Who is planing to leave, and when are you going?

[Sancho]

We're on the west coast. Usually we ride them out, but on a couple occasions we went to GA or SC.

I'm curious what everyone's plans are for Irma.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. my brother is in Valrico, near Brandon - just starting to email him to ensure he is up to date on

the potential path.

[DonCoquixote]

28. thankfully that area is high ground

coprss fingers

[dewsgirl]

2. I'm in Vero Beach on the east coast, we may go to Lakeland or Orlando.

The last time we were worried enough to evacuate it took 5 hrs to get to Orlando (usually only an hour and a half)

[Sancho]

4. We had trouble with traffic getting out too.

I 4 can be a big parking lot.

[dewsgirl]

7. I was just up there a couple days ago, I-4 has always been bad

but it was worse than it used to be.

[dewsgirl]

9. I was just up there a couple days ago, I-4 has always been bad

a mess, if so many people weren't sight seeing it wouldn't be so bad. I swear I get cut off everytime I'm on I-4, and that's only for the 10 or so miles between 192 and International Drive.

[csziggy]

15. From Vero Beach, take State Road 60 west straight through Yeehaw Junction

That will get you to Lake Wales or on to Bartow. From Lake Wales you can take US-27 north or from Bartow, take 17 towards Orlando or 98 to Lakeland.

I grew up down there and when I go back, I avoid the interstates completely. Even on non-holiday, non-emergency times the traffic is horrible. When we drive down from Tallahassee to visit my Mom in Bartow, we take US-27, 19, 98 the entire way. Most of it is four lane north of Brooksville and very good roads.

Bartow is in the center of the state on reasonably high ground. Lake Wales has the highest spot in peninsular Florida, the hill where Bok Tower is. Both are on the Lake Wales Ridge which is much higher than the coasts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Wales_Ridge

Winter Haven would have more hotels than Bartow or Lake Wales. Cypress Gardens used to be there and now it has Lego Land, so more tourists than the other small towns in that area. Lakeland's hotels are mostly up by I-4 - and they will probably be packed.

The thing about it is, that most people think of heading to the larger towns so there may be more room in the little ones.

Good luck!

[DonCoquixote]

29. be careful about yehaw junction

it is NOT somehwere you want to be in a rainstorm, as it is very remote.

[csziggy]

30. True - most of that stretch of road is very low

I haven never driven it in a storm but I suspect it could get flooded, if not to dangerous levels enough to cause hydroplaning.

Plus, it is not a great place to stop, even just for gas or a break. It's been years but one time my husband and I stopped to fill up. I went inside to use the restroom - and decided to hold it for the next fifty miles the room was so nasty. He used a credit card to pay for the gas. When we got our credit card statement that single swipe had been charged twice. No problem with the credit card company, they refunded it with no argument but I got the impression it had happened a lot at that location.

Now if we go that direction to get to the coast, we plan on just driving through.

[DonCoquixote]

31. they do have the desert inn though

but that is it. You do not want to get stuck on a flooded road 50 miles from anything.

[csziggy]

32. Last time we drove through there was only one gas station open

No motel. But as I said, it's been years.

[NightWatcher]

3. In Jax and not planning on leaving.

I've got water and food for more than a week for the fam and we ar not expecting any type of surge but just the punch of winds lasting 6-12 hours.

[Sancho]

5. We had family with a lot of damage on Hilton Head from Mathew

but our main concern here around Tampa is flooding too.

[recovering_democrat]

6. alternatives

in Venice, status depends on movement of Irma. us 'n the cat will go to other family home here if not serious, all home supplies and materials stockpiled for home and car. Have various hotel reservations for GA and ALA depending on seriousness of this area. Son's family in Columbia SC, may need help for them so can go as needed.

Glad for advance planning, wish we had ESP for where Irma is going, but best planned we can do for condiions. Hope everyone stays safe and we can breathe a HUGE sigh of relief!

Evident from recent shopping tours - everybody in this area planning the same way, ahead of time, and lots of water, food and other supplies gone for today!

[redstatebluegirl]

8. I have family in Pensacola who are planning to head to family in South Carolina.

[No Vested Interest]

10. If Floridians are going north, best to go inland, not along the shoreline.

For obvious reasons - heavy, slow traffic on the coastal highways, leading to gas shortages, etc.

[redstatebluegirl]

11. They are headed for Greenville sc

[steve2470]

12. I'm in Orlando

God willing and the creek doesn't rise, it won't be that bad here. If it is....I'll be ok

Hope all DU'ers are safe and happy during this.

[Fla Dem]

13. Depends on where it goes after it turns north.

In NE Florida along the coast. I'm hoping by the time it travels the length of the state, it'll just be a tropical storm. Worried about my brother. He's in Miami. Said he wouldn't leave.

[Sancho]

14. We just decided Thursday morning to go to GA

We're in Pinellas, so if it comes this way it would be tough. The biggest issue is whether to go East or West? We don't see any reason to go inland to Orlando or something like that...may as well drive North and hope it dies a little bit.

[csziggy]

16. Take US-19 north - past Crystal River it is not crowded and good roads.

We're outside Tallahassee and that is the way we go down - from here we take US-27, US 19 joins it south of Monticello, US-98 in Perry. If we're going to Tampa north of Brooksville we take that new toll road that ends at the airport - but we get off sooner to visit my sister in Lutz. If you take US 19 through Monticello you'll get to Thomasville, GA the fastest way.

The forecasts right now are it will turn north, go up the east coast of Florida and hit at the NC/SC line south of Wilmington. Second option, Irma doesn't turn until after it goes over Cuba - which weakens it - travels north through the Gulf but never regains a lot of strength, probably just dumps a lot of water on us.

We've driven the route in storms and it is OK. Flat land so water tends to collect on the roads, so watch out for hydroplaning. If need be, Perry actually has a couple of new hotels where there might be rooms.

[Sancho]

17. Thanks...that's a great idea!

I'd like to avoid 75 and 95! We are going to make a reservation at some rural Red Roof in Ga (pet friendly).

[csziggy]

21. Be careful on the roads! People are getting nuts. nt

[Sancho]

22. Yea..someone was mad at me and I was just in line at a gas pump...

I never knew why. We're leaving early tomorrow. I 75 was a mess, so we'll try to take the alternate roads.

[csziggy]

23. Consider heading towards Alabama or the Panhandle

It looks as though Tallahassee and Panama City will get next to nothing from this one - thank goodness!

What kind of pets? If you get desperate fo some place for them, PM me. I might be able to help.

[Sancho]

24. small dogs...schnauzers...

We have relatives in Atlanta, Brevard, NC, and Raleigh, NC. I figure if I get to GA tomorrow, I can go some direction away from Irma.

Here in Pinellas county everything could flood, but this looks more like a windy one. Red Roof sux, but they take pets.

I was surprised that so many stations were out of gas. I hope that's temporary.

[steve2470]

18. for your brother, he could take US 441 north....

http://bit.ly/2wFMkSd

all the way north to Fargo, GA The scenic route to Georgia He would avoid all the traffic jams on I-95, I-75 and the Florida Turnpike



Then he could mosey over to Athens GA, take in the UGA, then head west to Atlanta

[Fla Dem]

19. Well, that's if he's willing to leave.

He stayed through Andrew and had friends stay with him who lived closer to the coast. He could come to my house. Already told him. But doesn't want to leave.

[steve2470]

20. I really hope he's ok....

All the best to you and your brother!

[hay rick]

25. Martin County, north of Palm Beach County.

Current plan is to hunker down. I have the supplies. If Irma skirts the coast and looks like it could make a direct hit as a Cat 5 I might just drive west over local roads (SR 76).

[JennyMominFL]

26. Orlando

We are staying

[FM123]

27. We are staying.

We have an elderly parent and a sick pet that we are taking care of along with the rest of the family. We are in South West Broward, so we don't usually get the brunt of the storms like Ft lauderdale beach does. That being said, we have taken all precautions seriously and will be hunkering down. Been here in South Florida for over thirty years and weathered quite a few storms, but this one is something else!

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. I'm in Brevard County. We're leaving tomorrow morning...

for a hotel in Gainesville and then leaving early Saturday morning for a hotel in Georgia a little south of Atlanta for the next few nights.

[madamvlb]

34. Dunedin on the water...

This is my second home 🏡 we are on mandatory evacuation orders and going to cousins house in palm harbor.

[Sancho]

36. Update - we made it to SC with the dogs. Staying with relatives.

Great advice to go back roads!! We went up 19, 98, 129, 84, and into rural GA yesterday. We got into SC near Augusta on 25. We passed I-10, I-75 cars in a giant parking lot. We had no problems. It took us 12 hours from 3AM to 330PM to get to go from Clearwater to Greenville, SC.

We took the Prius (not much room to carry stuff but good milage) and had little traffic. We carried a couple gas cans so we didn't have to find gas. Our pickup was packed with some important belonging, but we decided that the gas millage was too bad to make the run without getting stuck on the road.

Friends are stuck everywhere on I-4, I-75, and I-95. Many waited too late and are stuck in Florida. We've heard from numerous people that they are still trying to get out and scattered all over - often with no gas or sleeping in cars.

Just hope the house is there when we get back. We are in Zone D, but zones don't matter if the roof is gone.