Hurricane Michael - October 2018

Why, why why?
I live in Fire Country. *Southern California.
I understand it's different, we frequently get nearly zero advance warning and have to watch the vistas around us to try to figure out how close the fire is.
But, we have been evacuated 5 times since 2004. Although our home did not burn, the fires have gotten got within blocks of our home.
If I had the luxury of days of warning, I would prepare my property and leave, even if fur babies and we had to sleep in our cars.
Is this a mentality of "It won't happen to us?"

BBM

I reckon so.
 
Why, why why?
I live in Fire Country. *Southern California.
I understand it's different, we frequently get nearly zero advance warning and have to watch the vistas around us to try to figure out how close the fire is.
But, we have been evacuated 5 times since 2004. Although our home did not burn, the fires have gotten got within blocks of our home.
If I had the luxury of days of warning, I would prepare my property and leave, even if fur babies and we had to sleep in our cars.
Is this a mentality of "It won't happen to us?"

Sometimes, yes.

It can also be some, or all of these:
-Once you evacuate, you can't get back in to your property until officials allow you to. This may be several days, or a week or so later.
-Many people live on farms/rural properties and have livestock, so they don't leave.
-Many people can't financially afford to evacuate. Some may not have transportation/depend on others for transportation.
-Some people don't want to leave their property unprotected.

I'm sure there are other reasons also.
 
Sometimes, yes.

It can also be some, or all of these:
-Once you evacuate, you can't get back in to your property until officials allow you to. This may be several days, or a week or so later.
-Many people live on farms/rural properties and have livestock, so they don't leave.
-Many people can't financially afford to evacuate. Some may not have transportation/depend on others for transportation.
-Some people don't want to leave their property unprotected.

I'm sure there are other reasons also.
Yep. This article explains:
As Hurricane Michael bears down, many along Gulf Coast remain in harm’s way
 
We live in an apartment and some pine and oak trees were cut recently, including the one (pine) outside our bedroom window. At the same time it makes me a little sad as an owl would sit in it periodically and hoot, plus the tree frogs singing late at night, would lull me to sleep. I kind of miss that.
I can almost hear those sounds in my head as I read them. I would miss them too Mary. They will remain with you though. Those lullabies.
 
Came in to check on my WS buddies here. How is SeeSeas, has anybody heard from her?
All is ok in Pinellas County. Moderate rain and wind gusts this afternoon. Same forecast for Wednesday if Michael continues on expected path. We stocked up on bottled water today, just in case he turns east toward Tampa Bay.
 
I need to read ahead. I am sorry I am replying again.

I just wanted to let you know that I too have horrible fear of storms. I was told that when I was quite young lightening hit near me, maybe that is where it comes from IDK. When attending university, I was the only one who during evening or night I would go down to the basement (there were dorm rooms down there too and I never unfortunately was able to be in one, think they were popular) during storms; we had many tornado warnings.

It is so hard for many to understand the real fear and anxiety I have. I do hear you. I will be thinking about you a lot. Keep us posted.

I hope everyone stays safe and keep on letting us know how you are doing. Prayers.

I hear you, Katharine. My mom had gripping fear and anxiety especially in severe lightning.

Big hit on a big major tree right next to our house when she was a young mother with three very small children. And I was 4 or 5 years old.

I too, have my mother's anxiety, though it's more tempered. But when there's a really bad thunder storm, I shut the windows and pull the shades.

So know you are not alone in your fear. Its not something that's just overcome. It's completely natural.

You know, animals have the same reaction. They duck for cover. Shaking, frozen doggies, kitties that you may not find for days.

I was a wreck in Hurricane Sandy. In the inland woods of NJ the winds were 90 miles an hour. In a forest that's the scariest thing ever. I am praying for everyone.

And I'm grateful to everyone here for their extraordinary coverage and helpfulness. The hurricane coverage on WS is bar none.

You know the south east USA is so incredibly beautiful, and hospitable, but damn, I don't think I have the guts to live there.
 
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Some of my favorite links.....
The Weather Channel - www.weatherchannel.com
Windy - www.windy.com
AccuWeather - www.accuweather.com
National Hurricane Center - www.nhc.noaa.gov/
looks like Gulf Coast electric covers much of the Florida coast....you
can check on their outage map and set up your link now.
Thinking of all of you....Lato

that WIndy place is addictive

incredible

and scary that is where the 84 near Tampa comes from people might be going to sleep and wake up to a cat 4

there are mental stressors here

i am waiting to see if the pressure is holding steady cause he is getting right where the 84 water is

all of us here follow hurricanes -- and yes I do think the SC mess has something to do with this the system was there for a while

and we all get up and all of a sudden there is a landfalling usa hurricane

its just weird

i so hope the pressure is not dropping
 
I can almost hear those sounds in my head as I read them. I would miss them too Mary. They will remain with you though. Those lullabies.

Me too. Every time I visited the Caribbean and Florida...

Here in New Jersey we get peepers, (thumbs up) the little frogs emerging in springtime. If we are lucky for an early spring, they are as orchestral as the bugs In Late August!

I love the little chameleons, the tiny, friendly lizards in Florida. Well at least Miami!
 
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Next intermediate advisory at 100 AM CDT.



Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles
(280 km).

water has the
potential to reach the following heights above ground if peak surge
occurs at the time of high tide...

Mexico Beach FL to Keaton Beach FL...9-13 ft
Okaloosa/Walton County Line FL to Mexico Beach FL...6-9 ft
Keaton Beach FL to Cedar Key FL...6-9 ft
Cedar Key FL to Chassahowitzka FL...4-6 ft
Chassahowitzka to Anna Maria Island FL including Tampa Bay...2-4 ft
Alabama/Florida border to Okaloosa/Walton County Line FL...2-4 ft

Hurricane
conditions will also spread well inland
 
I hear you, Katharine. My mom had gripping fear and anxiety especially in severe lightning.

Big hit on a big major tree right next to our house when she was a young mother with three very small children. And I was 4 or 5 years old.

I too, have my mother's anxiety, though it's more tempered. But when there's a really bad thunder storm, I shut the windows and pull the shades.

So know you are not alone in your fear. Its not something that's just overcome. It's completely natural.

You know, animals have the same reaction. They duck for cover. Shaking, frozen doggies, kitties that you may not find for days.

I was a wreck in Hurricane Sandy. In the inland woods of NJ the winds were 90 miles an hour. In a forest that's the scariest thing ever. I am praying for everyone.

And I'm grateful to everyone here for their extraordinary coverage and helpfulness. The hurricane coverage on WS is bar none.

You know the south east USA is so incredibly beautiful, and hospitable, but damn, I don't think I have the guts to live there.

Rose, your post brought tears to my eyes. Wow thank you. Your mother's story is amazing and I totally understand. It is interesting you did not come out even more scathed. I do same thing with windows and up the volume of t.v.

Yes you are so right, animals blow me away with their surviving techniques. My brother teases me that my 5 lb cat Missy has my fears and anxiety. At the first hint of thunder or lightening she races for under the love seat which doesn't have much room underneath. My 9 lb cat Tabitha doesn't go to her hiding place until storm is more advanced.

Hurricane Sandy sounds like was quite the experience for your area and 90 mile an hour winds are not good in the woods. Eek. Scary.

Oh yes Websleuths has the most excellent Hurricane coverage. I have been a member for several years and it was only last year I discovered Websleuths covers more than murder and the missing. I was blown away lol. No pun intended.

Thank you to everyone on here. You are very special caring people.
 

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