Do you live in the path of Hurricane Ivan?

[sonicflood]

I do!  I live in Foley, AL. I am along the coast of Alabama, right in between Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL.  

All non residents of the county were ordered to evacuate yesterday and all condominiums and schools are closing as of 10:00 A.M. today.

I am working this afternoon and will probably be leaving work early. I've gathered all my photos, backed up the computers & put all loose materials outdoors away. I'm in a quandary as to whether or not to try and board-up my windows. It's like a frenzy here, as all building supply places are full of lines and people are acting like maniacs!  

My local Wal-Mart is definitely price gouging & taking advantage of the situation, with most all of the canned goods being marked up a minimum of 30%. My local D.A.'s office said that they would not tolerate price gouging. I'm tempted to take my receipt from last week's grocery purchases and ask the manager of Wal-Mart to accompany me to the canned goods and explain the price "roll forward" and then ask to use his telephone to contact the D.A.'s office!  

Enough of the rant! I hope you are all safe and those in the path will check in when possible to post your status!

Take care...

Scott

[whammoed]

Well, I was originally in the path (st. petersburg) but not now since it has changed.  We have had to prepare twice for charley and frances already though.  Some people around here had already boarded up windows before the forcast change.  I know how you feel definitely and I wish you luck.

[danny_galaga]

hey sonicflood, im pretty sure what walmart are doing is illegal. you should keep your receipts and get that managers arse sacked!!

whammoed, sounds like you should just keep your cab wrapped up this time of year

[whammoed]

whammoed, sounds like you should just keep your cab wrapped up this time of year

No kidding!  This year has been much worse than past years though.  Have to start worrying about the next storm before the first one is even gone.

[JackTucky]

Sonicflood:

First. Good luck.  Be safe.

Second, can you explain something?  Why is it that when the hurricane comes, everyone goes out and buys plywood?  Don't you have plywood from the last hurricane in your shed or something?  

I can understand if it's the first hurricane in 10 years, there are new people/houses, but in Florida, with 3 hurricanes in a month, or on the outerbanks where it happens all the time, why don't homeowners have plywood already?    

I was in a Category 5 storm in Hawaii in 1980.  I'm told it's not a hurricane, it's a typhoon or something, but it kicked the island of Kauai's arse.  I was in a shelter, watching roofs blow off.  It was bad.

Art

[Crazy Cooter]

Heheh, I've wondered what people do with the old plywood too.

[Darkstalker]

Heheh, I've wondered what people do with the old plywood too.

Well, living in California where we only have to worry about one day falling into the ocean, my guess is that the rain warps/rots the plywood so bad it can't be reused.

[Tilzs]

Heheh, I've wondered what people do with the old plywood too.

Maybe they made an arcade cab or something.

[Crazy Cooter]

That's what I would do.  Otherwise put it in my garage.  I sure wouldn't leave it ouside to get ruined so i could stand in line at Home Depot every month.

Now what's up with these 20' waves and such?  So if you're a 1/2 mile inland but 20' in elevation, can you get wet?  I've always wondered how far inland those waves come.  That'd scare me off the coast.  No need to be staring down the ocean like that.

[Tailgunner]

Don't live here anymore, but by chance I'm in Pensacola staying at my parent's 2nd house. Done the window boarding up thing here already, mostly playing the wait and see game to know where it'll hit and which way to go when I bug out.

Good luck over there Sonic. I've been through several hurricanes over the years but this isn't one I care to see up close.

[sonicflood]

Thanks for the replies!

I spent the day covering windows with plywood @ my parents house.  I'll be doing my house in the A.M..

As for the question about how far the water will go.. In 1979 when hurricane frederic came through, the storm surge was 9 - 15 feet above mean tide & went almost 4 miles back from the beach.  It was a catagory 3 hurricane & Ivan will be the same or greater!

I'm going to stay home.  The highways are total chaos & I still have much to do.  I live about 13 miles from the beach, so I'm expecting some tough winds here!


Tailgunner, you take care too!

Scott

[Floyd10]

BTW, you want proof that Fox is blowing smoke up everyone's asses? (actual title:)"HURRICANE FRANCES:THE COST OF FREEDOM?"

[danny_galaga]

keep an eye on the tides. thats the real killer with the storm surge. if there happens to be a high tide when the hurricane comes through it's gonna go inland a fair way. where i live there's been a lot of development on the coastline. places that used to be mangrove swamps. elevation? nearly 0 feet!! theyll be in big trouble next cyclone...

[Matt, GoC]

I'll take Minnesota's foul weather anyday.  At least tornadoes are a quick in-and-out.  And there's no lines at HD or markups at Wal-mart.

[sonicflood]

Hey everyone!  Still alive and well in Foley, AL!  I faired well and am very lucky!!!

My internet access is soooo slow.  The winds were really rough last night and I thought several times that the next gust was going to be the "big blast".  I got no sleep at all & was very nervous.  My mother and father stayed with me.  Their house is even closer to Gulf Shores, is a two story & faces south.  I hope that everything is ok and that there was minimal damage. I'm not very optimistic though!

I lost power at 7:00 P.M. C.S.T..  It was restored today at 1:00 P.M. C.S.T..  Woo Hoo.. Hot shower!

I had minimal damage, some roof shingles lost, low voltage lighting around yard is no longer there, a couple of trees down & my wooden fence in the back yard was completely blown away.  All around me, the devestation was enormous!  I wish I could post pics for you all to see.  I will when DSL is back up at full speed.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (7 miles south of me) were hit really hard.  I was watching the news about an hour ago and I see so many of my friends places in ruins.  Many businesses are still consumed by rising water.

I need to go for now, so much to do for family and friends.  I just wanted to check in and say hello!  I hope all of you are doing well and are safe!

Scott

[MrBond]

Glad to hear you make it through ok and with min damage!  Glad I'm here in PA where nothing weather related happens save for thunderstorms, occasional blizzard, the unusual tornado, and even more unusual earthquake.  What's amazing is we still feel the aftermath of the hurricanes with heavy rainfall and winds!  Amazing what nature can do.

[neuromancer]

Hi Scott (and others...)

The storm is doing bad stuff here in upstate South Carolina. I live on the top of a large hill, so all I worry about is the tree falling on my house.

Now Jeanne is on it's way, and it will be the 4th major storm to hit SC.

No real damage, but that rain adds up.

Bob

[Tailgunner]

That was fun.

Ok, the actual storm was fun, but 4 days in P'cola with no power, no ice, no shower, ect. was less than fun. Repairs to my family's property was relatively minor, but my aunt who lives in Gulf Breeze had her house flooded. Compared to the poeple who live on the gulf side/Pensacola Beach though, even her damage was minor.

Being on the east side of the storm, Pensacola was hammered pretty hard, but should be back to normal in a month or two.

I had my digicam with me, I'll post a pic or two later.