Hurricane Irma

[Mr Tonka]

JetBlue is flying people out of FL for $99. So i heard anyway.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

JetBlue is flying people out of FL for $99. So i heard anyway.

Just checked, you are correct. $99 today from MCO to Westchester, NY

[mookie45]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

JetBlue is flying people out of FL for $99. So i heard anyway.

Originally Posted by Naz24

Just checked, you are correct. $99 today from MCO to Westchester, NY

Wow they are so helpful to all of South FL!!

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by elistan

Some speculation I've heard is that the airlines aren't doing this manually, rather they have pricing algorithms that adjust costs based on demand - so when demand skyrockets, prices go up as well.

Of course, if true that then raises the question of why they left these algorithms in place when they knew there would be a demand spike due to a major storm...

Am I missing, how spikes change their costs?

[scostu]

Originally Posted by elistan

Actually, I suspect nobody is talking about Katia not because of its location but rather because it's 'only' a cat 1 hurricane with max sustained winds of 80 mph around the eye and a small extent of tropical storm winds. There will be rain and wind, but likely only minor property damage and probably no loss of life. (Although I've really no idea how well that area can handle the amount of projected rain they'll get.)

Meh..... for most floridians .... that's just an afternoon T-storm.

[BOOF-M3]

Mandatory evacuation by 6am in pinellas county Fl for those located in Zone A for tomorrow. Which makes no sense since we are nowhere near the hurricane. Expected winds to be 10mph. I understand being prepared but this is all together a whole other story.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Mandatory evacuation by 6am in pinellas county Fl for those located in Zone A for tomorrow. Which makes no sense since we are nowhere near the hurricane. Expected winds to be 10mph. I understand being prepared but this is all together a whole other story.

Storm surge would be horrendous for all of the Bay Area if Irma comes up the west coast. In the wake of Texas flooding, they are going to act early. Especially since the Skyway will likely be closed soon. Takes a long time to get people out of S. Pinellas CO when you can only go north.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Storm surge would be horrendous for all of the Bay Area if Irma comes up the west coast. In the wake of Texas flooding, they are going to act early. Especially since the Skyway will likely be closed soon. Takes a long time to get people out of S. Pinellas CO when you can only go north.

A few things... Lived here 20 years on the barrier islands and I have never had or seen the water come above the sea wall in my back yard. And that's with hurricanes coming dead center on top of us. Where are these people going to go? From what I have heard there isn't a room available in Florida? Those living in Mobil homes? That's a whole other story. They don't have their monthly rent let alone fill a tank up with gas on a trip to nowhere. I get it, the people deciding are a lot smarter than me. They just made a decision that has a lot of people irked. Count me as one of them. And I do appreciate you commenting on it Mr Tonka.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

A few things... Lived here 20 years on the barrier islands and I have never had or seen the water come above the sea wall in my back yard. And that's with hurricanes coming dead center on top of us. Where are these people going to go? From what I have heard there isn't a room available in Florida? Those living in Mobil homes? That's a whole other story. They don't have their monthly rent let alone fill a tank up with gas on a trip to nowhere. I get it, the people deciding are a lot smarter than me. They just made a decision that has a lot of people irked. Count me as one of them. And I do appreciate you commenting on it Mr Tonka.

This sounds too familiar.

When Sandy hit us 5 years ago, comments like yours were the norm. I had NEVER seen the water flood our streets at the "shore" nor had the streets ever flooded in the recorded history.

But, it only takes one "perfect" storm. PS, we're also just right outside of a full moon, having an effect on the tides.

Look, i get it, i feel for you guys. It sucks that you have been pushed to evacuate. But think about the alternative. Politicians are saving their own ass by trying to save your ass. Sad but true.

Get out, if you come to NJ, i will have a nice cigar and scotch waiting for ya!

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

A few things... Lived here 20 years on the barrier islands and I have never had or seen the water come above the sea wall in my back yard. And that's with hurricanes coming dead center on top of us. Where are these people going to go? From what I have heard there isn't a room available in Florida? Those living in Mobil homes? That's a whole other story. They don't have their monthly rent let alone fill a tank up with gas on a trip to nowhere. I get it, the people deciding are a lot smarter than me. They just made a decision that has a lot of people irked. Count me as one of them. And I do appreciate you commenting on it Mr Tonka.

Aren't there shelters inland?

[BOOF-M3]

Love the feedback. Great discussion. But the fact is that the storm is going to hit 200 miles to the east. This is what myself and others over here are discussing and irate about. The area within 50 miles + or - yes definitely evacuate. This storm as projected does not touch us. Houston is a completely different animal. Houston is Miami and they are preparing. We are Austin to Houston.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Aren't there shelters inland?

Shelters? Um yea, can you imagine staying at a shelter for a storm that isn't hitting your area? I'm not suggesting any other family should stay. I'm saying it's unwarranted hysteria.

[MaximusJ]

You have to watch this with sound. Thats just nuts. Stay safe down there.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Shelters? Um yea, can you imagine staying at a shelter for a storm that isn't hitting your area? I'm not suggesting any other family should stay. I'm saying it's unwarranted hysteria.

Well mandatory evacuations don't mean someone is yanking people out of homes. If people are convinced they won't be affected or otherwise want to roll the dice, they can stay. It just won't be possible to get you out during the storm if it becomes necessary. Everyone can make their own decisions.

I would not live in a mobile home in FL and certainly wouldn't stay in one if there were any chance of a storm hitting. For those that do and don't have the means for a hotel room or long road trip (per your post), the answer of what to do is either (a) go to a shelter, like it or not, or (b) roll the dice and hope there is no impact.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Well mandatory evacuations don't mean someone is yanking people out of homes. If people are convinced they won't be affected or otherwise want to roll the dice, they can stay. It just won't be possible to get you out during the storm if it becomes necessary. Everyone can make their own decisions.

I would not live in a mobile home in FL and certainly wouldn't stay in one if there were any chance of a storm hitting. For those that do and don't have the means for a hotel room or long road trip (per your post), the answer of what to do is either (a) go to a shelter, like it or not, or (b) roll the dice and hope there is no impact.

Well said.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

You have to watch this with sound. Thats just nuts. Stay safe down there.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

You have to watch this with sound. Thats just nuts. Stay safe down there.

That is some nasty wind. Sound is eerie. Wonder if there were tornados mixed in.

[upstatedoc]

If any of you Florida members need to borrow an AR just p.m. me.

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

That is some nasty wind. Sound is eerie. Wonder if there were tornados mixed in.

It does sound very creepy and scary.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Love the feedback. Great discussion. But the fact is that the storm is going to hit 200 miles to the east. This is what myself and others over here are discussing and irate about. The area within 50 miles + or - yes definitely evacuate. This storm as projected does not touch us. Houston is a completely different animal. Houston is Miami and they are preparing. We are Austin to Houston.

Just saw the latest update from TWC. The European model now has it going more to the west. They're still not sure, but there is still a chance.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

A few things... Lived here 20 years on the barrier islands and I have never had or seen the water come above the sea wall in my back yard. And that's with hurricanes coming dead center on top of us. Where are these people going to go? From what I have heard there isn't a room available in Florida? Those living in Mobil homes? That's a whole other story. They don't have their monthly rent let alone fill a tank up with gas on a trip to nowhere. I get it, the people deciding are a lot smarter than me. They just made a decision that has a lot of people irked. Count me as one of them. And I do appreciate you commenting on it Mr Tonka.

Smarter than you... HA! That's rich. No, they aren't smarter than you. They're just covering their asses. I've lived in Tampa for 40 years and Hurricane Elena is the closest i can recall to a directly (gulf side) hit. It's eye was far north of the Bay Area and created a fair amount of storm surge. In perfect conditions, the eye of a cat 3 or better making land fall in North Pinellas county will likely bring 20' or more storm surge into the bay. Barrier islands might get pounded but are likely less affected by surge, but the bay itself would be overflowing in it's inner most spots.

Doesn't seem that's what we're facing here though, hopefully. From what i remember about the 2004 hurricane season is all of those storms, on somewhat of a similar path as Irma, pushed water OUT of the bay. The only time we had flooding in S. Tampa was the last one that went though... Francis maybe, lingered a while and dumped a ton of rain. But that wasn't surge by any means. Just lack of S. Tampa drainage.

With Irma hot on the heels of Harvey though, all those with political power will surely be erring on the side of caution.

Here's to strong winds from the west!

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Love the feedback. Great discussion. But the fact is that the storm is going to hit 200 miles to the east. This is what myself and others over here are discussing and irate about. The area within 50 miles + or - yes definitely evacuate. This storm as projected does not touch us. Houston is a completely different animal. Houston is Miami and they are preparing. We are Austin to Houston.

I hope that's going to be fact.

From what i understand if Houston gets a typical Tampa area afternoon thunder storm, they flood. I don't believe their flooding was storm surge. But rather the result of 50+ inches of rain fall over the course of 24 hours.

I'm not leaving town, but i'm in Lutz, 62' above sea level in a home built in 2009 to St Pete beach hurricane code. I did have some suspect trees removed today. One leaning towards my house, the other leaning towards my neighbors house. Hopefully that will mitigate most of the potential damage. With as much rain as has saturate the ground around here, downed trees should be expected.