Things are going to be getting real in Fla shortly. I see JG bailed on the Nationals to get home and prepare. I hope the rest of the Florida crowd is getting that way.
It's still too soon to tell exactly where it's going, but things aren't looking too pleasant so far.
Hot chick? looks like a cold hearted bitch to me!
Stay safe lad's and lassies!
Yeah, that's not good. That map has most of the predictions converging on my house.
The projected track has shifted east a little over the past couple days. Keeping the eye off the eastern coast will be good, that puts FL on the "dry" side of the storm. Granted, in a Cat 4/5 storm, that's small comfort, but it's sure better than being on the other side.
Stay safe peeps. This rough for a lot of people from Florida to Virginia, maybe further.
Charlotte is going to get nailed by all but 2 of those lines. Ain't gonna be pretty for any of us here in the south.
The neon green track practically runs through my front yard. Everything to the left of that would put us on the worst side of the storm.
It's going to be a fairly tense week and everyone up here is already driving around in a fog.
I have an Aunt who just moved to SC. This will be her first major storm.
Funny thing. One of my best friends from high school and college had a girlfriend named Irma. Turned out she was a lot hotter than he knew and when she went off to a different college, she came out of her shell.
I've got family in South Florida, Central Florida, and eastern Carolina, so there's a chance that they all get walloped by this thing. But nobody wants to leave their homes and come stay at casa de STM where it's far out of the storm track... sigh.
Not written by me but worth the read. This is a FB share.
To all my friends who may be in the path of Irma & riding the storm out.
This is the most comprehensive list I've seen so far! Be prepared!
1. Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras, and old phones. Old cell phones can still used for dialing 911. Charge external battery back ups.
2. Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill with water and store in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
3. Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill washing machine and leave lid up to store water.
4. Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep near sinks for washing hands.
5. Fill every Tupperware with water and store in freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a back up water supply.
6. Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in fridge. The rest you can store on the counter and use first before any water bottles are opened. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
7. Reserve fridge space for storing tap water and keep the sealed water bottles on the counter.
8. Cook any meats in advance and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for first day without power.
9. Be well hydrated before the storm hits and avoid salty foods that make you dehydrated.
10. Wash all dirty clothes and bed sheets. Anything dirty will smell without the A/C, you may need the items, and with no A/C, you'll be sweating a lot. You're going to want clean sheets.
11. Toss out any expiring food, clean cat litter boxes, empty all trash cans in the house, including bathrooms. Remove anything that will cause an odor when the A/C is off. If you don't have a trash day pickup before the storm, find a dumpster.
12. Bring in any yard decor, secure anything that will fly around, secure gates, bring in hoses, potted plants, etc. Bring in patio furniture and grills.
13. Clean your environment so you have clear, easy escape routes. Even if that means temporarily moving furniture to one area.
14. Scrub all bathrooms so you are starting with a clean odor free environment. Store water filled trash cans next to each toilet for flushing.
15. Place everything you own that is important and necessary in a backpack or small file box that is easy to grab. Include your wallet with ID, phone, hand sanitizer, snacks, etc. Get plastic sleeves for important documents.
16. Make sure you have cash on hand.
17. Stock up on pet food and fill up bowls of water for pets.
18. Refill any medications. Most insurance companies allow for 2 emergency refills per year.
19. Fill your propane tanks. You can heat soup cans, boil water, make coffee, and other stuff besides just grilling meat. Get an extra, if possible.
20. Drop your A/C in advance and lower temperatures in your fridges.
21. Gather all candles, flashlights, lighters, matches, batteries, and other items and keep them accessible.
22. Clean all counters in advance. Start with a clean surface. Buy Clorox Wipes for cleaning when there is no power. Mop your floors and vacuum. If power is out for 10 days, you'll have to live in the mess you started with.
23. Pick your emergency safe place such as a closet under the stairs. Store the items you'll need in that location for the brunt of the storm. Make a hand fan for when the power is out.
24. Shower just before the storm is scheduled to hit.
25. Keep baby wipes next to each toilet. Don't flush them. It's not the time to risk clogging your toilet!
26. Run your dishwasher, don't risk having dirty smelly dishes and you need every container for water! Remember you'll need clean water for brushing your teeth, washing yourself, and cleaning your hands.
27. Put a small suitcase in your car in case you decide to evacuate. Also put at least one jug of water in your car. It will still be there if you don't evacuate! You don't need to store all water in the house. Remember to pack for pets as well.
28. Check on all family members, set up emergency back up plans, and check on elderly neighbors.
29. Remember, pets are family too. Take them with you!
30. Before the storm, unplug all electronics. There will be power surges during and after the storm.
31. Gas up your car and have a spare gas container for your generator or your car when you run out.
32. Life jackets/vest & inflatable rafts might also help if you need to leave your home if it becomes flooded.
If you can, take a video of your house and contents....walk room to room--open cabinets/drawers and closets. This will help if you need to make a claim later. It will show proof of items and help you list all the items (help your memory, so you don't forget anything)...I highly recommend!!!
I also heard you should freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top after it is frozen...keep this in your freezer to help you gauge the temperature if the power goes out. If the coin stays on top, the food is staying frozen. If the coin falls into the water, the freezer thawed out and most food will likely need to be thrown away. This is super helpful if you have to leave and come back, as it may appear everything is still frozen, but if the coin is in the cup--you will know!!
Finally, anything that you want to try and preserve, but you can't take with you---place it in a plastic bin and put in your dishwasher, lock the door---this should make it water tight in case of any water intrusion into your home. But of course, take all the important/irreplaceable items you can!!
Stay Safe everyone!
Stay safe everyone. This is a powerful storm, here's to hoping it stays off the coast. When it hit the island of Barmuda very early this morning it broke the Anemometer after bringing sustained winds of 118 mph. It also recorded a pressure of 916 mb before it broke that as well. Texas is thinking of you guys.
*Edit* To emphasize on Toymans list, make sure you have gas in your vehicle and maybe some extra. People went into a panic here in Austin after Harvey, almost every gas station was out of gas within a day. Those who had gas, had hour long lines, some places still don't have any.
Hurricane Irma keeps reminding me of this.
I've been watching this thing intently for the past week plus, as we're supposed to be leaving Saturday for the Outer Banks. Really not gonna be happy if my vacation gets ruined, though there are plenty of people with much more at stake than that. All you guys in harms way stay safe.
And Toyman, I laughed way harder at the thread title than I probably should have. I worked with an Irma at one of my first jobs in high school and that is a very apt description of her.
I'm on the East coast of S FL where the current projected cone of doom comes closest to land. People are preparing by buying out everything in grocery stores and filling their cars with gas so they can drive around sight seeing damage if the storm hits us. I went to do my regular grocery shopping last night but left with a total bill of only $20.00.
I don't like that the predicted tracks shifted east overnight. Yesterday south Florida was in the crosshairs, now it looks like Charleston.
There are now two (orange and a blue) tracks converging on my house. Previously there was only a single track and it was the outlier. Now that outlier track shifted way up towards Cape Hatteras. I just gassed up the van this morning just in case. If it heads this way before it makes landfall and slows down, I will not be here when it gets here.
Toyman01 said:Not written by me but worth the read. This is a FB share.
To all my friends who may be in the path of Irma & riding the storm out.
This is the most comprehensive list I've seen so far! Be prepared!
1. Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras, and old phones. Old cell phones can still used for dialing 911. Charge external battery back ups.
2. Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill with water and store in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
3. Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill washing machine and leave lid up to store water.
4. Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep near sinks for washing hands.
5. Fill every Tupperware with water and store in freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a back up water supply.
6. Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in fridge. The rest you can store on the counter and use first before any water bottles are opened. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
7. Reserve fridge space for storing tap water and keep the sealed water bottles on the counter.
8. Cook any meats in advance and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for first day without power.
9. Be well hydrated before the storm hits and avoid salty foods that make you dehydrated.
10. Wash all dirty clothes and bed sheets. Anything dirty will smell without the A/C, you may need the items, and with no A/C, you'll be sweating a lot. You're going to want clean sheets.
11. Toss out any expiring food, clean cat litter boxes, empty all trash cans in the house, including bathrooms. Remove anything that will cause an odor when the A/C is off. If you don't have a trash day pickup before the storm, find a dumpster.
12. Bring in any yard decor, secure anything that will fly around, secure gates, bring in hoses, potted plants, etc. Bring in patio furniture and grills.
13. Clean your environment so you have clear, easy escape routes. Even if that means temporarily moving furniture to one area.
14. Scrub all bathrooms so you are starting with a clean odor free environment. Store water filled trash cans next to each toilet for flushing.
15. Place everything you own that is important and necessary in a backpack or small file box that is easy to grab. Include your wallet with ID, phone, hand sanitizer, snacks, etc. Get plastic sleeves for important documents.
16. Make sure you have cash on hand.
17. Stock up on pet food and fill up bowls of water for pets.
18. Refill any medications. Most insurance companies allow for 2 emergency refills per year.
19. Fill your propane tanks. You can heat soup cans, boil water, make coffee, and other stuff besides just grilling meat. Get an extra, if possible.
20. Drop your A/C in advance and lower temperatures in your fridges.
21. Gather all candles, flashlights, lighters, matches, batteries, and other items and keep them accessible.
22. Clean all counters in advance. Start with a clean surface. Buy Clorox Wipes for cleaning when there is no power. Mop your floors and vacuum. If power is out for 10 days, you'll have to live in the mess you started with.
23. Pick your emergency safe place such as a closet under the stairs. Store the items you'll need in that location for the brunt of the storm. Make a hand fan for when the power is out.
24. Shower just before the storm is scheduled to hit.
25. Keep baby wipes next to each toilet. Don't flush them. It's not the time to risk clogging your toilet!
26. Run your dishwasher, don't risk having dirty smelly dishes and you need every container for water! Remember you'll need clean water for brushing your teeth, washing yourself, and cleaning your hands.
27. Put a small suitcase in your car in case you decide to evacuate. Also put at least one jug of water in your car. It will still be there if you don't evacuate! You don't need to store all water in the house. Remember to pack for pets as well.
28. Check on all family members, set up emergency back up plans, and check on elderly neighbors.
29. Remember, pets are family too. Take them with you!
30. Before the storm, unplug all electronics. There will be power surges during and after the storm.
31. Gas up your car and have a spare gas container for your generator or your car when you run out.
32. Life jackets/vest & inflatable rafts might also help if you need to leave your home if it becomes flooded.
If you can, take a video of your house and contents....walk room to room--open cabinets/drawers and closets. This will help if you need to make a claim later. It will show proof of items and help you list all the items (help your memory, so you don't forget anything)...I highly recommend!!!
I also heard you should freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top after it is frozen...keep this in your freezer to help you gauge the temperature if the power goes out. If the coin stays on top, the food is staying frozen. If the coin falls into the water, the freezer thawed out and most food will likely need to be thrown away. This is super helpful if you have to leave and come back, as it may appear everything is still frozen, but if the coin is in the cup--you will know!!
Finally, anything that you want to try and preserve, but you can't take with you---place it in a plastic bin and put in your dishwasher, lock the door---this should make it water tight in case of any water intrusion into your home. But of course, take all the important/irreplaceable items you can!!
Stay Safe everyone!
I was ok with this list until I read #8. I'd rather tie myself to a tree than shelter in a house where everyone's been eating hard boiled eggs.
One thing I learned once while having no power for a week due to a tornado, is an easy way to get warm water is to leave containers in a closed car parked in the sun. Saves propane if that is all you have for a heat source and can make warm water easily.
This weather is why im happy living in a place with a real winter. Snow doesnt have E36 M3 on a hurricane. You guys down south stay safe!
Stay safe guys. I'll be up here in Kentucky being mildly annoyed at simple rain. I'm with dropstep on this one for once.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
Reading about all that water made my bladder hurt.
Chit. My in-laws live on Jekyll Island off the Georgia coast and they are going to decide tonight if they are going to drive up to stay with us in Atlanta til things blow over. Hurricane Matthew kind of scrambled the island a little but their house was intact. It all depends on where the tides are at when the storm rolls as to how bad the storm surge gets.
I've got a tree crew coming out tomorrow to take down two dead trees in my yard that would be bad news if they fell, but I may have them take care of a few suspect limbs while they are here just in case.
Damn, stay safe guys.
We are watching as we were in the BVI last year, they are getting trashed.... The anemometer at Barbuda registered 155MPH then broke off 
Hope everyone down in the FL area makes it out ok!
java230 said:Damn, stay safe guys.
We are watching as we were in the BVI last year, they are getting trashed.... The anemometer at Barbuda registered 155MPH then broke off
Hope everyone down in the FL area makes it out ok!
Apparently nobody has heard anything from Barbuda in the last three hours. Not good.
GRM offices are closing EOD today so we can all board/bug out as needed. We're taking our computers and will be working remotely the rest of the week, and hopefully next week will be able to find power to get back online soon. Wish us luck, just as we are sending our best wishes to everyone in Irma's path.
Margie
Ohio is nice this time of year. Pack up your campers and head north, my parents have 16 acres of campground like yard on a river.
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