Tampa in the path?
 

OK you Tampa Bay guys. With Ernesto out there and me up here in PA, what think you all. Should I get in the van and head down there to secure my house? I have a good realtor and he is an old friend but I think if the cane is emminent it will be every man for himself. Should I be grabbing my keys and pistol? Damn with only 10 days till closing...crap.

Unfortunately I don't think a educated decision can be made until about Tuesday or Wednesday as it could lose power over Cuba,be redirected,wobble off in another direction or head straight for Central Florida.

Too early.

Oh you can bet I'll be keeping an eye on it. The media (God love em) up here is making it out to be another Katrina for Christ sake.

The media likes to hype, and now unfortunately they're hyping hurricanes. That means anything that gets close to the Gulf Coast Oil refineries is viewed as an immediate threat to gas prices, and oil futures go up accordingly--followed by gas prices. You might call it leading the news.

The path has changed again, no surprise, but it still looks like the gulf coast Ft Meyers to TPA Bay area on Weds.

its will only be a #1 by the time it hits
cuba with knock it down to a depression
from its current storm at 50mph status
unless your on the bayfront no sweat

I donot even put up shutters for a #1

Ok for now I have put my keys down. I just wish we would close on that house before another storm.

They won't close if a watch is up for anywhere in the state anyway. I'm not worried - too early.

Jeremy, please keep me posted. You are closest to where my house is. I have contacted friends and they are going to put up my storm panels if needed. And I thought I put all this behind me. We will see what tomorrow brings.

There are a lot of variables at play right now - so it's too early to say. The NHC suggested the Monday A.M. track would be back a bit to the west but other models tonight suggest a track further east. I'm hoping Cuba either kills it or it goes way east and misses Florida entirely.

I'm not panicking yet but tomorrow I will try to find a place for my p-cars - just in case. I'm on a canal just 100 yards from Tampa Bay - pretty much at sea level. I just need to find a garage somewhere inland...

Mitch

Buy your gas now. If there's even a 5% chance of that thing coming within 300 miles of a single drilling platform, you can bet your ass the oil companies will use it as an excuse to jack prices up another buck or two. . .

is flipper gonna be OK?????? ................................have never experienced a hurricane, for that fact never been to the southeast. just kinda missed out all these years. the worst we have here or i have seen is 115 -120 knot winds from microbursts during summer monsoons and thats enough to rip roofs off, flip aircraft and generally screw up everythang for everyjuan!

can only imagine what the cat 3-4-5 hurricanes are like. good luck.

No problem T-bird - let me know if you need me to do anything.

Trap - Where are you? I just have a one car garage (which my p-car is in) but you are welcome to park your car(s) around the side of my house - ~40 feet above sea level - Center of St. Petersburg.

The other option I always considered was TIA airport. 5th floor where the tram is - nestle in some corner. Just a thought.

- Charles, it isn't much fun...

Here's a picture of dock carnage from a storm (I think Jeanne) a few years ago.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1156770138.jpg

Looks like its heading my way. Yay!!

I don't think you'll be able to close on time... or rather, one of the insurance agents I work with says they are not allowed to create any new policy as long as there is a named storm *anywhere* in the atlantic/gulf...

This is the best place to get hurricane info. Click on the discussion to read what the forcasters are saying.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

geez jeremy what the hell do you guys do in the winter...........BUILD BOMB SHELTERS! man i am a weather nut from my old coast guard days, i cant imagine the noise,sideways rain and worst of all the DEBRIS missiles flying around! yikes flak vest kevlar fritz helmet eye protection for me in those conditions!

heard last night interview that CONCRETE homes are the hot ticket for survivability! can see why. wish you guys all the luck avoiding this one. would almost make dollars and sense for you guys to rent semi trailer and haul p-cars outta there someplace safe. be safe with this one.

My current home being remodeled (and strengthened). I think it's the noise that get's you - in a hurricane, the pitch changes to a shreik.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1156776127.jpg

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/at200605.disc.html

They are predicting there is a possibility of a cat 2 or 3.

My house is frame, custom built and well built. Plus I am on the West side of a hill that is as tall as my house so I am very shielded.

Its all about the roof, if you have a good solid roof you'll do alright in a Cat 1 through 3.

Cat 5? I have seen block homes stripped bare. This is why I bought a second home in North Carolina. I will have someplace to live if my house is flattened.

A builder I work for is about to release a "Hurricane Proof" home. All the walls are tilt construction and the roof is cement too. The whole house shows up on a flatbed truck and is put up with a crane.