Pictures on the news from some of the affected areas are terrifying.
Just watched CNN, whom interviewed an older couple who are fortified in THEIR CRAWLSPACE in Tallahassee. But surprisingly it is quite a safe place to be. No way I would have stayed but the wife said it’s an old Florida home built in the 1950s out of cinderblocks. Quite sturdy and actually pretty. They installed a vapor seal in the crawlspace years ago so the space is dry as a desert. The land is not in a flood plain, so the wife says the space should remain dry. They have lights, blankets and cell phones. Hmmm.
It is stupid to stay, but this storm strengthened so quickly that it caught people by surprise.
The evacuation orders were out on Monday morning. The track but not the intensity was known for a day or so before that. This storm defied the odds of wind shear that was supposed to keep it at tropical storm category or a Cat 1. Living along the coast of Florida, you are reminded frequently during hurricane season to be ready to evacuate as soon as an order is issued. We have our supplies, documents etc that we review and replenish every May. Especially on barrier islands, you learn to keep gas in your vehicles, check your cash available and your supplies every time a tropical depression hits the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampa Bay area grew complacent until Irma hit last year. When they say evacuate, you go, it is not the time to start preparations. Even with this storm, we knew we would only get a 2-4 foot storm surge, but we had some of our supplies, (mostly our medications and documents) in the car ready to go.
Sending prayers for those who live and work in the Panhandle. Such devastation. Will see what local organizations are helping out. Pinellas Fire and Rescue is up there today.
Where did Hurricane Michael come from? Climate breakdown, that’s where.
The pictures of the damage look horrendous in many places. Prayers and best wishes for all involved.
This hurricane was like a giant wet tornado that lasted hours…
One thing to consider as you see the videos/pictures of devastation is that the panhandle of Florida hasn’t been hit by a hurricane in decades. Most of the dwellings ( in Mexico Beach FL considered ground zero) were built in the 50’s.
New buildings/homes in FL have been built to hurricane codes starting with Andrew, 1991 and again upgraded codes in 2010 (?) . If you look at the video footage you can tell what was new and what was not. New buildings are still standing.
It’s expensive to build to new hurricane codes and so as usual there is a see-saw until the right balance is found between affordability and safety. High impact windows are expensive. Tile roofs were pretty much outlawed (we now have “tile look” roofing.)
I know it’s horrible right now and I really feel for everyone affected but eventually as these areas are rebuilt (as our area was–and it was a tough multi-year process) things will be much better built and a whole lot safer.
@ Cardinal Fang --1494 During his second voyage, Christopher Columbus shelters his fleet from a tropical cyclone. This is the first written European account of a hurricane.
Pensacola FL was actually the first city but it was wiped out by a hurricane 10 year before St. Augustine was settled. I
Allegedly a couple of hundred people had refused to evacuate Mexico Beach, which was decimated. What happened to all the people who stayed? I haven’t heard about any deaths yet from that area. If there were none, that seems rather miraculous.
@gouf78 - the panhandle was hit twice in 1995, Erin and Opal. Opal was cat 5 but abruptly dropped to cat 3 just before it hit land. They both hit closer to Pensacola.
Basically, you’re either lucky or you aren’t. We can and should have better building standards and Andrew caused a change in simple things like how often nails are placed on a roof. But if you’re hit by a cat 5, you might as well be hit by a tornado.
Newscasters keep referring to “Mexico City.” It’s “Mexico Beach,” people.
“Basically, you’re either lucky or you aren’t”
Not true. It’s easy to see the effects of building codes. Especially under Cat 5 tornado strength winds. Been there, done that.
I’m afraid they consider Mexico City Beach as a “recover” area rather than “rescue” area.
Is it just me? I don’t feel like this is getting the coverage it deserves?
4th strongest storm to hit the US mainland in “modern” history.
Record low pressure (which means it might be stronger than it’s estimated as being, esp. considering instrument breakage)
Strongest storm to hit Georgia since 1898 (it was cat 3 when it hit Georgia!).
Hurricane Leslie is going to hit Portugal!
There was a new house in Mexico Beach that survived with minimal damage. The outside stairs up to the main level were blown away, but that was by design so the stairs wouldn’t damage any of the structure.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/14/us/hurricane-michael-florida-mexico-beach-house.html
They basically built a concrete bunker on pilings. It looks more delicate than that in the photo but those railings must be made of steel.