Panic in Florida

 

So I’m driving into my favorite Publix store, and I’m startled to see tons of cars. Generally this particular lot barely has any cars at any time of the day. Gosh, I assume, they must be restocking after the holiday. Then it hits me: hurricane panic is on!

Mind you, I live in Poinciana, FL, the center of the state in both directions. (Oh no, oh no! It’s now a category 5!) We’re supposed to have a hurricane supply packed up, right? But, no-o-o-o-o! That would be too sensible. Meanwhile, I’m out of sugar and all the 10-pound bags are gone.

We are at least a week away from a potential hurricane. I’ll admit that I’ve never been in one, but my instincts tell me that panicking is not going to have any effect on what hits here. But if I’m going to live in Florida, this is probably the safest place to be. No more grocery shopping for me this week!

Maybe I should go to Texas?

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  1. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Well, duh.  Sen Nelson (D, FL) was on Weather Channel complaining about being out-of-gas in Florida and about gouging.  FL AG on TV threatening gougers.  Economics laws can’t be broken.  Didn’t ration by price so people bought more than just enough to leave the area.  I bet some stations aren’t out but bagged their pumps.  Would you sell gas knowing that if you raised prices to cover replenishment costs, you would be fined? Out of supplies.  Folks, you got to pay delivery people more to truck supplies and gas to southern and central Florida.  They will have trouble leaving Florida afterwards.  They need to make enough to be worth the hassle and to make up for the next load they will miss trucking elsewhere.  If you had tons of plywood, would you ship it to stores in states not affected and easily accessible or stores in Florida where gas is rare, traffic is heavy, and profits are no better than the first alternative I listed?  If you are an airline, would you add extra flights to Florida if you couldn’t cover the cost of flying an empty plane down there?  One could easily see the actual cost should be twice the normal airfare plus the extra avgas cost, if that is available?  Homeschooling and teaching economics to your kids?  Cut out articles on the supply and demand issues for a good example.

    • #91
  2. Marley's Ghost Coolidge
    Marley's Ghost
    @MarleysGhost

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):
    Whaaaat? Totally not ok with that thing. Gators, snakes, meh… floating balls of fire ants? Nope.

    Keep a flamethrower handy.

    Leiningen vs. the Ants! 

    • #92
  3. Kate Braestrup Member
    Kate Braestrup
    @GrannyDude

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Isaac Smith (View Comment):
    Nothing seems quite so bad if you have a fresh cup of brewed coffee to start your day.

    I can attest to the truth of this. I felt exactly the same way after my first cup of good coffee on my current deployment.

    Instugator! How are you?

    • #93
  4. Kate Braestrup Member
    Kate Braestrup
    @GrannyDude

    I talked to a friend in Tampa who is hunkering down with two small children. I told her that if she needs to evacuate, just keep coming. Plenty of room in Maine—-same goes for you, Susan, and any other Floridian Ricochetti!

    • #94
  5. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Marley's Ghost (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):
    Whaaaat? Totally not ok with that thing. Gators, snakes, meh… floating balls of fire ants? Nope.

    Keep a flamethrower handy.

    Leiningen vs. the Ants!

    When I find a scorpion in the house the choice is Glock, or a rolled up magazine. The magazine is much easier on the tile floor.

    • #95
  6. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):
    I talked to a friend in Tampa who is hunkering down with two small children. I told her that if she needs to evacuate, just keep coming. Plenty of room in Maine—-same goes for you, Susan, and any other Floridian Ricochetti!

    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC.  Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    • #96
  7. Isaac Smith Member
    Isaac Smith
    @

    MarciN (View Comment):
    Some day we’ll be able to manipulate the Jet Stream. I hope. Just push it a little here and there.

    I hope not.  How could the government avoid screwing that up?  (And you know they would control it, right?)

    • #97
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):
    I talked to a friend in Tampa who is hunkering down with two small children. I told her that if she needs to evacuate, just keep coming. Plenty of room in Maine—-same goes for you, Susan, and any other Floridian Ricochetti!

    Thanks, Kate. Our good neighbors (whose dog we “stepparent”) have let us know that we can go over at any time–assuming we can make it across the street! They have hurricane shutters and a generator. We’ve got bags of frozen split pea soup and vegetable soup. And margaritas! I think we’ll be okay.

    • #98
  9. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    We went for shooting practice and got as far as the entrance to the Turnpike and turned around for home. Backed up as far as the eye could see. Still we lucked out getting a few more batteries, filling up the propane tank and topping off the gas; miraculously everyone had recently restocked. Now the neighbors will be gathering to help each other move lanai furniture and plants. It’s not looking good.

    • #99
  10. Kate Braestrup Member
    Kate Braestrup
    @GrannyDude

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    • #100
  11. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    Try sailing north.

    • #101
  12. Isaac Smith Member
    Isaac Smith
    @

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    75 to Atlanta, then 85 paralleling the coast until it slides in and merges with 95 south of Richmond.  Even in Jacksonville you can get across to 75 in an hour or so, likely less than the idling time in the Carolinas on 95.

    • #102
  13. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    We went up center of Florida and around Atlanta to dodge a tropical storm one time.  They are better going Turnpike to I-10 to Alabama.  Check IPhone maps for red roads to avoid (traffic heavy).  But if going through SC, use this:  http://scemd.org/

    • #103
  14. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    EHerring (View Comment):

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    We went up center of Florida and around Atlanta to dodge a tropical storm one time. They are better going Turnpike to I-10 to Alabama. Check IPhone maps for red roads to avoid (traffic heavy). But if going through SC, use this: http://scemd.org/

    Nevermind.  I just saw the latest track.  It shifted westward.

    • #104
  15. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    Kate Braestrup (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    Don’t have them go up I-95 through SC. Only 2 lanes each direction and Lowcountry evacuating.

    Is there another way?

    Follow this.  SC drivers will hit roads Saturday. http://www.wistv.com/story/36312203/gov-henry-mcmaster-mandatory-evacuation-of-sc-coast-expected-soon

    • #105
  16. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    A friend who lives near Boca Raton drove to Jacksonville today.  He has reservations for ten days at a hotel in Atlanta (he just filled his gas tank).

    • #106
  17. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    When you get hit, do you want to go to Live Chat as long as you have electricity?

    • #107
  18. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    EHerring (View Comment):
    When you get hit, do you want to go to Live Chat as long as you have electricity?

    Good idea. I suggest a hybrid of a members-only post for long form comments and the live chat for short (to keep notifications under control). I’ll put up such a members-only post tomorrow afternoon.

     

    • #108
  19. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    My friend is 90 miles from Atlanta.

    • #109
  20. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    ctlaw (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):
    When you get hit, do you want to go to Live Chat as long as you have electricity?

    Good idea. I suggest a hybrid of a members-only post for long form comments and the live chat for short (to keep notifications under control). I’ll put up such a members-only post tomorrow afternoon.

    I’ll just look for your members-only post, ctlaw. I rarely say anything all that short, plus I don’t know how to do live chat…

    • #110
  21. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I will be offline for the Sabbath, (until Sat. night) so don’t worry when I’m not in touch. I’ll try to check in Sat. night.

    • #111
  22. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    I’m getting regular updates from my brother who is prepping my mother’s home in Apopka (about 25 mi north of Orlando). They decided to shelter in place as she is a complete invalid and it would be a nightmare to be stuck in northbound traffic if she had an emergency. He arrived there this morning by car and has been organizing the neighbors on the court as to what each can provide, etc. He was a manager for the Virginia parks dept so he knows what he is doing. They’ve got every mattress in the house downstairs and all the windows covered with all the wood he could find. Now we just keep our fingers crossed.

    • #112
  23. EHerring Coolidge
    EHerring
    @EHerring

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):
    I’m getting regular updates from my brother who is prepping my mother’s home in Apopka (about 25 mi north of Orlando). They decided to shelter in place as she is a complete invalid and it would be a nightmare to be stuck in northbound traffic if she had an emergency. He arrived there this morning by car and has been organizing the neighbors on the court as to what each can provide, etc. He was a manager for the Virginia parks dept so he knows what he is doing. They’ve got every mattress in the house downstairs and all the windows covered with all the wood he could find. Now we just keep our fingers crossed.

    I have an elderly relative in Altamonte, too.

    • #113
  24. Martel Inactive
    Martel
    @Martel

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):
    I’m getting regular updates from my brother who is prepping my mother’s home in Apopka (about 25 mi north of Orlando). They decided to shelter in place as she is a complete invalid and it would be a nightmare to be stuck in northbound traffic if she had an emergency. He arrived there this morning by car and has been organizing the neighbors on the court as to what each can provide, etc. He was a manager for the Virginia parks dept so he knows what he is doing. They’ve got every mattress in the house downstairs and all the windows covered with all the wood he could find. Now we just keep our fingers crossed.

    Don’t just keep your fingers crossed.  Also pray.

    • #114
  25. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    I will be offline for the Sabbath, (until Sat. night) so don’t worry when I’m not in touch. I’ll try to check in Sat. night.

    I put up the Member Feed post early, because I will be away from a PC all day.

    • #115
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