OT: A long night ahead
For those who are willing, it's going to be a long night and day ahead for us in eastern and central Florida. We'd appreciate your thoughts and prayers as hurricane Matthew is bearing down on the area.
Looking forward to cheering on Harbaugh and co. once we get through this mess.
Thanks and go blue!
ed: thanks for the well wishes already. My family and I are in Orlando. So yes any further east and we'd have gotten the heck outta town.
6:30 AM update:
So far so good in southeast Orlando. There's some blowing and gusting, but overall it's been tamer than expected.
We've had power all night, so coffee's on. I got about four hours of sleep, and wife and son are still sleeping soundly.
We aren't out of the woods yet, but thanks for the prayers and positive thoughts.
8:30 AM Update:
Still raining and blowing here, but no visible damage other than a few small limbs down. Nothing worse than a summer thunderstorm as far as that goes. The Atlantic coast has taken it pretty hard and there are lots w/o power. Daytona Beach is getting hammered by wind and rain all morning. Praying for similar positive reports from other MGoFloridians.
October 6th, 2016 at 11:39 PM ^
Unless you had the ability to leave a long time ago, there's no gas heading north. Unless you are right on the coast or in a trailer, you aren't going to die if you have a few days' food and water and shelter in place.
October 6th, 2016 at 11:52 PM ^
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October 6th, 2016 at 11:52 PM ^
Schools and some workplaces were closed today. They were not closed yesterday or the day before. And just in those three days things have changed a lot in terms of where it would hit. You act like it's just a matter of $400, which isn't "just" to a lot of people, and it's not only $400 if you have to take off several days of work in addition to that.
And are you aware of how large Florida is? One tank of gas will not get you from Golden Beach (which is the furthest south the hurricane warnings were earlier today) to Alabama.
October 7th, 2016 at 1:15 AM ^
To be fair, no one on the east coast of Florida who leaves is really going to have to "take off work" and lose money like you suggest. Work isn't happening. Everything is shut down.
And a drive to Alabama isn't necessary. Just getting to the west side of Florida - anywhere along the west coast or really the west half of Florida - will get you out of danger.
I do agree that coming up with $400 on short notice can be difficult for some people, but honestly, you need to figure out a way to get the fuck out of the hurricane's path if you are in an area that's going to be hit with 100+ mph winds.
btw I'm writing from a shitty cheap hotel in Charlotte :)
October 7th, 2016 at 1:17 AM ^
If you wanted to get out while there was still gas heading north you would. If you left today it was too late.
October 6th, 2016 at 11:53 PM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:00 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:07 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:11 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:26 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^
Tornado alley etc.
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October 7th, 2016 at 7:39 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
My only problem with Florida is the continued use of public money, to rebuild stuff that folks knew would get destroyed when it was built... and rebuild it in exactly the same way so it'll get destroyed again.
There is a reason every house in Cozumel is built of poured concrete or block and has hurricane shutters.
People building stick construction houses with asphalt roofs who have to cover their windows with plywood shouldn't be able to insure... and in a non-subsidized market, they wouldn't be able to.
October 7th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
And not just Florida. You can include pretty much the entire Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Camille destroyed everything on the Mississippi coast in 1969. Katrina did the same 36 years later. Except for the one house that was elevated and made of concrete.
October 7th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
This makes my point. EVERYTHING built on the coast here now is concerete.
October 7th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
you live there, so I'll take your word for it. But that should have been the case since 69'. Camille destroyed everything in its path. People rebuilt in the same places using the same materials.
Personally I'm of the opinion that if you choose to have an oceanfront home or business (other than a port or marina) you're really doing so at your own risk. It should be designed and built to withstand 150mph winds and a 20ft storm surge.
October 7th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^
"It should be designed and built to withstand 150mph winds and a 20ft storm surge."
They are for wind they are inexcess of that already per code. For surge it is based on the one hundred year storm elevation, so some are more than 20 and some are less than 20. Just choosing a randon number like say "20 ft storm surge" doesn't mean a lot because some areas, topographically, don't need that whereas others do.
In terms of what happened with Camille in 1969, I mean, whatever. That was 47 years ago and a lot has changed since then. Heck, the highest storm surge in Camille in Florida was "only" 5 feet (the record storm surge in Florida is about 15 feet). The same could equally be said about earthquake-prone zones. Or tornado-prone zones. Why pin that just on coastal states (especially why just pin it on one particular state like you did), where equally valid comparisons exist. Heck, it seems far more irresponsibile to let people continue to build in river flood planes without any scientific advancements, but they do. Frankly, the steps taken to fortify coastal areas is quite remarkable. Not to mention that Florida is a COMPLETELY different state than it was in 1969 in terms of where people lived in the state (the geographic center of the state is something like 150 miles south of where it used to be just 50 years ago).
October 7th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
On just one state. In fact, my post was in regards to all coastal areas that are prone to hurricanes.
And I feel the same way about all areas that have frequent natural disasters. Build to withstand it or don't build at all.
October 7th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
The same could equally be said about earthquake-prone zones. Or tornado-prone zones.
Eh - earthquake zones maybe due to the potential of large scale destruction. The difference is they're much more likely to be privately insured, and not be sucking federal dollars for their choice of living location.
In my lifetime there have been two major quakes that required federal funding - Loma Prieta and Northridge. They accounted for about $16 billion in federal funds.
In the same time period there were 8 major hurricanes and one major tropical storm.
Hurrican Sandy by itself accounted for $48 billion in federal funds.
Hurrican Katrina accounted for $120 billion in federal funds.
Heck, it seems far more irresponsibile to let people continue to build in river flood planes without any scientific advancements, but they do.
People building in 100 year flood plains are also taking stupid chances and should not get government subsidized insurance.
People should be allowed to build basically wherever they like - but they should also be on the hook for their own insurance costs, and should they be somewhere a private insurer won't insure... the government shouldn't bail them out or provide insurance.
It just incentivizes living in these areas at the expense of folks that do not.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:27 PM ^
You do understand that flood insurance (federally subsidized) and hurricane coverage to a homeowners policy (not federally subsidized) are completely separate types of policies, and that you don't have to have flood insurance, right? I mean, I live less than a mile straight line from the Gulf in non-evacuation, non-flood insurance area and by your logic I'm mooching off of the taxpayer to insure my house (hint: I'm not). Don't conflate federal disaster relief dollars (which is what you provided) with insurance.
"People should be allowed to build basically wherever they like - but they should also be on the hook for their own insurance costs, and should they be somewhere a private insurer won't insure... the government shouldn't bail them out or provide insurance."
100% in agreement. Believe it or not, a lot of Floridians back the removal of those subsidies three or four years ago (us included), because believe it or not many people actually ARE responsible in where they build/buy here in Florida. Again, flood insurance (subsidized) is not the same as homeowners (not subsidized). The VAST majority of damage in hurricanes is from flooding, not wind (unless you're unlucky enough to have a tornado strike), so your issue is properly placed solely with those who live in flood zones (which, believe it or not, is not very much of Florida, even here this close to the beach) who ARE the ones that receive incredible subsidies. In other words, not remotely everyone that lives here.
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October 7th, 2016 at 8:30 PM ^
It actually also subsidizes them at the expense of folks that DO, but do not require flood insurance. My house would be worth a hell of a lot more (because it's high and dry and near the beach) without the subsidies, because the people lower in elevation wouldn't be able to afford to live there, so trust me when I say that I understand the issue fully because I guarantee you that I subsidize that folks WAY more than you do.
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
I'm not even going to get started on subsidzed insurance, but you're wrong about the rebuild and building codes, at least in the coastal counties.
October 7th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
While the building codes IMPROVED significantly after Andrew (they were a complete joke prior) - they still aren't NEALRY strict enough if we're going to be publicly funding insurance for them.
You can still build stick houses with asphalt roofs in an area likely to be hit by a major hurrican every 10-20 years - that will be totally destroyed by said hurricane - and be in compliance with current code.
October 7th, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
Stick built is fine with respect to wind rating (it's a surge issue, which is why the coastal zones don't allow for it, but more inland areas do), and roofing material isn't the issue with wind as much as installation method is (which is adequately covered by code in the counties most likely to encounter a major hurricane). In other words, a shingle roof is fine for the wind rating of a cat 5 IF it's installed a certain why (which the code accounts for). That's why some things are allowed more inland, since surge AND wind aren't as much of an issue inland (and by "inland" it's not even that far inland).
October 7th, 2016 at 1:32 PM ^
Amazing the huge, huge amounts of damage caused by Hurricane Charley on the "fine with respect to wind rating" houses... post the change in building codes.
October 7th, 2016 at 8:16 PM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
You're about 15 million times more likely to be killed by your spouse than a terrorist or illegal immigrant.
Doesn't stop half the country from trying to ban Muslims and other immigrants from coming to the US
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October 7th, 2016 at 8:41 AM ^
October 8th, 2016 at 2:15 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:31 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:50 AM ^
You can think I'm a liar, but you'd be wrong
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October 7th, 2016 at 10:23 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
Hurricanes wouldn't make me not choose to live in Florida.
Having to live in Florida with Floridians on the other hand, definitely would.
October 7th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
Florida has 3 regions.
From North to South -
1) South Alabama
2) South New York/New Jersey
3) North Cuba
October 6th, 2016 at 11:54 PM ^
New Orleans is a completely different situation from anything in Florida. The levees failed, which is why the entire large metropolitan area was underwater. That's not something that is a risk in Florida, if you aren't right on the coast. During Andrew there was huge destruction of property, but not very much loss of life.
October 7th, 2016 at 12:08 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:24 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:31 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:26 AM ^
But it's pretty low to bag on people who live in those places. First of all, these disasters don't exactly happen every month, and people are accustomed to living through them. Second, people live everywhere. Some of them live in these places. You really want to vacate the entire Gulf of Mexico? All of Japan? The most populous state in the country?
Glad you're ok. Have a little consideration for others.
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:37 AM ^
IMHO my family and kids come first before me. So at the very least, they're all going to absolute safety, even if I can't go with them.
Please point out where I was "bagging"on people and I will apologize. Seems to me I posted my opinion, which is a far cry from "bagging" on folks.
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:39 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 12:54 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
I'm sure every husband and father here puts their family before themselves
October 7th, 2016 at 12:56 AM ^
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October 7th, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
I love how you stated your opinion Jaws and everyone's putting words in your mouth now. You basically asked a question of why people live there, and have yet to get an answer. Never "bagged" on anyone.
Living by the ocean, dodging winters, better job opportunities, etc would be common answers to risk the small possibility of a hurricane.
But nah let's just call you a dick over and over instead because you stated your opinion bluntly.
October 7th, 2016 at 1:06 AM ^
Also, please show me where I "bagged" on anyone. The only negative thing I said was that I don't understand why people would live in certain places.
How that is "bagging" on people is beyond me.
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October 7th, 2016 at 1:09 AM ^
October 7th, 2016 at 1:25 AM ^
What is the proper price I should have stated to not be condescending?
My basic premise was there is no price big enough to ensure my families safety.
I have been in very close calls with hurricanes and tornados. The fact they happen regularly in those areas was enough to make me move. Why keep family in regular, annual danger seems odd to me.
A). Ensure tornado and hurricane will never be an issue or
B). Risk everything you love and have worked so hard for every couple years.
Why choice A is such a terrible thing according to you seems backwards to me. B seems like the obvious choice. At least have a "hurricane" kit with cash et al that allows you to GTFO of dodge
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