Hurricane Ian headed toward the West Coast of Florida

dseag2

dseag2

Dallas, TX
Location
Dallas, TX
I'm sure I am more interested in this story than most because I grew up in Tampa, Florida. I remember many years ago when the streets by our house flooded so badly that my car went underwater up to the headlights, and that was just during many days of rain. Fortunately, from 1966 to 1987 when I lived there we had no major hurricanes that hit Tampa. For anyone who is familiar with Tampa, some of the most expensive old homes along Bayshore Boulevard are right on Tampa Bay, as is downtown Tampa, where Tampa General Hospital is located. The water level is expected to rise between 5-10 feet.

Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane and may impact the area for up to 47 hours. Based on my knowledge of Tampa and the surrounding areas, I think the amount of flooding this may cause may be devastating. I am absolutely hoping for the best. We went through several hurricanes, including Hurricane Andrew, during my time in South Florida. The many days of preparation and anxiety are horrible, not to mention actually getting hit. We left South Florida in 2006, after two hurricanes hit. I really feel for the folks in Florida right now.

@palides2021 I know you have family in Tarpon Springs and I wish only the best for them. For any other members living on the West Coast of Florida, I hope you have taken precautions.

 

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dseag2 said:
The water level is expected to rise between 5-10 feet
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If the forecast wind and track stay as they are now I suspect it will be higher in Tampa. Worst case for a storm surge is being on the east side of the eye at the head of a shallow water bay. Hurricane Dennis put 4 feet of water in my house in 2005, with less wind but otherwise similar tracking and shallow water; a 12 ft storm surge...

Storm surge water does more damage and kills more people than wind in a hurricane.
 
Alligatorob said:
If the forecast wind and track stay as they are now I suspect it will be higher in Tampa. Worst case for a storm surge is being on the east side of the eye at the head of a shallow water bay. Hurricane Dennis put 4 feet of water in my house in 2005, with less wind but otherwise similar tracking and shallow water; a 12 ft storm surge...

Storm surge water does more damage and kills more people than wind in a hurricane.
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Absolutely, and today's storms and hurricanes hold lots more water due to climate change. Just looked at what happened in Puerto Rico during Fiona. The Category doesn't seem to matter that much anymore.
 
I am on edge because two people I love dearly live on the west coast of Florida...my BFF and my honorary son (HS). I was in touch with both of them last evening. My BFF and I talk almost every day and over the last few days we've been discussing how her area might be affected. She's south of Naples. She has so much going on she said she just would not be able to evacuate. But it looks like that might not be necessary for her because the forecast models have changed. She is worried about her fairly new car, however because she doesn't live that far from the beach and they may get a 3 - 5 ft surge.

My concern about my HS, who lives in Tampa, was that he and his fiancee are due to move into a new apartment building (brand new). I didn't know if they'd moved already and if they are on the first floor with a 7 - 8 ft surge projected. Turns out they haven't moved yet because the apartment isn't quite ready. They are on the 4th floor now. His youngest daughter and her fiance just moved to Tampa a week and a half ago and thankfully are on the 3rd floor.

I'll check on my BFF and HS today, tomorrow and if possible, the remainder of the week. My prayers for anyone who will be impacted, including any members and their families. @palides2021
 
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dseag2 said:
I'm sure I am more interested in this story than most because I grew up in Tampa, Florida. I remember many years ago when the streets by our house flooded so badly that my car went underwater up to the headlights, and that was just during many days of rain. Fortunately, from 1966 to 1987 when I lived there we had no major hurricanes that hit Tampa. For anyone who is familiar with Tampa, some of the most expensive old homes along Bayshore Boulevard are right on Tampa Bay, as is downtown Tampa, where Tampa General Hospital is located. The water level is expected to rise between 5-10 feet.

Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane and may impact the area for up to 47 hours. Based on my knowledge of Tampa and the surrounding areas, I think the amount of flooding this may cause may be devastating. I am absolutely hoping for the best. We went through several hurricanes, including Hurricane Andrew, during my time in South Florida. The many days of preparation and anxiety are horrible, not to mention actually getting hit. We left South Florida in 2006, after two hurricanes hit. I really feel for the folks in Florida right now.

@palides2021 I know you have family in Tarpon Springs and I wish only the best for them. For any other members living on the West Coast of Florida, I hope you have taken precautions.

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I am so stressed over this! I have been back and forth talking to family down there constantly, trying to get them to leave. Evacuations are in force. My elderly mother is there, too. She will have someone staying with her, but I don't know if that's good enough. I told them to move out and go and stay in a hotel. No one listens to me.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I am on edge because two people I love dearly live on the west coast of Florida...my BFF and my honorary son (HS). I was in touch with both of them last evening. My BFF and I talk almost every day and over the last few days we've been discussing how her area might be affected. She's south of Naples. She has so much going on she said she just would not be able to evacuate. But it looks like that might not be necessary for her because the forecast models have changed. She is worried about her fairly new car, however because she doesn't live that far from the beach and they may get a 3 - 5 ft surge.

My concern about my HS, who lives in Tampa, was that he and his fiancee are due to move into a new apartment building (brand new). I didn't know if they'd moved already and if they are on the first floor with a 7 - 8 ft surge projected. Turns out they haven't moved yet because the apartment isn't quite ready. They are on the 4th floor now. His youngest daughter and her fiance just moved to Tampa a week and a half ago and thankfully are on the 3rd floor.

I'll check on my BFF and HS today, tomorrow and if possible, the remainder of the week. My prayers for anyone who will be impacted, including any members and their families. @palides2021
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Praying hard, too. Been back and forth with my family. Losing sleep over this. I hope they're ok, but my gut feeling says otherwise.
 
palides2021 said:
I am so stressed over this! I have been back and forth talking to family down there constantly, trying to get them to leave. Evacuations are in force. My elderly mother is there, too. She will have someone staying with her, but I don't know if that's good enough. I told them to move out and go and stay in a hotel. No one listens to me.
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What is her situation? These are some important questions to ask:
  • How close to the water is her home, and what is the elevation? If she is more than 15 ft above sea level she is probably safe from any storm surge, that is the biggest risk. Being along a stream can be a risk also.
  • When was her home built? If it is relatively new it should have been built to the new wind codes and be wind safe. If it's older there are risks. Does she have hurricane shutters or impact resistant windows? Blow out window can cause roof failure and loss.
  • Are there large trees that could blow over and damage the house? Wind borne debris can be a real hazard.
  • Assuming she stays is she prepared to go a week or more without electricity or running water?
  • If she chose to evacuate does she have a plan? Transportation and a safe place to go are important. Florida is hard to evacuate, traffic snarls and hotels fill up. Getting stuck in your car in the storm is no fun. The truth is unless there is a shelter in Tarpon Springs with room, it's probably too late.
Hoping for the best, most people get through these things just fine. I hope she is one of them.
 
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jujube said:
We're well inland but in the "cone". First hurricane in this house. It's a concrete block house with a fairly new roof, and good yard elevation, but there are five big oaks in the front yard that make me nervous.

In 44 years, I've never had damage from a hurricane but maybe I've just jinxed myself.
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Yeah, large oaks just don't have much 'bend' in them, if at all.

At our old house, we had three HUGE Pine trees that were 60 or 70 years old, and during a hurricane or two with winds over 85+,
they would practically bend to the ground during a fierce wind storm. I couldn't believe my eyes! ... But they stayed intact.
But our big oaks broke off limbs every time.
 
Remy said:
But I've wondered why houses in hurricane prone areas don't have shutters built into the houses.
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Most building codes in the last ~20 years have required either shutters, or impact resistant windows. Some places plywood can be used to meet the codes. Rarely applies to older homes.

I think the impact resistant windows are best, always one require nothing to be ready. They have to withstand a 2x4 shot at 110 mph without failing.

Windows are more important than many people realize. If the front windows blow out the wind applies pressure under the roof, all to often lifting it off. I've heard people say that should your front windows blow you should open the rest. I understand the theory, not sure what the practice would be like.
 
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The latest forecasts for our area has Ian coming right over us on Sat at 2 in the afternoon. Who knows what the wind speed will be after it crosses the State of Georgia, but I have some work to do outside to get ready for it.
I have been through a couple of Hurricanes/Typhoons and seen what they can do. They are not to be trifled with. On Okinawa, I was always the guy who had to stay in the Operations building when they hit.
 
About the only "good" thing about hurricanes is that those in its path usually have several days to prepare for it....unlike tornadoes which can ravage an area with little warning.
We were stationed in N. Carolina, in 1966 when the remnants of a hurricane came through...over 100 miles inland. The winds were still so strong that it it snapped a big pecan tree in the backyard. Luckily, were were in USAF base housing which had a shelter in the house, and we were able to ride it out. As strong as it was inland, it did major damage to the more coastal regions.
Living along the seashore in the Gulf/Eastern states is real nice, but every year there is a risk of losing everything.
 
palides2021 said:
Praying hard, too. Been back and forth with my family. Losing sleep over this. I hope they're ok, but my gut feeling says otherwise.
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Palides, I pray they will be safe. Said a special Dua (supplemental prayer) for mine, yours and those I don't know who may be adversely affected this morning. From what my HS said, there are mandatory evacuations in place in certain zones. He is not in one of them (as of last night...that could change), but in a voluntary evacuation zone. Do you know which one your family is in? I sure hope your mother and family reconsider and listen to you. If they are watching Florida news, they might. Options for hotels for evacuees are being offered via Expedia and detailed information about shelters is being imparted.
 
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