Hurricane

[vito]

Bob,

Are you going to post updates when it hits?

I hope all goes well down there. I prey people don't forget the pets and live stock.

The one thing I don't see state side is what we do here with gasoline shortages. We have gas trucks that supplement the gas stations during natural disasters. You pay directly to the driver of the gas truck.

[a66toy]

4.5 from the ocean.

[rbryce1]

Gas is a real shortage right now at the pumps, but the shipping ports are still receiving fuel tankers and distribution centers are still full and sending gas everywhere. The State Police is escourting gas trucks to maKE SURE they are not held up in traffic. Highways are full of cars leaving in the Northbound lanes, but the Southbound lanes are currently reserved for inbound supply trucks hauling plywood, food, water gas, etc. That will probably change in a day or so to open both lanes to Northbound traffic.

Still not sure of the path it will take, I'll post whatever I can.

[a66toy]

What do the residents do with all of the plywood after the storm? Every time there is a storm it's a mad rush for plywood. That stuff is too expensive to trash it after every storm.

[MaineVette]

I didn't know you had relatives in Clearwater! I work in Clearwater and live 10 miles from there.

The storm is predicted to stay a fair distance from us. We might get some wind and rain, but not that much, unless it turns where they are not predicting.

We are not going anywhere, although we had plans to do that a few days ago. Now the East Coast of Florida is a whole different story. They are going to get slamed.

Yup, I suspect they're just down the road from you. Small world! We actually don't get out that way much. I was down in Clearwater visiting them a couple years ago but we were only there for a day or two. Several times in the past we've met up in the Orlando area and we took the kids over to Disney. Next time I'm down there we should see if we can connect - I'd love to see your projects in person.

Have you decided what you're going to do - evacuate or hunker down? My in-laws are still debating what to do at this point. My sense is they'd prefer to get the heck out of Dodge. However, the highways are a zoo and they don't want to be stranded somewhere with no gas and no hotel with a hurricane bearing down on them. Their situation is further complicated by the fact that my father-in-law is a foreman for Duke Energy. Basically he needs to report for work as soon as the storm clears to start bringing the electrical system back online. He can't go too far.

Good luck man. I'm hoping everyone makes it through relatively unscathed. They're saying this is the biggest storm to hit Florida in 25 years!

[vito]

I got this from the BBC.

Tom Bossert at the White House podium, "He says:


We saw those same fuel shortages in Texas because people gas-up their generators, cars and so on. So what are we doing? We’re beginning as much fuel in as possible.

And we’ve waived an act – the Jones Act – that prevents foreign flagged vessels moving fuel. So now as many tankers as possible are being brought to bear, and that’s the best we can do for the moment.

At some point they’ll have to stop those operations. That’s not tough love – that’s clarity.

At some point they’ll be on their own. "

Hopefully they have trucks staged for the aftermath as well.

Also read: EROSION: Already up to a 3-foot cut on Miami Beach well ahead of the direct impacts of #Irma.

The 2nd storm is now a CAT 4

You guys have a better time line of the events? I read early Saturday morning.

[vito]

What do the residents do with all of the plywood after the storm? Every time there is a storm it's a mad rush for plywood. That stuff is too expensive to trash it after every storm.

I keep mine for the next storm. I have 12 sheets readily available for me or my neighbors.

[a66toy]

I have metal panels for the windows and entry doors. I use 5/8" plywood for the 12 wide sliders in the back. Bought all of it in 2004. And it still works fine.

[MaineVette]

Looks like the storm is trending west again. The latest report I saw showed peak forecasted wind gusts of 125 mph for Tampa at 10 PM on Sunday night.

They're saying it may make landfall in the keys at a Cat 5.

[vito]

You both take care down there. Will be thinking of you.