storm just moved east. Looks like will hit Naples , fort Myers. Wanted to leave but Stayed put. Own a disaster restoration franchise

Joined: 09/10/2017

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SWFLWolverine

September 10th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^

North Port here, latest 11 AM advisory has adjusted storm path about a mile from my house. According to the weather channel app, the storm will skirt Cape Coral and go up Charlotte Harbor as Charley did only in a more northwardly track. Stay safe.....We have our master closet set up as our safe room.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 2348

M-Dog

September 10th, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^

My mom is in Naples. 81 years old. They refused to leave. /Old people

They just lost power but can still text.

They are a mile or so inland, so they are not in storm surge danger.  

The issue for them is high winds.  They live in a one story house with no basement and only hurricane shutters on some of the windows, but not all.  It's a small house with only the bathroom as an "inner room" and that's just drywall.  No real protection there if the windows break in or the roof seperates.

I checked and their house was built in 1998 which helps.  Construction code in S. Florida after hurricane Andrew (1992) was upgraded to a higher hurricane standard.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

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