OT: Need some Hurricane advice.....

[pitt-girl]

So my oldest and some friends flew to Ft Lauderdale for Fall Break. Just saw the latest forecast for Hurricane Mathew that has it moving more west with a potential hit of Florida and then the Carolina's. They are staying at a friends 1st floor condo 2 blocks from the beach. I know nothing about hurricanes - any advice for what I should be telling them to do? I'm getting very worried. Thanks in advance.

 

[Las Panteras]

Listen to the authorities

If they are told to evacuate. ...don't be a hero. Likey will send them to a local school as an example of safe shelter.

I'm guessing that close to the water there may be hurricane shutters on the windows. If not....and a direct hit.....toast......

But the critical piece....given the magnitude of this storm is to go if told to get out

Its amazing how many don't heed that advice

 

[wbrpanther]

So my oldest and some friends flew to Ft Lauderdale for Fall Break. Just saw the latest forecast for Hurricane Mathew that has it moving more west with a potential hit of Florida and then the Carolina's. They are staying at a friends 1st floor condo 2 blocks from the beach. I know nothing about hurricanes - any advice for what I should be telling them to do? I'm getting very worried. Thanks in advance.

If the storm is going to hit their area while they are there they should simply get out. Keep close watch on the track. It may veer off. Mother Nature is not to be messed with.

 

[CentPaPittFan]

Agree with other posters, listen to reports, get out if they say, but it may veer off too...it is only a short vacation, not your property. If I was owner of a property, I would consider different based on the location of the property, type of property, strength of storm etc. There are homes in Nags Head that have survived for 100 years through hurricanes large and small. That being said, I'd go if they are told too.

I've been on a 40 foot sailboat in a full gale (not quite a hurricane) off Chesapeake Bay, it was quite an exhilarating experience, one I would not trade, but wouldn't seek it either. It was in a time (over 40 years ago) before more sophisticated weather forecasting....we came through, but this day and age we would have probably heeded the warnings and come in sooner.

 

[franklinman]

Its a 4 hour drive over to St.Pete, Tampa. They would be safe and carry on the Fall break if things really get bad..

 

[mdpitt]

So my oldest and some friends flew to Ft Lauderdale for Fall Break. Just saw the latest forecast for Hurricane Mathew that has it moving more west with a potential hit of Florida and then the Carolina's. They are staying at a friends 1st floor condo 2 blocks from the beach. I know nothing about hurricanes - any advice for what I should be telling them to do? I'm getting very worried. Thanks in advance.

I have been through 3 Hurricanes that actually were pretty close to direct hits. Cat 1, no big deal. cat 2 you question that you stayed. Cat 3 or higher is just stupid. My buddy talked me into riding it out and what a mistake. No utilities, trees everywhere, you are stuck.

That being said, even a tropical storm with flooding seems to be the worst case scenario these days.

1st floor? Leave at least two days before and party inland.

 

[pitt-girl]

Thanks everyone. I just made them reservations at a new Aloft in Sarasota for Wednesday and Thursday. I told them regardless of the forecast, I want them leaving Wednesday late morning and not back until mid-day Friday (supposed to hit Wed PM - Thurs PM). Then the next hurdle is they have to fly back to Raleigh on Saturday which is when the storm is supposed to hit there.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Hurricanes aren't anything to mess with - especially one that's a Category 4.

We've had two close calls with hurricanes. The first was when we drove to Myrtle Beach the day after a hurricane "grazed" that area. By the time we arrived, most of the damage was already cleaned-up, but our hotel did have several broken windows that were repaired the day after we arrived.

The second was the time when we were fortunate to be leaving the Riviera Maya the day before that area got clobbered by a hurricane. We were indeed fortunate, but I felt badly for those who were forced to stay there: the damage to many of the resorts was significant.

On our final day there, we watched the employees putting big sandbags on the bases of their palm trees to try to save them, but when we returned the following year, the trees were nowhere to be found.

The beach erosion from the waves was so bad that some of the beaches never did recover. I know of one resort that lost about 30-yds of beach width in one day.

 

[ViciousHitter]

My advice would have been stay home and go during winter break. How much fun can it be with no sun and potentially a deadly hurricane approaching?

 

[PhPanther1]

Send them to Panama City. Good bard and good strip clubs.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Be safe.

 

[phxpanther]

Thanks everyone. I just made them reservations at a new Aloft in Sarasota for Wednesday and Thursday. I told them regardless of the forecast, I want them leaving Wednesday late morning and not back until mid-day Friday (supposed to hit Wed PM - Thurs PM). Then the next hurdle is they have to fly back to Raleigh on Saturday which is when the storm is supposed to hit there.

Awesome hotel, and great location. Right in downtown, and minutes from both Siesta Key and Lido Key

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

So my oldest and some friends flew to Ft Lauderdale for Fall Break. Just saw the latest forecast for Hurricane Mathew that has it moving more west with a potential hit of Florida and then the Carolina's. They are staying at a friends 1st floor condo 2 blocks from the beach. I know nothing about hurricanes - any advice for what I should be telling them to do? I'm getting very worried. Thanks in advance.

Obviously depends. But this looks like a pretty bad storm, and depends on where and when it hits. If the authorities are requesting evacuate, evacuate. If not, then just you are going to get wet and a few days of vacation ruined.

I was in OCMD 2 weeks ago as that stupid storm just churned off the coast. Rained, windy, cool, rough surf, but not threatening. However, this one looks like it is much more serious. I am not an expert, but I am thinking maybe the coast of Georgia and SC (Charleston) could be in line for the hit.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

We're at the beach 3 days a week April- October and in NC, SC, & FL a lot Nov.- March and run into some storms/hurricanes.

A general rule for hurricane evacuation.
DO NOT wait until they make a formal evacuation announcement.
Be proactive and track the storm on various weather sites and get out prior to the evacuation order.
If you wait it gets really hard to evacuate beach areas since the path out is one track over small bridges/causeways thru small beach towns to get to a major highway that's already bumper to bumper due to the evacuation.
Gas stations get mobbed they run out of gas since the authorities don't allow incoming traffic. One way out!
Our last two evacuations were Key West and Hollywood FL which all have one way tracks out all over small bridges. We left early got out quick while friends waited and had to ride out the storm in their car which got real wet.

 

[Pitt69]

So my oldest and some friends flew to Ft Lauderdale for Fall Break. Just saw the latest forecast for Hurricane Mathew that has it moving more west with a potential hit of Florida and then the Carolina's. They are staying at a friends 1st floor condo 2 blocks from the beach. I know nothing about hurricanes - any advice for what I should be telling them to do? I'm getting very worried. Thanks in advance.

From the Cheap Seats; Think the biggest issue on the east coast Thursday and Friday will be rain. The big blow will be to the east. I'd be more concerned about flights going north on Sat or Sun. By then flight delays will be caused by WX in the Carolinas, plus cruise ships in the Carib are already changing routes and returning to ports early in Florida. I'd be renting a car and trying to get back to the barn ahead of the storm. But then again, I'm not a college student. Best of luck to him in his travel.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

Lived in West Palm Beach for ten years been through 4 hurricanes and a few Tropical Storms.......my advice don't be a hero and plan accordingly......especially kids that have no clue and experience dealing with situations like that...It looks like the storm is due to hit around Thursday night early Friday AM, so they have until Wednesday around 2pm to leave......