After Dennis

[Santa Rosa Pete]

Good Saturday morning, all!

Talk about "hurry up, slow down". After dashing down from Atlanta last night in anticipation of needing to board up and get the hell outta dodge later today, I wake up to discover winds have gone from 150mph late yesterday afternoon to 90mph and now they're back up to 105mph. I sit here, enjoying my second cup of coffee, and wonder whether or not it's worth the hassle of boarding up and doing the nail-hole damage to the house if it's just a Cat 1 storm. Having said that ... don't want to get caught with board shorts down.

What's everyone else planning this a.m.?

 

[Mike or Regina]

We live in Watercolor and based on the latest we are staying. We includes my wife and two teenagers. If it strengthens or is a direct hit we will be leaving.

Who else in the area is planning to stay?

 

[Kurt]

We live in Watercolor and based on the latest we are staying. We includes my wife and two teenagers. If it strengthens or is a direct hit we will be leaving.

Who else in the area is planning to stay?

Nothing has changed and he is still doing what was expected, which was to weaken before strengthening again. There is no reason to do any different than you planned yesterday which I imagine was to follow mandatory evacuation orders.

Assume the worst and hope for the best.

You do not want to be in SoWal when Dennis comes ashore anywhere close, which could easily be the case.

 

[Philip_Atlanta]

We live in Watercolor and based on the latest we are staying. We includes my wife and two teenagers. If it strengthens or is a direct hit we will be leaving.

Who else in the area is planning to stay?

What Kurt said. Plus, one of the beauties of Watercolor is the trees. I wouldn't want to be in amongst those when a Cat 3 or 4 Hurricane comes through. Just my thought.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Good Saturday morning, all!

Talk about "hurry up, slow down". After dashing down from Atlanta last night in anticipation of needing to board up and get the hell outta dodge later today, I wake up to discover winds have gone from 150mph late yesterday afternoon to 90mph and now they're back up to 105mph. I sit here, enjoying my second cup of coffee, and wonder whether or not it's worth the hassle of boarding up and doing the nail-hole damage to the house if it's just a Cat 1 storm. Having said that ... don't want to get caught with board shorts down.

What's everyone else planning this a.m.?

I wish we had been able to board up, but instead we're 6 hours away. Ivan taught us a lesson, but we didn't get around to following through. I'd much rather deal with some wood putty and touch-up paint than broken windows. Have you ever tried to pick broken glass out of pine straw?

What is the best solution for out of towners, anyway? If you cut plywood you've got to store it and have a contractor in line before the season. The management companies may find someone to clean up for you post-hurricane but not board up before it. Most of the rolling/accordion shutters stick out like a sore thumb. Those Bermuda shutters that just fold down block the Gulf views (on the windows that are most vulnerable). We did nothing because we couldn't come up with a reasonable plan.

 

[Mike or Regina]

Thanks for the message. Kurt you must be staying. Your pictures last year were appreciated by all. And highly appreciated by all of us. good luck on this one. May it move way west!

 

[phdphay]

I wish we had been able to board up, but instead we're 6 hours away. Ivan taught us a lesson, but we didn't get around to following through. I'd much rather deal with some wood putty and touch-up paint than broken windows. Have you ever tried to pick broken glass out of pine straw?

What is the best solution for out of towners, anyway? If you cut plywood you've got to store it and have a contractor in line before the season. The management companies may find someone to clean up for you post-hurricane but not board up before it. Most of the rolling/accordion shutters stick out like a sore thumb. Those Bermuda shutters that just fold down block the Gulf views (on the windows that are most vulnerable). We did nothing because we couldn't come up with a reasonable plan.

We were just lucky enough to be at the beach so we could take care of things. I don't know what we would have done if there had been renters there impeding us.

We have the plywood already cut and labeled, but there are so many windows that it's hard to put the right piece in the right spot. The workman just want to nail it up and get finished. But if they put a piece in the wrong place, you risk not having the proper piece to fit elsewhere - not like you can buy more plywood at the 11th hour. So it was a full-time job just managing the workman so they'd follow the labeling instructions.

We are looking for an alternative. We're tired up stressing out, wondering if we can find someone to help us board up. As you say, not only are the rolldown shutters ugly, they can rust and stick. And you're right, the Bermuda shutters block the view. We figured that either alternative would cost us about $25,000.

This is to mgade - don't stay. If yesterday's traffic was any indication (took me 2-1/2 hours to cross the bridge) and you decided to leave at the last minute, there'd be so many people with your mindset that I'd be afraid that you couldn't get out of dodge before the bridges close (even though I here that the traffic isn't as bad this AM).

 

[Paula]

I agree that it makes sense to let the storm pass by before heading to SoWal at this point. But don't assume rentals won't be available and that all rentals are being used for emergency workers or people who need places to stay after the storm. That was not my experience last year -- our places stayed empty and no one requested the use of them. Property owners would be happy to have renters if the area is ready for visitors (e.g., county officials let people in, electricity is working, streets are safe, etc.). As soon as the electricity came on last year a few days after the storm (maybe it won't go out this year says the optimist in me), the area was in very good shape except for the beach accesses.

For those of you who are locals, you have a better perspective on this than I have, though.

 

[Paula]

By the way, last year Destin got hit much harder than SoWal so my comments are based on SoWal, not Destin. You really have to try to get information (e.g., through this board) after a storm to see how the area is doing.