Hurricane Irma

[Tinami Amori]

The Polk County Sheriff has announced that everyone with an outstanding warrant will be arrested at a shelter. http://www.thedailybeast.com/florida-sheriff-warns-fugitives-theyll-be-jailed-if-they-seek-shelter
Unless people committed a serious felony, seriously?

Those who have an outstanding warrant should be in jail, not roaming free. They are entitled to space safe from floods and winds, but not a forgiveness of their crime. That's what the Sheriff is saying:
"Florida sheriff says that if you have an outstanding warrant and show up at a Hurricane Irma shelter, 'we'll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail'

 

[Simone411]

Sunday

I just knew it. I've been praying like crazy that Irma would just turn into a mild tropical storm. The meteorologists are saying on the Weather Channel that Irma is much stronger right now than what Andrew was, and that's why it's more dangerous and threatening.

@Lara, @Jimena, and everyone here at FSU that has family living in theses areas, keeping the prayers going. @skatesindreams, I'm praying for you, too. I don't know exactly where you live, but please stay safe. <3

 

[MacMadame]

How glad am I that we decided to sell our condo in Myrtle Beach last year?!

Someone tried to convince me to move to FL when I retire just today at lunch. Um, I don't think so.

Those who have an outstanding warrant should be in jail, not roaming free. They are entitled to space safe from floods and winds, but not a forgiveness of their crime. That's what the Sheriff is saying:
"Florida sheriff says that if you have an outstanding warrant and show up at a Hurricane Irma shelter, 'we'll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail'

What he's actually saying is: I don't care if they die because they are afraid to come to a shelter.

It's pure evil.

 

[Tinami Amori]

What he's actually saying is: I don't care if they die because they are afraid to come to a shelter.

It's pure evil.

No. Right now they are hiding from the law. They don't need to die. All they have to do is to abide the law, and come to a Shelter which corresponds to the law.

 

[Buzz]

If people who have warrants out for their arrests or are undocumented decide to stay home instead of going to a shelter because they fear being arrested, wouldn't that also put not just their lives but the lives of first reponders at risk? First responders will go in after the storm and try to rescue those left behind at great risk of their own lives irregardless of the storm victim's personal circumstances. And tie up limited resources best spent elsewhere.

 

[Lara]

Lara, I am thinking of you and your family, can you contact them?

Thanks. Hopefully the phone/cell lines will hold (if not the electricity, but my uncle has a generator). I'll feel safe tomorrow morning but they should be ok.

Then I'll worry about Florida, ugh. And I don't even want to think about Jose.

 

[ballettmaus]

And now, Katia joined the party off the coast of Mexico. https://apnews.com/e7814dc9b1004212...n=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

Hurricane Katia has formed in the Gulf off the coast of Mexico with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). The government of Mexico has issued a hurricane watch for the coast of the state of Veracruz from Tuxpan to Laguna Verde.

All the while, the West is burning down. This is insane

 

[skatesindreams]

I have a plane ticket, thank heavens!
Details in the morning...

 

[TOADS]

The center of Irma now due north of Carolina, Puerto Rico. Second rainband just off the north shore of the island. Irma still chugging along on a west-northwest course.

 

[Simone411]

I have a plane ticket, thank heavens!
Details in the morning...

I'm so thankful and glad! <3

 

[Debbie S]

@Tony Wheeler I saw an article that said Jet Blue was capping flights out of FL this week at $99. If Jet Blue flies anywhere close to your hometown, that could be an option?

 

[tony]

@Tony Wheeler I saw an article that said Jet Blue was capping flights out of FL this week at $99. If Jet Blue flies anywhere close to your hometown, that could be an option?

They do. But the problem is that the earliest scheduled flight out of FLL that is still available is Saturday mid-day, probably past the time when the wind is going to start up and the flight will likely be canceled, and by that point there will be no options. I found others, though. Going to confirm one later tonight. Miami Beach still has yet to order any kind of evacuation seriously which is baffling. The biggest clubs and attractions here have already decided to close for the weekend.

 

[TOADS]

They do. But the problem is that the earliest scheduled flight out of FLL that is still available is Saturday mid-day, probably past the time when the wind is going to start up and the flight will likely be canceled, and by that point there will be no options. I found others, though. Going to confirm one later tonight. Miami Beach still has yet to order any kind of evacuation seriously which is baffling. The biggest clubs and attractions here have already decided to close for the weekend.

The wind probably won't begin to rise until late in the day Saturday. You should be able to do noontime.

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

They do. But the problem is that the earliest scheduled flight out of FLL that is still available is Saturday mid-day,

Have you looked at JetBlue?

https://thepointsguy.com/2017/09/jetblue-capping-fl-flights-irma/

Hope you're able to get out somehow. Worst case, maybe getting on the road at 3am if there's any chance it's less crowded then? Please take care.

 

[tony]

I'll get out! There are other options that aren't that much more expensive. Also, the evacuation notice was finally given about 45 minutes ago for plenty of areas around Miami.

 

[Lara]

I found others, though. Going to confirm one later tonight.

Don't wait much more to confirm - https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/6/1...-airline-flight-price-gouging-florida-tickets

 

[tony]

Don't wait much more to confirm - https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/6/1...-airline-flight-price-gouging-florida-tickets

Now that the evacuation is posted, I'm confirming now. I posted earlier that when I looked, American only had very few seats left for $1,400! (out of Miami)

 

[meggonzo]

Don't wait much more to confirm - https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/6/1...-airline-flight-price-gouging-florida-tickets

Disgusting.

 

[TOADS]

Disgusting.

These gougers should be given lawn chairs so they can sit on the Rickenbacker Causeway for a front row seat of Irma in all her furious glory.

 

[purple skates]

When you do hear back please let us know.

Her sister posted on Facebook about 45 minutes ago that they were "alive and safe".

Hope your people stay safe too.

 

[ballettmaus]

They've shown pictures of Barbuda on CNN. It looks like a war zone. Irma folded a steel cell tower in half!

 

[TOADS]

Her sister posted on Facebook about 45 minutes ago that they were "alive and safe".

Hope your people stay safe too.

They will have stories to tell. Stories coming out of Barbuda tell of winds to 200 mph with gusts to 220 mph

 

[TOADS]

Hurricane Irma is currently located north of Punta Cana and northeast of Cabrera in the Dominican Republic. The storm is moving parallel to the coast with the core of the strongest winds well offshore.

Now what is next?

Based on the latest track, Irma comes ashore over Miami on Sunday midday, moves north and comes back into the Atlantic just east of Cape Kennedy. Irma continues north off the coast ten makes landfall over Savannah, GA on Monday, continuing north and raining out over the eastern Carolinas and eastern VA.

There couldn't be worse track than this. First, Irma brings the strongest winds and storm surge to Miami which will likely inundate anything under 10 feet elevation. The winds will be at their strongest with sustained 120-140 mph, gusts 130-150 mph occurring during midday Sunday. As Irma continues north, the winds will slacken as the center moves over land, but will be in excess of 100 mph with heavy rains. Once Irma's center gets back over the Atlantic, it has the resource of the Gulf Stream to feed on so winds will remain in the 100-110 mph range as it moves north to GA to make landfall on Savannah as a cat 2 storm. There will be a storm surge, not as big as what will hit Miami. Heavy rains will fall across GA, the eastern Carolinas and eastern VA so there probably will be some flooding as 10-15" of rain are possible.

Landfall in Miami is still 3 days out so there is still wiggle room in the track, however, the models have been pretty consistent over the last 36 hours so if there are changes, it won't be much.

 

[once_upon]

There are 2 FSU posters currently in Orlando. One's flight has been canceled - how far inland and Gulf impact have on Orlando?

 

[skatesindreams]

I have a plane ticket, thank heavens!
Details in the morning...

Look for my post in the Snark thread, in a bit.

 

[TOADS]

There are 2 FSU posters currently in Orlando. One's flight has been canceled - how far inland and Gulf impact have on Orlando?

Orlando should be OK. A little windy with gusts to 70 mph and some heavy rain.

 

[Simone411]

I was watching the Weather Channel earlier this morning. They were saying that American Airlines has cancelled all flights. It was showing so many people just waiting in line there for their flights. They mentioned they had to cancel if the winds were any stronger than 35 MPH. The only thing is that I'm not sure where these flights were being cancelled because I tuned in after it they announced what city it was.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

My dad's roof on Ansastasia Island is only rated to 90mph; and the house to 120. They just flooded last year with Matthew, and some of the neighbors still aren't back in their homes.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

American Airlines will cancel flights into and out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota and West Palm Beach as of Friday afternoon.

United is adding flights through Friday afternoon, to help people leave the area.

Jet Blue and American have capped their prices out of FL at either $99 or about $140, depending (direct, single leg tickets.)

In terms of flights being cancelled: it's partly about not having their assets in Florida during the hurricane, so after a certain point, they'll want their planes and flight crews out of there. So although the wind may not pick up after a certain time on Friday, they might cancel stuff before that, if they decide to keep the planes on the ground elsewhere. It is correct to be cautious and, when possible, book earlier flights Friday/Thursday flights if possible. I understand that may or may not be possible, but an option is to check United, which has added flights and capped the prices, so that it's not the normal last minute expensive fare.

 

[olympic]

Like @Tony Wheeler , I am in Miami.

My husband and I live on the bay, not in a forced evacuation zone though. We live on a roadway connecting Miami Beach w/ downtown and are fortunate enough that our apartment is on the 4th floor of a 22-story concrete condo building. This building survived Andrew w/ broken windows. Our cars are on the 2nd floor of our parking garage. We feel fairly confident that we are quite elevated from any storm surge / flooding. We have metal shutters on every window.

I am not expecting property damage but am bracing for a power outage. I went through Hurricane Wilma in 2005 which was a Cat 2/3 and the sounds of the wind and things breaking outside are horrifying, especially when you can't see what is happening. This will be worse.

You may ask why people don't evacuate. It's a difficult decision if the roads are jammed, hotels are booked, airports cancel flights, your employer hasn't yet closed the office, and you have no clue which direction this monster is moving. Gas stations are out of gas. Another horrible scenario is being out in your car on highway in a jam when the weather turns bad and you run the risk of running out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Florida is shaped like a peninsula and South Florida has the Everglades w/ no roadways in the middle. There are relatively few escape routes from the southern tip.

We spent yesterday steaming a lot of veggies and I have a pantry full of tuna. We will fill whatever basin we have w/ water for drinking and hygiene before the storm. Flashlight works

Wish us luck!