Tropical Storm Fay

remember that when flooding happens in this area, especially around certain areas (eg - Western Lake) where the homes are on septic tanks, the water, even that feeding into the Gulf, may not be safe due to the fecal coliform (poop), not to mention rusty pieces of metal, and building debris. Unless you want your kids to swim in poop, don't let them get in the water.

remember that when flooding happens in this area, especially around certain areas (eg - Western Lake) where the homes are on septic tanks, the water, even that feeding into the Gulf, may not be safe due to the fecal coliform (poop), not to mention rusty pieces of metal, and building debris. Unless you want your kids to swim in poop, don't let them get in the water.

Well now that is just nasty. Thanks for the warning.
It is flat calm this morning, makes me want to take the day off and go hang out on the desolate beach.

Well now that is just nasty. Thanks for the warning.
It is flat calm this morning, makes me want to take the day off and go hang out on the desolate beach.

You look feverish to me, best get out of there before you get everyone sick;-)

[FONT=Arial,sanserif][FONT=Arial,sanserif][FONT=Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sanserif]Date: 8/22/2008[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial,sanserif]GO AWAY FAY! [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]Andrew Metz, Destin Log [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]After a radical turn in the Atlantic, pesky storm eyes Panhandle[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]Meteorologists knew it was possible, but no one expected an “about face” from the latest tropical storm.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]Earlier in the week, it seemed that Tropical Storm Fay was going to make her away across Florida and out into the Atlantic. But early Wednesday,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]Fay stalled off the coast of Daytona and has since made her way back over Florida.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]The storm that has already taken more than 50 lives in the Caribbean and caused heavy flooding throughout Florida, has been projected to be moving back across the state, with the eye headed for the Panhandle and Destin. As of late Thursday, Destin and Okaloosa and Walton counties were under a tropical storm watch.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]“If it stays mostly on land, we are expecting 20 to 40 mph winds and 15 to 20 inches of rain,” said Greg Kisela, Destin City Manager. “We are taking the necessary precautions for such conditions.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]As of 7 a.m. Friday, Fay was continuing westward over the northern Florida Peninsula and was located about 50 miles northeast of Cedar Key. On its current track, it will move near or over the coast of the Florida Panhandle Friday night or Saturday.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]The city has placed pumps in four areas of Destin that tend to have the heaviest flooding; Indian Trail, Indian Bayou, Heritage Run, and Mountain Drive.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]The city has also asked Waste Management to make Destin as clear as possible of trash in front of houses to make sure the harsh conditions cause as little debris as possible. Public Works officials were deployed around the city to clear out congested storm drains and secure city facilities.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]“If the eye moves more toward the water, we can expect some beach erosion,” said Kisela. “But right now, projections have most of the storm staying on land.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]No emergency management actions are anticipated at this time. Okaloosa County County Emergency Management will be participating in the NHC and State EOC conference call at 10:00 AM tomorrow[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]With Flash Flood Warnings for Okaloosa and Walton counties, Tropical Storm Fay is most definitely going to affect tourism for the weekend.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sanserif]“We don’t have much experience with these things,” said Jennifer Flemming of Abilene, Texas, as she carried her towel and a chair to the beach behind the Back Porch. “We are just going to keep watching the Weather Channel so we know when to get out of here.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]INFORMATION REGARDING TROPICAL STORM FAY AND WASTE COLLECTION FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]At this time Fay is not anticipated to increase above Tropical Storm status, however as a slow moving storm we are anticipating and are planning for unprecedented rainfall. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]As safety continues to be our number one priority, we are asking you to inform your citizens that they should use good judgment with regards to placing their yard waste and household garbage out for collection. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]As in Central Florida, we anticipate that some roads will be flooded during and immediately after the storm passes through our area. Yard waste can easily be blown around and end up in storm drains, increasing the possibility of flooding and we encourage you to ask citizens to not place the yard waste out for collection unless the collection day is this Friday or Saturday. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]For cart (and in some cases garbage can service) service we ask that you have the citizens not place their cart and cans out on Monday unless the storm has passed and it is safe to do so. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]At this time we are anticipating running the Friday and Saturday routes, however it has not been determined if we will be able to operate on Monday. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]A determination will be made as soon as possible and we will confirm, via email, our intent. In areas where approval is required to alter the collections schedule we will confirm as soon as possible our intent to operate on Monday. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,sanserif]Please contact: Waste Management at 850-865-8482 if additional information.[/FONT]

[/FONT][/FONT]

lol --

[FONT=Arial,sanserif][FONT=Arial,sanserif][FONT=Arial,sanserif]“We don’t have much experience with these things,” said Jennifer Flemming of Abilene, Texas, as she carried her towel and a chair to the beach behind the Back Porch. “We are just going to keep watching the Weather Channel so we know when to get out of here.”[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

If you don't have experience, and even if you do, watching the Weather Channel to inform you of when to leave is just plain crazy. You may as well buy a bottle of liquor and sit on the beach during the storm to enjoy the breeze.

Anybody have any reports on rain levels in Tallahassee?

lol --

If you don't have experience, and even if you do, watching the Weather Channel to inform you of when to leave is just plain crazy. You may as well buy a bottle of liquor and sit on the beach during the storm to enjoy the breeze.

If I were one of the relatively few vacationers here this week, I'd be heading to the rental office to check out and drive home today.

With the rains probably starting this evening, tomorrow will be, at best, an unpleasant day for a long drive in just about any direction but west. And, it's not impossible that the winds could be high enough that bridges will start closing.

Folks, we love you. Go home.

I think we are too far away from Fay, currently, but noticeable, non-typical wind is starting to pick up in select areas around here.

We've had calls in our rental office about driving here on Saturday. We are encouraging a date change and not cancellation. We refund and excuse a cancellation if there is a mandatory evacuation.

Anybody have any reports on rain levels in Tallahassee?

Wunderground shows less than an inch total so far. Looks like they've just had the first band.

The heaviest current cumulative levels (in the last 4 hours) are concentrated near the GA-FL border. If Fay continues to track West or WNW, it looks like we could get initial and trailing bands, but not the extended continuous rain that areas to the north or south of the storm center are receiving.

If I were one of the relatively few vacationers here this week, I'd be heading to the rental office to check out and drive home today.

With the rains probably starting this evening, tomorrow will be, at best, an unpleasant day for a long drive in just about any direction but west. And, it's not impossible that the winds could be high enough that bridges will start closing.

Folks, we love you. Go home.

Spoken like an expert, for sure. I think you are spot-on. At last update I saw, Fay was still expected to his us as a Tropical Storm, which means constant wind speeds from 40-74mph (or something like). Bridges in Walton County close when wind speeds reach 35 mph (or something close to that. I'm hearing non-expert opinions that wind here will only be 25 mph, but these non-experts are also thinking 15-20 inches of rainfall in less than one day. Either way, that is not worth risking to stay for one extra day on your planned vacation. If that storm picks up water and speed by centering in the Gulf as it heads this way, there is possibility that it could intensify greatly into a Hurricane, and do some major destruction. When did the entire panhandle ever get swept by a major storm? That is like a direct hit on every beach community in NW Florida, and even as a Cat 1 or 2, that won't look pretty.

BeachSiO2, do you know if the removeable walkovers like at WaterColor and Deer Lake SP are being removed for this storm?

The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) for Walton County is getting everything in place, readying to respond. Knowing that evacuation times for SoWal are something like up to 28 hours, and considering the storm is supposed to be hear by Sat/Sun, my guess is that we would have already seen mandatory evacuation notice for South Walton, if we were getting one. That doesn't meant that bridges won't be closing, and that people will not be able to leave South Walton until bridges have been cleared and inspected for safety. As we saw in P'cola, water can move concrete very easily.

Spoken like an expert, for sure. I think you are spot-on. At last update I saw, Fay was still expected to his us as a Tropical Storm, which means constant wind speeds from 40-74mph (or something like). Bridges in Walton County close when wind speeds reach 35 mph (or something close to that. I'm hearing non-expert opinions that wind here will only be 25 mph, but these non-experts are also thinking 15-20 inches of rainfall in less than one day. Either way, that is not worth risking to stay for one extra day on your planned vacation. If that storm picks up water and speed by centering in the Gulf as it heads this way, there is possibility that it could intensify greatly into a Hurricane, and do some major destruction. When did the entire panhandle ever get swept by a major storm? That is like a direct hit on every beach community in NW Florida, and even as a Cat 1 or 2, that won't look pretty.

BeachSiO2, do you know if the removeable walkovers like at WaterColor and Deer Lake SP are being removed for this storm?

No, I don't but to address the wind speed issue. Please remember this is only the latest guesstimate.

Currently, it is supposed to be sustained winds on the order of 25-40mph sustained, with a lull as the eye passes. The 25mph+ sustained winds are supposed to go from Sat morning through Sunday morning. The 35+mph winds are supposed to be for an hour or so Saturday afternoon, then a lull for the eye, and then 1-2 hours more Sat night after the eye passes.

The problem I see is that they think the eye of the storm is scheduled to come across Sowal and the wind will be fairly quiet for a few hours. So how many problems are going to occur from "gawkers" who get caught as the storm ramps back up .

EDIT::I see that the EOC is being activated per another thread from Kurt so from here on out, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that everyone get their information straight from them.

good suggestion, bchsio2. Never rely on another person to make life-decisions.

One other reminder which has yet to be stated -- tornadoes are something to be prepared for with storms like this, and we all have seen the damage which tornadoes can cause. Be prepared. You cannot make wise decisions when intoxicated. Hurricane Parties are for alcoholics, IMO.

What is the best way to learn about bridge closing plans?

I have to get kids from Defuniak today and back again Saturday/Sunday.

Not so easy...

When you've had reservations made since February and a couple thousand dollars paid in full for a beach house to cancel. Yes, I did pay for cancellation insurance, but unless there is a "mandatory" evacuation order...that means nothing to the insurance company and....I can still be out lots of $$$. Part of our family is already in Seagrove and were planning on checking into the house we have rented together on Saturday...we're leaving in 2 hours for the 12 hour drive from Illinois. Tonight we are staying in Cullman, Alabama and had planned to make the rest of the trip down on Saturday. Have heard nothing from the rental company....so, just in case I've made an emergency reservation in Andulusia. Any advice would be greatly appreciated...other than "stay away"...how will we know about bridge closings? What would be the most likely bridge to take, we normally just come straight in on 331.

What is the best way to learn about bridge closing plans?

I have to get kids from Defuniak today and back again Saturday/Sunday.

When you've had reservations made since February and a couple thousand dollars paid in full for a beach house to cancel. Yes, I did pay for cancellation insurance, but unless there is a "mandatory" evacuation order...that means nothing to the insurance company and....I can still be out lots of $$$. Part of our family is already in Seagrove and were planning on checking into the house we have rented together on Saturday...we're leaving in 2 hours for the 12 hour drive from Illinois. Tonight we are staying in Cullman, Alabama and had planned to make the rest of the trip down on Saturday. Have heard nothing from the rental company....so, just in case I've made an emergency reservation in Andulusia. Any advice would be greatly appreciated...other than "stay away"...how will we know about bridge closings? What would be the most likely bridge to take, we normally just come straight in on 331.

GO TO THIS THREAD. It looks like this is where Kurt will be posting what he gets from the County EOC. Also, it has the 24hr hotline that is manned at the EOC. Good luck.

[ame="http://sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=454840&postcount=1"]SoWal Beaches Forum - View Single Post - TS Fay Official Announcements and News[/ame]

Beachma, wishing you the best of luck in coming down here. Having to judge something like that is difficult. Keep in contact with your family/friends down here right now and they should be able to tell you whether or not bridges are out.

It's windy right now, but not unpleasantly so. It's picking up, though. I remember driving at night through the aftermath of Dennis from Atlanta b/c Mr. OM had to be in PCB for a camp gig, before we moved down here, and it was strangely eerie. I was the only one truly awake and it seemed like a dream, not reality.

Coming through PCB is safest from what I know regarding bridges. Whether or not they close 331, that thing scares me when it's breezy. Destin's bridge has had warnings up all summer about not going over the weight limit, so that's sketchy too.

Moved all our outside stuff inside the garage. I am also very glad that we bought the little weather radio from Publix a few months ago. It's educational and extremely helpful right now.

Thanks...it's all about timing now I guess. I was wondering if we shouldn't push to make it to Birmingham tonight and get an earlier start in the morning. The 331 bridge has always made me a little uneasy...love the sight of it after that long drive, but always tighten up a bit as we cross. Running out of time at this point....so, thanks again for the good wishes.

just a thought: you might be better being a little later. Give the storm time to move through...

From the SWFD website; www.swfd.org

The South Walton Fire District is encouraging residents and visitors to closely follow the movement of Tropical Storm Fay and monitor their local media outlets for the most current information and guidance from officials in their area. The local area is currently under a tropical storm warning.
The local area should anticipate heavy rains with possible localized flooding with moderate sustained winds with stronger occasional gust. Preparation is the key to minimizing storm stress and impact. Points to consider:
? Record rainfall, flooding will be the main concern as Tropical Storm Fay slowly makes its way across NW Florida through Sunday. A tornado threat continues.

? Standing flood waters pose possible health dangers. Avoid contact with flood waters if at all possible. Keep children away from flood water.

? If you approach a flooded roadway while driving, remember, ?turnaround, don?t drown?. It only takes a few feet of water to knock most cars off the road.

? Carbon monoxide is deadly. Residents should use caution when operating portable generators during a storm. Generators should be used outdoors.

? All boaters along the Northern Gulf Coast should heed marine warnings and remain in port if directed. Prolonged high winds and rain will increase the likelihood of vessels to be damaged and to sink. Boaters should secure their vessels before the storm approaches their area.

? Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should play it safe and stay out of the water as deadly rip currents, rough surf conditions continue along the Atlantic coast.

The South Walton Fire District is poised and prepared as always to respond to calls for assistance; however, we encourage the community to make final preparations and stay indoors and off the roads during periods of inclement weather.

Citizens needing information about the storms impact on Walton County can call the 24 hour citizens? hotline at 892-8392 and 892-8394 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Dear Fay,

I know you are very confused right now, I can tell this because you seem to have stalled out just before the coast. I wish to remind you that staying beyond your welcome is rude, and we here in Florida do not appreciate that type of behavior. I know life is hard and full of tough decisions, but at some point you simply have to say "what the heck", make up your mind and DO SOMETHING! :rofl:

Best Wishes,
30ashopper

Uh oh...

We're in trouble now.

Jim Cantore is on location in PCB as we speak.