Wilma preps here in Central Florida

[Josephine96]

Even though we may only get a glancing blow of TS force winds.. There seems to be no chances being taken today,. Working at Wal Mart, I realized something, just about every other customer had either canned goods, or water.. I even saw 1 guy buy a generator. Yes I said generator lol..

Needless to say, even up here we're anxious, especially since we're in the cone..

[cmdebbie]

And here in Oviedo (Northeast of Orlando), the gas stations were starting to get very busy today about 5 pm, Publix was already running out of some canned goods, low on bread, ice, etc.

Got my supplies though!

[Josephine96]

I'm off tomorrow, but I gotta go to Wal Mart to pick up my check, Maybe I'll raid the canned goods myself and stock up a bit..

[cmdebbie]

I figure that the best way to keep the storm away from here is to go grocery shopping and start preparing. Charley was the only one that I did not really do any preps for (atleast not until a few hours before he hit), and he hit us the hardest. The ones that I do prepare for....well, they don't amount to much, thank goodness.

We ought to be safe in Central Florida since Debbie has prepared! lol

[Steve H.]

That's interesting, 'cause here in Palm Bay (south of Melbourne) nobody is in the stores. They believe its going to Cancun Not a car at the pumps or a crowd at Walmart. If she exits near Jupiter we'll more than likely lose power here

[Windswept]

I'm in Central Fl too and, yes, I filled up, checked my battery stock, water supply, added my water jugs to the deep freezer ( fills space and helps to keep cold if power goes out), spot checked the house for any issues that needed addressed ( loose branches, tiles, etc.)

I don't THINK it is coming here, but, it is early and wise to be prepared for unexpected shifts in the track.

[cmdebbie]

That's interesting, 'cause here in Palm Bay (south of Melbourne) nobody is in the stores. They believe its going to Cancun Not a car at the pumps or a crowd at Walmart. If she exits near Jupiter we'll more than likely lose power here

That is what I would call complacency...not good. Better to be safe than sorry. Well, atleast I now know which direction to head if I am in need of more supplies and they are sold out here. j/k

[cmdebbie]

"I don't THINK it is coming here, but, it is early and wise to be prepared for unexpected shifts in the track."

Yep, and unfortunately we here in Central Florida sure know all about those unexpected shifts in the track, aka Charley.

[O Town]

Ya know I went to Publix late this morning, and there was no more people than normal. And as I was looking in other folks carts not many had what I had, I got 6 gallons of water and a good bit of can goods and my batteries. As you say, why not go ahead and get it we will eat the food anyways so might as well have it just in case, I will never forget the Charley move. So you never know. I did notice after I took the last 2 packs of the cheap D batteries off the hook, 2 different people were watching me, and then they started to grab some, of the more expensive ones. I think they were looking in my buggy, thinking maybe she knows something we don't. Better get some while I am here. LOL. I think when others notice you are preparing it kinda rubs off on the next person. We also got gas in both the 5 gallon cans for the generator, and are gonna fill up the van tomarrow. Why not prepare? It's not like you wont use the stuff you are buying anyway. So go ahead go out and get you some non perishable foods, and make minor preps now. You never know.

[k-man]

I haven't done a thing...not one thing. My trees have already been pruned. I already have batteries. I have a radio. We have candles and a flashlight. We have some bottled water. Why am I going to run out and buy canned goods? Even after Charley when we lost power we were able to find several restaurants that had power. And even if this thing pulled a Charley (which it isn't going to do), well, that was pretty much as bad as it will ever get here. I know that they lost power for a week in Kissimmee, but seriously, here at my home they lost power for one day. With Jeanne and Frances we didn't even lose *cable*. I feel very confident in our location here in Florida. And while I know that it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of these storms, I just don't see a need to go into "survivalist" mode. Different story if I lived on the coast....but here, we'll be fine.

[Josephine96]

K Man.. I lost power for 11 days.. and now I live on the side of town that lost power for close to 2-3 weeks! That is why I'm prepping for this thing.

You also can't say "this isn't gonna pull a Charley". if it makes landfall a little further north of Naples, say around I don't know.. TAMPA.. it would have the eye and all the nasty weather almost directly on top of us when it goes across the state..

[cflweather]

I also live in Palm Bay. I am the kind that runs to the store, the minute I see a track. I figure I will be able to use most of it. But when everyone else is frantic. I always think, why do they wait. You will use the gas in your car. I will use the water, charcoal, can goods etc....I may not have much use for the batteries, but that is ok. Last year friends were calling us for gas, ice and coolers. better safe than sorry. Plus last year we lost power 12 hours before Frances even hit. Hopefully it just goes away, but in any event, just be ready

[k-man]

K Man.. I lost power for 11 days.. and now I live on the side of town that lost power for close to 2-3 weeks! That is why I'm prepping for this thing.

You also can't say "this isn't gonna pull a Charley". if it makes landfall a little further north of Naples, say around I don't know.. TAMPA.. it would have the eye and all the nasty weather almost directly on top of us when it goes across the state..

It's not going to happen Josephine96. Not this time.... Even if we do see a more northerly landfall point, this storm will be in such a weakened state that it simply will not do the kind of damage that we saw with Charley. We were in a 2 week rental in Kissimmee when Charley came through (waiting to close on a house in Orlando) and so I know exactly what it was like to be there. It was frightening, for about 10 minutes. That's how fast Charley went through.

The house we bought only lost power for one day, but we had 5 days until we could close on the house. It was 90+ degrees in that powerless rental home....you know what we did? We packed up our stuff and our dogs and went to the Portofino Bay hotel. We live in an area with 900 million hotels, most of which have generators. I don't see the need to be cooking breakfast on my outdoor grill when the McDonald's across the street is open. I just don't see the need to go overboard with the whole survivalist thing here in Central Florida. If I'm in the mood for that...I'll go camping.

[Josephine96]

You're probably right about it being nowhere near as bad as what Charley was.. But being prepared never hurts

[cmdebbie]

"It was frightening, for about 10 minutes. That's how fast Charley went through."

Well, it was sure frightening here in Oviedo for alot longer than 10 minutes. It sounded as if the walls and windows of my home were going to come down around us for atleast an hour. My screened enclosure did come down, we watched it bending and swaying for about 30 minutes before it finally collapsed completely. We got it pretty bad on this side of town. Anything stronger than Charley heading this way and I am out of here. Certainly doesn't hurt to prepare....stuff will always be used. However, I certainly don't think this storm will be the one. Nevertheless, I am prepared just in case.

FYI...I know people in this area and in Orlando who did lose power with Charley for up to 8 days. So, never say never.

[Amanzi]

Sorry, But Im locking this thread. There is another one on the same subject.