Hurricane Irma

[LAKid53]

Well, I was all set to drive in this Saturday for 7 days... 4 at Disney and then 3 at the Universal Parks. Had FastPasses and Dinner reservations (Free Dining!) all booked and a great itinerary planned and poof. Really unfortunate, but it's just looking like best case 2 of our 4 Disney days would go up in smoke. I'm really bummed because it's unlikely I'll be able to get to Orlando again until this time in 2019. At least I will have a lot of new attractions to look forward to. And maybe Volcano Bay will actually be built by then!

But on a more serious note, my best wishes are with all of you who are in the path of the storm. Very little I can actually do to help right this minute but I did open up my home to an evacuating family from Sarasota who contacted be on Airbnb. They seem very appreciative. I hope those of you seeking shelter are successful in doing so and encounter the good that disasters bring out in people and not the bad.

Volcano Bay is built. I was there this past Saturday. It's a cool park - really need two days to experience everything.

 

[21stamps]

man..i couldnt do that..is y im staying pput

Really? Google shows that road is pretty busy in spots but moving at a decent clip overall. I would have guessed more like 3 hours to make that drive. Google says you can get from Yeehaw Jct all the way out to The Villages in just over 2.

Edit... Oh okay. From Key West in 13 hours.

That actually doesn't sound TOO terrible. The storm is still a pretty long ways off so people, even in the Keys, still have a decent amount of time to get to safety.

Oops sorry my post looks strange without this context.. here was the original post

Omg just got a traffic update.

Friends left Key West at 10:40am headed towards Orlando, then leaving the state tomorrow. Current status- Sitting in stopped traffic near Yeehaw Junction, for the past hour.

Has anyone driven from Orlando area out of the state yet? How long does that take?

 

[LAKid53]

After it passes over the Everglades and sucks everything up, Orlando is going to have a Gatorcaine!

There has to be one in every crowd...

 

[invader]

00z GFS is out. Has LF at Key Largo, into Miami/MB and then riding up the coast eventually into GA.

A bit further east than 18z run but at this point its splitting hairs.

 

[21stamps]

Really? Google shows that road is pretty busy in spots but moving at a decent clip overall. I would have guessed more like 3 hours to make that drive. Google says you can get from Yeehaw Jct all the way out to The Villages in just over 2.

Edit... Oh okay. From Key West in 13 hours.

That actually doesn't sound TOO terrible. The storm is still a pretty long ways off so people, even in the Keys, still have a decent amount of time to get to safety.

They don't have enough gas. That's the problem. There are a ton of people scared to leave and be stuck on the highway without fuel.

That's why her family left so late this morning, they had to wait to a fuel truck to get to KW.

Sorry about your vacation btw, that stinks. At least you'll have better weather when you do go

 

[LAKid53]

00z GFS is out. Has LF at Key Largo, into Miami/MB and then riding up the coast eventually into GA.

So up the East Coast? Good for us...bad for them.

 

[invader]

So up the East Coast? Good for us...bad for them.

Yeah, I'd really prefer if it kept going east, east, and then further east lol.

Watching models is fun and all but until we see the turn Irma should take in real time we won't know the outcome unfortunately.

 

[LAKid53]

In all seriousness, this storm has the potential to greatly damage the Everglades. Not a good thing for Florida Bay.

 

[21stamps]

never wanted to show too much concern but im starting to worry bout this one
im in tampa so who knows what happens
whole state is vulnerable

I went out and bought a bunch of fans.. put them all out in my yard and blowing South.

Seriously though.. I am saying so many prayers and sending so many good thoughts to your state!!

 

[LAKid53]

Yeah, I'd really prefer if it kept going east, east, and then further east lol.

Watching models is fun and all but until we see the turn Irma should take in real time we won't know the outcome unfortunately.

It's like waiting for 9:00 PM so you can watch the season finale of GoT. You know it's going to be bad, you just don't know how bad. And there's no hack to get spoilers from.....

 

[LAKid53]

I went out and bought a bunch of fans.. put them all out in my yard and blowing South.

Seriously though.. I am saying so many prayers and sending so many good thoughts to your state!!

Aw, that's really nice of you....but I don't think it's going to work all the way from Ohio.

 

[21stamps]

In all seriousness, this storm has the potential to greatly damage the Everglades. Not a good thing for Florida Bay.

To so much. The Everglades, mangroves, bridges, the reef, shoreline...

And a 10ft storm surge on top of hurricane winds in the Keys? I can't imagine.

This is Duval St earlier. Have you ever seen anything like it?

 

[21stamps]

Aw, that's really nice of you....but I don't think it's going to work all the way from Ohio.

Hey I'm trying!!

 

[LAKid53]

To so much. The Everglades, mangroves, bridges, the reef, shoreline...

And a 10ft storm surge on top of hurricane winds in the Keys? I can't imagine.

This is Duval St earlier. Have you ever seen anything like it?

View attachment 227499

I've never been past Marathon. But I've seen pictures and there were always lots of people in the street.

 

[invader]

To so much. The Everglades, mangroves, bridges, the reef, shoreline...

And a 10ft storm surge on top of hurricane winds in the Keys? I can't imagine.

This is Duval St earlier. Have you ever seen anything like it?

View attachment 227499

WOW thats empty. Unfortunately it probably won't look like that much longer.

 

[LAKid53]

Hey I'm trying!!

And we love you for it.

 

[LAKid53]

WOW thats empty. Unfortunately it probably won't look like that much longer.

It will be under 10 feet of water.

 

[TalkingHead]

To so much. The Everglades, mangroves, bridges, the reef, shoreline...

And a 10ft storm surge on top of hurricane winds in the Keys? I can't imagine.

This is Duval St earlier. Have you ever seen anything like it?

View attachment 227499

Great pic. Thanks for sharing.

I'm still wondering why the estimates say it'll be a Cat 4 at landfall -- either way, don't think I'd want to chance it anywhere in the Keys.

 

[21stamps]

I've never been past Marathon. But I've seen pictures and there were always lots of people in the street.

Never in my life have I seen Duval St that empty.. not even at 6am. There's at least a drunk person passed out somewhere.
I can't imagine how weird it would have been to be there today.

WOW thats empty. Unfortunately it probably won't look like that much longer.

I just want the hurricane to spare the Keys. I know the mainland will be ok.

(ETA) not that I wish to see anyone get hit. I just think that recovery will be easier if it avoids those islands.

Great pic. Thanks for sharing.

I'm still wondering why the estimates say it'll be a Cat 4 at landfall -- either way, don't think I'd want to chance it anywhere in the Keys.

What's scary is, according to my friends (who luckily all left) there's still a lot of people who chose to stay and ride it out. Even the Navy evacuated.. those people who stayed are insane.

 

[TalkingHead]

Even the Navy evacuated.. those people who stayed are insane.

Well, they are Keys locals...

Hardy folk, and I love 'em. But they live there for a reason.