@busdriver11 - I can’t take credit for the word hurrication. It’s what Tulane calls their mandatory evacuations.
Just spent 11 total hrs in the car evacuating DS16 from CofC . A trip that usually takes 3 to 3 1/2 hrs one way took 6 because of traffic. At 3:00, all eastbound lanes on 26 will be reversed to aid in the evacuation , and no one will be allowed in except emergency personnel. They are using over 200 school buses to evacuate the coastal areas. CofC students without a plan are being bused to Clemson , and will be expected to stay there until they return to CofC. SC is under a state of emergency , but that has not stopped quite a few über drivers from price gouging charging one student 100 dollars for a 20 min trip to the airport .
I thought uber prices were set on the computer based on demand. There is no money changing hands between the driver and passenger. Can see how demand was high and prices would have been ridiculous. Glad your son is safe.
@jym626 If the prices are set by computer based on demand wouldn’t there be consistently high prices during this event? I’ve never used Uber, so I’m not the best person to know. I would think if this was happening on a regular basis, there would be more reports of this, but I’m not sure. It is nice to have DS home for an extended period of time though. It was supposed to be Parents Weekend , so there were a lot of travel plans effected.
I dont believe the drivers have control over the prices. I know that when I was in Vegas recently, the uber price from the airport to the hotel at a normal hour was $11, but the price at 5 in the morning back to the airport was $30. I think there are “surge” prices for high demand situations, and they also charge more for bigger vehicles.
Was just reading about uber surge pricing (which is described as an incentive by uber to their drivers to be available at odd hours or in high demand/peak times or in difficult situations) and uberX (the slightly higher pried/bigger vehicles that hold more passengers). But I don’t mean to derail the thread. Thoughts are to all living in the path of the storm, and the worried parents wanting their kids safe and sound. Been there, done that, having had kids in New Orleans and Houston during several terrible hurricanes.
My husband and I were planning a short vacation at the OBX starting Saturday. 
We have decided to postpone until the end of the month.
Planning a surprise birthday party for H. My D and son-in-law are scheduled to fly from Chapel Hill (RDI) to Boston on Friday. Hope the storm doesn’t interfere.
I have a friend who is scheduled to go to Canada on vacation from Jacksonville. The airline encouraged them to move their flight of the day and leave tomorrow morning at five in the morning rather than their originally scheduled flight on Friday. They are doing it. Best of luck with the party @Bromfield2
Friday from RDI will probably be okay since storm is now turn more east after skirting up SC coast. The biggest problem would be if outer bands with high winds are called for. The high winds can be pretty far out, but looks pretty good for friday in Raleigh. Unless of course the plane is originating from somewhere else that has more issues.
Update from FL Space Coast…they have cancelled classed after noon today and are evacuating. My daughter is heading to Orlando. They are waiting for her landlord to come put up the storm shutters.
Apologies for autocorrect. That should say the airlines had them move the flight up a day.
My SIL lives in Daytona Beach, a block from the ocean. She said there’s a mandatory evacuation by 3 pm today. She’s trying to figure out where to go.
My D has plans to fly to Orlando on Saturday to visit a friend at FIT in Melbourne. Classes are cancelled and friend is currently evacuating to Orlando with roommate. Much discussion on what to do. She’s booked on two different airlines for the flights, so the return flight on Tuesday might be expensive to change or cancel. Ugh. It’s the first time she’s attempted to plan a trip by herself and there’s a hurricane.
A couple of hours ago, they updated the hurricane track, 20 miles west. It could easily smack the central Florida coast straight on, and if it keeps creeping further west, like it has been for the last few days, it could hit southern Florida. I don’t see any way this storm isn’t hitting the east coast of the US as a Cat 3 or 4, one way or another. But I’m hoping.
@carolinamom2boys - I’m glad you got your S out of Charleston. I-26 and the on ramps are bumper to bumper. I hope that improves when they reverse the lanes. We have gas, food and supplies. We’re supposed to evacuate at 3, but I have a lot to do yet to prepare. Yeah, I should get off of CC, but I need a quick break - too many stairs! H and I will likely wait till early tomorrow morning to leave.
Stay safe CCers along the Southeastern coast!
Bumper to bumper last night too. Left Charleston at 8:30, arrived home at 2:30. Should’ve made it by midnight at the latest . Have a safe trip
Lane reversal in SC seems to be helping. Live shots of I-26 show traffic flowing pretty well although probably still jammed closer you get to Charleston. Nice note - USC sent buses to evacuate students from CofC (I guess ones without a way to leave) and they are housing them at USC! Glad they cleared out CofC - downtown Charleston floods if you wring a wet towel there!
Stay safe ya’ll!
There were only a very few students that had no place to go. The students at USC will be housed in Residence Halls.Most students went home with roommates or were able to go home. The parents on CofC list serv stepped up and people were offering places to stay and rides to Charlotte , the upstate of SC, etc. It was great to see everyone trying to help out