Here We Go With Milton

[ISP-FL]

Looks like FL is in for another significant cat-3 hurricane hit. The track is pretty uncertain as of this morning, but it will probably make landfall somewhere between Tampa and Port Charlotte Wednesday afternoon or evening.

I spent most of the day yesterday preparing the outside of my home for winds over 100mph. I devoted an hour or so moving and securing items in neighbor's yards on either side of me. Our community management has to do better next season by insisting that all snowbird residents "hurricane proof" the exterior of their properties prior to leaving for the season. I have a couple neighbors who left for the summer and did NOTHING except lock their doors and drive away!
I went on two of their screened rear lanais yesterday while putting yard items inside. I found glass bowls sitting on glass tables tops, light weight patio furniture, small potted plants, and numerous other items that the coming high winds will throw around like missiles! Some of these new Florida homeowners are about to get a quick education on hurricane preparation procedures.

 

[trike lady]

Time to batten down the hatches again and hunker down. Prayers for those in the path of the storm and may you be safe.

 

[Z06tacoma]

Best of luck to all down there. Milton is going to miss me but hit folks that got hammered by Helene.

 

[trike lady]

It looks like the storm is intensifying according to this report: Hurricane Milton Update Statement

 

[Zammy]

We're about 250 miles from home right now in north western Florida, checked into our motel for a couple of days just waiting to see what's left to go home to. We picked up our trailer yesterday and loaded the trike so we've go the car, bike, checkbooks, and the Mrs. lol. Winds are up to 180 mph right now, unbelievable.

 

[ISP-FL]

It seems that it has shifted further north and slowed slightly. Unfortunately, if it does come ashore at Tampa the surge will be record breaking. The news is saying that if this storm comes in at Tampa it will be the worse one they have experienced in over 100 years!

Had friends that decided to load up and go around 3pm today from north central Florida. Generally, that 200+ miles run to get past Lake City takes them about 3.5 hours, today it took them over 7.5 hours. They won't get to their son's home further up into Georgia until late tonight due to bumper to bumper traffic on I-75 northbound.

 

[ol' school]

Prayers for all in Florida... be safe all!

 

[nokkon wud]

I'm in Tampa Bay, Pinellas County, about 1.5 miles from the gulf, ground zero by this mornings news.
I'm not in a flood zone so about all I worry about is wind.

I have a "saferoom" solid concrete, with it's own roof, no windows, my house which is also concrete is built over the top of it.

If the roof stays on and the monster oak in the front yard doesn't fall on us we should be ok..

We've done what we can.
Now we wait.

 

[ISP-FL]

I would think that less than 2 miles from the actual gulf that a huge storm surge could still affect your area. I think the last info I got was that your area could see as high as 15 feet of surge.

Our county just issued a mandatory evacuation for two zones. We are over 10 miles from the gulf and 90 miles south of Tampa. If they issue evacuation orders for the next two zones we may be affected.

We continue to monitor the track, which right now is still aiming at Tampa. I'm hoping it adjusts north of there and weakens so such a huge, populated area isn't hit as bad.

Good luck Bill, stay safe!

 

[Marc H]

The info I was getting is that just south of the eye would get the most storm surge.

 

[ol' school]

The info I was getting is that just south of the eye would get the most storm surge.

That makes sense as it is rotating CCW...

 

[radismukes]

Gods blessing, praying for you all. I too live on the coast in Texas.

 

[GrumpyVet]

I'm in Tampa Bay, Pinellas County, about 1.5 miles from the gulf, ground zero by this mornings news.
I'm not in a flood zone so about all I worry about is wind.

I have a "saferoom" solid concrete, with it's own roof, no windows, my house which is also concrete is built over the top of it.

If the roof stays on and the monster oak in the front yard doesn't fall on us we should be ok..

We've done what we can.
Now we wait.

Yep. Practically neighbors. But you didn't say whether you stocked up on beer (I did) since Publix is closed today. Case of MREs and 6 cases of beer, that should do me for the (anticipated) 3 days without power. Stay safe.

 

[Notgrownup]

This boy is is a big SOB. I was looking at so radars and it just about covered the whole gulf. I hope y’all fare ok.

 

[ISP-FL]

Yep. Practically neighbors. But you didn't say whether you stocked up on beer (I did) since Publix is closed today. Case of MREs and 6 cases of beer, that should do me for the (anticipated) 3 days without power. Stay safe.

Since the last brush with a hurricane I had been doing some minor roof and siding repairs in my community. Folks wanted to pay me but I refused and told them just to give me some MillerLite. As of yesterday I had 3 cases in my shed refrigerator. Now I'm thinking I should have twice that much Grumpy!

We had our "hurricane" party on a neighbor's lanai last night. One more couple pulled out from our immediate area so now there are only 5 homes that will be occupied when Milton hits.

Our final preps today include filling the second bathroom's tub with water (used for flushing toilets if water service goes out), and making more bags of ice. I'll get a good nap in this afternoon so I can stay up for the big event......yeeeehaaaaa

 

[ISP-FL]

Heading toward 9:30pm. Milton has made landfall just south of Sarasota as a Cat-3. I was hoping for a landfall further away from us but I'll take the 40+ miles separation.

For the next 3 hours our winds will continue to build to 52mph sustained with gusts will over 75mph. For the past hour the power has flickered off and on every 15 minutes or so. I'm guessing I'll be going out to start the generator soon.

We were lucky in our immediate area. Praying for folks north of us tonight because they are getting slammed. Looks like a record surge in and around the Tampa area.

 

[trike lady]

How is everyone doing so far? From the satellite images the storm looks like it is covering the central part of the state. Prayers for all the good folks out there enduring the wind and rain.

 

[Notgrownup]

Heading toward 9:30pm. Milton has made landfall just south of Sarasota as a Cat-3. I was hoping for a landfall further away from us but I'll take the 40+ miles separation.

For the next 3 hours our winds will continue to build to 52mph sustained with gusts will over 75mph. For the past hour the power has flickered off and on every 15 minutes or so. I'm guessing I'll be going out to start the generator soon.

We were lucky in our immediate area. Praying for folks north of us tonight because they are getting slammed. Looks like a record surge in and around the Tampa area.

Looks like the Sumbitch went right over you. Hope you are ok.

 

[Papa Zook]

Hope everyone is safe...check in and let us know whats up.

 

[Gorilla]

All Good In Key Largo

 

[cScjhb]

I spoke with a friend that lives in Venice yesterday. They had evacuated to a friend's home due to lack of any hotel space available. After Helene it was nearly a week before they had full communications with the outside world. I am praying that the lack of hearing from friends in the area is simply because of issues with phones and electricity.....

 

[Zammy]

We're ok hiding out up in Tallahassee, just found out a couple of hours ago that our home is intact and we have electric. Winds hit 103 mph in our area so we were blessed with no damage. Planning on trying to head home on Sunday which depends on being able to get gas, we need about 1 1/2 tanks since we're towing our trailer with the trike.

 

[ol' school]

That is great Gary!

 

[GrumpyVet]

Power came on after 46 hours (not complaining, thankful it was only that long), didn't open the fridge (there wasn't much in in since we are on a 6 week trip starting Thursday) but will toss what was in there. Freezer did well but I moved stuff to my Yeti @43 hour mark - Yeti's are awesome BTW almost all the stuff stayed frozen except the ice cream for the granddaughter. Lots of tree branches to include one that fell where I normally park the car but I moved it the day before so no damage. Wind gusted to well over 110 and we did get some rain that came in under the door but noticed it quickly so it did not hurt the wood floor. All in all, we were VERY lucky and I am thankful we did not suffer damage like so many, especially in Pinellas County. Macdill AFB is closed except for mission essential personnel, so I can't check on my RV that is in storage there hoping for the best. Lots of damage there that you can see in the FB page. But Iike I told the wife, "that's why we have insurance."

 

[Papa Zook]

 

[Zammy]

We're heading home tomorrow morning, we have electricity but no gas in our area. We plan on getting gas about 100 miles from home according to the gasbuddy app, we should be ok.

 

[Zammy]

We made it home on Sunday evening, by the time we unloaded the trike and put the trailer away we were beat. Almost every other gas station had fuel so that wasn't a problem. We have damage to 1 downspout so we were truly blessed in that regard. The pictures from around here are just utter devastation, some areas had as much as 8 feet of water in them and they were in a no flood zone, our place had no water damage at all.

 

[ol' school]

Glad you two made it home safe and had a basically undamaged house!

 

[nokkon wud]

We survived!
The Hospital a couple blocks away was evacuated due to flooding in the basement causing fires. After 16" of rain in less than 24 hours there was no other place for the water to go I guess. Surge was not an issue with this storm here.

I never lost power but we did lose internet which shut my business down and idled several out of area employees until this morning when they got it running again.
No damage at my house other than blown down fence and tree limbs.
I did lose a plumoria, mango and a 20 ft pencil cactus.

The rentals fared pretty well. Blown out store window, peeled back porch roof and missing shingles.
My storage building got a branch through the roof.

Son lost his power right off and didn't get it back until yesterday afternoon.

Surge isn't an issue for me as I'm at 45 ft asl

There are huge oak and pine trees uprooted everywhere. There are at least 30 in the county park behind me.

 

[ol' school]

Glad you all survived Bill...