What's everybody in Fla doing about Irma?

[wpc691]

Does anybody know the protocol for locks on the OWW and Kissimmee during such events?I don't know if it's possible, but if you could hole up in one of those locks, that would be the ultimate in protection. Maybe it would be just a matter of hitting them at the right time, but I assume they shut them down when a storm reaches a certain distance.

Not sure of the protocol either. We moved our departure up to tomorrow AM, by Thurs PM we'll be tied up at Glades RV and Marina, just short of the lake. The place has a good reputation as a hurricane hole. We got their last spot.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Pardon my ignorance....but why not get in the boat, and take it north to GA or SC if on the east, or over toward the panhandle on the west? Right now there is 3-5 days to get there.

No ignorance, Krusher. Few protected marinas. Brunswick Landing is reputed a great one. I'm departing Friday or Sat (if necessary) for Windmill Harbor Marina on Hilton Head. It has a lock system and fixed concrete docks making it much better for surge. Lots of wind protection too. It saved me from Matthew. I think it'll handle a Cat 2 even at high tide. Higher than that? Well, it's the nicest place you'd ever want to sink. To the north, Osprey Marina is very well protected on Wacamaw River. Moderate protection at Tolers Cove and Wild Dunes in Charleston. But Hugo destroyed WD and most of TC in '89.

 

[Fish Tales]

I personally saw what Andrew did to Homestead. Erased it. There are still home slabs there with no house on them.

If this thing still has punch when it hits any of us, does not matter the prep or effort.

I will do and prepare all I can, and pray alot.

We all should,

Tim

 

[rsmith]

I'm on a flight into MCO this one is much larger than Andrew and potentially more destructive.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I personally saw what Andrew did to Homestead. Erased it. There are still home slabs there with no house on them.

If this thing still has punch when it hits any of us, does not matter the prep or effort.

I will do and prepare all I can, and pray alot.

We all should,

Tim

I understand what you're saying. I lost a well rigged boat in '96 at Wrightsville Beach. I also saw boats with very little to no prep get hammered in Cat. 1 Matthew. So, we'll do our absolute best knowing we'd forever regret not going to the mats for our old Hats--Hey I made a poem. How about, Irma, you make 'a me squirma...

 

[Fish Tales]

Robert,

More than squirming,

My ass is eating seat. I lost Half my house to Charlie, My hanger, 2 planes, business etc, etc.

Hope it turns north early and goes out to sea.

Tim

 

[Dan Mapes]

Chris Parker has it barreling up Florida now. His current guess is Irma moves North along the Dade/Collier county lines. Just West of Okeechobee Sun afternoon. Then out into the Atlantic North of St. Aug.

 

[Pascal]

That s a worst case scenario

 

[Dan Mapes]

Perhaps but he has made some good calls in the past. I will say the models are shifting East again. GFS puts it over Grand Bahama now and other models are decidedly more East than the last runs. We'll see how it looks at 5AM. Personally I think getting into the GOM without land falls is worse. That would give it a chance to develop more before it whacks someone. It might hit less populace areas that way tho.

 

[eze2bme]

Here are two more good hurricane tracking sites:
https://stormpulse.com/
https://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html

 

[Pascal]

Perhaps but he has made some good calls in the past. I will say the models are shifting East again. GFS puts it over Grand Bahama now and other models are decidedly more East than the last runs. We'll see how it looks at 5AM. Personally I think getting into the GOM without land falls is worse. That would give it a chance to develop more before it whacks someone. It might hit less populace areas that way tho.

11pm NYC just out and they seem to ignore the GFS. 5 day forecast over key west and just beyond now, may thhave morning but they re holding it despite gfs

 

[rsmith]

Robert,

More than squirming,

My ass is eating seat. I lost Half my house to Charlie, My hanger, 2 planes, business etc, etc.

Hope it turns north early and goes out to sea.

Tim

I flew the first non military relief flight into Homestead regional with a group of Doctors and Nurses. The devistation was on the scale of a nuclear blast. There was almost nothing standing. I saw cars in the middle of the Everglades miles from any roads. Customs had taken over the airport as they were expecting smugglers taking advantage of the com's and radars that were down. While my group was waiting for their transportation to an aid station one of the customs guys came over and told us I needed to pick them up before dark because their safety couldn't be guaranteed with all the looting and shootings that were happening. One of the nurses started to cry and ended up staying in the plane.
Kermit Weeks had a concrete reinforced hangar there with doors that resembled the blast doors at Cheyenne mountain. The doors had blown off their tracks and crushed a beautiful antique ford trimotor like a beer can.
I flew into Punta Gorda after Charlie to bid on some FEMA trailers yeah the hangars there were F'd also but I seem to remember there was a common design problem with the doors on the ones that failed.
I lost my house in Frances then got punished again in Jeene so I feel your pain.

 

[rsmith]

11pm NYC just out and they seem to ignore the GFS. 5 day forecast over key west and just beyond now, may thhave morning but they re holding it despite gfs

Yes I have a little more faith in the NHC and WSI charts plus there is a cold front swooping down that hopefully will keep her south until into the gulph

 

[Pascal]

The 5am has shifted east quite a bit and will probably shift again at 11am As hinted by the language from NHC : "but out of respect for the previous forecast and the possibility the guidance may shift back to the west, it lies to the left of the bulk of the guidance"

Going to be close. Looks like a run to the west coast is going to be the best option

 

[Dan Mapes]

NHC fell in line with Parker at this time... Still anyone's guess.

 

[MVCaprice]

What you guys have to deal with down there is unbelievable. Good luck and god speed!

 

[jim rosenthal]

Another good website seems to be tropicaltidbits.com. Their forecast appears in line with the ones mentioned above. The storm isn't going to encounter much in the way of landmasses that would reduce it's strength- until it gets to FL, when all hell appears ready to break loose. The door is open up here for anyone who finds themselves in the area.

 

[administrator]

Sam's Marine in Fort Lauderdale is closing for the remainder of the week to allow everyone to make preparations. All calls will be routed to our NC location.

 

[thoward]

Sooo, OWW locks stayed open late during Matthew and I expect the same. Problem was there was a 7 hour wait to get through the locks. Following the storm, there was a ton of debris.

Plan on all ICW bridges closing 72+ hours before landfall in Miami.

As of Tuesday 8:30am all haul-out facilities in Treasure Coast area were completely booked. I called Fort Pierce City Marina this morning to discuss the situation. Their comment was "Your insurance is up to date, you can stay put. Please unhook your water line". City Marina has great floating docks so I'll double lines and put out the big bumpers. I will also pull cockpit canvas as well as tape all door and hatch seams. If we take a direct hit I will be surprised she survives.....

 

[PeterK]

Sooo, OWW locks stayed open late during Matthew and I expect the same. Problem was there was a 7 hour wait to get through the locks. Following the storm, there was a ton of debris.

Plan on all ICW bridges closing 72+ hours before landfall in Miami.

As of Tuesday 8:30am all haul-out facilities in Treasure Coast area were completely booked. I called Fort Pierce City Marina this morning to discuss the situation. Their comment was "Your insurance is up to date, you can stay put. Please unhook your water line". City Marina has great floating docks so I'll double lines and put out the big bumpers. I will also pull cockpit canvas as well as tape all door and hatch seams. If we take a direct hit I will be surprised she survives.....

We are at the Marriott on Hutchinson Island and there are only 10 boats still here. Folks have been leaving for haul out/inland docking for 2 days already. I suspect river traffic will be far less than it was for Matthew. Seems like everyone was last minute for him but are moving earlier for this bitch.

A few poor souls here could not find safe harbor and I'm praying for them.

We are out of here by 8 AM tomorrow after taking on some extra fuel. Friday and Saturday lashing, tieing, strapping, etc. then it will be out of our hands. Inland about 10-15 miles at a hotel until at least Tuesday with a contingency to go to Orlando (or even Tampa) if prudent.

Hope everyone in the path stays safe with an extra prayer for you who are in Ga/SC!