I think Rita was like a week later. Just remember we got a lot more rain in Shreveport from it.

This seems so similar to New Orleans with all the warnings ignored (or ridiculed) for years and years, and then disaster finally striking.

If the current path of Irma holds and all the models they ran on Tampa turn out to be realistic (as the NO models were) this may be a lot worse than Katrina.

Hope everyone gets out if they still can.

Can you still gtfo? That seems like the optimal play if you have the option.

Yeah, we could. The roads have opened up but gas is an issue.

We have another problem. Gf's dad just had open heart surgery. He's in the hospital and we just found out they are going to release him today maybe. The suck is strong here.

Been trying to convince my brother this. He just sent me this.
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Our best option is staying at my work tonight and gripping the stairwell handrails for life if it comes down to that. I'm setting up all of our supplies there now. It's too risky to flee now because of unpredictable gas shortages and if we drove to another shelter area the storm could turn and impact us equally. I have all our paperwork together and will get you copies later today. I'll call you later. There are mile long lines at shelters, so I'm thankful this concrete building is an option.

Ugh be safe.

Yeah so I'm ****ting my pants right now. Here in Tampa area in a mandatory evacuation zone. Had a hotel lined up for last night and got told on arrival by the hotel that they werent allowing any new check ins even though I already paid for a room and the storm was still days out. Turned around and went home furious.

Going to check into another hotel here in town later and have a room through Tuesday. Hopefully that doesnt get ****ed up.

This is gonna sound unbelievably dumb, but how impossible is it to just drive out of dodge straight north-west and eventually find a campsite you can pop a tent and air mattress in for a few days? 10 hour drive to Mississippi? Talking like worst case where there are no hotels anywhere.

They increased the mandatory evacuation area. Cops are driving around blasting orders to leave.

Know a few people who spent 14-16 hours yesterday making it from north of Tampa to Pensacola last night. Getting off the interstate seemed to help.

biggerboat - considering that Irma is clearly hunting you down personally, have you considered hopping in a Cessna and flying west to Mexico, to spare the rest of the state the collateral devastation that is going to be caused by Irma's grudge against you? Most of the force should dissipate as she chases you across the Gulf.

☺

Seriously, just reporting what is going on since I'm here. If I'm tarding up the thread, I'll stop.

came to tampa yday from Bradenton. now i might be in a worse spot. ugh. heading to Lutz this afternoon (about 15 miles due north) b/c Tampa could be a hell hole (although at my current location i'm 1/4 mile away from the elevated expressway out of town).

my cousin left Bradenton yday w/ her mother around 8 a.m. and drove 13 hrs to just south of Macon. no hotels obv. went to bed at 3:30 a.m. in their cars w/ 100s of other ppl at a rest area. they were back on the road at 9:30 a.m. this morning w/ Tennessee being their ultimate goal. currently, she is north of ATL.

fk this storm.

BB,

Please don't stop posting. We want your updates. I think people are just frustrated by your decision. I wish you well but I really wish you'd get in a car and haul ass.

I just spoke to my exgf yesterday for the 1st time since Irma flattened St. Thomas. She's been thru hurricanes before but not like this. She was in a concrete house specifically designed for life in hurricane alley and she lost absolutely everything except for the clothes on her back, her phone and her dog.

The roof was ripped off the house, the windows blown out and they were nearly sucked out of the house. Mind you this was a concrete house built specifically to withstand these storms.

They've gone days without any contact w/ the outside world and now she can only get a cell signal if they go up to Mountaintop. They're under curfew and won't have power for weeks or months. They're camping out in the kitchen which is the only room left w/ a roof. The restaurant where she's been a chef for like 10 years no longer exists.

She had zero option to evacuate. My understanding is you can still get in a car and drive North. Do you really want to risk it and then have to deal with living in the middle of the aftermath? What's the upside of staying?

Thanks. We just made the decision that we weren't going to be far from her dad. If it had just been me and gf, we probably would have gone.

Even if you are not going to leave the area completely, if you are still in an evacuation zone you need to get out of one to a nearby shelter, or you will be underwater and won't be worried about the wind.

I can understand staying for a family member in the hospital, but would be telling them to go **** themselves if they think they're releasing dad just in time for a goddamned hurricane.

We are in a concrete building on the third floor. Her dad put in hurricane windows about 5 years ago rated for 135 winds. I seriously don't think it is any less safe than a random shelter. We are definitely nervous but we wouldn't feel any safer anywhere else in town.

Tampa General hospital is on a low lying man made island. Is that really a good place to be. I can see sticking around if you are able bodied. But it seems like people in Tampa are going to be in Katrina like conditions, not a good spot for elderly and kids.

That irma has turned into a category 3 legit good news or just a head fake because its taking a breather ?

They are keeping him. It took a little pleading, but he's staying. I'm in St. Petersburg. The hospital actually advertises that they are hurricane prepared.

A little of both maybe.

BB,

At least spend a few minutes perfecting your picture uploading and posting skills now. Once this starts we're going to want regular photo updates until you lose power.

Are you prepared if the windows blow out and everything gets sucked out of your place? Do you have all of your valuables packed into a small duffel bag? Passports, ID's, titles, important papers in zip loc bags within that duffel bag? Medications and scripts in the bag?

Interior closet or bathroom cleared out and prepared as a shelter?

Yea, this is pretty much exactly what my brother is thinking. He isn't yet in evac zone but right on the border of one they just added.