I must say, looters are really the lowest of the low. I mean, taking food and water from stores when in extremis is one thing, but invading private houses and holding people at gunpoint as is reportedly happening in St. Martin is inexcusable. And stealing shoes in Miami…what scum.
The center moved east- no more eye, it disintegrated into being called the center. Polk County (the one east of Hillsborough where Tampa is) is getting the brunt of it- up to 100mph gusts. CNN’s Anderson Cooper is in downtown Tampa for those catching that channel. The eastern half of the state seems to have it worse than the Gulf side despite Irma going north closer to the Gulf.
Aside. They cancelled the Tampa in Miami football game so I thought could catch the Packers (Seahawks) game that is usually preempted- but 24/7 weather coverage on all local stations. Believe it not the game was on the Movies! channel. I didn’t watch it but the Pack won. From WI so of course favor them…
Back to Tampa. Could have been a lot worse. Irma stayed inland and didn’t get energy from the Gulf. So far our area still has power (obviously, I’m online) but over 300,000 in this area lost it from 3 different power companies’ reports to the media. Neighbor stuck in family home In San Juan, PR still without power and using their generator and have cell phone coverage but no internet- updated him this evening. They were to return today but it seems no flights until late Thurs or Friday so far. A 2 sounded a lot better than a 3/4. One of my relative’s family in PR lost but got power back. TIA- local airport undetermined opening date.
Photos of Cuba:
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/09/hurricane-irma-crashes-across-northern-cuba/539331/?
“A meal is cooked in a flooded home in Havana…” - amazing.
Storm surge flooding in Jacksonville has just exceeded that of hurricane Dora in 1964. Many bridges are closed. Many neighborhoods are experiencing flooding.
Heading to the Atl airport. News said Delta cancelled flights after 2 pm. Ours is 10:30. We booked a ride very early in anticipation of Monday morning rush hour traffic which is of course nonexistent. Not sure if we can maybe catch an earlier flight.
good luck!
Could have gotten earlier flight but not bulkhead, so left it alone. Probably could have asked for an aisle or first class but didn’t bother.
We have friends who live between Jacksonville and St. Augustine. They are not there…flew out of Daytona. They are worried about their house…but also their car which is parked outdoors at the Daytona airport.
Did anyone predict that the storm would cut right across the state?
I have a relative who has just moved to Ponte vedre from up north. He left when the storm was first heading to the east coast but then returned when it looked like it was going west. Hope he is ok.
The satellite made it look like the eve had moved east, but it might be misleading since it’s a less organized storm now.
BIL is ok. Texted H this morning. Their lanai is still standing. Lake behind their house overflowed but it’s down a slope from their house. Only standing water that he can see is on their cul de sac.
Their son & family live on Jax Beach so hoping they heeded evac order that was issued a few days ago. They went to Atlanta last yr for Matthew so I expect they left for this one too.
My friend in Westin (Broward County) never lost power but was all alone with just her dogs as her doctor husband had to be at hospital for the storm. She just posted pics of the royal palms which took a beating.
A friend in Neptune beach is without power and a tree just went through their screen porch
Hoping you got out of Atlanta, @jym626. Right now winds are still legal for most aircraft. Fingers crossed that there are no delays, as it’s getting worse quickly.
Safe travels, jym!
Mr. B still has not heard from the overlords if the conference he is supposed to attend next week in FLL is on or not…
super windy here in east GA right now. One (already dead) tree down.
H’s 80 + year old aunt and uncle live right on the border of Naples and Marco. They live on the 9th floor of a 22 story condo and all but 20 couples left for safer areas. They rode out the storm in the hallway with no power, but the building has an emergency generator for safety lights, elevators and refrigerator power. I think I would have left because the only way in or out of their unit (that I have seen) is through an elevator that stops in their foyer.
I asked if they were hot last night without air conditioning. The response was “Oh goodness no, we had a lovely breeze all night.”
My neighbor is having her girlfriends stay at her place on Sanibel Island next week. She is thus far unable to find a rental car. Sounds like a few long taxi rides to and from what hopefully will be a functioning airport by next Thursday.
@jym626 - I wish you safe and comfortable travels and enjoy the wonder and excitement of the days to come.
Heard from a friend that my house is Tampa is okay. There’s a lot of debris and the power is out but I’m so relieved that is the extent of the damage. We are so lucky.
S and DIL just made it back to Palmetto Bay(Miami) to check on the house. They fared very well! The fence is down and the pool is a mess and filled to the brim, but the house itself seems fine. S sounded SO relieved! He thinks having the trees trimmed back when they moved in last year was one of the best decisions they made. They will spend the day cleaning the yard and helping neighbors before heading back to DIL’s parents’ place ahead of tonight’s curfew.
Hoping @jym626 is on her way to meet her new granddaughter!