Batten down the hatches, Good luck to Floridian 914 friends Options

[Qarl]

We are expecting a good blow over the next few days. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Stay safe and dry...

Protect your teener at all cost!!!!!!

[jhs914]

I'm 56 years old and lived in Florida for the last 55 of those years. I've been through a few storms.

If you have a sturdy house and can board up the windows, you will be OK from wind damage...but look out for falling trees. Had to help my neighbor cut one off of his roof during the eye of a hurricane once, then rush inside for the backside of the storm. Then had to cut a tree from my driveway to get out and finish helping my neighbor.

I took a week of vacation time to help a friend clean up after Andrew. He house was OK, but we spent the whole week cutting up downed trees and stacking them up.

The thing that will get you is rising water. If you live on or near the beach, GET OUT.

Storms that hit a night are the worst. You can't see a thing because the power lines are down. But you can hear every tree limb and pine cone that hits the house and the howl of the wind can be frightening.

A word of advice on protecting your car. If you cannot park it in an enclosed garage, put it in the middle of the biggest parking lot you can find away from potential blowing or falling debris. I've left vehicles in the driveway and had dents from tree limbs and heavy green pine cones (if you live in the South you know what I'm talking about).

What most first timers don't think about is the aftermath of the storm. No electricity for days or weeks means NO A/C!!! and no lights, no TV, no hot water and if the sewer lift stations don't work, you can't flush the toilet. If water mains are broken, which they frequently around the beach, no water either. The kids aren't able to go to school and you may not be able to go to work.

Any way, best of luck to you guys in S.W. Florida. I have several friends down there I'll be checking up on after Charley.