Milton Is Next

[Nemo]

Weather people saying it will likely get about all of Florida except some of the western panhandle part, and anticipating a Cat 3.

But if it bumps north a bit Georgia is in sights.

Nemo

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/weather/video/tropical-storm-milton-chinchar-digvid

[Nemo]

You better be doing some preparing.

Nemo

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/tampa-hillsborough-pinellas-milton

West-central Florida faces greatest hurricane threat in more than 100 years

The FOX Forecast Center warns that communities that have only been sideswiped by hurricanes in the Tampa metro over the last several decades now face the threat of a direct strike, which could bring a large storm surge to a vulnerable coastline.

[Felix]

...and meanwhile, we hear conflicting reports regarding Helene disaster relief.   Some point to lack of FEMA action and outright authoritarian stoppage of private citizen efforts versus claims that the government is in full swing and "$750" is hardly the sum of what will be given (eventually) to folks who make the proper paperwork claims...
My brother just returned to his home in Sacramento after spending a week near his Tampa area property destroyed by the surge - he was greatly impressed with the way people were helping other people - and some of the "scams" being run by those trying to make bank on the crisis.   But mostly, far-and-away, he was impressed by the cohesion and sharing - or as he put it "my kind of people".

[Nemo]

Milton has reached Cat 4, but anticipated to reduce and make landfall Wednesday evening at a Cat 3.  Watch out Florida.  And keen a weather eye out if you are in S. Ga.

Nemo

https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/milton-forecast-hurricane-tracker/?id=114553995

[DMCakhunter]

Is now a 180 mph storm and forecast to be 185 in the morning.
Supposed to impact the coast at 125 or so Wednesday.

[Sir John Honeybucket]

Monday evacuations have clogged I-75 northbound and etc. now, at midnight!  Authorities are warning people that gas is little or none and likely a long wait if it's available.  Consider that where your car stops, so do you.  Nothing like riding out a CAT5 hurricane then surviving the aftermath in a car. God pity those people.

I posted this live cam for our edification. Let's pray that it all moves freely.

[Defiant_Faith]

I would hate to be on I75 today. A friend was evacuating yesterday and it took 6 hours to go 120 miles, 12 hours to go 370 miles, but they made it to their destination. My 23 yo son and his fiance have decided to stay in Port Charlotte. He said many are staying because the last time they evacuated for a hurricane their homes were looted and it wasn't covered by insurance. I have tried to persuade my son to leave and others in the family have urged them to leave. It's too late now, can't imagine the lack of gas on the evacuation route today. Praying for all those in harms way, which could be any of us, never know what twist and turns are going to happen with weaponized weather.

[Felix]

Naturally, the habit of keeping vehicle tanks "topped off" is a good head start,    Several 5 gallon containers protected in storage with Sta-Bil (or the like) in cool, steady temps enable an even greater margin of safety for range ability.
Heck, I keep the same for my JD in diesel - moving snow, working a field - it all needs to happen whether the local pumps are working or not.     Of course _long term_, horses, ala Amish style might become the default.   Big divide in prepping for interruption of supplies versus the end of ALL resupply.
Got the good news this morning that a mix of hay and alfalfa is scheduled for delivery this coming weekend - well enough ahead of election and aftermath to ensure the two horses under my roof have good feed for entire Winter and into Spring.    Dog and cat food also being stacked.   Distilling to resume as soon as I finish "homing" litter of Griffs (now 8 weeks old).