Hurricane experiences of years past

Having been here (staying in South Walton) for every storm over the past 12 years, the biggest issue we (Walton County) faces is Storm Water Run Off.

It's pretty sad that the County Officials haven't gotten a darn thing done with Storm Water Run Off and we had our own "disaster" back a few years ago in April with over 30 inches of rain. I remember cars actually submerged on Thompson Road...

We rode out hurricane Eloise in 1975 in our house in Santa Rosa Beach. It was a full on direct hit. Very vivid memories of going outside as the eye passed. There was clear blue sky directly above with a curtain of clouds all the way around it. Not a whole lot of homes directly on the dunes back then, but there were a good number down in Dune Allen that got destroyed. Remember walking into a few that sat tilted at wonky angles. Reminded me of the old "magnetic houses" from the old amusement parks.

For those who don't go back as far as I do, Fort Panic in Dune Allen was originally a dutch A-frame house. While typing this I googled "hurricane Eloise pictures", and damned if it wasn't one of the first shots.

Our house is on the north side of 30A directly opposite Gulf View Heights Rd. The waves broke over the dunes at the end of the road. When everything had passed, we went to the beach. Ran down the trail on the dune and found myself in mid air because it had been cut back so far!

Funny story...Where 331 dead ends into 98 there used to be a giant wall of billboards that would grow vertically unchecked. My dad used to refer to that as the barometer in such that when the wall got high enough we'd have a hurricane or big storm that would blow them all down!

Lots of pictures out in Google-Land, but Destin was just a blip on the map back then so 99% of what pulls up is PCB.

Having been here (staying in South Walton) for every storm over the past 12 years, the biggest issue we (Walton County) faces is Storm Water Run Off.

It's pretty sad that the County Officials haven't gotten a darn thing done with Storm Water Run Off and we had our own "disaster" back a few years ago in April with over 30 inches of rain. I remember cars actually submerged on Thompson Road...

That big rain from a couple of years ago actually gives me a bit of comfort as I had no standing water in my yard or road. I know it was rough for those down by Thompson Rd.

One thing I know is that "high and dry" is temporary.

"High and dry" is a favorite phrase of realtors when speaking about land that can be built on and may be barely above sea level, which is most of SoWal. A lot of SoWal is wetlands, near wetalnds, or a large body of water, or even were wetlands before they were drained by mosquito ditches last century.

We could have a storm in which most of the land south of the bay is under water. Even a small storm surge and wave action is going to destroy most of our dune system. A mid-level hurricane passing close is going to leave the shore littered with walkovers, seawalls, geotubes, houses, and condos.

Take a look at SoWal Beaches Photo Archive | SoWal.com and scroll down to some of the storm photos.

with the looming storm in the Atlantic, we need a lot of veteran storm people to opine and ensure that those new to our area know when to go... There are many more long timers with many years over me.

Evac Routes have improved a bit since last go around, but still lack any mass exit strategy. 98 was packet today with tourons... couldn't get to Publix. Can you imagine trying to get to Hwy 20 in Freeport???

It's really unfortunate that the BCC has gotten nothing done since that major flood... Its almost negligent...

Watch the NOAA site or another credible one to see what happens... could miss us or it could come into Gulf.

Oh boy. I cant even imagine what will happen to this area if a hurricane comes close. It will be a rude awakening to all of the post Opal developments. Especially south of 98, along 30a.

I think most people already know but here are a few common sense things.

The tourist are first to get evacuated, leaving the locals little gas when they tell us to go.

Staying behind is foolish and irresponsible if you have children. Emergency services are all but shut down.

The causeway has typically washed out on the North side of the 331 bridge.

Back when I had a house phone, I had an answering machine. If I called home and I didnt get the machine, I knew that power wasn't restored.

May as well have a pre-hurricane cookout/feast because the power will be shut off for safety and all of your refrigeated and frozen food will be compromised.

Plywood, generators, gas, etc. get awfully scarce and expensive just before a storm.

I don't think I will put the evac route, that I used in the past, on a public forum.

Most of the hotels within reasonable driving distances will be booked full.

I have had banking issues during storms so having cash to travel with is handy.

We have always turned evacutions in to mini vacations. May as well make the best of it.

And, if there is even a remote possibility ut will be more than a Cat 1, leave. I almost stayed for Hurricane Andrew.....my 4000 home neighborhood was reduced to rubble. I had one friend who stayed, and lived....10 days later, as he told me the story, he shook like a leaf. Just leave.

Somewhat on topic, an excellent website for all things hurricanes is Mike's Weather Page... powered by Sparks Energy!. Also known as Mike's Weather Page. It a man named Mike down in the Tampa area who has quite the following. He's a weather geek. Follow him on Facebook too.

Also, Levi at Tropical Tidbits, Tropical Tidbits provides excellent, geek-level analysis of storms.

As of Sunday night, models have Irma pushing more westward before she turns North. One to watch for us for sure.

I just looked at the NOAA site and it is headed more westerly like it is headed towards the gulf. Mikes spaghetti was one tight wad headed right up the peninsula last night. This could get concerning...

The hurricane tracking models are constantly changing. Here are the most reliable local indicators of an imminent storm:

1. Pickup trucks loaded with several and various containers lined up at the gas station.

2. Bud Light, charcoal and propane tanks disappearing from the shelves (off season).

3. The excessive rise in gas prices at Tom Thumb after Labor Day weekend.

If you see any 2 of these, start packing. If you see all 3, you should be on the road.

We rode out hurricane Eloise in 1975 in our house in Santa Rosa Beach. It was a full on direct hit.
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We had family friends who lost their place at the beach. To add insult to injury, a tree fell on their house at home as she went inland.

I have been in 12 major hurricanes due to working for a hurricane shutter company and owning my own.
Leave town

Ivan and Dennis, most immediately, come to mind. Really started viewing this site during Ivan or Dennis. That was the quickest visual of the area if you did get out. Did the answering machine trick too. There are plenty of areas well above sea level I think the GPS said we were 55 feet ^. Irma started worrying me a day or two ago, tracks just don't go vertically North, the way they were predicting on Saturday.

Biggest hurdles as I remember, was not having the plywood already cut and the other materials stored ahead of time and when the various counties closed the bridges, pre landfall

So, it appears the panic buying of gas, canned goods and bottled water has begun.

Tip:

Most people already have 40 gallons of water stored in their home. Your water heater. Comes with a handy drain valve at the bottom that is threaded like a garden hose for easy access! You can also turn off the breaker and valve off your water before a storm hits in case your water purveyor's lines get contaminated.

So, it appears the panic buying of gas, canned goods and bottled water has begun.

Tip:

Most people already have 40 gallons of water stored in their home. Your water heater. Comes with a handy drain valve at the bottom that is threaded like a garden hose for easy access! You can also turn off the breaker and valve off your water before a storm hits in case your water purveyor's lines get contaminated.

Excellent Tip!
Is water purification necessary for drinkable?

If the water that filled the tank is clean it should be completely fine to drink so long as the water hasn't been sitting for an extended period of time.

Remember, your potable supply water ties directly to the water heater. Any single valve faucet is generally mixing the hot and cold water as well. If you can safely drink from the tap, there should be little to no difference.

Having said that, there are going to be some sediment in water heaters (especially old ones).

I'm not sure if L.C. is dead serious, but there is almost never been a lack of drinking water. The worst case scenarios of the past have been power might go out for 3-4 days, after a direct hit, and then the water may, or may not, go out because of the pumps going down. This may affect your shower schedule and most certainly your toilet habits, but drinking water would be trucked in almost immediately. That is, if you stay and try to ride it out. If you have five cases of water in your trunk, as you evacuate through Alabama and Mississippi, you will probably have five cases of water when you return.

Excellent Tip!
Is water purification necessary for drinkable?

Pulling water from the bottom of the water heater will result in extremely calcified and scaled water. Like LC said above, if it's an old unit, you may not even be able to drain it for all of the settled solids.

A couple of things I remember from some past storms were to have two-cycle mix fuel for chainsaws. Being able to cut your way out of your street/neighborhood for fallen trees was huge.

My "tip" is a little tongue in cheek aimed at the bottled water hoarders. In an emergency you do what you gotta do. You can use it to flush toilets or a sponge bath or ? Im just pointing out that it's there.

Opal Oct 1995 probably the worst I've personally been through. No electricity for almost 3 weeks, downed trees and damage everywhere. A new roof later and a shed in shambles, we survived. At the height of the storm I remember the pressure in the house was intense and that got a little scary.

Emergency Services did come out with water and MRE's, gag! We still have the MRE's and I'm still not interested in eating them.

Having talked to several people that were here for Eloise in 1975, a large portion of Santa Rosa Beach north of Hwy 98 (i.e. Santa Rosa Plantation) was under several feet of water from the Bay.

Don't underestimate your caffeine addiction! If you drink several cups of coffee per day, you will feel awful if you are deprived, so, good idea to have a jar of instant coffee in your house if riding it out. It will do the trick and can be prepared without electricity.

Don't underestimate your caffeine addiction! If you drink several cups of coffee per day, you will feel awful if you are deprived, so, good idea to have a jar of instant coffee in your house if riding it out. It will do the trick and can be prepared without electricity.

that's the BEST hurricane emergency tip I've heard all day. Seriously.

If you get cranky from not enough caffeine, try beer.

Don't underestimate your caffeine addiction! If you drink several cups of coffee per day, you will feel awful if you are deprived, so, good idea to have a jar of instant coffee in your house if riding it out. It will do the trick and can be prepared without electricity.

Cold instant coffee? You can do something similar with a French press. I need to start pre-grinding.