<font color=skyblue>I just heard a news brief that like 40,000 people in florida are being evacuated.

Ziroc, are you in that group?</font>

Z man remember what the weather folks say fill your bathtub full of water, and if a tornado comes jump in the tub and pull a materess over you ;)

Helpful hints from and OLD COOT that's been through 3 Hurricanes & 2 Hisicanes(storms with male names for you yankees)

If the elec. is out for several days:
1) drive west out of the storm area to buy ice, buying it in Lakeland will cost you and arm & leg.(you're farther south then I remember Lakeland being 20+ year since I drove trough on my way to Ringling, you may have a drive a ways to get to the west side of any storm damaged areas. But believe me if the elec is out for several days you won't be able to find any in town and if you do luck up it will be $10-20 a bag.)
2) If you go to the grocery store and they are all out of candles don't sweat it buy some wax and cotton string, they will still be at regular price plus nobody will have bought any of wax or string. Melt the wax in a cheap pan on the grill and make your own candles. you can do what I did take a broom handle poke a hole in the sand about 12-18" in depth, cut your string 20" tie it to a stick dip it in the wax straiten out the sting and place it in the hole. Pour the melted wax into the hole come back in 4 or so hours pull the candles out. Scrape off the sand from the wax. Candle should burn for well, I still have the ones I made 10 years ago and we were out of elect. for a week.
3)If you run out of Charcoal use all the sticks laying around in your yard in your charcoal grill.
4)Bacon and eggs cook great in a grittle over a grill.
5)If you can help it try not to buy anything in the storm affected area the prices will have gone up overnight.
6) If your house has any damage call you insurance company during the eye of the storm if you still have phone service. Get to them before everybody else does ;)
7)Try to limit the amount of times you open your freezer, if you have lots of frozen food cook all you can and have a party with your nieghbors.
8)Cats make great wind socks much better than dogs, cats can hold on longer ;)

Good luck!

[ 08-13-2004, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]

Be safe and anyone know about the storm by Nc ???

Z, stay as safe as you can, and if it is down, it is down, take care of yourselves, and let us know as soon as you can that you guys are alright. I just looked at the recent radar, and it does not look good :( it is basicly heading straight for you guys :(

The storm passed over here and uh... nothing happened. I dont think there's going to be much to worry about... probably...

Looks bad guys... Track is still on us, and will prolly be a Catagory 3. VERY bad. Choc has cast his wizardry powers to protect us. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'll let ya know whats up around 5PM

Cheers mate! Hang in there, and pull the plug if necessary! Just be sure to stay safe!

Stay safe, Z. If I can't get in tonight, I'll figure I know what's happening.

Sounds like a vacation may be in order, Ziroc.

Grab the family and head north for the weekend to a B&B or something. The don't name hurricanes after women for no reason! The fury of a woman is nothing to trifle with!

Seriosuly, I'd consider getting out of there for the weekend. Weather can be extremely unpredictable and even though you think you may just get the outskirts of it (which would be bad enough) you never know when it may change direction!

Good Luck Ziroc! My thoughts are with you and your family and your safety.

Z MAN your 3rd link has probibly the best track from what I can see. IF Bonnie stays put over south Georgia Chuckie should come in around the Chiefland/Crosscity area(the eye). Bonnie will suck Charlie up to your west, Tampa will get a butt whipp'n. You're what 40 miles east of the coast? If the eye stays 30-50 miles off shore you should be OK, but watch out for the tornados. Most of the Tornados I've seen spawned off of Hurricanes appear fast, usually too fast for any warnings to do much good. :( good news is they are usually small. If Chuck comes in to your west keep your eye on the rain, verticle rain is good,even diangle rain is ok, but if you see the rain go Horizonal get in the bathroom or closet, Chances are you got a tornado nearby (been there done that). You'll get the east side the strongest winds/rains and Tornado possiblities. But that's better then the eye, when the eye crosses over you: you get the wind from one direction the eye then the wind comes from the other direction and that's where you get the most wind damage. The trees and eveything has allready had the snot beat out of them from one side then the wind comes from the other side and starts tak'n things down.

If Bonnie moves east and Charlie comes in around Sarasota/Vience You're in for a ride :( Charlie will move to the low preasure, so keep and eye on Bonnie she's the biggest Low around and will control what Charlie does.