NOAA is predictiing a 5-8 foot storm surge with Matthew.

[jpak]

Get out of low lying areas please!

[safeinOhio]

1. How much of South Florida

is more than 8 ft. above sea level?

[titaniumsalute]

2. Well I lived about 9 miles west of the coast in Palm Beach County

I was at 11 feet above sea level.

The biggest problem will be homes.business that are on the intercoastal areas and in some areas where the land to the west of the intercoastals my be at or below sea levels.

[safeinOhio]

4. Is that Palm Beach Hills?

Hope you stay safe.

[titaniumsalute]

6. No I lived in West Boca Raton

My yard was actually butted against the everglades so I was as far west as you could get from the coast. I'm in Ohio now. But just talking to friends down there this morning. Even the local hardcore Floridians are worried about this one.

[titaniumsalute]

22. Honestly they should be OK

No worry for storm surge there...probably a lot of rain.

Right now the models are all showing that the storm may be staying slightly more east of PBC which is really good for them.

[csziggy]

17. Here is where to find an answer!

Storm Surge Inundation (SLOSH Maximum of Maximums)
http://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingTextLegend/index.html?appid=b1a20ab5eec149058bafc059635a82ee

It's going to be a mess.

[RockaFowler]

3. We may even get up to 11 feet

I'm on the Treasure Coast and I'm scared shitless

145 MPH and Storm Surge?!?!?!

I'm about 10 miles inland, but DAMN

[titaniumsalute]

7. Yeah man your area is looking worse than South Florida

It seems to be between about Jupiter and Jacksonville will be hardest hit because of that parallel trajectory to the coast. That usually doesn't happen but the beach erosion, surge, rain, and wind will be felt over a big distance. Keep us posted if you would. Have a lot of friends and former clients along that coast.

[RockaFowler]

8. I'm gonna try to stay online

I can't sleep and I feel nauseous

Winds are starting now - just little bit, not as bad as it will be

[mnhtnbb]

14. I have a friend in Jacksonville who is brushing off how dangerous this could be

moved there from Virginia several years ago so has never lived through one of these storms AND probably has long-time Jacksonville neighbors
who aren't taking it seriously enough, either.

I only hope she and her husband come to their senses and get out of there today.

[titaniumsalute]

16. Well that is always the case with many people

But at the end of the day it could be very bad. Hopefully a little shear from the west keeps it east.

[csziggy]

24. Send this link to pictures of the Mississippi coast after Katrina

https://www.wunderground.com/education/Katrinas_surge_part12.asp

That would convince me to NEVER try to ride out a hurricane near a coast! (As a native Florida resident I have never had any desire to own land near the coast!)

Also send them this Storm Surge Map link: http://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingTextLegend/index.html?appid=b1a20ab5eec149058bafc059635a82ee They can zoom in and find where their house is and see how much danger they might be in from the storm surge.

The 145 mph winds will be another matter but if their house was built after Andrew they have a better chance of the roof staying on than with an older house - Florida really increased the building codes after Andrew.

[titaniumsalute]

23. Yes further north is worse...and from Melbourne to Daytona it could be REALLy not good.

It is good that those areas have less population but still.

[malaise]

9. Stay safe

[RockaFowler]

11. Thanks

[mcar]

15. It is scary

Have you gotten an evacuation order?

[aikoaiko]

5. I'm in coastal GA at 25 ft elev and we're leaving today for Augusta.

Not that I think we will flood, but lower lying areas especially the GA barrier islands, will flood from storm surge and I expect severe power outages and services will need to go to the more needy folks.

I say this because many folks in Florida are in riskier situations and I hope they leave today, too.

Good luck Florida and Georgia coastal folks. Be smart.

[jpak]

10. I hope the folks on the populated barrier islands get out.

I was on Sapelo during a tropical storm and watched the surge come in - not a damaging surge, but pretty impressive nonetheless.

Can't imaging an eight foot surge with 10 foot waves...

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. When was the last time the Florida east coast took a big hit?

Andrew?

Stay safe down there, folks.

[Odin2005]

13. What part of Florida ISN'T low-lying???

[csziggy]

21. There is a ridge down the center of the state - the Lake Wales or Mid-Florida Ridge

One of the highest point in peninsular Florida is at Bok Tower in Lake Wales, which was built on Iron Mountain, 295 feet above sea level. Most of the ridge is about 60 to 120 feet above sea level.

[link:http://www.archbold-station.org/documents/publicationspdf/Weekley,etal.-2008-FlaSci-LWRboundary.pdf|AN ECOLOGICAL MAP OF FLORIDA’S LAKE WALES
RIDGE: A NEW BOUNDARY DELINEATION AND AN
ASSESSMENT OF POST-COLUMBIAN HABITAT LOSS]

[maryellen99]

19. I've been on other boards and a lot of people are staying

And it's not due to pets or lack of money.

[meaculpa2011]

25. We're 9 feet above sea level and four miles...

from the beach just outside of NYC.

Sandy caused a surge of 13 feet.

I just finishing the repairs now. Almost four years of do-it-yourself renovations.

My parents had eight feet of water in their ground floor. I had to repair their house first. My Mom died soon after and Dad still blames it on the stress caused by the storm.

If you're still in coastal Florida expecting to ride it out... don't. Get out.

Homes can be repaired. Things can be replaced.

[TRUMP-BS-DETECTOR]

26. Wow Huge storm

So much for this storm mainly hitting the dem counties. Everybody in danger be safe!

[JohnnyLib2]

27. Best wishes to all and please, please act wisely.