If you call it being prepared, I have plenty of beer (and water and food) at the house. Finished boarding up the windows today and going to secure a few small things in the yard early in the day on Tuesday. 100% not mentally prepared. I always have hated bad thunderstorms so this is like times 100000 for me.
Currently here there is an advisory of them monitoring the situation but that is all. Supposed to move to a universal resort on Wednesday
Eye wall replacement cycle, expected to strengthen back to Cat 5 today.
Going to be difficult with no power, no cell service, and no internet.
Tampa Mayor Castor on CNN advises residents in mandatory evac areas " If you choose to stay, you will die ". Fear mongering is farther from the truth.
If they are installed to code they aren't any different than the roof itself. If they are ripped off, lots of roof pieces will be flying missiles from other houses as well.
I hope and pray that the storm stays slightly south of Tampa. If it is slightly north the storm surge damage is going to be unfathomable. If you are in those evacuation areas get the heck out ASAP!
Mayor Castor advises that if the path is accurate with the predicted 12 ft storm surge the entire Pinellas county which includes St Petersburg , Clearwater etc will be completely under water. Challenging to do to leave now with reporting that multiple gas stations on interstate and local are already out of gas.
If I were you I’d be getting out of Dodge ASAP with Mayor Castor advising Pinellas County would be under water if the path is accurate and with the 12 ft storm surge.
My mom has a childhood friend in St Petersburg who refuses to leave. I told her to let him know that I would drive up from southeast Florida and get them but he isn’t budging. It’s infuriating listening to him come up with reasons to not go all the whole my mom is terrified that one of her friends is all but killing them self over pride.
That's an issue created largely by people who aren't in an evacuation zone deciding to evacuate to avoid inconveniences like power outages. If you aren't subject to evacuation orders you should prepare and hunker down and leave the limited highway capacity and available fuel for people whose lives are at risk. You can live without AC for a few days, there are people who will be killed if they can't get out of the highest risk areas.
People don't seem to comprehend how powerful water is. All you need to do is visit the wave pool at TL and see how far the waves push you and those are designed for fun. The force of storm surge from a hurricane is orders of magnitude higher.
All you can do is make the offer. If somebody is that stubborn you can't force them to go with you. You did your part, it's up to them to accept your help.
