State of emergency/hurricane watch

[flowerseverywhere]

Currently storm headed my way, but models could change anytime. Our preps are done helped a neighbor with a sick husband. So far supplies still easy to get and no gas shortages, but this will get crazy soon. Hopefully no loss of life where storm surges are expected. Storm slowly gaining strength as it heads to very warm gulf waters.

[catherine]

Stay safe, flowers!!

[Teacher Terry]

I hope it isn’t too bad. Stay safe!

[bae]

Good luck!

[Tybee]

Hang in there and keep us posted, hoping it bypasses you and goes back out to sea

[Tradd]

Stay safe.

[flowerseverywhere]

Actually, for as much as I dislike DeSantas’ policies, he is good in an emergency. Remains calm and in touch, constantly updating on TV with Law enforcement and emergency staff. This is not our first rodeo, so power trucks and fema already here and staged. I live inland and have seen a lot of emergency and power vehicles ready to roll wherever needed. . Storm surge predicted 11 feet west of me on the gulf.

[iris lilies]

What would cause you to drive out of the area?

[happystuff]

Stay safe and good luck, flowers!!!!

[Tradd]

Good luck!

[Tradd]

A friend who lives in Gainesville just messaged me that her son and DIL live in a mobile home (mandatory evacuation order) and were refusing to leave. The DIL is from Eastern Europe and hasn’t in FL much more than maybe five years. The DIL saw no reason to leave, so friend’s son wasn’t leaving either.

[flowerseverywhere]

Tradd, a paddle boarder was out in the storm In the Tampa area in the dark and had to be rescued. Today people are paddling on the flooded streets from the storm surge and flooded rivers and creeks. . The water is full of Alligators, snakes, debris and possible contamination from sewage, gas and so on. Unfortunately these idiots often need to be rescued, putting their rescuers lives in danger and using resources that could help others.

Unfortunately the path it took was unusual and it took out a lot of 100+ year old Oaks.

The storm woke me up at 3:30 but we had no flooding and few really strong gusts. A huge band caused a lot of damage just east of us. This morning 250,000 were without power in Florida and 350,000 in Georgia. So far no reports of loss of life but the flooding and wind caused a lot of damage.

[Tradd]

Glad to hear you’re OK.

[rosarugosa]

Same here Flowers, glad no harm came to you or your property.

[Teacher Terry]

Glad to hear that you are fine. The pictures on tv were really scary.

[flowerseverywhere]

The worst is flood damage. Only 18% of Floridians have flood insurance. As you can see in the pictures online, many homes have tremendous flood damage. Imagine if you had to get all that sludge out of your home, replace your walls, appliances, cabinets and floors to make your home habitable. Plus find the materials and workmen to do it. And pay your mortgage and taxes while you cannot live there and pay to live somewhere else. Maybe your job washed away or is temporarily shut down while repairs are done. This same scenario plays around the country with earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, ice storms and so on.
Besides the ocean and gulf, the many lakes and rivers can flood.
The average elevation above sea level is 100 feet, with the highest elevation being 345 feet.
If you fly into Orlando airport, you see many large holding ponds in the middle of developments and off highways. That is to try to manage the water when it comes.

Last year when the Fort Myers area was devastated, I knew someone who had left their car at Orlando airport. When she came back, she opened the door and water came pouring out.

We love it here, have flood insurance on top of our regular insurance and purposely chose not to live near the coasts.

Several years ago we were at Key Biscayne National park. The walkways were flooded. A woman who had worked there for 30 years told us the walkways never flooded years ago. Now it is a common occurrence even with minor storms. Miami already has raised streets and the keys have many flooded areas during storms, but where will the.money come from to raise streets?

Things don't bode well for many areas here. Yet still developers build close to sea level and the cost of housing has skyrocketed.