Hurricane Wilma looking to hit Floridia's west coast head on.

aaharvel

For the people that know me on here, you know I don't bring up sob stories or family matters or anything of that nature that would normally detract from what we do as a group here on these forums. But my entire family: Mom & Dad, Sister/Brother In-Law, and both sets of Grandparents live in the Bradenton/Sarasota area and i've got to be honest with you guys- it doesn't look good. Sometime Sunday around noon looks to be 'Go Time'. If anyone has relatives or friends that live in that area- or live down there themselves- my thoughts are with them and you. They're saying this is the biggest and most powerful Atlantic Hurricane in history. Now a categ. 4- by the time it reaches landfall it will strengthen again to possibly a categ. 5.

Keep everyone down there in your thoughts. The next few days are going to be a nightmare. Thanks.

audiobliss

Your folks as well as anyone else who is in the area will be in my prayers and thoughts.

faster100

I'm about 45 minutes north from bradenton and little further from Sarasota of course.. we are hopeing it doesn't hit us to bad here unless it makes a late right turn... I certainly hope it doesn't hit anyone.. But it looks like that's not an option

ND13

Cliff,

You really need to get you and your family out of there. No need to take chances. Surely you can remember a little Hurricane named Katrina.

faster100

Oh if it gets anywhere close, we are outta here.. supposed to be well south of us here, "so far"

ND13

My brother, as you know, lives in your area. I'll give him a call to see what he plans on doing. He's so hard-headed, it wouldn't make any difference what me or my parents told him to do. His restaurant's name is Fleming's, in case you're in for an $85 per person meal, btw.

If you ever want to go there to eat, just let me know and I'll get him to cut you some slack on their prices. Reservations only :rolleyes:

audiobliss

Sounds like an interesting restaurant. What kind of stuff do they serve? Perhaps I coud order something like a bacon-wrapped filet cooked medium with a fresh, cold salad with bacon bits, with a hot fresh baked potato with bacon bits....with three slices of bacon on the side....??

BlueMDPicker

We cancelled the last two days of a conference in Miami and flew out this afternoon. After seeing what happened to the Gulf Coast with Katrina, and the grid lock in South Texas with Lisa, we didn't feel comfortable asking 600 people to hang in there and hope for the best.

Best wishes to everyone in the potential path.

faster100

My sister in-law and her husband live in Miami near miami beach, I hope they decide to leave in time.. she's pregnant too

wingnut4772

I am in Miami . I am a veteran of Andrew and really do not want to be a veteran of Wilma. I can't leave because I am one of those emergency type people that have to stick around

audiobliss

The best of luck to you.

wingnut4772

Thank you

ND13

wingnut4772 wrote:

I am in Miami . I am a veteran of Andrew and really do not want to be a veteran of Wilma. I can't leave because I am one of those emergency type people that have to stick around

Make sure to board up that beautiful home you have down there. What is it that you do, if you don't mind me asking?

wingnut4772

I am actually in Law Enforcement. The way it looks now I actually may be off when Wilma hits. Hopefully all will be ok..

ND13

How close is your house to the beach? The storm surge is the nastiest part of a hurricane, imo.

aaharvel

Best of luck to you Cliff.

bobman1235

ND13 wrote:

My brother, as you know, lives in your area. I'll give him a call to see what he plans on doing. He's so hard-headed, it wouldn't make any difference what me or my parents told him to do. His restaurant's name is Fleming's, in case you're in for an $85 per person meal, btw.

If you ever want to go there to eat, just let me know and I'll get him to cut you some slack on their prices. Reservations only :rolleyes:

Flemings, the really expensive steak house chain?

Ooo lala.

faster100

Thanks, lets just plan for it to stay south of the keys some models show that track as well,

george daniel

Cliff, don't you have a boat? Is there anything that you can do to protect it Hope all goes well

petrym

Track Wilma (and all others) here:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/084950.shtml?3day

janmike

Good luck everyone. Hope all works out.

faster100

Its small, only 17' so its here at the house.. not in the water, Think positive guys.. its gonna bypass us (florida) and move to the pacific

wingnut4772

I am not close to water and I don't live in a flood zone ( as far as insurance is concerned) although Katrina realy flooded streets just West of my house....only a block.

ND13

bobman1235 wrote:

Flemings, the really expensive steak house chain?

Ooo lala.

Yep, that Flemings. He's a manager with them and should be getting his own store pretty soon.

Larry Chanin

aaharvel wrote:

For the people that know me on here, you know I don't bring up sob stories or family matters or anything of that nature that would normally detract from what we do as a group here on these forums. But my entire family: Mom & Dad, Sister/Brother In-Law, and both sets of Grandparents live in the Bradenton/Sarasota area and i've got to be honest with you guys- it doesn't look good. Sometime Sunday around noon looks to be 'Go Time'. If anyone has relatives or friends that live in that area- or live down there themselves- my thoughts are with them and you. They're saying this is the biggest and most powerful Atlantic Hurricane in history. Now a categ. 4- by the time it reaches landfall it will strengthen again to possibly a categ. 5.

Keep everyone down there in your thoughts. The next few days are going to be a nightmare. Thanks.

Hi Andrew,

We live in Sarasota, and thanks for the concern.

Not to minimize the threat, according to NOAA the hurricane is currently forecast to be a category 2 or 1 when it is predicted to make landfall Monday morning. Right now the hurricane is still weakening over the Yucatan Pennisula with winds of about 115 mph. The current probability of hurricane force winds (sustained winds greater than 74 mph) in Sarasota is about 10-20%. Hopefully this information will somewhat relieve your concerns about your family. However, it almost goes without saying that forecasting the category level is the most uncertain task that the forecasters have to deal with.

Lets all keep our finger's crossed that the storm track ends up missing land all together.

Larry

faster100

Looks like its heading towards florida wind in tow.. Good luck everyone

Larry Chanin

faster100 wrote:

Looks like its heading towards florida wind in tow.. Good luck everyone

Hi,

It does.

The wind is currently 98 mph. While the majority of planning models predict a landfall, there are some that still show a miss. Obviously we shouldn't base our plans on a miss. In this morining's Herald Tribune two of about a dozen or so of those models show a direct hit on the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Nevertheless three or so of those models show a miss so it's still something to hope for, and it's not entirely out of the question with the storm's course so hard to predict.

Good luck.

Larry

BobMcG

Larry Chanin wrote:

Hi,

It does.

The wind is currently 98 mph. While the majority of planning models predict a landfall, there are some that still show a miss. Obviously we shouldn't base our plans on a miss. In this morining's Herald Tribune two of about a dozen or so of those models show a direct hit on the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Nevertheless three or so of those models show a miss so it's still something to hope for, and it's not entirely out of the question with the storm's course so hard to predict.

Good luck.

Larry

I wish you and everyone the best of luck on this one.

I have three cousins and their families not too far from you Larry, over in the Winter Haven and Haines City areas. They'll be riding it out with you.
Bob

aaharvel

Larry Chanin wrote:

Hi Andrew,

We live in Sarasota, and thanks for the concern.

Not to minimize the threat, according to NOAA the hurricane is currently forecast to be a category 2 or 1 when it is predicted to make landfall Monday morning. Right now the hurricane is still weakening over the Yucatan Pennisula with winds of about 115 mph. The current probability of hurricane force winds (sustained winds greater than 74 mph) in Sarasota is about 10-20%. Hopefully this information will somewhat relieve your concerns about your family. However, it almost goes without saying that forecasting the category level is the most uncertain task that the forecasters have to deal with.

Lets all keep our finger's crossed that the storm track ends up missing land all together.

Larry

hey Larry. Looking over the Weather Channel right now. This is certainly GREAT news. Maybe by the time it hits the Fl. coast, it won't even be a tropical depression.

ESavinon

I know that you being in law enforcement must very likely have a contigency plan.
Just remember not to wait to the very last minute to secure your property and most importantly secure safe passage to your family.
Good luck to you, your family and any and all members who live in that region of fla.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you all.

wingnut4772

Thank you all. My department is probably going to Alpha /Bravo shifts so I will not be at my house during this one. Got the doggies safely secured at Grandmas. Hopefully I won't be driving in the middle of this one like I was for Katrina. That was fun. I am praying that it is just a good chunk of overtime and nothing else. We will find out tonight and early tomorrrow. Good luck everyone!