Posted on 09/09/2017 7:12:07 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade, hit Cuba overnight as a rare Category 5 storm, then shifted course toward the west coast of Florida.
The monster storm's shift in direction creates a "very, very dangerous situation for western Florida," said ABC News meteorologist Daniel Manzo.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Irma was a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. It was about 225 miles from Miami, moving west-northwest at 12 mph.
Naples, Fort Myers and other communities on Florida's west coast could get slammed when Irma makes landfall as a Category 4 storm, which is expected to happen between early Sunday and early Monday. Landfall could occur as far north as Tampa.
The wind gusts in Florida were already picking up early Saturday, with Miami International Airport reporting a 59 mph gust.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
That means probably NO pickup. Most services are suspended when sustained winds reach 45 MPH... which with this monster will likely come fairly early today. Hunker down and I pray for the best.
Also, they are predicting power outages for 'weeks'... perhaps not too bad in your area. After the storm passes you can access emergency services. I have spent some time trying to prepare for sustained winds perhaps 90 MPH here... but I have no idea how to prepare for such a thing. For years tropical storms and hurricanes around here in west Orlando have amounted to the most precautions on the east and north side of the house... now I discover the attack will be from the south and the west -- and there just isn't much I can do about that but hope and pray. sigh
Oooops... I see that was posted yesterday... thank goodness.
Thanks, Albion. Mrs. Taxman and I are prepared, I believe, for whatever comes next!
Prayers up for other Florida FReepers and residents who are in Harm’s Way!
Are you and your FRiend in a safe place now?
Prayers up.
Eagles up!
Leni my prayers are with you now. Will be waiting to hear that you made it through the storm well.
So so glad to see you posting today. Just hearing of 3 ft flooding in Jacksonville. Are you all out of it, that’s what I’ll ask?
Noisy experience?
Frankly, it was almost a non-event here in the 3rd floor condo in Saint Augustine. Lots of noisy wind, lots of rain, but no flooding and did not even lose electricity. Last years hurricane Mathew in September affected us more, losing electricity for several hours, and that is oh so inconvenient! Thank you so much for thinking about my safety here. All the best to you.
Definitely after LOL
Is that right! What a relief. So glad your past experience made you easily grateful for what you dodged. I thought surely you had to be in the dark, left for a time incommunicado and isolated.
Than you for your report.
FYI: Went to niece/Goddaughter’s house in Ocala that lost power, 3 days. Our home in Beaconwood East had power all through. Yet the positive thing was we were together with close family members we otherwise wouldn’t have!!!
Glad to hear everyone in your family was alright.
Minutegal..how are you doing? Did you get back to your condo safely?
I'm safe and sound, no damage, no flooding, power back on...... returned from the shelter yesterday, need some sleep, will post an interesting report with personal observations later after some zzzz's and catching up on a million things to do.
Thanks to all who inquired...I'll ping you.
Leni
Thanks for the update
Thanks for the update.
I/we have seen small portions of Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Even without the storm surge, easy Cat 2.
When we returned home, our bldg had some small structural damage. Quick list overall: Minimal flooding, commercial and traffic signs gone. Trees down and branches broken everywhere. Trailer parks didn’t fair well. Traffic signals gone. Screens on most pool cages are missing.
Downed power lines, no gas and I could go on.
We are happy that you are okay.
Talk to you soon.
5.56mm
Wonderful to hear from you, MG! Glad all is well!
God bless you; glad you had a wonderful time with family. Had you stayed home, you would have worried about your niece, so...
Thank you. Seems storms get you closer to family in a more loving way then normal. Probably because we are ALL in it the same way equally !!!
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