Hurricane Dennis

[beachmouse]

Keep in mind that if it's looking like Dennis is going to develop into a major hurricane, you're going to get a lot of evacuee traffic going outward. Some time late Friday or early Saturday, southern Louisiana is going to make a decision on whether to activate their highway/interstate contraflow program to try to get people out of New Orleans, which will effectively prevent you from getting across the state.

Louisiana travelers:
http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/press/traffic_cameras/traffic.asp?page=cameras
Mississippi travelers:
http://www.mdot.state.ms.us/
Alabama travelers:
http://www.dot.state.al.us/docs
Florida travelers:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/traveler.htm

 

[phdphay]

Most people who do it already have a plan in place.

But I'm not sure what our plan should be. We already have the plywood cut and labeled from last year, we have the screws, and we have ladders. I'm just not sure when to board up. Obviously it's a function of where the hurricane is to make landfall, how high the winds are expected to be here, and how much notice you need to give your crew. Things are complicated this year because we all have renters coming in this weekend which makes us want to delay the decision to board up, yet if we wait until the last minute, the winds make a piece of plywood turn into a heavy sail. Last year we boarded up on the Sunday before Ivan came in, and just kept it up until hurricane season was over. Can't do that when we have renters. So, like I said, I just don't know what our plan should be and when we should do it.

 

[Kurt]

But I'm not sure what our plan should be. We already have the plywood cut and labeled from last year, we have the screws, and we have ladders. I'm just not sure when to board up. Obviously it's a function of where the hurricane is to make landfall, how high the winds are expected to be here, and how much notice you need to give your crew. Things are complicated this year because we all have renters coming in this weekend which makes us want to delay the decision to board up, yet if we wait until the last minute, the winds make a piece of plywood turn into a heavy sail. Last year we boarded up on the Sunday before Ivan came in, and just kept it up until hurricane season was over. Can't do that when we have renters. So, like I said, I just don't know what our plan should be and when we should do it.

Last minute to me would be break of day Saturday, depending on the track. If you don't have labor lined up . . . .

 

[lollygal]

But I'm not sure what our plan should be. We already have the plywood cut and labeled from last year, we have the screws, and we have ladders. I'm just not sure when to board up. Obviously it's a function of where the hurricane is to make landfall, how high the winds are expected to be here, and how much notice you need to give your crew. Things are complicated this year because we all have renters coming in this weekend which makes us want to delay the decision to board up, yet if we wait until the last minute, the winds make a piece of plywood turn into a heavy sail. Last year we boarded up on the Sunday before Ivan came in, and just kept it up until hurricane season was over. Can't do that when we have renters. So, like I said, I just don't know what our plan should be and when we should do it.

We are in the same situation. Waiting in Tennessee. . . not knowing whether to board up yet or not. I guess we will have to see what Dennis does in the next 24 hours. I have renters coming in this weekend, and have not heard from them yet. I'm in a wait and see mode right now and it's driving me NUTS!

 

[phdphay]

Thanks, Kurt. And ditto to lollygal. We're at the beach, so that makes us feel more in control since we can supervise the boarding-up process. However, my husband and I are so freaked out. It's hard to make the decision to board up unnecessarily because all of the damage that boarding up itself causes (requiring caulking screw holes, sanding, repainting, etc.), yet obviously a storm could do a heck of a lot more damage than that. Last year when we drove away after we boarded up for Ivan, we bawled like babies.

 

[chrisv]

So, how does one decide when to board up? For us, it's not a matter of a last-minute decision. We are physically unable to do it ourselves (I mean, how many people are strong enough to carry a 50-pound piece of plywood in one hand and a drill in another hand up a 32-foot ladder?), so we need to make arrangements in advance to make sure the labor doesn't get tied up elsewhere. Any guidelines would be greatly appreciated.

maybe try calling landscape crews, they might not be primping any lawns with the storm coming and might need the cash. Of course, they may not be available afterwards to take it down...

I plan on assessing Friday afternoon, and boarding up Saturday am if necessary. Would suggest all visitors prepare to leave Friday am, if you wait till your week is over on Saturday, it will literally take 12-15 hours to get back to Birmingham, Atlanta or wherever if the locals are evacuating also. Leave early so the roads aren't too jammed at once. Good luck to all.

 

[phdphay]

Thanks, chrisv, for the advice!

I'm

 

[hutch]

If you need GAS - you had better get it today. Some of the stations are running out.

 

[JC]

http://www.skeetobite.com/weather/

What were the wind speeds on Ivan. Also, can you post the hurricane scale.

 

[Travel2Much]

What were the wind speeds on Ivan. Also, can you post the hurricane scale.

Everything you need to know about hurricanes is here, our tax dollars at work:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Much, much better than watching the panicky news reports from the networks who are beginning to drive me totally, absolutely crazy.

Ivan's permanent record is here:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml?

At landfall came in at about 110 kt, near the eyewall, I think.

More people were killed this am in London than were killed in Ivan in the US, I think. Doesn't mean you shouldn't board up and get out, of course.