Are we ready for hurricane season?

Just wondering what everyone is doing this year to be prepared. We have just about everything we could possibly need. We have plenty of batteries, Citronella Oil ( fer the skeeters don't ya know ), all the plywood is ready for the winders, generator is serviced & ready plus we have some food stuff stored. I refused to be caught unaware this year.

How 'bout ya'll?

 

We still have a few small things to get like our stock pile of water and some more can goods so we're almost there. We did buy a NOAA weather radio a few months ago to keep us updated with what's going on in case we lose power. (No sleeping in shifts this year! LOL) Even though we live within a mile of the ocean one of our biggest worries is that we live on the 3rd floor so if a tornado hits/water-spout comes ashore we need to get downstairs and fast.

Last I heard they are predicting an even more active year than last year...Oiy!

 

Not only do we not have hurricanes here...the bugs are smaller than an ankle-biter dog...and no alligators to eat said ankle-biter. Heh heh heh

 

Yea something like 15 w/8 named storms. Here's what they are saying at this point.

 

The good news is that Florida is NOT the automatic target for all those storms. They can hit from Brownsville TX to Boston Mass. Hopefully this year mother nature will share the love with other places.

 

Bring it on! http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

 

Thankfully we are in a safe zone...we just have to worry about volcanoes erupting!

But I feel for you guys..it must be quite scary when one starts coming in...I can't imagine.

 

Good luck to you and Star down there! Im hoping for some "nasty" weather here, its been boring and not-so-active up here as much.. I loved all those thunderstorms we had in North Carolina when I was down there for the summer.

One time, my friends and I were outside and it got really dark, really quick, so we all head into his house and within seconds it started pouring and rumbling like crazy, minutes later there was this really LOUD ka-boom, turns out the tree behind the house (5-10ft or so from the house) was hit by lightning, it shook the entire house and the power flickered on and off. That was the 2nd time that tree was hit by lightning. Quite scary

 

for anyone who cares,
http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/omd/ops/weather/plots/storm_90.gif

http://img67.echo.cx/img67/2857/hcw1je.gif
(made that myself)

 

Oh goody! Looks like they're all headed my way.

By the time they get this far inland, they're just heavy storms, which aren't bad.

 

i don't worry about such trivia, hurricanes DO happen here, but I've never witnessed one. fingers crossed. aloha from the NICEST weather in the world.

 

hawaii
to images

 

another two(I don't know wich is you)

 

I am most certainly ready for hurricane season. Got the TV remote batteries stockpiled and a light umbrella.

 

i am at the very top of the big island (which is the bottom one in the chain.)

kohala

 

Hey ... so am I!!! No wait... I'm in Ohio. Sigh.

 

so your in the middle of the top of a bigger island


Tropical Weather Outlook


Statement as of 11:30 am EDT on June 8, 2005


For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico...
Surface observations and satellite imagery indicate that the broad
area of low pressure in the western Caribbean is gradually becoming
better organized...and a tropical depression appears to be forming
between Honduras and the Cayman Islands. Upper level winds are
becoming more favorable for development...and this system could
become a tropical storm during the next day or two as it moves
slowly northward. An Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft
is scheduled to investigate this system later today. Even if the
system does not develop...heavy rains and gusty winds will be
affecting the Cayman Islands...Jamaica...Cuba...and the Yucatan
Peninsula during the next couple of days.
Elsewhere...tropical storm formation is not expected through
Thursday.
Forecaster Avila/Knabb

 

http://i.flhurricane.com/images/2005/AL90200500Z.jpg

 

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/WATL/IR4/20.jpg

 

If we do have a very active year like we did last year we can only do what we did then...be prepared and go with the flow so to speak. Our area has never had a direct hit from a hurricane according to recorded history...the closest being Dora 41 years ago....a category 2 that came ashore near St. Augustine. Some say that is cause for concern..like a bad omen.

There were a couple times last year where we were alerted to the possibility of evacuation (we live in zone 1 which would result in mandatory evacuation in the event of even a category 1) so we were packed and ready to go just in case...this included having our computer towers ready to go with us...yup...gotta have priorities! LOL

@ Eric...While I enjoy watching a good storm I find it fascinating and scary at the same time to see the tops of these huge pine trees bending over to kiss the ground than stand back up again. Running outside during a lull to remove debris from the storm drains and looking around in awe at how everything looks so different already and knowing there is more to come...is this twilight zone? Trying to listen through the raging wind to hear/see if that tornado that was reported to be on the ground nearby is turning a bit and coming this way. Hearing transformers blow up one after the other...this is especially spooky when you know a tornado is on the ground. Sure does keep you on your toes despite how exhausted you are...last year every storm here went through the night.

Same with seeing the aftermath...palm fronds that have pierced big tree trunks like someone inserted a needle through it..the frond shows no damage to either end protruding from the trunk....how can that be you wonder even though you know how it happened. Or seeing how the pine needles are sticking out of the side of the building like someone intentionally put them there. Had we been outside our bodies surely would have been pierced clean through. The loss of homes, busniness....and lives...it's so much to take in really.

Seeing the beaches for the first time after the storm(s)...how the water is still raging...full of foam and debris and then noticing that what used to be a lovely gentle slope of sand down to the water is now a 2 - 5 foot drop (in some areas more!) straight down from the walkover...the stairs are just hanging there with nothing but empty space underneath.....like they forgot to add the rest of the steps or just haven't finished the job yet. It is so sad to see all the destruction..to the land...to peoples homes...last year 80% (or was it 85%?) of the sea turtle nests were lost too.

The loss of homes, busniness....and lives...it's so much to take in really. Seeing is believing...what you see on TV is nothing compared to what you see when it's right there in front of you...when you're living it...

Scary...scary stuff...but yet again..there is that element of fascination...mother nature reminding us once again of her power. She sure makes you feel a wide range of things while she's giving you an up close and personal demonstration!

 

yes, i also love the power of weather. English weather is a bit samish. its dreary, not exciting. the storms here are breathtaking. the rain comes down so hard it hurts to be in it....and its WARM rain. the sea plays catch with the sky. 50-60ft waves crashing on the shores, loud enough to hear from my house a mile inland. like walls of water that just collapse in on themselves. surreal. aloha

 

in color!!!!
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/atcf_web/image_archives/2005/al012005.05060912.gif

TC Arlene is being tracked here:
http://hardcoreweather.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

 

http://www.imageshack.us/

 

and. . .

 

Well we had two go directly over us last year & I surely don't want to go threw that again. We came threw the whole thing very well actually. House across the street lost most of it's roof, as well as a few other homes on this street. I will say this though..............been threw tornados & I've been threw hurricanes. Give me hurricanes anytime. When you watch the roof ( & most of their belongings ) from your neighbors house fly away like paper in the wind, you know you got lucky that it didn't get any closer. Weather is a wonderful thing to watch from afar, but when you get caught up in it? Not so much.

 

Right now the most important concern other then hurricanes would be that its Tornado Season and every year it only gets worse.

 

We finally got a weather radio for down in Bushnell. We're in Tornado country down there. Back in the late 90s we had a micro-burst on the property 2 days before the festival started. It flatted our huge circus tent sized exhibition tent. We had just finished setting up our store in there, and heard that there was a storm coming. We'd been through some bad stuff in that tent in years past, so we thought we knew what to expect. Next thing we knew we hear what sounded like a locomotive and saw the other end of the tent raise up and start crashing down just missing the people who were running toward our end. The 6x6 poles were snapping like toothpicks. We got out of there so fast! When we came back, the only part of the tent still standing was right over our store. It was so crazy. There were heavy clothing racks that were knocked over, but another display of all glass candleholders was untouched. A friend of mine's camping tent blew away with all of his stuff and they never found it. The worst injury we heard of was that someone twisted their ankle running for cover. If it had happened once the festival had started, thousands of people would have come into the exhibition tent to get out of the rain, and I have no doubt that people would have died.

I love our weather radio, it turns on automatically if something "interesting" is coming. Makes me feel much better in my little mobile home

 

Ropical Storm Arlene Intermediate Advisory Number 9a
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
2 Pm Edt Fri Jun 10 2005

...arlene Moving Northward Over The Southeastern Gulf Of Mexico...
...producing Heavy Rains And Gusty Winds Over Portions Of Florida...

A Tropical Storm Warning Is In Effect For The Northern Coast Of The
Gulf Of Mexico From Grand Isle Louisiana To St Marks Florida...
Including The City Of New Orleans And Lake Pontchartrain. A
Tropical Storm Warning Means That Tropical Storm Conditions Are
Expected Within The Warning Area Within The Next 24 Hours. A
Hurricane Watch Is Also In Effect From The Mouth Of The Pearl River
To Panama City Florida. A Hurricane Watch Means That Hurricane
Conditions Are Possible Within The Watch Area...generally Within 36
Hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning Remains In Effect For The Dry Tortugas.

A Tropical Storm Watch Remains In Effect From West Of Grand Isle
Louisiana To Morgan City Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch Means
That Tropical Storm Conditions Are Possible In The Watch Area
During The Next 36 Hr.

Interests Elsewhere In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico And Adjacent Land
Areas Should Closely Monitor The Progress Of This System.

For Storm Information Specific To Your Area...including Possible
Inland Watches And Warnings...please Monitor Products Issued
By Your Local Weather Office.

At 2 Pm Edt...1800z...the Poorly-defined Center Of Tropical Storm
Arlene Was Estimated Near Latitude 25.0 North... Longitude 85.0
West Or About 375 Miles Southeast Of The Mouth Of The Mississippi
River And About 400 Miles South-southeast Of Pensacola Florida.

Arlene Is Moving Toward The North Near 13 Mph. A Gradual Turn Toward
The North-northwest With A Slight Increase In Forward Speed Is
Expected During The Next 24 Hours. On This Track...the Center Of
Arlene Will Be Approaching The Northern Coast Of The Gulf Of Mexico
On Saturday. However...most Of The Weather Associated With Arlene
Will Arrive Much Earlier Than The Center.

Maximum Sustained Winds Are Near 60 Mph...with Higher Gusts. Some
Strengthening Is Forecast During The Next 24 Hours...and It Is
Possible That Arlene Could Reach Hurricane Strength Before
Landfall. Sustained Winds Of 45 Mph...with Gusts To 55 Mph...were
Recently Reported At Dry Tortugas. An Air Force Hurricane Hunter
Aircraft Is Currently Approaching Arlene.

Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 150 Miles...mainly
To The North And East Of The Center.

Estimated Minimum Central Pressure...based On A Ship Observation...
Is 997 Mb...29.44 Inches.

Additional Rainfall Amounts Of 2 To 3 Inches Are Possible Over
Western And Central Cuba. General 3 To 5 Inch Rains With Isolated
Heavier Amounts To Over 7 Inches Are Possible Across Southern And
Central Florida Over The Next 24 Hours. Heavy Rainfall Associated
With Arlene Will Begin To Impact The Eastern And Central Gulf Coast
Region By Friday Evening.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 2 To 4 Feet Above Normal Tide
Levels...along With Large And Dangerous Battering Waves...can Be
Expected Near And To The East Of Where The Center Makes Landfall.
Water Levels Are Currently About One-half Foot Above Normal Tide
Levels Along The Northern Gulf Coast.

Isolated Tornadoes May Occur Over Portions Of Southern Florida And
The Florida Keys Today.

Repeating The 2 Pm Edt Position...25.0 N... 85.0 W. Movement
Toward...north Near 13 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds... 60 Mph.
Minimum Central Pressure...997 Mb.

The Next Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane Center At
5 Pm Edt.


http://hardcoreweather.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

 

http://i.flhurricane.com/images/2005/arlene1.jpg

 

Hurricane Warning Pascagoula Ms To Destin Fl

 

It's pretty gloomy here on the East Coast of FL. Thought for sure the rain was going to start last night but it didn't. NOAA radio alarm went off a few hours ago...we're under a tornado watch until 7PM. Instead of getting lighter out it's getting darker..wind has picked up quite a bit and I can hear a lot of thunder, but no rain yet. We won't be going to the beach today! I feel bad for those that are in the direct path of this storm....or any other storm of this nature that should develop.

 

We got alot of heavy wind & rain over the past couple days, but nothing major. One down, ?????? to go.

 

i dont wanna sound mean or anything, but i can't wait for the first high winds or the first tornado for the next tornado season because i've been wanting to try out flight simulator's dynamic weather system, where it downloads the real weather conditions. i think it would be cool to try and fly above it and see the eye of it. if i do, i'll post pictures, it wont be real or anything, but it will still be a cool site especially for the avid FS fans out there.

if anyone else has FS, we could put together a MP server sometime, that would be fun.

 

Word. Tornado wind speeds pick up where hurricane wind speeds leave off. A Cat 5 hurricane has wind speeds in the F2 tornado class. An F5 tornado can have wind speeds up to 318 mph, and can totally level the schools and other "secure buildings" used for hurricane shelters.

Hurricanes cause so much grief because the damage is over a huge area, damaging infrastructure such as power and cluttering roads so accessing the area is difficult. Takes a long time to recover just because there's so much damage spread over entire regions.

In a tornado, the damage follows a very narrow path, and the community's infrastructure remains mostly intact, making it easier to get to and work on the damage and the injured, and a lot fewer people are actually "hit". But if it hits YOU, you have a much greater chance of ending up dead, or your house totally destroyed.

 

We got a few townships and schools trashed by Cyclones (our back-to-front version of Hurricanes) last month.

It's been hammering down with rain and freezing cold for the last month EVERY day! So whatever stereotypes ya have of Australia being a hot, dry desert - forget it! For next few months, anyway.