Florida and Gulf Coast neighbors - plans

holley79 wrote: Ok Dh and I have been talking about the up coming hurricane season. It's supposed to be worse then last year. I can't leave town because of my job but Dh can. I'm considered essential personnel. YUCK!!!!

What is anyones plans if the "big one" threatens your area?

Last year DH and I started two funds. One for deductible and the other for evacuation/ supplies. We have a freezer, which will stay on with generator, so we have stocked up on ice. We don't have to keep stuff cold but our ice/ water is never safe after a hurricane.

So just curious as to what everyone's plans are this year.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Hello neighbor!

We will leave as well, just like we did last year with Dennis and the yr before with Ivan. We were stuck in GA & TLH for a number of days following that tragedy on the bridge with that trucker.

We are saving a little here and there to have for evacuation funds, but I do not know what we are going to do this year for securing our house. All of our neighbors and then some had boards on their windows, we were the lonely fools that did not as we evacuated for Ivan. We are stocking up on this and that for food here and there. Nothing serious right now. My mother's house has gas for food, and well water. So as long as it is still standing we can go there again.

Your plans sound great, Holley. Sorry you would have to stay. But as the least Annika will out of harms way with your DH.

amynicole21 replied: Doesn't a well need electricity to work, Nicole? THat's the problem our friends ran into in 2004 - couldn't even flush the toilet! Ugh.

We never leave. We're far enough inland that it "usually" isn't a dire emergency for us to go. That said, we had 3 pass over our house two years ago. We already have boards for the windows, but really need to stock up on water, batteries and gas for the grill. We bought a battery powered fan and tv last year... still need to get a generator some day

C&K*s Mommie replied: I do not think so, Amy to be honest. We went and had showers and washed the dishes with no hitches following Ivan.

Oh and we need a weather radio too. We have one of those portable dvd/tv combos that we used during Katrina we had some strong effects from her going south of us. That was great, but troublesome though. Hearing about all the spinoff tornadic activity in our neighboring towns and such was freaky.

holley79 replied:

I would have thought the same thing. Did they maybe have a generator hooked up and you not know it? I know my grandparents in Central FL had to hook up a generator to their well and to their house.

I am so sick and tired of this weather. It does suck that I have to stay but oh well that's life in the big city. It is a good thing that DH and Annika will be out of harms way. Now the big question is, "How will I ever pump enough to keep her in milk?" Guess that would be when she gets formula.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I know they had a generator, but I am not positive if it was on during those times. Another plus for staying at my mothers house, they had the generator.

BAC'sMom replied: We leave as well! As most of you know I live right on the Gulf Coast of Texas, live about 6 blocks from the water. We live on a peninsula and have “Back Bays” Water / Ocean that almost completely surrounds us. Last year even though Rita went in at Louisiana and Texas we still had to leave. All of Corpus and all up and down the 400 miles of Texas Coast had to leave. Even though most of you only heard about the Houston Area debacle. We have and ALWAYS will leave town, usually go in land away from the storm. Not going to put my kids in harms way, we come back to what we come back to. Staying is not going to keep my property safe, I would much rather have my family over my house or processions any day.

C&K*s Mommie replied: That is how I feel. But in the case of Holley, who has to stay back, the good thing is her husband is able to leave town and get their daughter out out. I never understood why people would stick around, I guess I never will. What surprised me was the # of people we heard about that after Ivan did its number on us, how many said... 'never again!' will we stay behind.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I hope their predictions are wrong and you all stay safe. What an ordeal to have to worry about all that. I think you should all pack up and move here.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Thanks Aimee. Moving to GA, sooner than later though is sounding better and better with each year. Are you so far inland in TX, that you are no affected?

BAC'sMom replied: At my Uncle's funeral last week I got to talk with a cousin who was in Waveland, Ms. when Katrina went through. He lost everything and has recently moved back to Houston. He told me "Jimmie don't never stay and ride one out, put your babies in the car on leave!" You could tell he was still shook up all these months later.



That is the one thing about Gulf Coast living that most people don't understand. You don't worry unless there is a storm out there coming right at you. Other wise you just enjoy the weather and the swaying palm trees . I guess everyone has a gripe about their weather...either it's to cold...it's to hot...tornados or flooding. At least with hurricanes I can see them coming from miles away.

holley79 replied:
Sorry about your Uncle. We adopted Waveland after Katrina.

It is nice that you can see them ahead of time and prepare. Dh and I decided this year to start preparing early so we don't have to be stuck in the mob at the last minute. Especially now with a little one in tow. Like I said previous Dh will leave. He isn't going to leave for a 1 or 2 but anything bigger and him and pumpkin head are gone.

C&K*s Mommie replied: That is the same for us. Chris may or may not go. With Dennis he stayed behind, with Ivan he left.
But when Dennis was supposedly downgraded to a cat 2 from a cat 4, my mother and I were contemplating coming on home. We were about 6hours outside of the AL/FL border, we heard that they would be shutting down the borders at XX time. We would have barely made it, so we pushed on into Memphis instead of turning back. It worked out well because it ended up upgrading slightly anyways, plus I got to meet and see some cousins I never knew.

holley79 replied: Shawn went to Memphis also for Dennis. He went up there with his dad. I, of course, had to stay because of work. If it gets to be anything like a Katrina or a Rita I would have to contemplate getting fired. I don't really want to be at the SO for anything like that. It didn't do well during Ivan I seriously doubt it will hold up to anything like that again.

Cece00 replied: Depends.

First, it depends on how close the hurricane is coming to us. Like, we didnt leave for Katrina, or even prepare, but for Rita, we stayed @ my parents.

If its a Cat 3, we stay @ my parents. We live in a raised house, they have a slab, generator, everything.

If its a Cat 4, we consider (seriously consider) leaving. We've never had to leave yet, but I've got 3 kids (will have 4 in Aug) and I dont take the chance if I feel its really unsafe.