To Everyone in Florence's Path...

[NinetyFour]

Here's hoping that if you are affected by Florence, you and your loved ones stay safe!!  Lots of us here on the MMM forum will be thinking about you.

[Mr. Green]

The latest forecast has the eye passing right over the house we rent. Half a mile off the water. At the moment I'm very much appreciating the healthy amount of minimalism that has come along with our FIRE journey. We have almost nothing that we are concerned about replacing and we loaded our car in 15 minutes and will evacuate at a moment's notice. We were coming back into town today from being away and saw tons of boats and RVs being moved inland. I can't imagine having to deal with all of that, and packing, prepping, etc. Move too soon and a storm can change track and it's a hassle for nothing. Wait long enough to find out you're really in trouble and then you're rushed and stressed trying to get it all done. Being lightweight is so worth it in this moment, granted it's a one in a million kind of thing. But it's those one in a million events that can cause obscene amounts of stress in your life.

[SachaFiscal]

Mr. Greene, it might be good to just evacuate now if you haven't already.  There will be lot's of traffic if you try to leave too late.  Hope you and your family stay safe.

[Glenstache]

Evacuating for nothing is a best case scenario. Having lost a family home to an evacuation-required natural disaster about a year ago while neighbor's homes were spared made me appreciate this very much.

Evacuate if you are in a possible path and be safe. This looks like it is going to be a big, nasty one wherever it makes landfall.

[Sailor Sam]

Contraflow just started in Charleston, where my Boaty McBoatface is staged. Things are about to get real. Be safe and sane, everyone.

[LifeHappens]

Mr. Greene, it might be good to just evacuate now if you haven't already.  There will be lot's of traffic if you try to leave too late.  Hope you and your family stay safe.

I second this. Leave as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the harder it is.

[Rcc]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. Me and the RCC clan are near RDU Airport. I know @SwordGuy is  in Fayetteville. I suspect @mrgreene has bugged out or will soon.

We’re at 19 years here, we expect some power outages. Gas and water have never failed, knock on wood.

We’re all watching the same analysis/forecasts you are and waiting for things to happen. Par for the course during Hurricane season.

I offered the DW a trip to Vegas to watch and wait.. she said no 😀

[Mr. Green]

We expect to leave later today or tomorrow morning. I'm trying to get my stubborn father to leave. We'll be out before the big show, regardless. After the storm track shifted last night at 11pm, I'm very afraid for Wilmington. There may not be much of it left by the time this is over.

[Trifle]

Agree -- fingers crossed for Wilmington.  UNC Wilmington was on the ball, and evacuated all their students yesterday. The ones that had no car and/or nowhere to go were taken to UNC Asheville on buses.

Good luck Mr. Green -- get out as soon as you can.

[wenchsenior]

Absolutely, please leave if you are able to.  Given that our long term field site in the Caribbean was completely devastated last year by Irma (including storm related human deaths of people we knew there) and the animal populations and vegetation and reefs nowhere near recovered, I have become a lot less sanguine about these situations.  I have personally ridden out several tropical storms and 2 Category 3 hurricanes, but I am a lot more cautious now.

 My sister lives on the York River outside Williamsburg VA, with a houseful of animals (including horses that cannot be moved or even stalled), and potentially in the path of post-storm floods.  I am hoping that the storm doesn't shift further north. 

Do not risk yourself or your family by staying if you can possibly go.

[SwordGuy]

We're hunkered down here in Fayetteville, NC.   Matthew cleared out a whole lot of weak trees and weak dams 2 years ago, so while I expect power outages from downed trees, it may not be as bad as before.   Unlike when Matthew came thru after the ground had been thoroughly waterlogged, the ground is pretty dry and lots of "lakes" are no longer lakes, they are just dried out depressions with a stream thru them.  So I think might have less flooding for the same amount of rainfall.


Of course, there might be a whole lot more rainfall than last time...

I'm not worried about flooding on any of our properties.  There's only one that's in the 100 year flood zone.  We've got flood insurance on it and the nearby lake is empty, so it's unlikely to get flooded. 

Thanks for asking!

[SwordGuy]

I saw someone with either has a really strong optimism gun or is a damn fool today.

They were using a blower to clear leaves off their yard.


Cat 4 or 5 hurricane due in town in less than 18 hours.


I leave it to you to decide...

[UnleashHell]

I saw someone with either has a really strong optimism gun or is a damn fool today.

They were using a blower to clear leaves off their yard.


Cat 4 or 5 hurricane due in town in less than 18 hours.


I leave it to you to decide...

idiots.

they should have raked them...

[marty998]

I saw someone with either has a really strong optimism gun or is a damn fool today.

They were using a blower to clear leaves off their yard.

Cat 4 or 5 hurricane due in town in less than 18 hours.

I leave it to you to decide...

idiots.

they should have raked them...

Something something about contributing more greenhouse gases emissions right before yet another worst storm ever blows over you just warms the heart...

(sorry, I get that's a sensitive topic for some of you).

Stay safe everyone.

[Bracken_Joy]

Sending my best wishes. Once this hits, check in as you can please. You all have a lot of internet stranger/friends concerned about you =)

[Cache_Stash]

I'm currently in the path, albeit inland.  We'll probably see 50-60 MPH winds and up to 10 inches of rain.  Im not in a flood zone.  So my only worries is one of my huge pine trees falling on the house. :)  Can't really prepare for that kind of thing.  Our prep included getting two new puzzles and some snacks for the three or more days of rain and wind.

[FireHiker]

I saw someone with either has a really strong optimism gun or is a damn fool today.

They were using a blower to clear leaves off their yard.


Cat 4 or 5 hurricane due in town in less than 18 hours.


I leave it to you to decide...

This really made me laugh for some reason. If it were me, I would see the impending storm as a perfect reason NOT to do a chore like that. Such unnecessary, wasted effort!

Seriously though, hoping you all stay safe down there. +1 to what Bracken_Joy said!

[Trifle]

We're in the path too, but inland.  Current worst case forecast is some wind and 10 inches of rain.  Similar to Cache_Stash, we have planned for several days without power -- extra food and camp stove fuel. 

[former player]

We're in the path too, but inland.  Current worst case forecast is some wind and 10 inches of rain.  Similar to Cache_Stash, we have planned for several days without power -- extra food and camp stove fuel.

10 inches of rain is unfathomable to me - how can you plan for that?  It's catastrophic - roads washed away, bridges washed away, houses washed away, landslides.  Water supplies contaminated and sewage systems backed up and not working.

[Trifle]

We're in the path too, but inland.  Current worst case forecast is some wind and 10 inches of rain.  Similar to Cache_Stash, we have planned for several days without power -- extra food and camp stove fuel.

10 inches of rain is unfathomable to me - how can you plan for that?  It's catastrophic - roads washed away, bridges washed away, houses washed away, landslides.  Water supplies contaminated and sewage systems backed up and not working.

Well, we're in the country -- on well water and septic (no sewers).  We're not near any streams or rivers, so the worst that will probably happen to us personally is that some low-lying roads will be underwater and we won't go anywhere.  We've had rain in the 5-8" range a couple times in the past few years and that's pretty much what happens.  Haven't actually seen any roads washed away yet.  The power usually goes out because of trees falling on the lines after the ground softens.   

The poor folks nearer the coast will have it much, much worse.  Fingers crossed for them.

[Dancin'Dog]

I'm a little West of Charlotte.  Not sure what will happen here, but I'm heading to the mountains for the storm.  It's supposed to rain a lot up there too, but at least it's another 100 miles to the West.  If the power goes out there we can escape it easily by going over to TN, for gas & food. 


I really feel for communities on the coast.  Can't imagine what 10-13 feet of surge will do to Wilmington & Charleston. 


I'm curious about what happens to students if UNCW closes for months? 

[Mr. Green]

We evacuated this morning. Storm surge won't affect most of Wilmington because the town is between the Cape Fear River and the ocean. The people with homes along the barrier islands will be the ones dealing with storm surge. The biggest concern is flooding from the sheer volume of rain and any damage from flying debris. Thankfully the storm has dropped to at cat 2 so wind damage won't be quite as bad.we won't know how bad the flooding is until it's all over.

[Asalted_Nut]

Mr Green,
I don't know the area or what would be expected, but do you happen to know just how foolish these individuals might be?

https://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article218321770.html
Article says they are in North Myrtle Beach, two blocks from the ocean.


For all us, it appears one additional benefit to living lite (possessions-wise) and saving: You might have enough money to not have to consider the monetary decisions of fleeing a hurricane or not, and potentially put that decision above your lives.

Although once again, I don't know the area so I am not sure how reasonable or.. bold? they are being. If the latter, I do feel bad for the daughter.

Actually either way I feel bad for all of them having to make that decision based on a paycheck, hope they make it through ok!

[RWD]

Thankfully the storm has dropped to at cat 2 so wind damage won't be quite as bad.

Unfortunately the radius increased, compared to a couple days ago.

[Khaetra]

Thankfully the storm has dropped to at cat 2 so wind damage won't be quite as bad.

I've been through a couple Cat 2's, trust me they can do much more damage than you think.

[Unique User]

Mr Green,
I don't know the area or what would be expected, but do you happen to know just how foolish these individuals might be?

https://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article218321770.html
Article says they are in North Myrtle Beach, two blocks from the ocean.


For all us, it appears one additional benefit to living lite (possessions-wise) and saving: You might have enough money to not have to consider the monetary decisions of fleeing a hurricane or not, and potentially put that decision above your lives.

Although once again, I don't know the area so I am not sure how reasonable or.. bold? they are being. If the latter, I do feel bad for the daughter.

Actually either way I feel bad for all of them having to make that decision based on a paycheck, hope they make it through ok!

Some people are also making the decision to stay because they don't want to be stranded away from home.      I've got a couple evacuees staying with me in Raleigh that made a decision to leave today and they struggled with the decision all week.  I'd say about half the people I know have evacuated.  There are also families where one spouse works for the city or power company and can't leave so the rest of the family left.  I have two rental houses there and am thankful my tenants evacuated, but if we still lived there I might have stayed especially since it was downgraded. 

[kimmarg]

Thankfully the storm has dropped to at cat 2 so wind damage won't be quite as bad.

I've been through a couple Cat 2's, trust me they can do much more damage than you think.

So important thing to remember is the Category is based ONLY ON WINDSPEED. So yes, slightly lower winds, but over a larger area and driving more water. Plus really 100+mph is just a mess. Good luck to everyone!

[Sailor Sam]

I keep stewing over the thread posted by the guy asking if he should go to a wedding in South Carolina this weekend. I can't let it go, for some reason. I juxtapose it with this thread, and I go around the anger spiral all over again. I can't even pin down why it makes me so angry. Sure, the poster was tone deaf and arrogant, but that's nothing new on the internet. Still, that thread is under my scales, and it won't leave. Argh!

[englishteacheralex]

I get jealous of mainland hurricane victims because they have the option to leave...at least, those with the resources to leave have that option. Here in Hawaii, pretty much the only thing we can do is shelter in place and hope the massive military presence will save our asses if things really get bad.

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

I get jealous of mainland hurricane victims because they have the option to leave...at least, those with the resources to leave have that option. Here in Hawaii, pretty much the only thing we can do is shelter in place and hope the massive military presence will save our asses if things really get bad.

Or even worse the people that live on an atoll.... They are basically at sea level and I would imagine everything must go under water during a hurricane.

[Mr. Green]

Mr Green,
I don't know the area or what would be expected, but do you happen to know just how foolish these individuals might be?

https://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article218321770.html
Article says they are in North Myrtle Beach, two blocks from the ocean.


For all us, it appears one additional benefit to living lite (possessions-wise) and saving: You might have enough money to not have to consider the monetary decisions of fleeing a hurricane or not, and potentially put that decision above your lives.

Although once again, I don't know the area so I am not sure how reasonable or.. bold? they are being. If the latter, I do feel bad for the daughter.

Actually either way I feel bad for all of them having to make that decision based on a paycheck, hope they make it through ok!

It really depends on the local topography. If they're more than 20 feet above sea level they don't really have to worry about storm surge. If they have a newer house, residential building code requires their house be able to withstand 120 mph winds. The other thing people are concerned about is not being able to return for weeks because of flooding between where they've evacuated to and their home. For someone with limited economic means it can really be a difficult decision.

[Unique User]

I keep stewing over the thread posted by the guy asking if he should go to a wedding in South Carolina this weekend. I can't let it go, for some reason. I juxtapose it with this thread, and I go around the anger spiral all over again. I can't even pin down why it makes me so angry. Sure, the poster was tone deaf and arrogant, but that's nothing new on the internet. Still, that thread is under my scales, and it won't leave. Argh!

There's the Sir Sam Wrath we all know and love ;-). You were too gentle on that other thread.

As a former Coast Guard member who has been stationed in several areas hit by hurricanes or strong tropical storms - including a barrier island boat station off the Cape Fear River where it enters the Atlantic (@SwordGuy probably knows it) - I become incensed when people don't heed warnings to evacuate. Even in flood prone areas hundreds of miles inland. You not only put yourselves at risk, you put first responders (who HAVE to stay there) at risk as well.

Spartana - were you on Oak Island?  We got too close to Sunny Point the first time we navigated up the Cape Fear to Wilmington, we were very careful from then on.   

[Sailor Sam]

Check out the 'frying pan ocean camera' video to see Florence roll in.

And man, I mourn the passing of the light towers. Probably the same as someone who saw the last of the lightships, but one generation further on.

[wenchsenior]

I keep stewing over the thread posted by the guy asking if he should go to a wedding in South Carolina this weekend. I can't let it go, for some reason. I juxtapose it with this thread, and I go around the anger spiral all over again. I can't even pin down why it makes me so angry. Sure, the poster was tone deaf and arrogant, but that's nothing new on the internet. Still, that thread is under my scales, and it won't leave. Argh!

Yup. There has been some unbelievable assholery on this forum today.  Not just on that thread.  It's depressing.

[calimom]

No experience with hurricanes, but I live in a town that was decimated by a wildfire last month (and one is still burning north of here). I evacuated with my children and pets and whatever we could fit into and on top of our station wagon to flee toward the coast, where we were welcomed by friends. People on this board were so supportive and wonderful. While my family was fortunate to come home to an intact house, many were not so lucky. Sending support to those in the way of this current weather event and hoping all get through safely.

[Lulee]

Here's hoping the worst all those who are going to get swiped by that b*tch Florence is a few soggy days with electricity.  She may not be as powerful as she once was, but she looks set to try to wash a large percentage of the Carolinas into the sea.

[Nords]

I get jealous of mainland hurricane victims because they have the option to leave...at least, those with the resources to leave have that option. Here in Hawaii, pretty much the only thing we can do is shelter in place and hope the massive military presence will save our asses if things really get bad.

Your hope in the military might not be based on reality.  But I guess that’s why it’s called “hope”.

Before my spouse retired from the Navy Reserve in 2008, she was in a NEPLO billet.  (Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer.)  As part of her training we went through all of the FEMA and state Civil Defense curriculum.  It was eye-opening and darn near turned me into a prepper.

About all you’d get from the islands’ military resources would be water buffalos, reverse-osmosis filtration systems, and maybe MREs.  You’d get awfully tired of standing in line for all of the above.  You’d still have to live without electricity for as long as two weeks before HECO (and its subsidiaries) can begin restoring the electric grid.  (The generators would all be powering the buildings on military bases.)  State civil defense estimates that it could even take longer than a week to re-open the runways, let alone remove debris from the commercial port.

Stock up on enough hurricane food to give everyone at least 1500 calories/day for two weeks.  You’d also want a bare minimum of at least a gallon of water per day per person, although the Navy shipboard standard of 20 gallons per day per person includes cooking & hygiene.  A water heater might do it for some people but you’d want to invest in a WaterBob or a purification system.

(Side note:  We’ve been on Mainland slow travel since 7 August.  During that time our Central Oahu home has endured Hurricanes Lane & Norman along with Tropical Storm Olivia.  Lots of rain and no wind damage, although we’re at about 400 feet of elevation.

Ironically we’re visiting our daughter & son-in-law in Norfolk and had to evacuate for Hurricane Florence.  Their apartment is surrounded by the river on three sides.  It’s a fourth-floor apartment but the parking lot could be under several feet of water and electricity is unreliable.  We’re about to head back into the Norfolk area on Sunday or Monday.)

[Sailor Sam]

I get jealous of mainland hurricane victims because they have the option to leave...at least, those with the resources to leave have that option. Here in Hawaii, pretty much the only thing we can do is shelter in place and hope the massive military presence will save our asses if things really get bad.

Your hope in the military might not be based on reality.  But I guess that’s why it’s called “hope”.

Before my spouse retired from the Navy Reserve in 2008, she was in a NEPLO billet.  (Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer.)  As part of her training we went through all of the FEMA and state Civil Defense curriculum.  It was eye-opening and darn near turned me into a prepper.

About all you’d get from the islands’ military resources would be water buffalos, reverse-osmosis filtration systems, and maybe MREs.  You’d get awfully tired of standing in line for all of the above.  You’d still have to live without electricity for as long as two weeks before HECO (and its subsidiaries) can begin restoring the electric grid.  (The generators would all be powering the buildings on military bases.)  State civil defense estimates that it could even take longer than a week to re-open the runways, let alone remove debris from the commercial port.

Stock up on enough hurricane food to give everyone at least 1500 calories/day for two weeks.  You’d also want a bare minimum of at least a gallon of water per day per person, although the Navy shipboard standard of 20 gallons per day per person includes cooking & hygiene.  A water heater might do it for some people but you’d want to invest in a WaterBob or a purification system.

Ha! I wasn't replying to your post ETA, because I didn't want you to feel I was harping on you. But everything @Nords says is true. The largess of the military will not move at a pace, or a level of respect that you'll appreciate. Buy the damn WaterBob.

[englishteacheralex]

Oh geez. Well, that was extremely useful information. Thanks, Nords and Sailor Sam. I'll order the water bob.

[sequoia]

I keep stewing over the thread posted by the guy asking if he should go to a wedding in South Carolina this weekend. I can't let it go, for some reason. I juxtapose it with this thread, and I go around the anger spiral all over again. I can't even pin down why it makes me so angry. Sure, the poster was tone deaf and arrogant, but that's nothing new on the internet. Still, that thread is under my scales, and it won't leave. Argh!

There's the Sir Sam Wrath we all know and love ;-). You were too gentle on that other thread.

As a former Coast Guard member who has been stationed in several areas hit by hurricanes or strong tropical storms - including a barrier island boat station off the Cape Fear River where it enters the Atlantic (@SwordGuy probably knows it) - I become incensed when people don't heed warnings to evacuate. Even in flood prone areas hundreds of miles inland. You not only put yourselves at risk, you put first responders (who HAVE to stay there) at risk as well.

+1

Hope everyone is safe!