Florida is not taking this storm seriously

[Ex Lurker]

Two days from landfall and no evacuations. By contrast, South Carolina is already closing schools and government offices, and ordering evacuations of low lying areas, with contraflow starting tomorrow.

[Renew Deal]

1. Doesn't look like a direct hit

Though it's full of rain

[Ex Lurker]

2. Models are moving west

Latest Euro has it skirting all the way up the coast just offshore, which would be catastrophic.

[Renew Deal]

3. I know and it keeps moving around

The eye was supposed to pass over Haiti and Cuba. It went over Haiti and stayed over the water next to Cuba. I think that means it will retain some of its strength.

[B2G]

35. It's going over the eastern tip of Cuba

As we speak.

[VMA131Marine]

4. Could that be because it's going to hit the most liberal parts of the state?

Could really affect turnout if the damage is bad.

[SCliberal91294]

11. We're over a month away from the election.

How does that affect turnout?

[VMA131Marine]

13. If there’s a lot of damage people who evacuate may not be able to come back

Until after the election. That's pretty much what happened in New Orleans after Katrina.

[SCliberal91294]

16. I think

FL will just get a lot of rain.

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. Then it will get a lot of flooding.

going by past storms.

[malaise]

5. Isn't Florida facing the same side as Jamaica - as in the

weak side with some squalls and very little wind???

The Bahamas will be devastated but not Florida.

add

[mcar]

23. Yes

I think that's it.

[Hortensis]

24. Yes, and many snowbirds with vulnerable coastal

properties aren't there yet. This may sound like a frivolous comment, but most people we know who live there year round very practically buy inland a bit on higher ground. We're the type who buy 60-year-old mobile homes (our version of what we could afford to replace -- i.e., comfy but fully depreciated with almost no market value) on an estuary 4 feet above sea level.

[malaise]

27. And the summer ones lefta

After Labor Day. Truth is people are preparing big time. My folks are pissed - they were going to travel Thursday morning

[Hortensis]

28. Oh, sounds like a good time to travel.... Apparently they

planned to go the wrong direction? My sympathies are with them. Our place is near the mouth of Tampa Bay on the west coast, so unless Matthew plays a really dirty trick it won't affect our place. We always have food and water in place just in case, although with any storm our one important supply is a gassed-up car so we can do some traveling ourselves. Our ancient MH is anchored in coastal sand...

[malaise]

29. She's now worried about leaving their son

on his own

[Hortensis]

31. Oh, no. You? Regardless, now I'm really sympathizing.

[malaise]

33. Airlines are allowing

changes so they'll go Friday if all goes well (Dade County is not under threat at this time).

[Hortensis]

36. Hope it works out -- and that the European models

are wrong. No one needs this thing. Our friends on Hilton Head are required to evacuate, I think. Most people have friends inland.

I hear Governor Scott is activating the Florida National Guard -- it is an election year...

From South Carolina; "Steve Stanforth is worried about Hurricane Matthew’s political orientation.

“We have decided it’s a liberal storm, because it keeps moving to the left,” Stanforth, manager of Lady’s Island Marina, joked Tuesday morning. “We need a conservative storm,” he said, “so it’ll move to the right.”

[malaise]

37. The Euro models have been the most accurate

for some time

[Hortensis]

38. Darn! Didn't know that.

If I lived on the coast I would of course. Everyone stay safe.

[minoan]

6. They are closing schools in Palm Beach n/t

[okwmember]

30. Same in Broward

As well as opening shelters and requesting evacuees start heading out now.

[RockaFowler]

39. Martin & St Lucie as well

[davidn3600]

7. Florida is in a state of emergency and the national guard is activated

The storm is not projected to hit Florida directly at this time. But they are in a position to start evacuating if the forecast changes.

Right now the state would be on the western side of the eye. That's typically the weaker side of a hurricane.

[malaise]

9. And it was very weak in Jamaica

Stores are running out of bread and water in said Florida

[Mika]

8. I'm in S.Fla now. Home supply stores are mobbed. No water on grocery shelves. Long lines.

Both in Miami and Ft Lauderdale.

Tomorrow there will be panic in Broward and the counties to the north.

[malaise]

10. I saw that

look at the gas station lines -just like Jamaica - and we're still waiting for Matthew

[teach1st]

14. Seasoned Floridians

Seasoned Floridians know to keep a stash of nonperishable foods and other essentials at all times. Plus wine and spirits. Lots of spirits.

I'm charging all of my extra phone batteries and device charges right now. I have a full tank in the car. If worse comes to worse, I pick up my mom and head out of here to less threatened areas where we know people.

Florida school systems typically wait a bit before closing. Not always wise, in my opinion, but it does save a lot of money.

I can assure you we're taking this seriously and preparing. Best wishes to everybody!

[okwmember]

32. Had to go to a Boca Home Depot

this morning for a totally random item, but at 8:30 this morning they were already out of propane and telling the people I saw asking that all the nearby stores were out as well. Woman in front of me, said she had already been to her Publix and they were out of the water and batteries she was getting at H Depot.

[yeoman6987]

12. Darn. Your OP left out a lot

First state to call state of emergency
First state to call national guard
First state to close some schools
We've been through this a ton of times. We got this thank you.

[DrDan]

15. sure we are taking it seriously - went to Publix this morning and it was jammed with

folks stocking up

some evacuations have already been announced in Brevard county - the Cape has announced

my son is a nurse in Ormond - he will be going on emergency work schedule, ie not leaving the hospital until Saturday

[liberal N proud]

17. I heard Scott's interview on the weather channel, he does not get it

He thinks everyone will have plenty of time.

[cwydro]

18. Oh please.

I lived in the Keys for over 20 years.

Floridians know what they're doing.

[NightWatcher]

19. I'm fleeing to New Orleans or Pensacola from Jacksonville

[Dr Hobbitstein]

20. Schools in Brevard County are closed Thursday and Friday.

Florida is taking it seriously, but hurricanes are common in Florida. We've been through it a bunch. We don't all collectively freak out when a storm is near.

[GulfCoast66]

21. Do you even live here?

We are taking it very seriously. Even in the Orlando area.

[Warpy]

22. Uh, yeah, they are

A watch is posted from Miami to Brevard County, including Cape Canaveral. People are picking up sandbags and some are heading inland if they've got relatives they can visit for a few days.

The storm is hundreds of miles away, still a few miles away from the eastern tip of Cuba. Most people will wait a day to see where the thing is really headed before they pack the car to go sit in traffic. By tomorrow morning, they should have a better idea of who's going to get clobbered and how hard.

I do have to say if I were on any of the barrier islands, it would be time for a nice inland vacation. My dad lived on one of those islands and it was barely above sea level.

[Hortensis]

40. I read Gov. Scott is activating the National Guard.

He probably doesn't want to have to shake hands with Obama in an election year.

[Tree-Hugger]

25. They are

I have family inland and they are prepped and taking some friends from the coast.

One of my dearest friends is on a barrier island and she just told me there are mandatory evacuations.

[aikoaiko]

26. Its not very clear that evacuations are necessary. I'm sitting in coastal GA.

And we probably won't evacuate.

I do have a hotel room reserved for Thursday - Sunday in Augusta and I have until 4 pm tomorrow to cancel with no penalty.

[RockaFowler]

41. Supplies are low everywhere

Sam's had no bread or water

The lines for gas were so long

Traffic is unbearable right now on the Treasure Coast

My husband put all of our shutters up today, so he gets to go to his job tomorrow (Lowe's). That should be fun.

Oh and if it's a DIRECT HIT - we are out of here. We have a solid home, but I don't take Cat 4 or 5 storms lightly.

We have 1 more day to really get scared about it.

Here's hoping for a shift to the EAST for us

[quaker bill]

42. My guess is that you are not on the Florida EOC conference calls

I am, plans to close the schools run up the entire east coast, decisions on evacuations are scheduled for tomorrow am depending on model guidance.

Emergency response is one of the things we are fairly good at here, which is why our teams were in New Orleans and Gulfport the day after Katrina.

[1939]

43. We take it very seriously (first since 2005)

My landscaper is putting up my shutters on the front door tomorrow. Cars are topped off (long lines at the filling stations). We have plenty of water and canned food for three days on hand. Supermarket lines are crazy and some shelves (e.g. bread) look like Venezuela. Moving the patio furniture indoors tomorrow. We will ride it out at home unless we get a Cat 4 or 5, then the polezei will forcibly make us move out (because of possible storm surge) and we will couch surf at my brother-in-law's till it passes.

[NightWatcher]

44. Try to get a hotel east of Mobile, Al.

[spanone]

45. two words: rick. scott.