For those that are not watching US Weather, you may want to check the following items out: (Book mark them for the coming days)

http://weathercenter.com/radar/animatedradar.htm
(Click on the Lakeland wording to zoom in to see exactly where we are)

http://www.tampabays10.com/
Governor Jeb Bush has declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley bearing down on Florida.

Tracks it may take (Charley will go RIGHT Over us)
http://www.tampabays10.com/weather/tropics.asp

If Charley becomes anything above a Catagory 2, we're gonna have some MAJOR problems guy. We are only 50 miles from the coast, and in the past *before I lived here* hurricanes that swoop over like this pummel central florida even deep into Orlando.


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We rarely have Hurricanes come at us here in Lakeland Florida, but looking at these TWO Hurricanes, they both look to hit us or skirt us. SO... If we are down Friday Night through Monday morning or something, you know I took the server down because of weather OR we lost power. The radar URL's above are for our area (See LAKELAND) on the radar.

I'll update you on this as I get news. Here is EXACTLY where we are in the lakeland Radar:


http://www.ironworksforum.com/hosted/hurr_0001.jpg
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http://www.ironworksforum.com/hosted/hurr_0002.jpg
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http://www.ironworksforum.com/hosted/hurr_0003.jpg

[ 08-12-2004, 03:49 AM: Message edited by: Ziroc ]

Doesn't sound good Z, make sure you tied Choc down to something.

good luck z!

Hope you stay safe Ziroc, oh, Choc too [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color=skyblue>And we shall build a new Ironworks from the ashes of the old.

Such is the way of the Phoenix, and thus I shall name our new website Phoenixworks.

All of the moderators will be members of the OHF.

</font>

All Hail the OHF
New leaders of Ironworks [img]smile.gif[/img]

up here in nyc, we've been getting freaky weather because of these two babies. it's been alternating very cold (62'F for august ain't freaky?) and extremely muggy and hot (moreso than august is known for). this can only mean bad things for florida and the lower east coast. :(

V***V

HADB for President!

Stop spamming please. This is SERIOUS folks.

Well, if you think its a good idea, z, by all means, disconnect us for a couple of days...especially if there's a possibility of being permanently disconnected if you don't...

<font color=skyblue>Actually, what I am seriously concerned about is mostly Friday. Alot of members will receive their paychecks on Friday and our past has shown me that we usually wait until the last day to make the donations needed to get IW through another month. If you close down on Friday, how will people make those donations?</font>

I'm not too worried about it. We'll get some rain & wind, but since we're 50 miles from the coast, it'll be a lot weaker when it reaches us. If it's a Cat 2 on the coast, it'll be a tropical at most here.

Im only miles from the coast give or take a few miles ;) So happy day's fo meh!! I think my elevation is .05 above sea level so if any wanna help me sandbag I may be doing that tomorrow if this thing comes knocking.

<font color=lime>Good luck Z. Not a spam here, I am being sincere. I would be more worried about my family and propoerty. Anyway, best of luck to you guys over there. Here we are dealing with the seasons wild fires we get every year. Not to bad this season, but still not good. </font>

Wow, another hurricane, sorry to hear that Z. I wish you the best of luck when it comes, and I'm with Lord K on this, I know you're worried about the Works, but make sure your other priorities are safe too.

The weather has been crazy this year, we've had more thunderstorms and tornadoes in this area these last two months than we've had in the last 5 years.

Good luck Z.

If it comes IN on us, we will be in major trouble. The leading top right edge of the storm would go right over us. Don't poo poo it [img]smile.gif[/img] . I hope it goes more north, because it spawns Tornados when we get that leading edge. :( And what sucks because our ground is SOAKED with rain already. We'll see a LOT of really bad flooding if it hits us really ANYWHERE in Florida.

PS: BTW, Don't let the Florida motto fool ya, it is NOT the Sunshine state. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I *am* worried about my Family first Lord K. ;) But since this news is for you, and is pertinent, I figured I would warn ya about the possible down time.

I *am* worried about my Family first Lord K. ;) But since this news is for you, and is pertinent, I figured I would warn ya about the possible down time. </font>[/QUOTE]<font color=lime>I know you are Z. I did'nt mean to imply that your priority was us over your family, just stating the obvious when dealing with oncoming disaster. I apreciate the warning. </font>

If it's bad enough, by all means take the forum down! We're supposed to get some heavy rain from the aftermath/backlash of all the bad stuff down your way but nothing worse, I think.

From what I just watched it seems as if the tropical storm from the gulf of mexico just died out. At least that isn't a worry. And take down the forum if it is known that Charley will hit. I'd much rather have IW down for two days or so rather than forever.

<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.

God, It's now a Catagory FOUR now! But it's coming in south of us now, and not Tampa Bay. This is BETTER for US, but not for others. :( Still, a Catagory 4 is BAD. 145mph winds and what I worry about is Tornados.

I've done what I could to the house--tape on windows, trimmed limbs on our small tree (so it won't be top heavy as rains come and weigh it down and gets windy. Got my Batterys and port. radio and tons of candles and stuff. [img]smile.gif[/img] It is totally quiet here right now. No rain, no wind, yet it's JUST south of us. [img]smile.gif[/img] The calm before the storm..... Choc is casting more protections and is praying to Tymora for Luck. :D :D :D

I'll update you all again at 5PM EST if we have power, and let ya know the situation.

Got my windows broarded up, limbs trimmed, tape, etc.... My best friendlives in Ft. Myers and I cant get a hold of him and his family. He lives in the captiva area :(

Sorry Z Man Bonnie's moved over to NC and will suck Charlie right through you :(
Looks like landfall for the eye as far south as Naples/Ft M.

Good luck Z, hope everything turns out alright. It is like hurricane Andrew again. But hold down the fort. Don't let that nature tyrant rule you.
Best of luck.

GEEEEZ Guys! What a scary few hours! We had 90 mph winds and trees down all over the town (Our home is fine, and only some small limbs are fallen--small enough to pick up with one hand ;) We had a lawn full of water though, but no flooding in the house. Our power went out at 7:28PM and came back at 12:20AM (just a few mins ago).

Glad to be okay. From the news I am hearing, this storm did some MAJOR damage around the area.

All the roads are covered in leaves and twigs, and I recorded ALL of it on camcorder, and I'll get it on the PC and make it streamable so you can see just how crazy it was for a few hrs...

Its scary when all the power is out, and all you got to work with is a portable radio. [img]smile.gif[/img] But it turned out well--for us atleast. Hope its not as bad as it sounds for others.. :(

Glad to hear things are cool, Ziroc!

Yeah, glad to hear your alright. I was worried cuz the forums were down, I thought something bad happened. Glad your alright, and I hope every else is alright to.

Glad to hear things turned out okay, all things considered. I'll be looking forward to that storm video action... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Lets hope it goes out to sea and dies rather than ravaging Georgia and the Carolinas as well.

Glad to hear all is fairly well Ziroc.

Take care.