Not far from me^
7: 00 PM 10/14/2024
Two days of hard work and I have my garage back. I have not been anywhere today but people have notified me gasoline is now available – no limit, no line. That was quick!!
My new car is supposedly going to arrive 10/17/ 2024, so I feverously worked to get all the shelving units out of the canter of the garage so the Tesla will fit right in and be charged day one. I had purchase the “pigtail” so it can charge it (there are so many possibilities to charge that Tesla decided not to provide any). The one I purchased was supposed to be here last week, but it is now scheduled for tomorrow or Wednesday.
All the plaster board was going to be replaced, but with my shelves and the washer and dryer, you cannot see that it is missing. If I have it replaced and we get another storm it will get damaged, so leaving it off will save fixing it again.
They emptied our 6 yard dumpster, but it is almost full again!
After Helene I had power in the clubhouse so I took my 6 cu ft Igloo refrigerator in there and used it to keep things cool. Today I tried powering it with my little battery and the inverter I had, it worked! So, next time I lose power I plan on having a solar panel and a deep cycle battery. The battery can run the fridge, and the solar panel feed the battery!
I just reached for my flashlight to go to the bathroom, I am that tired and 5 days of no power trained me!
For me, Helene and Milton are in the mirror.
PS: OOPS I forgot the hole in the roof and the back porch!!
9:00Â PMÂ Â Â 10-13-2024
We have our power back on!!!! I finally have Internet!
Five days ago the shelter kicked us out. They had no food and the bathrooms were closed due to no water. I have spent the last five days camping out in my own home, I had water but no power or Internet. Gasoline is in scarce supply with people lined up more than a mile to get 10 gallons, nothing in gas cans. No one has ice. Publix has been open to get food, so that has been a godsend. Eileen had power in the theater, so I have been shuttling back and forth to charge my batteries and to make ice in her refrigerator. I have a battery that is supposed to be used to start a car, I would charge it up at the theater and charge my phone at home, it lasted about three phone charges before it also had to be recharged.Â
I could have dragged my grill out to cook an egg or boil water, but it is easier to just eat prepared food out of the refrigerator or canned.
I purchased a battery powered skill saw, my new best friend to have when there is no power and you need to cut a piece of plywood to go over a busted out window!
Every day I spent the day removing the sheets of plywood from the windows, carrying them down one and two sets of stairs, and putting them away up in my garage. It is 10 feet up there so quite a challenge. Cleaning the sludge and sand out of my garage, opening cases that had tools in them and dumping out the salt water. Drying out everything that I could. Climbing out on the roof to put a lid over the hole the storm had made when it took my chimney. Pulling a window glass back to the house. Putting a piece of plywood over the window. Carrying load after load of damaged stuff out to the parking lot. Going out in the mangroves to retrieve 15 gas cans that had ended up out there, pieces of chimneys, chairs, life preservers, sections of my dock box: reassembling my dock box. So many things to do that even working dawn to dark I did not finish. When the power came on at 5:28 this afternoon I sat down and slept for 2 1/2 hours. It was so so so great to have cool dry air from the AC.
My new Model 3 Tesla is due soon. I cannot wait! I have to clear out space in the garage for it, but that is a work of love!
9:30 10-9-2024
It is still here, not moving, just pounding us for the last hour! There is talk about the eye hitting south of us, but look at the radar, we are getting all the rain and winds!
100 mph winds – power is reported out for millions of people.
Milton came in right south of us going northeast!!!!!! at 8:30
We got the wind (99 mph here) and the rain, but apparently not the surge, hopefully.
9 PM
There are reports that Tampa Bay is being drained, not water coming in! The surge came and went as Milton came ashore?? Wow!
8 PM
Video:Â Â https://youtube.com/shorts/zdDOE3LQLlA
We are snug, but there is an air leak in the window and a roof leak! That rain coming down horizontally is amazing!
And the hurricane has not hit yet!
6 PM
We are sheltered in place. This is our “lifeboat” they said, We are to stay in our room until the Federal Government gives the all clear. Last time I was here when the storm was gone I just left and went home. The feds most likely will wait for a day!
5 PM
It is getting almost as dark as night with rain pelting the windows, even though there is a 5 foot overhang.
4:30Â
They just came over the intercom saying that after dinner (at 6 PM) they will lock the doors for re-entry. We will be able to leave, but the doors will not be manned to let anyone in. They said they want to protect us and the buildings from the fierce winds.
Dinner consisted of a peanut butter and jam Crustable, a Nutra grain bar, a stick of cheese and some Goldfish. But nothing to drink.
There are only 12 of us left in the room.10 left.
3 PM
The lady who refused to leave has been picked up.
Others had called 911 and talked to the police but the police said it was too bad out to dispatch anyone! But then then two police did show up!
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, connecting Pinellas and Manatee counties, closed Wednesday morning because of high winds ahead of Hurricane Milton, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, also closed to traffic.
Other bridges closed includes westbound Gandy Bridge and westbound Courtney Campbell Causeway.
1:45
Going to lunch I got wet, the wind is blowing the rain sideways, I was in a covered walkway, but the rain got me anyway. Lunch was a meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, apple sauce and a slice of bread, with a half pint of apple juice for a drink. Some also got baked beans.
They came over the intercom to say that Pinellas County may turn off the water!
11AM
Mike had his Apple phone plugged in all night but it did not charge. Luckily I had an adapter from my Android to Apple fitting and got him charging.
A guy just came by with a thin Apple computer (he is not in this room so I did not know how he found me, maybe because I have five devices all charging) and asked if I could help him charge it. Nope, that has a very tiny tiny fitting, sorry.
They just came through to see if anyone wanted lunch brought in. Then he said for dinner they will bring everyone dinner because the weather is getting worse.
Just think, Trump says that he will disband NOAA if he becomes president again!! Back to the dark ages.
Missy is in the bulls eye, so she says she is leaving and getting away.
They just relocated 10 of the women from this room, I guess they have opened up another room, this one was crowded!
Now I am up to six items being charged, others brought their phones!
9 AM
Luckily they opened up another building so we did not have to walk in the rain!
A little lady sat beside me and said, I only came for the coffee, do you want my sandwich and milk? So, I had two breakfasts! I gave her my apple and just ate the orange. Rain, rain, and more rain.Â
The EMT’s have their own room so they do not have to travel to get here when someone has a problem! Instant help!
7:30 AM
The staff came through and got the names of the infirm who cannot walk through the rain to get breakfast, they will bring breakfast to them.
7:45 the alarm just went off to wake everyone up.
Jenny has a friend Mike picking her up so I do not have to.
It is raining pretty well out there and we have to walk a ways to get breakfast!
The good news (for us in the Tampa area) is the spaghetti models show it hitting further south than me, so we will get slightly less surge, 9 to 12 feet not 10 to 15 feet, we had a 7 foot surge two weeks ago.
The bad news is that it is still a Cat 5.
4 AM 10-9-2024
The paramedics came an hour ago and took out a lady. Now there are 13 ladies and four guys here, more than before. Everyone is awake and tracking the storm. Â
8 PM
I was just notified that our sewer and water at my home will be cut off starting tomorrow. When they will return is anybody’s guess.
5 PM
Larry’s wife had gone to the store and brought back sliced meats and cheese! She made me a huge sandwich! Four slices of ham, one slice of cheese and one slice of a spicey meat! And chips! Awesome! No need to go out or to the cafeteria with the crowd.
PS, there are 300+ people waiting in the rain to get to the cafeteria!! Thank goodness for Janet!!
3 PMÂ
An older lady had an inflatable air mattress kind of like mine but she could not get it inflated and asked me for help. I finally figured it out and got it working for her.
Mike had nothing to sleep on, I had brought a spare air mattress and gave it to him, he did not want it but Larry did so I blew it up for him. I had two pads, Mike did take one so I gave it to him and another one to a lady who was trying to sleep on the floor. Luckily Mike and Larry are anti Trump!!!
10/8/2024
2 PM
I finished putting up the plywood and put sealant on the front door and garage. I did the best I could, it is up to nature now.
I got the last space in a room at Gibbs High School. Everyone behind me is going to spend time in a gym with no power or seats.12 people in this classroom, but it is cool and dry. This school is way inland and up high. No surge can get here. Winds, yes, but we will be fine.
10/8/2024Â
8 AM
The weather Channel says that the surge will be “not survivable” here Wednesday night and Thursday morning! I need to get things done and out!
8 PM
180 mph winds, almost the lowest pressure on record. Not a storm to ignore. I am headed to the shelter tomorrow. A few more things to do in the morning, then I am gone and hoping for the best.
3 PM
Milton is in the top category 5 at 175 mph, there is no Category 6:
- Category One: Winds 74 to 95 miles per hour (mph). …
- Category Two: Winds 96 to 110 mph. …
- Category Three: Winds 111 to 130 mph. …
- Category Four: Winds 131 to 155 mph. …
- Category Five: Winds greater than 155 mph.
Category 5 (max sustained winds of 157 mph or higher): Catastrophic damage will occur. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Milton was centered 700 miles west-southwest of Tampa early afternoon Monday, moving east at 9 mph. The storm’s path had shifted slightly north, placing the CENTER of the uncertainty in the Tampa Bay area.
12:30
Milton is a Cat 5 storm 160 mph winds. The storm has rapidly intensified, strengthening from Category 2 to 5 in just a few hours. By Tuesday, Milton’s intensity “should be dictated by any eyewall replacement cycles, which will likely cause the system to gradually weaken but grow larger,”Â
Now 10 to 15 foot surge predicted.
I put plastic by the garage door and by the back door, I do not know if it will help, but it is something.
11 AM, Milton is a Cat 4 storm, 150 mph winds!
I have the bedroom windows protected with plywood, now the living room.
10-7-2024
The worst case scenario for me has 100 mph winds and 9 foot surge. Helene was 7 foot surge and no wind for me. Currently a Cat 3 storm. I am putting up plywood now.
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OK, enough is enough. Helene 10 days ago, now I am being evacuated AGAIN! 145 mph winds! Huge surge! If it goes up the red model track, we will get the high winds. If it goes the green track, the huge surge. Category 4!!! Maybe Cat 5!!!!!!
Tuesday late, going into Wednesday, we will experience another hurricane. I am mostly ready for another 7 foot surge, but if it is higher……Â I have not put up my plywood to protect my windows, if the models converge on me, I will try to get some up.
Tomorrow (Monday 10-7-2024) I plan to bring a few sheets of plywood up to cover the sliding doors, then Tuesday going to volunteer at Gibbs High School in their evacuation center (it will be open tomorrow).
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