News Major Hurricane Dorian impacts to Walt Disney World 2019

[RustySpork]

That's important to remember. There are still areas that have not rebuilt from the two previous storms - and they may be hit again. There were parts of major highways that were closed due to damage for a few days. The major roads (and even some of the alternate routes) were bumper to bumper cars, with many people running out of gas.

People who headed North to escape Irma ended up being evacuated again because of flooding in Jacksonville. This one appears to have a lot of water, and is moving slowly, so flooding might be a bigger issue than wind damage.

People who came to Orlando to avoid Irma but ended up going right into it instead.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Cast members we finally reached late last night after 3.5 hours on hold with DCL and 2 hours on hold with WDW were outstanding. Above and beyond despite what had to be a nightmare on their end.

 

[skyphotographer]

I feel the need to get this off my chest. The last thing Florida needs right now it tourists. Would you go stay with relatives while they were busy preparing for the possibility of a major natural disaster? Of course not, unless you were there to help. Cast members need to be getting prepared for what could happen. They don't need to be at work serving guests. Those who insist on going to Disney at this time are being very selfish. Please, stay home. This is from someone that worked through many gulf coast hurricanes due to the nature of my job.

 

[The Mom]

Staying or leaving is a very difficult judgement call to make. The problem with just leaving is that there is still too much uncertainty. What if you leave and the hurricane turns out to sea, turns further south, or comes onshore far enough away that you're minimally impacted? You would have wasted a bunch of time and money. Once you know it's time to leave, everyone else is also making the decision to leave so you may be stuck on the highway when it hits. That scenario actually happened to someone I know during Irma.

Same thing happened to our neighbors running from Floyd. They headed north, it stayed offshore and made landfall in SC. It didn't matter, because they never made it north of Valdosta - they were stuck in traffic for 10 hours! It is normally less than a 2 hour drive.

We have never evacuated, as we are inland and uphill (by Florida standards) so batten down and stay. We have a generator, access to a neighbor with gas stove and water heater, and a well that can run off a generator. We filled up gas cans yesterday.

As others have said, there is no way to prepare for total destruction of a whole area that ends up without power for weeks. All you can do is try to have enough supplies to keep you safe until help arrives.

And forgot to add - if you are in a position to help others, do so. Check on elderly neighbors, or even young neighbors who are living on their own. They may be frightened, and may be grateful to weather the storm with you.

I lost power for 2 weeks because a big tree came down on a power line. My neighbors got power back earlier, and it was wonderful to look out and see big old orange power cords being tossed over my fence. I could at least run the refrigerator, a fan. and even my computer.

 

[Voxel]

That's important to remember. There are still areas that have not rebuilt from the two previous storms - and they may be hit again. There were parts of major highways that were closed due to damage for a few days. The major roads (and even some of the alternate routes) were bumper to bumper cars, with many people running out of gas.

People who headed North to escape Irma ended up being evacuated again because of flooding in Jacksonville. This one appears to have a lot of water, and is moving slowly, so flooding might be a bigger issue than wind damage.

This was me in Irma. It was heading straight for my house near the Cape, so I evacuated to my mom's near jacksonville the day before it came. And we had no power for days, while my house down here had power the next day. Its a roll of the dice at times.

 

[larryz]

I was going to post about taking resources away from storm victims and a lack of gas but people get so touchy about that I left it out - but it's a very valid point.

No, you're absolutely right. It's one thing to get caught by a hurricane while you're on vaca in Florida, but it's something else entirely to knowingly drive into a disaster zone and soak up precious resources that people in dire straits might be needing.

It's like the ********'s* who feel compelled to sight-see through a destroyed neighborhood after a tornado rips it apart -- while people are still trying to dig out of the rubble.

Or the rubberneckers on the highway who slow down to 10 in the left lane to gawk at an accident on the other side of the road...

* Insert your favorite epithet here

 

[DisneyFreak]

My sister lives in Tequesta and she is hell bent on staying and I don’t know how to get her out of there.

She needs to get out. She's almost ground zero and on the wrong side of the storm. The surge there is going to be awful as the forecast stands now.

 

[larryz]

I was wandering about getting it out.
Lol

You can always tie a rope to it before you throw it in... just sayin'...

 

[LAKid53]

Luckily I lived in Tallahassee at the time overseeing the opening of the FSU Target. I went back to Panama City to be with my family during the storm, something I wouldn’t do again. It took me 7 hours to get from Panama City to Tallahassee. I-10 was down so I drove into Dothan and cut across to Bainbridge and south into Tallahassee. I was without power for maybe 3 days in Tallahassee but sitting in the dark alone, replaying the sounds and sights of that storm was the stuff of nightmares. I’d literally get sick from the sound of rain and ended up seeking therapy for a bit. I didn’t make it back home full time until this past May and the storm has not been kind. I live beach side and it’s business as usual over here, in town is still not lucky. The mall will never reopen, some businesses were left to rot so the buildings won’t come down. Many schools didn’t reopen due to lack of kids as well. Dark times indeed.

That was a scary afternoon. Fortunately, we had reservations at WDW that weekend before our cruise. I spent Thursday & Friday cleaning up, clearing out my fridge and giving my frozen items to a neighbor with a generator and headed to Disney, still without power. But the road...and I-10 east...had been cleared of downed trees. I had packed Wednesday morning because I was afraid my house would be damaged and I wouldn't be able to do so. My dining room looked like the emergency command center with supplies and my two packed suitcases. I believe my part of town got power back the Tuesday following the storm.

 

[LAKid53]

That's important to remember. There are still areas that have not rebuilt from the two previous storms - and they may be hit again. There were parts of major highways that were closed due to damage for a few days. The major roads (and even some of the alternate routes) were bumper to bumper cars, with many people running out of gas.

People who headed North to escape Irma ended up being evacuated again because of flooding in Jacksonville. This one appears to have a lot of water, and is moving slowly, so flooding might be a bigger issue than wind damage.

Governor indicated in one of his press conferences yesterday at least a MILLION gallons of water!

 

[larryz]

My sister lives in Tequesta and she is hell bent on staying and I don’t know how to get her out of there.

Tell her to take a magic marker and write her name, her SSAN, and her next of kin on her abdomen. When she asks why, tell her it's so the recovery crews can identify her remains.

 

[Horizons '83]

Staying or leaving is a very difficult judgement call to make. The problem with just leaving is that there is still too much uncertainty. What if you leave and the hurricane turns out to sea, turns further south, or comes onshore far enough away that you're minimally impacted? You would have wasted a bunch of time and money. Once you know it's time to leave, everyone else is also making the decision to leave so you may be stuck on the highway when it hits. That scenario actually happened to someone I know during Irma.

Understood but I’d rather waste a bunch of time and money and be safe then to stay and get blown away.

 

[Da Bird is Da Word]

You need to be concerned about road access and gas availability then. Both will be sparse most likely in the days after this storm. If you can change your dates to a different time, I would. If you can't, I would talk with Disney about shortening your trip and tickets and at least cut a day or two off just to be safe.

I’ll be keeping track of the storm all weekend up until the last minute, including highway closures, mandatory evacuations, etc. My tickets aren’t the issue, it’s my Animal Kingdom Lodge booking. I rented DVC points and didn’t get vacation insurance. All I can do for now is hope for the best.

 

[RustySpork]

Understood but I’d rather waste a bunch of time and money and be safe then to stay and get blown away.

That's an easy thing to say when you aren't in the middle of it actually making the decision.

 

[LAKid53]

Same thing happened to our neighbors running from Floyd. They headed north, it stayed offshore and made landfall in SC. It didn't matter, because they never made it north of Valdosta - they were stuck in traffic for 10 hours! It is normally less than a 2 hour drive.

We have never evacuated, as we are inland and uphill (by Florida standards) so batten down and stay. We have a generator, access to a neighbor with gas stove and water heater, and a well that can run off a generator. We filled up gas cans yesterday.

As others have said, there is no way to prepare for total destruction of a whole area that ends up without power for weeks. All you can do is try to have enough supplies to keep you safe until help arrives.

And forgot to add - if you are in a position to help others, do so. Check on elderly neighbors, or even young neighbors who are living on their own. They may be frightened, and may be grateful to weather the storm with you.

I lost power for 2 weeks because a big tree came down on a power line. My neighbors got power back earlier, and it was wonderful to look out and see big old orange power cords being tossed over my fence. I could at least run the refrigerator, a fan. and even my computer.

The kids have a new home with gas cooking and hot water. If the storm isn't too bad in the Panhandle, forcing us to evacuate, the kitty and I will camp out there for a few days while I'm without power. I don't mind having to eat peanut butter and bagels for a few days. But to have a warm shower would be heaven.

 

[The Mom]

Off topic

 

[LAKid53]

No, you're absolutely right. It's one thing to get caught by a hurricane while you're on vaca in Florida, but it's something else entirely to knowingly drive into a disaster zone and soak up precious resources that people in dire straits might be needing.

It's like the ********'s* who feel compelled to sight-see through a destroyed neighborhood after a tornado rips it apart -- while people are still trying to dig out of the rubble.

Or the rubberneckers on the highway who slow down to 10 in the left lane to gawk at an accident on the other side of the road...

* Insert your favorite epithet here

I completely agree.

 

[LAKid53]

Then it might start coming up the hill. The house behind me had another load of dirt brought in, and had the roller smoothing it yesterday. They added a webbing barricade and hay bales, but without trees and grass it might all wash away again. Blocking the major drain to the creek - which will cause flooding to the house next to them. Might even reach my neighbor's house, and my yard and garage.

Oh, no, your new fence.

 

[LAKid53]

You can always tie a rope to it before you throw it in... just sayin'...

You'd think my engineer dad would have thought of that.....

 

[larryz]

The kids have a new home with gas cooking and hot water. If the storm isn't too bad in the Panhandle, forcing us to evacuate, the kitty and I will camp out there for a few days while I'm without power. I don't mind having to eat peanut butter and bagels for a few days. But to have a warm shower would be heaven.

Newer gas stoves -- and some gas water heaters -- have electronic igniters. The stove burners will probably work with a match, but the oven will be problematic without power. They could get an UPS to power the stove, I guess, or a generator big enough to crank the fridge and the stove -- and the water heater ignition.