The Official Hurricane Frances thread...

wolf29

New Member
I agree with Haunted Pirate. That is exactly what I do down here. Though the storm winds will change direction, you should have one side of the house that will be the most leeward. Put the cars there, if possible. They will be fine. Good luck & stay safe.
 

Piebald

Well-Known Member
For the girl who asked about the cars, my best bet is to stay away from trees. Also, put your emergency brake on. A Category 4 can pick up your car like a toy and throw it around. If it flies away, what can ya do? Just try to keep it close to your house and away from any large trees,etc. We parked ours in the garage of my parents work and we put one in the garage here in the house.
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Frances Menaces Florida; 2.5 Million Told To Evacuate

UPDATED: 6:05 pm EDT September 2, 2004

STUART, Fla. -- Residents and tourists in cars, trucks and campers clogged highways along the state's Atlantic coast Thursday, fleeing inland as mighty Hurricane Frances threatened Florida with a second battering in three weeks.

About 2.5 million residents were told to clear out ahead of what could be the most powerful storm to hit Florida in more than a decade. Others in the 300-mile stretch covered by a hurricane warning rushed to fortify their homes with plywood and storm shutters, and to buy water, gas and canned food.

The evacuation request is the largest in state history, surpassing the 1.3 million people urged to leave during Hurricane Floyd's near-miss in 1999, Gov. Jeb Bush said.

Already a Category 4 storm with 140-mph winds and the potential to push ashore waves up to 15 feet high, Frances could make itself felt in the state by midmorning Friday. Its core, with the strongest winds, was expected to hit land late Friday or early Saturday.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the hurricane was centered 375 miles southeast of West Palm Beach and was moving northwest at close to 10 mph. Its top sustained winds dropped from about 145 mph earlier Friday, which forecasters believe is just a minor fluctuation typical with large storms.

This could be the first time since 1950 that two major storms have hit Florida so close together. On Aug. 13, Hurricane Charley splintered billions of dollars worth of homes, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and killed 27 people when it tore across the state.

Charley's example -- and Frances' tremendous size, covering an area the size of Texas -- prodded people like Linda Silvestri, 58, to get out of the way. Silvestri, who lives in Palm Bay on the central Florida coast, headed inland to Gainesville to be near a hospital because she just received a kidney transplant.

"I hope I have a house when I get back," she said.

The hurricane warning covered most of the state's eastern coast, from Florida City, near the state's southern tip, to Flagler Beach, north of Daytona Beach. Forecasters could not say with certainty where Frances would come ashore in the warning area.

About 14.6 million of Florida's 17 million people live in the areas under hurricane watches and warnings.

Residents and tourists streamed inland bumper-to-bumper. Traffic backed up for miles on sections of Interstate 95, the main north-south highway along the east coast, and was also heavy on parts of I-4, which crosses the peninsula to connect Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa.

Geoff Connors of Fort Pierce sat in a line of about 50 cars slowly merging onto I-95 in Fort Pierce. He had enough cash and clothes to get through about five days, though he wasn't sure where he would end up.

"I figured it was smarter to get out of here now. It was a snap decision," Connors said.

Most people who were told to leave were in South Florida -- 300,000 in Palm Beach County, 250,000 in Broward County and 320,000 in Miami-Dade County. All of Miami Beach, with its Art Deco hotels and flashy nightclubs and restaurants, was under an evacuation order.

The storm and the evacuations it forces are certain to spoil Labor Day outings and make a mess of holiday travel across the Southeast.

Erika and Brian Marwood, who moved from Colorado to Orlando two months ago and huddled in their bathroom with glow sticks and candles while Charley rushed overhead, made their way this time to a Holiday Inn in Tifton, Ga.

"We thought we were doing a good thing getting away from the snow, but there are no hurricanes in Colorado," Erika Marwood said.

Gov. Bush asked his brother President Bush to declare Florida a federal disaster area and make storm victims eligible for recovery aid.

Federal officials promised they had enough people and supplies in the state to handle two disaster-relief operations at once.

"We were successful with Charley because we were massive, overwhelming and fast. For this event I want us to be massive, overwhelming and fast squared," said Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

People flocked to airports, hoping to get out before all flights were grounded. Some trudged through long lines at ticket counters only to find their flights had been canceled. Hotels and motels inland filled up, and gas stations ran dry.

Florida rescinded tolls on major roads and said lanes on some highways may be reversed to handle the evacuation traffic. State officials hoped to avoid a repeat of the mess during Floyd in 1999, when 1.3 million people were told to evacuate the state's east coast and traffic backed up 30 miles or more. The storm missed the state and hit the Carolinas.

The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral was ordered completely evacuated for the first time because of the dual threats of high wind and storm surge.
 
NemoRocks78 said:
Yes it has. They are already running out of gas here as well.
They were just saying on the news that the distributors in Florida have also run out of gas (due to the combination of the last tax free day and Frances) and there won't be any more coming anytime soon.
 

Atta83

Well-Known Member
Mary Poppins said:
They were just saying on the news that the distributors in Florida have also run out of gas (due to the combination of the last tax free day and Frances) and there won't be any more coming anytime soon.

And I wish I could send you guys some!!!
 
cac2889 said:
Look at this:

strm6_strike_720x486.jpg


Am I wrong, or is Francis looking to hit WDW head on? The only major hurricane I can think of that hit Florida when WDW was there was Andrew (please correct me if I'm wrong), but it really didn't hit WDW directly if I remember correctly. This one looks like it may hit WDW head on. I hope if it does that everyone and all of the animals in Animal Kingdom stay safe, and that WDW doesn't sustain much damage. :(

Andrew was no where near WDW. It hit South Florida. Charley just hit us three weeks ago. Erin hit us around 94/95.
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Evacuations For Central Florida


BREVARD COUNTY
Mandatory evacuation for residents living on barrier islands, low-lying areas (including Merritt Island) and in mobile/manufactured homes by 2 p.m. Thursday.

LAKE COUNTY
Mandatory evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas and manufactured homes.

VOLUSIA COUNTY
Voluntary evacuation Thursday for mobile home parks and for residents east of the Intracoastal Waterway, including parts of Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and smaller beach towns. South Daytona, on the mainland, ordered a voluntary evacuation for its 13,100 residents. Evacuations become mandatory on Friday at 8am.
 

Atta83

Well-Known Member
Poppins is correct Andrew hit southern Florida. Right now predicitons are saying that she is weaking a bit. I think the high is getting to her some. I think if she keeps her northwest path or even starts to go NWN Orlando will get some rain and winds.

Her eye is opening back up which could mean good news and it seems like her pressure is rising which could mean some good news as well.
 

The Mom

Moderator
Premium Member
Mary Poppins said:
Andrew was no where near WDW. It hit South Florida. Charley just hit us three weeks ago. Erin hit us around 94/95.

I think cac2889 meant Andrew was the first major hurricane to hit Florida since WDW was built. However, I think there were a couple that came in from the gulf after 1971 but before Andrew; they just weren't as strong as Charley, and took different tracks.
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Shelters In Central Florida


Brevard County

call 321-637-4070 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Andersen Elementary, 3011 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge
  • Apollo Elementary, 3085 Knox McRae Drive, Titusville
  • Barefoot Bay Community Center, Building A, Barefoot Blvd., Micco (transportation base to other shelters)
  • Brevard Community College, Cocoa Campus, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa
  • Brevard Community College, Melbourne Campus, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
  • Central Middle, 2600 Wingate Blvd., West Melbourne
  • Eau Gallie High, 1400 Commodore Blvd., Melbourne
  • Imperial Estates Elementary, 5525 Kathy Drive, South Titusville
  • Manatee Elementary School, 3425 Solerno Blvd., Viera
  • Melbourne High, 74 Bulldog Blvd., Melbourne
  • Pinewood Elementary, 3654 Lionel Road N.E., Mims
  • Riviera Elementary, 351 Riviera Dr. Drive, Palm Bay
  • South Mainland Community Center, 3700 Allen Ave., Micco
  • Westside Elementary, 2175 Degroodt Road S.W., Palm Bay
Flagler County

call 386-437-8202 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Buddy Taylor Middle, 4500 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast (special needs)
  • Bunnell Elementary, 800 E. Howe St., Bunnell
  • Flagler-Palm Coast High, 3265 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell
  • Indian Trails Elementary, 5505 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast
  • Old Kings Elementary, 301 S. Old Kings Road, Flagler Beach
  • Wadsworth Elementary, 4550 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast
Lake County

call 352-343-9420 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Astatula Elementary School, 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula (352) 343-1334 (special needs)
  • Lost Lake Elementary School, 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont (352) 243-2433 (special needs)
  • Leesburg Elementary School, 2229 South St., Leesburg (352) 365-6308
  • Pine Ridge Elementary School, 10245 County Road 561, Clermont (352) 242-2223
  • Round Lake Elementary School, 31333 Round Lake Road, Mount Dora (352) 385-4399
  • Seminole Springs Elementary School, 26200 W. Huff Road, Eustis (352) 589-1117
  • South Lake High School, 15600 Silver Eagle Road, Groveland (352) 394-2100
  • Spring Creek Elementary School, 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley (352) 669-3275
  • Tavares High School, 630- N. New Hampshire, Tavares (352) 343-3007
  • Umatilla Elementary School, 401 Lake St., Umatilla (352) 669-3181
  • Villages Elementary School, 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake (352) 751-0111 (special needs)
Marion County

call 352-622-3205 to confirm which shelters are open

Check back for shelter openings.
There will be pre-planned telephone notifications for special-needs people.


Orange County

call 407-836-3111 to confirm which shelters are open

  • All Saints Church of Winter Park, 338 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park
  • Aloma Elementary School, 2949 Scarlet Road, Winter Park
  • American Legion No. 63, 271 W. Plant St., Winter Garden
  • Apopka High School, 555 Martin St., Apopka
  • Apopka Middle School, 425 N. Park Ave., Apopka
  • Asbury United Methodist Church, 220 Horatio Ave., Maitland
  • Azalea Park Methodist Church, 50 Willow Park, Orlando
  • Barnett Park Community Center, 4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
  • Bishop Moore High School, 3901 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
  • Bithlo Park Building, 18501 Washington Ave., Orlando
  • Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 4545 E. Anderson Road, Orlando
  • Broadway United Methodist Church, 406 E. Amelia St. Orlando
  • Calvary Assembly of God, 1199 Clay St., Orlando
  • Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1100 Lee Road, Orlando
  • Carver Middle School, 4500 W. Columbia St., Orlando
  • Central Parkway Baptist, 5281 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando
  • Chain of Lakes Middle School, 8720 Conroy-Windermere Road, Orlando
  • Church of the Good Shepherd, 331 Lake Ave., Maitland
  • College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
  • Conway Middle School, 4600 Anderson Road, Orlando
  • Conway United Methodist Church, 3401 S. Conway Road, Orlando
  • Corner Lake Middle School, 1700 Chuluota Road, Bithlo
  • Cypress Creek High School, 1101 Bear Crossing Dr. Drive, Orlando
  • Discovery Middle School, 601 Woodbury Road, Orlando
  • Dr. Phillips High School, 6500 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando
  • East Orlando Baptist Church, 8287 Curry Ford Road, Orlando
  • Edgewater High School, 3100 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
  • Evans High School, 4949 Silver Star Road, Orlando
  • Faith Lutheran Church, 5000 Silver Star Road, Orlando
  • Faith United Methodist Church, 1411 N. Dean Road, Orlando
  • First Baptist Church of Pine Castle, 1001 Hoffner Ave., Orlando
  • First Baptist Church of Union Park, 10301 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
  • First Presbyterian Church of Apopka, 500 S. Highland Ave., Apopka
  • First Presbyterian Church of Maitland, 341 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland
  • First United Methodist Church of Pine Hills, 1400 N. Nowell St., Orlando
  • First United Methodist Church, 142 E. Jackson St., Orlando
  • First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Park Ave., Orlando
  • Freedom High, 2500 Taft-Vineland Road, Orlando
  • Fort Gatlin Recreation Center, 2009 Lake Margaret Drive, Orlando
  • Glenridge Middle School, 801 Glenridge Way, Winter Park
  • Gotha Middle School, 9155 Gotha Road, Windermere
  • Grace United Methodist Church, 4835 Silver Star Road, Orlando
  • Holy Family Catholic Church, 5125 S. Apoka-Vineland Road, Orlando
  • Hunters Creek Elementary School, 13400 Town Loop Blvd., Orlando
  • Jackson Middle School, 6000 Stonewall Jackson Road, Orlando
  • John Bridges Community Center, 445 W. 13th St., Apopka
  • John Calvin Presbyterian, 800 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando
  • Lake Buena Vista Baptist Church, 11551 County Road 535, Orlando
  • Lakeview Middle, 1200 W. Bay St.,Winter Garden
  • Lee Middle School, 1201 Maury Road, Orlando
  • Liberty Middle School, 3405 S. Chickasaw Trail, Orlando
  • Lockhart Baptist Church, 7601 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
  • Lockhart Middle School, 3411 Doctor Love Road, Orlando
  • Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 766, 5001 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
  • Maitland Baptist Church, 1950 Mohican Trail, Maitland
  • Maitland Middle School, 1601 Choctaw Trail, Maitland
  • Marks Street Community Center, 99 E. Marks St., Orlando
  • McCormick Baptist Church, 2100 McCormick Road, Apopka
  • Meadow Woods Middle School, 1800 Rhode Island Wood Circle, Orlando
  • Memorial Middle School, 2220 W. Michigan St., Orlando
  • Oak Level Baptist Church, 10564 Second Ave., Ocoee
  • Oak Ridge High School, 6000 Winegard Road, Orlando
  • Ocoee Middle School, 300 S. Bluford Ave., Ocoee
  • Ocoee United Methodist Church, 124 W. Floral St., Ocoee
  • Odyssey Middle School, 9290 Lee Vista Blvd., Orlando
  • Olympia High School, 4301 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando
  • Orangewood Presbyterian Church, 1300 W. Maitland Blvd., Maitland
  • Orlo Vista Building, 26 N. Nowell St., Orlando
  • Piedmont Lake Middle School, 2601 Lakeville Road, Apopka
  • Pine Hills First United Church, 1400 N. Nowell St., Orlando
  • Powers Drive Baptist Church, 3311 Powers Drive, Orlando
  • Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3377 Aloma Ave., Winter Park
  • Robinswood Middle School, 6305 Balboa Drive, Orlando
  • Rock Springs MHP, 1820 Rock Springs Road, Apopka
  • South Orlando Baptist Church, 11513 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
  • Springs Community Baptist Church, 2320 N. Rock Springs Road, Apopka
  • St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 834 S. U.S. Highway 441, Apopka
  • St. James Catholic Church, 215 N. Orange Avenue Ave., Orlando
  • St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
  • St. Lukes United Methodist, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando
  • St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
  • St. Pauls Presbyterian Church, 1450 Citrus Oaks Ave., Ocoee
  • St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 8601 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando
  • Southwest Middle School, 6450 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando
  • Tangelo Baptist Church, 7001 Ravenna Ave., Orlando
  • Timber Creek High School, 1001 Avalon Blvd., Orlando
  • Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 E. Livingston Road, Orlando
  • Trinity United Methodist, 2113 E. South St., Orlando
  • Union Park Middle School, 1844 Westfall Dr. Drive, Orlando
  • University High School, 11550 Lokanotosa Trail, Orlando
  • University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
  • Valencia Community College (east), 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando
  • Valencia Community College (west), 1800 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando
  • Vietnam Veterans' Center, 3400 N. Tanner Road, Orlando
  • Vista del Lago Community Center, 14465 Vista del Lago Blvd., Winter Garden
  • Walker Middle School, 150 Amidon Lane, Orlando
  • Washington Shores Presbyterian, 3600 Rogers Drive, Orlando
  • West Orange High School, 1625 S. Beulah Road, Winter Garden
  • Westridge Middle School, 3800 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando
  • Winter Park High School, 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park
  • Winter Park Presbyterian, 400 S. Lakemont Ave., Winter Park
  • Woodmen of America, 425 S. Blue Bird St., Apopka
  • Zellwood Station Clubhouse and Depot, 2126 Spillman Drive, Zellwood
  • Zellwood United Methodist Church, 5538 Jones Ave., Zellwood
Osceola County

call 407-343-7000 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Discovery Intermediate, 5350 San Miguel Road, Poinciana
  • Harmony High, 7000 E. U.S. Highway 192, St. Cloud
  • Hickory Tree Elementary, 2355 Hickory Tree Road, St. Cloud
  • Horizon Middle, 2020 Ham Brown Road, Kissimmee
  • Kissimmee Elementary, 2420 Dyer Blvd., Kissimmee
  • Kissimmee Middle, 2410 Dyer Blvd., Kissimmee
  • Narcoossee Community, 2700 N. Narcoossee Road, St. Cloud
  • Poincianna Elementary, 4201 Rhododendron Ave., Poinciana
  • Reedy Creek Elementary, 2300 Brook Court, Kissimmee
Polk County

call 863-534-0321 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Alta Vista Elementary, 801 Scenic Highway, Haines City
  • Auburndale High, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
  • Bartow Middle, 550 E. Clower St., Bartow
  • Bartow Senior High, 1270 S. Broadway, Bartow
  • Blake Elementary, 510 Hartsell Ave., Lakeland
  • Boone Middle, 225 S. 22nd St., Haines City
  • Caldwell Elementary, 141 Dairy Road, Auburndale
  • Churchwell Elementary, 8201 Park Byrd Road, Lakeland
  • Crystal Lake Middle, 2410 N. Crystal Lake Drive, Lakeland
  • Davenport Elementary, 1350 N. Maple Ave., Davenport
  • Denison Middle, 400 Avenue A S.E., Winter Haven
  • Eastside Elementary, 1820 E. Johnson Ave., Haines City
  • Fort Meade Junior/Senior. High, 700 Edgewood Drive, Fort Meade
  • Frostproof Elementary, 118 W. Third St., Frostproof
  • Frostproof Junior/Senior High, 1000 N. Palm Ave., Frostproof
  • George Jenkins High, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
  • Haines City High, 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City
  • James Stephens Elementary, 1350 N. Maple Ave., Bartow
  • Jewett Academy, 601 Avenue J N.W., Winter Haven
  • Kathleen High, 2600 Crutchfield Road, Lakeland
  • Kathleen Middle, 3627 Kathleen Pines, Lakeland
  • Lake Alfred Elementary, 550 E. Cummings St., Lake Alfred
  • Lake Gibson High, 7007 N. Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland (only available to people with special needs)
  • Lake Gibson Middle, 6901 N. Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland
  • Lake Region High, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
  • Lake Wales High, 1009 N. Sixth St., Lake Wales
  • Lakeland High, 726 S. Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland
  • Lakeland Highlands Middle, 740 Lake Myriam Drive, Lakeland
  • Lewis Elementary, 115 S. Oak Ave., Fort Meade
  • Lime Street Elementary, 1225 Lime St., Lakeland
  • McLaughlin Middle, 800 S. Fourth St., Lake Wales
  • Mulberry High, N.E. Fourth Circle, Mulberry
  • Mulberry Middle, 500 S.E. Ninth Ave., Mulberry
  • Padgett Elementary, 110 Leelon Road, Lakeland
  • Polk City Elementary, 125 S. Bougainvillea Ave., Polk City
  • Polk County Public Health Department Specialty Care Unit, 5 Brice Road,
  • Bartow (only available to people with special needs)
  • Ridgeview Global Studies Academy, 1000 Dunson Road, Davenport
  • Roberts Elementary School, 6600 Green Road, Lakeland
  • Rochelle of the Arts, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland
  • Roosevelt Vocational, 115 East St., Lake Wales
  • Sandhill Elementary, 1801 Tyner Road, Haines City
  • Scott Lake Elementary, 1140 E. County Road 540A, Lakeland
  • Seth McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland
  • Southwest Middle, 2815 S. Eden Parkway, Lakeland
  • Stambaugh Middle, 226 N. Main St., Auburndale (special needs available)
  • Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
  • Westwood Middle, 3520 Avenue J N.W., Winter Haven
  • Winter Haven High, 600 Sixth St. S.E., Winter Haven
Seminole County

call 407-665-2650 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Bentley Elementary, 2190 Oregon Ave., Sanford (special needs)
  • English Estates Elementary, 299 Oxford Road, Fern Park
  • Geneva Elementary, 275 First St., Geneva
  • Highlands Elementary, 1600 Shepard Road, Winter Springs (special needs)
  • John Evans Elementary, 100 E. Chapman Road, Oviedo
  • Lake Brantley High, 991 Sand Lake Road, Altamonte Springs
  • Lake Mary High, 655 Longwood-Lake Mary Road, Lake Mary
  • Lawton Chiles Middle, 3225 Lockwood Blvd., Oviedo
  • Lyman High, 865 S. County Road 427, Longwood
  • Millennium Middle, 21 Lakeview Drive, Sanford
  • Winter Springs High, 130 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs
Sumter County

call 352-569-6000 to confirm which shelters are open

  • North Sumter Intermediate, 300 E. Huey St., Wildwood
  • North Sumter Primary, 104 N. Warfield Ave., Wildwood
  • Villages Middle, 450 Village Campus, County Road 466, The Villages
  • Webster Elementary, 349 S. Market Blvd., State Road 471, Webster
  • Wildwood Community Center, 6500 County Road 139, Wildwood
Volusia County

call 386-736-5980 to confirm which shelters are open

  • Atlantic High, 1250 Reed Canal Road, Port Orange (Shelter for visually and hearing impaired)
  • Blue Lake Elementary, 282 N. Blue Lake Ave., DeLand
  • Creekside Middle, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange (General shelter only for people with special needs)
  • DeBary Elementary, 88 W. Highbanks Road, DeBary
  • DeLand High, 800 N. Hill Ave., DeLand
  • DeLand Middle, 1400 S. Aquarius Ave., DeLand
  • Deltona High, 100 Wolf Pack Run, Deltona (Shelter Information Points for shelters in Deltona only)
  • Deltona Lakes Elementary, 2022 Adelia Blvd., Deltona
  • Discovery Elementary, 975 Abigail Drive, Deltona
  • Forest Lake Elementary, 1600 Doyle Road, Deltona
  • Freedom Elementary, 1395 S. Blue Lake Ave., DeLand (General shelter only for people with special needs)
  • Friendship Elementary, 2746 Fulford St., Deltona
  • Galaxy Middle, 2400 Eustice Ave., Deltona (General shelter only for people with special needs)
  • Heritage Middle, 1001 Parnell Court, Deltona (Shelter with oxygen available)
  • Horizon Elementary, 4751 Hidden Lakes Drive, Port Orange
  • Osteen Elementary, 500 Doyle Road, Osteen
  • Palm Terrace Elementary, 1825 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach (Shelter with oxygen available)
  • Pathways Elementary, 2100 Airport Road, Ormond Beach
  • Pine Ridge High, 925 Howland Blvd., Deltona (Shelter Information Points for shelters in Deltona only)
  • Pine Trail Elementary, 300 Airport Road, Ormond Beach
  • Sunrise Elementary, 3155 Phonetia Drive, Deltona
  • Sweetwater Elementary, 5800 Victoria Gardens Blvd., Port Orange
  • Timbercrest Elementary, 2401 Eustace Ave., Deltona
  • Volusia Pines Elementary, 500 E. Kicklighter Road, Lake Helen
  • Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. State Road 44, DeLand (People and pet shelter)
 

Jekyll Baker

New Member
Well a view from south GA - I95 Northbound traffic is just about stopped at the south side of Brunswick, GA from the evacuation and picks up motion again at the north side of Brunswick. I just got off the phone with my parents (who are about 80 miles northwest of Brunswick) to see how the rest of the family are doing - most of my dad's family and my brother's mother-in-law all live in Lake County, FL (all of them 30-40 miles north of WDW). Dad hasn't really heard anything from them except from 2-3 weeks ago (the day after Charley) when they all said they got through that just fine. I just hope they don't get dumb with Frances. I also have a cousin in Lake Wales (which a 5pm forecast has Frances going almost on top of) who my parents said still hasn't been able to finish the cleanup from Charley.
Mom also said another cousin of mine who lives in Alabama just got back home last week from FL - he's an insurance adjuster and was busy down there because of Charley and now it looks like he'll be going back next week.

I hope everyone (my family and everyone on here that'll be affected) stays safe and careful down there. Best wishes and our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
 
I hope everything will be fine for everone in FL I was listening on the news that this storm is actually twice the size of charlie... My thoughts and prays are with you guys there.... Disney will make it through this and so will the people of FL.... be optimistic about this everything will turn out alright

Ang
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Approaching hurricane grounds
Florida tourism to a halt


Casey Parlacka planned to be at Walt Disney World on Thursday for a weekend trip with her best friend. She changed her mind at the last minute and decided to stay in Michigan after her mother-in-law sent photos of Hurricane Charley's damage from three weeks ago and warned her that the approaching Hurricane Frances would be much worse.

"We wanted to be in Florida right now, but we would rather be safe than in a hurricane," said Parlacka, 23, by telephone from Grand Rapids, Mich.

Florida's $50 billion tourism industry slowly ground to a halt as Frances and its 145 mph winds neared the state. Visitors like Parlacka canceled trips. Cruise ships rescheduled returns and departures. Airline carriers planned to stop flights out of some airports on Friday. Coastal hotels that had been expecting a profitable Labor Day weekend were evacuated.

The lost tourism revenue in Florida likely will run in the hundreds of millions of dollars, said Abe Pizam, a professor of hospitality management at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

"This is the worst time of the year to have this hurricane," Pizam said. "Labor Day weekend is very busy."

The 300-room beachfront Holiday Inn Beach Resort in Melbourne, about 70 miles southeast of Orlando, was fully booked for the holiday weekend until guests began checking out Thursday under an evacuation order and employees began leaving their vulnerable homes for Orlando or the Gulf Coast.

General manager Tim Michaud said he expected at least $100,000 in lost revenue.

"That's just rooms," Michaud said. "We're also losing functions for the weekend."

Further north along the coast, almost every business in Cocoa Beach was closed, including Ron Jon's Surf Shop, a tourist attraction that stays open 24 hours a day.

At the Ocean Palm motel in Miami Beach, 170 miles dues south, manager Robert Yengich had been expecting a profitable Labor Day weekend since its one of three holiday weekends when rates increase an average of 30 percent a night.

"We really make a lot of money so it's just a terrific loss for the owners," Yengich said.

The weekend wasn't a total loss for the state's hotels. Most of the 120,000 hotel rooms in metro Orlando, which has the second-largest hotel market in the nation behind Las Vegas, were occupied -- by evacuees. Just over 1,000 rooms were available for Friday.

Anheuser-Busch-owned Sea World Orlando and Discovery Cove, and Universal Orlando's two theme parks and Citywalk entertainment complex, planned to close Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. Walt Disney World stopped accepting reservations for the weekend and announced slightly altered schedules on Friday. Magic Kingdom will close at 8 p.m., Epcot at 9, MGM at 6, Animal Kingdom at 5. Downtown Disney will close at 6 p.m. and Pleasure Island will be close Friday night. Officials planned for all Disney parks and attractions to be closed Saturday.

Disney's crowds were unusually light. At the Magic Kingdom, rides like Space Mountain that can have waits up to two hours were only 10 minutes long. The short waits were a boon for visitors like Barb Delaney and her children, of Springfield, Va., who still found Pinochio signing autographs, Cinderella performing in her "Surprise Celebration" show and "Zippidity Doo Dah" blaring from loud speakers.

"We're going to look at it as one more adventure," said Delaney, a civilian Department of Defense worker whose 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son saved three years worth of pocket change totaling $600 for the trip. "We saved up three years to come here and a hurricane isn't going to stop us."

Edgar Martinez, and his new wife, Brenda, whose Mickey Mouse ears were attached with a white wedding veil, worried the hurricane would dampen their honeymoon.

"Bad luck for us," said Edgar Martinez, 28, a math teacher in Tijuana, Mexico.

Carnival Cruise Lines canceled a Bahamas cruise set to leave Friday and rescheduled six other cruises set to leave on Saturday and Sunday out of Port Canaveral, Tampa and Miami. Disney Cruise Lines rescheduled itineraries for its two ships, the Wonder and Magic.

Air carriers at Orlando International Airport planned to end passenger flights at noon Friday until the hurricane passed. The Melbourne International Airport closed Thursday.

Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday warned visitors to stay out of Florida for the next few days, but then asked them to come back after the hurricane had passed -- real soon.

"If you decide to spend Labor Day somewhere else," Bush said, "We ask that you reschedule your vacations."
 

DDuckFan130

Well-Known Member
If the news and everything are an indication, my neck of the woods (Kendall) will be getting Tropical Storm weather basically. In some stations, the huge cones of uncertainty don't include our area. Could all change though. I hope this is the case. For everyone else, I'll be praying for you. I'll be praying for us too :lol:.
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Orlando International, Sanford International
to shut down Friday



Airlines serving Orlando International Airport will cease operations there at noon on Friday as Hurricane Frances approaches.

The airport advises passengers departing before that to arrive at the airport at least three hours early.

Orlando International is also coordinating with emergency management agencies as it secures equipment and airport structures for the storm.

Meanwhile, all commercial airline operations at the Orlando Sanford International Airport will be suspended at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

Word has been put out through travel operators that no charter flights will be arriving or leaving the airport on Friday. Tourists who planned to return home must make arrangements to extend their stay, said Larry Dale, airport president.

"We're not going to operate an in impromptu shelter like we did before," he said. "If this storm is a strong as it is predicted to be, we cannot offer appropriate shelter. This building is not concrete and steel."

General aviation traffic at the Sanford Airport will be allowed to continue until overall operations are suspended.

"We will keep general aviation going until the tower shuts down operations -- probably some time early Saturday," he said.
 

Tim G

Well-Known Member
Central Florida closings and cancellations


Attractions and entertainment

Walt Disney World theme and water parks will operate on an abbreviated schedule on Friday and officials announced they expect to be closed on Saturday. The resort stopped taking reservations earlier today. On Friday, Magic Kingdom will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Epcot from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., MGM Studios from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Animal Kingdom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon will remain open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Downtown Disney will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pleasure Island will be closed Friday night and Cirque du Soleil will hold its 6 p.m. show only.

All Walt Disney World Resort hotels will remain open throughout the storm. Guests staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be relocated to other hotels on property.

All Disney cast members should report to work on Friday. Walt Disney World will be sending non-operations personnel home on Friday in phases. Guests who have questions should call (407) WDW- INFO or (407) 939-4636.

SeaWorld Orlando said today it will close Friday at 3 p.m. and remain closed Saturday because of Hurricane Frances. The theme park will evaluate conditions on Sunday.

Universal Orlando including Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and CityWalk will also close Friday at 3 p.m. and remain closed Saturday because of Hurricane Frances. The theme park will evaluate conditions on Sunday.

Walt Disney World officials are meeting this afternoon and discussing plans. Announcements are expected later in the day.

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The Tom Joyner Family Reunion, scheduled to play at the Walt Disney World Resort. from September 3-6, has been canceled.

Guests who purchased packages for the Tom Joyner Family Reunion will receive an automatic refund. Any guests with questions about this automatic refund may call 1-888-TJFAMILY.

Guests who purchased tickets through Walt Disney World Resort, for the Tom Joyner Family Reunion Party which was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, should call 407-W-DISNEY concerning refunds.

Guests who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster, for the Tom Joyner Family Reunion Party which was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, should contact their local ticketmaster outlet concerning refunds.

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Because of oncoming weather conditions, the following Hard Rock Live events have been canceled or postponed.
  • Thursday, Sept. 2: MTV taping featuring Chingy has been cancelled. Refunds available at point of purchase. This show will not be rescheduled.
  • Friday, Sept. 3: Livewire show has been canceled. Refunds available at point of purchase. No scheduling date has been posted.
  • Saturday, Sept. 4: Fat Joe and The Terror Squad show has been postponed. New date has not been announced. Refunds available at point of purchase. Original tickets will be honered for new date.
  • Sunday, Sept. 5: Blindfold show has been canceled. No refund information has been posted.
Lockheed Martin

Because of the pending landfall of Hurricane Frances, Lockheed Martin's operations throughout Central Florida will be closed on Friday. This includes the Orlando facilities on Lake Underhill Road, John Young Parkway, Sand Lake Road, and in Clearwater, Ocala and Lakeland. Lockheed Martin hopes to resume normal business operations on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Theater

The Friday and Saturday night performances of "Us and Them" have been canceled at the Studio Theater, 389 W. Ameila St., in downtown Orlando. For questions, please call (866) 468-7630.

Music

The Megaphone show slated for this Friday at the Social has been canceled.

The Terri Binion show Friday night and Josh Martinez show on Saturday and Will's Pub have been canceled. The bar will be closed on Saturday.

Sporting events

The University of Florida's season-opening football game with Middle Tennessee State University has been moved to Oct. 16 because of the potential impact of Hurricane Frances. The game is now scheduled to be played Oct. 16 in Gainesville at noon. That date is open on both teams' schedules. Tickets for the Sept. 4 game will be honored at the Oct. 16 contest. There will no be ticket refunds for the game this weekend. Television plans for the game will be announced at a later date.

Monday's Florida State-Miami college football season opener was postponed until Sept. 10 at the Orange Bowl.

The Florida Marlins have postponed Friday night's game against the Chicago Cubs, and it has not been rescheduled. No decisions have been made for Saturday or Sunday games.

Saturday's game between Jackson State and Hampton University has been moved out of Florida and will be played in Hampton, Va.

The University of Florida men's basketball teams' Labor Day weekend trip to the Bahamas has been canceled and the trip will be made up at a later date after this year.

Museums and galleries

The Orlando Science Center will be closed Friday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 5.

Because of the unpredictability of the storm, Monday's operational hours may change as well.

Guests, volunteers and staff should call (407) 514-2000 after 7 p.m. on Sunday for news about the science center's hours.

The Orlando Museum of Art will be closed Friday, September 3, through Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, because of the approaching storm. The 1st Thursdays event scheduled for tonight, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, has also been cancelled.

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The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, 12 noon. The museum will be closed today until further notice.

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The Marc Barrett opening reception, Structural Realities, scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 4, 4 - 7 pm at Arts on Douglas has been postponed to next Saturday, Sept. 11, 4 - 7 p.m.

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The Polk Museum of Art will be closed to the public from Friday morning, September 3 until Thursday morning, September 8, because of Hurricane Frances. Security guards will remain on-site during this period to monitor conditions and assure the safety of the building and its contents. The normal schedule of activities will resume on Thursday, September 8, with offices opening at 8:00 a.m. and the Museum opening to the public at 10:00 a.m.

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Because of the impending Hurricane, the Crealde School of Art offices will close at 1:00 noon Friday and will reopen 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning.

Our well-publicized opening exhibition of the photography of Maggie Taylor will be cancelled. The work will be available for viewing until October 30.

Our Fall Session classes, already delayed one week because of Charley, will be canceled for Friday and Saturday. Classes will resume normal schedule on Monday. Arrangements for make-up classes will be determined by individual instructors next week.
 

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