This is a projection of where it will come in. If it does there then as it leaves my area it could cause the bay to blow up with water... this is not good for us as we are only 18 feet above sea level.
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/fay-storm.jpg)
It is only moving at 17 mph which means it could grow to be a big BIG problem when crossing the straits of Florida. Cat 4 or even a 5 is possible if it is in the straits to long.
As many here know I have hardened our home. I believe it could take the full wind force of a cat 4 or a lower cat 5. It is the bay flooding that I cannot stop.
If it does flood here I feel for those in Tampa and that area as it would be under much water before it got here.
Olds
EDIT: I'm more storm ready than most. Enough water and food for 2 -3 months. Electric generator with a 500 gal fuel tank, and many guns and much ammo to protect my family should this really go south. (Don't laugh... look at New Orleans and Katrina... what happened to those who had nothing to defend themselves with.)
We even have a secondary backup place to run to if needed.
I hope you don't catch it too bad, Olds. My thoughts are with you.
SD
Wishing you the best; hopefully it will change coarse and head back into the Atlantic.
We're watching it too. I'm on the other side of the state from olds. The last map has it pushing further west, but it is anybodys guess still.
My Mom told me today...it was suppose to come in near Tampa (where Olds is close too) and rip across the state and come out where my Mom lives...NOT GOOD. My prayers are with all of the west coast and Key's folks (glad to hear you're well prepared Olds)...and lets hope this thing stays somewhat disorganized.
My Mom is in Naples, so I'm watching this one also.
That Fay is wobling like a drunk on Anti-Freeze!
Stay safe Olds. My brothers live in Fort Lauderdale and they were supposed to fly up tomorrow (Tuesday) to visit this week but they switched their flights to this morning to make sure they get out ahead of the storm.
All the best Olds. Hunker down and keep your head low.
KyNola
Well I just filled up the water tank (165 gallons) and have lowered the storm shutters. Everything else is in order other than I need to "dust" off my 5.56 and 303 cals. (The 303 is chopped and good for 50 yards. It's only about 6.5 pounds ;D) Went through the pistols last night and shotguns.
I don't expect to have any trouble as this storm may not be to big... but you never know. Katrina was an eye opener for sure.
Olds
Take good care Olds and to all others either in Florida or who have friends and relatives there at the moment.
Olds,
My guess is you have lived here in Florida for some time. Any of us who have been here for more than a few years know being prepared is everything.. In 2004 I got hit with 3 Hurricanes. I had a 6000 watt portable Honda generator. By the time the 2005 season came, I had full Hurricane shutters, metal roof, and a standby generator to run the whole house including a/c. I think I keep enough water and supplies for the whole neighborhood. Everyone laughs at me, but I know I have done everything I can to protect my family. I hope it stays out in the gulf, but right now it seems to be on the same track as Charley in 2004. Stay safe.
Chrispy
You guys stay safe down there....never dealt with a hurricane nor an earthquake, just lots of tornados in my neck of the woods! Keeping ya'll all in my thoughts!
C
QuoteOlds,
My guess is you have lived here in Florida for some time.
Born and raised here.
QuoteAny of us who have been here for more than a few years know being prepared is everything..
You betcha!
QuoteI had full Hurricane shutters, metal roof, and a standby generator to run the whole house including a/c. I think I keep enough water and supplies for the whole neighborhood.
Good deal. We have a metal roof as well. Shutters are roll down. The doors and sky lights have see-through protection. The garage door is also hardened. Two years back we converted the house over to propane--tank is buried in the ground. Put in a Rinnai gas hot water heater (tankless) and changed out the stove/oven to gas.
This greatly lowered our power requirements. I decided to not go with a stand-by generator. What I purchased was a 12,000 watt tri-fuel generator. You can change it on the fly from any of the gasses to another gas. It has a manual switch on my main power box. One of the reasons besides my lower power needs, and that it can run on anything but diesel fuel for choosing this unit is we are only 17 feet above sea level, and if I had to go I wanted to take it with me.
QuoteI think I keep enough water and supplies for the whole neighborhood. Everyone laughs at me, but I know I have done everything I can to protect my family.
I hear ya there. Not one of my neighbors is ready. Do you have home protection as well? My "GET-OUT-OF-MY-HOUSE-GUN is a pistol grip 3" mag 12gauge. (I'm to old to handle one of those 3 1/2" mag shell. I think it would break one of my wrist ;D)
To help extend my fuel I have
3 Global Sun Ovens. (http://www.sunoven.com/usa.asp) If you have not use a solar oven I recommend that you try one out. The Global is really neat and it has everything you could want in a solar oven. (I did a lot of looking into solar ovens before I settled on Global.) If you go to their web-site scoll down to the bottom and click on "Learn More." I think it will impress you.
Susan and I had a cook off between "her" gas oven and my solar oven. We prepared the same item. Trust me my dinner was far superior than hers. I've made coffee, poached eggs and "fried bacon" in one. Also you can bake bread or cookies without any trouble. Anything you can do in an oven you can do with a solar oven. One of the tricks I learn on how to control the heat (seen 400F) is to cover part of the glass face up with a white towel!!! Now WARNING don't look into those mirrors! Storage is easy as they fold up into a slick carrying case.
Where you here in March of 93? That was when our No Name Storm hit us. It has since been called the
"Storm of the Century" (http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SW.3.html) It danced for days in the Gulf. It would start to move off and the loop back around at us. The reason I mention it is I've learned that a TSs and Hurricanes are like a women. They never seem to quite make up their minds where they really want to go to! Or worse what to wear to dinner! ;) My point is until Fay is North of me I take all forecast with a large dose of salt.
Hope you and yours come out of this season without having to run your generator~~!
Olds
EDIT: Just to tickle your fancy, I'm not two good blocks from the water and as I said we are only 17 feet above sea level-- we are not in a flood zone so I was able to purchase flood insurance for $305.00 per year! Coverage up to $250,000.00 Unreal uh?
I'm watching too, my place is in Ft lauderdale area, I am 1400 miles away , With Wilma 2 places within 100 feet of me were totally destroyed, hope this one misses us too.
Chrispy
Concerning my roll down shutters I went with manual instead of electric. I'm glad I did as mud daubers like to build their nest in the upper tracking area. I have to take a water hose and blast the tracks and upper area with hot water. Then I roll down the shutters. Even then if I did not get all of the nest I have to carefully work the shutters down by a slight downward pull, more hot water and the continue with lowering the shutter.
Two months back I cleared out all of my shutters, but these mud daubers are something else as yesterday I had to go through the whole process again on two windows.
Do you have this type of problem with yours?
Olds
Quote from: carnie1 on August 18, 2008, 08:18:08 PM
I'm watching too, my place is in Ft lauderdale area, I am 1400 miles away , With Wilma 2 places within 100 feet of me were totally destroyed, hope this one misses us too.
carnie1 I think we all got lucky this time.
Olds
Quote from: Oldman on August 19, 2008, 04:20:31 AM
carnie1 I think we all got lucky this time.
Agreed. I've got alot of standing water, but no other visible damage - no down trees, etc.
The only thing I got was a mild wind. Not enough rain to say it rained... would have like to see some rain; we could always us it.
Olds,
Glad to see you make it out with no damage. As far as the shutters, mine are just the thick aluminum panels. I could not afford the roll downs at the time. I have a friend that has the roll downs that are electric. As I recall, there is a disengage in case of no power. And I do not remember having any conversations about having trouble getting them up or down because of any obstructions. The only protection I have is a sig 229 (9mm) and a sig mosquito (.22). People get a little funky after a storm. Especially when you go without power for a week. It seems to either bring out the best or the worst in people. I am fortunate to have some really good neighbors. We all look out for each other!!! I went with the standby and two 250 gallon propane tanks in ground. At the time I worked with outdoor power equipment and I got the generator and automatic transfer switch given to me!!! All I had to do was have the propane tanks installed. I converted to propane for the stove, dryer, and installed a noritz instant hot water heater. It made a big difference in my power consumtion. Now I would like to investigate the possibility of going solar (or at least a good portion)
Let's hope this is our only "brush" with a storm this year.......
Chrispy
QuoteI got the generator and automatic transfer switch given to me!!!
Dang what a deal...
When I got my roll downs they came from a facility manager my company worked for. He went into the storm business and I got everything for around 10K. The year before the prices I was getting where in the upper 30's to low 40's.
If I may suggest a weapon for your home I would suggest you look at a Mossberg shotgun. I have the 500. Years back they had a bad rap for locking up. I've pumped over 500 rounds in mine without a problem. You can get a Mossberg 500 for under $300.00. It will accept 2 3/4" to a 3" shell. When chambered with a round you have 8 shots. I think it is the Mossberg 590 that will take a 3 1/2" shell. If you use a magnum shell in it, it has the same power of a 10g. BTW the military is using the 590 in Iraq http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/mossir_033007/
Now if your home has sheet rock walls then I would use tactical rounds as they have less recoil to them. My walls are not sheet rock and that is why I have magnum shells. I wanted something that could shoot through my walls.
This is my 500: Click to enlarge image.
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/guns/12g-short-0.jpg) (http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/guns/12g-short.jpg)
While I have several weapons -- pistols to shotguns one of the guns I enjoy the most is my Ruger MINI 14. It was manufactured in 1976. I have 10 -20 round mags for it (original mags not after market.) I have the red dot set for 50 yards and it shoots right on spot. I shoot through it NATO 5.56 rounds. (65g) Some say that a 65g is a little heavy for the 1-in-10 twist but I'm grouping with 5 shots 1 1/2" with my old eyes.
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/guns/mini14a.jpg)
Anyway we did get lucky with Fay.
Take Care and let me know if you do get a 12g.
Olds
Yes , I heard we were lucky , Again