Evacuation info St. Augustine...help requested

[johnnytsunami]

Hi all,

I will be unavaoidably in St. Augustine 9/5-6. In case the cane decides
to visit the NE FL coast, does anyone know of the nearest higher ground
nearby? I'd like to sort of plan on a possible 'plan B' should it become
apparent I need to leave as Frances approaches. And I'd like to avoid
the major evacuation efforts when everyone is evacuating. Of course I will
be monitoring Storm2K, NHC and the models as the system nears to give me a leg up on fleeing!

Thanks.

[feederband]

go to nearest shelter or leave fl not to many safe places in fl if a cat 4 is chasing you..

[B-Bear]

You know, I'm having a really hard time comprehending your statement. What in the world could be so pressing so as to make your trip to FL "unavoidable" with the threat of a cat 4/5 hurricane barreling down on you? Half the state population is going to be fleeing while you're heading in state. Doesn't make much sense to me.

[johnnytsunami]

Well hmmm.... it would sound weird, but I'm not totally expecting it's going to hit. the info is just in case. My situation is quite pressing enough and the uncertainty in the storm is enough that I'm just still gathering any info I can as a 'what if' Obviously if it really looks like it will hit I will have to avoid the situation. Then there's the scenario like Charley where it looked like it was going one place, and then quickly things changed. I certainly don't want to be near landfall of a cat 4/5.

In any event I guess if I get stuck I will have to use a shelter or do some other research on where to go hopefully faster than everyone else.

Sorry for the post. I guess it sounds too assinine.

[B-Bear]

Well hmmm.... it would sound weird, but I'm not totally expecting it's going to hit. the info is just in case. My situation is quite pressing enough and the uncertainty in the storm is enough that I'm just still gathering any info I can as a 'what if' Obviously if it really looks like it will hit I will have to avoid the situation. Then there's the scenario like Charley where it looked like it was going one place, and then quickly things changed. I certainly don't want to be near landfall of a cat 4/5.

In any event I guess if I get stuck I will have to use a shelter or do some other research on where to go hopefully faster than everyone else.

Sorry for the post. I guess it sounds too assinine.

No. Don't be sorry. My concern was for your safety. With an uncertain track, there are very few places you can seek refuge from a cat 4/5 hurricane. You just really need to think about how pressing your plans are, because you truly are placing your life at risk if you travel to Florida with this storm bearing down on you.

[vbhoutex]

Your post is not assinine!! It is a simple request for information. It makes perfect sense to me to be prepared iof you are forced to be in the area during that time frame. It is no ones business but your own why you need to be there.

[btsgmdad]

One thing I will say as a recent visitor to Florida is I was impressed by all the road signage concerning hurricanes.
Follow the directions given by local emergency management officials.

[B-Bear]

Well hmmm.... it would sound weird, but I'm not totally expecting it's going to hit. the info is just in case. My situation is quite pressing enough and the uncertainty in the storm is enough that I'm just still gathering any info I can as a 'what if' Obviously if it really looks like it will hit I will have to avoid the situation. Then there's the scenario like Charley where it looked like it was going one place, and then quickly things changed. I certainly don't want to be near landfall of a cat 4/5.

In any event I guess if I get stuck I will have to use a shelter or do some other research on where to go hopefully faster than everyone else.

Sorry for the post. I guess it sounds too assinine.

I truly hope you didn't get the impression that I was being condescending, because that was not my intent whatsoever. My concern was that you did not truly understand the potential seriousness of this storm. This is a potentially catastrophic storm we're talking about here. It is still several days away from the U.S. coastline, but based upon the current models and the potential for this hurricane to reach category 5 intensity, you need to understand that there may not be a reasonably safe place to be in Florida if this storm makes landfall.

[johnnytsunami]

Thanks all. It's OK. I am a meteorologist, and though I've never experienced
a hurricane I do realize what it can do, and this particular one I know how serious it could be. At this point it's too early to cancel my plans for what I need to do and I just wanted to figure out what outs I could possibly have in the worst case scenario, a point vbhoutex amplified for me. Thanks for your concern, and I do appreciate it. One thing it seems like people on this board try to look out for each other.

Thanks again.

[Lowpressure]

I-95 North to 295 North, to I-10 West to I-75 North. All lanes will be headed in one direction and you should not have much trouble following someone. Note; Leave early if told to do so. Floyd was an evac nightmare for most of the SE caost.

[GrimReaper]

I live in St. Augustine, and here are few things to keep in mind. First, where are you staying? If you are staying in the city itself, I suggest you book a hotel room out by 95, the best exit would be at SR 16, there are 5-6 hotels there. That would be the safest place if you intend to stay. Also pay attention to the actions out at NAS Jax.... if they begin preparations for a hurricane, then you better begin too. If NAS JAX sends it's entire fleet out to sea, than you better get your butt out of town, SKIPPY!!!

This area is EXTREMELY complacent regarding a direct hit in St Johns County..... the "old timers" here believe it is physically impossible for a storm here??? LOL Where they got that from I don't know. But what happens is that at the last minute, as in Floyd..EVERYBODY leaves, and it is CHAOS.
Last, if you are still planning on coming down here, feel free to contact me via PM on S2K, or my personal email, which is posted in my profile, and I will do anything I can to help you!! Good Luck, and I hope your trip to my city is a fun one, not a disaster!!
-Grim
(Ann-Marie)

[btsgmdad]

Your town is very beautiful. I really would hate to see a hurricane come through there. I was there in Feb. during Speedweeks and the sights are breathtaking.

[GrimReaper]

Gee, thank you!! I love it here, and accept the risks of living on the ocean. But, as stated, this area is sooo bad about evacuation planning. I don't mean the emergency management people....they have plans, but the people themselves don't believe a storm can ever hit here. The city of St. Augustine would experience severe damage from just a minimal hurricane!! St. Johns county would be flattened by Frances if it hit as a Category 4 hurricane. I'm still praying: FISH!!!!

[btsgmdad]

Me too! LOL

[therock1811]

Johnny...
Your post wasn't assinine at all! If it weren't business I don't really know if I'd understand that it were unavoidable. Best shot right now is if you have to get out of dodge, you're better off IMO heading I-95 north to I-16 W in Savannah, GA then I-16 west to 75. I would not take 95-295-10 as that would be the most crowded of the two options (heading south is not an option no matter what).

[sponger]

As a resident of St Augustine i can tell you that a southern approaching hurricane will shut down the state and evacuation routes. They claim they are better prepared than Floyd, but I wouldnt bet my life on it. If it is unavoidable you could be in for a bumpy ride! Good Luck!

[johnnytsunami]

Johnny...
Your post wasn't assinine at all! If it weren't business I don't really know if I'd understand that it were unavoidable. Best shot right now is if you have to get out of dodge, you're better off IMO heading I-95 north to I-16 W in Savannah, GA then I-16 west to 75. I would not take 95-295-10 as that would be the most crowded of the two options (heading south is not an option no matter what).

Thanks all, and thanks GrimReaper. These are good tips. I agree Rock, I think the fortunate thing about St. Augustine is that it's far
enough north on the peninsula that an escape deeper inland is much more feasible and I agree going south would only put me in a worse position from a possible escape plan. If it becomes clear that a hit in the St. Augustine area seems likely, I will avoid the entire situation. But as I mentioned earlier, if a situation like Charley arises where it seems relatively safe but then 6 hours before landfall it begins turning my way I'm out of there. I noticed Charley was going to hit Punta Gorda by around 9 a.m. that morning...3 hours before a hit there was acknowledged by the NHC and then widely known. I will be keeping a vary wary eye on this. BTW at this point, the 00Z GFS (which had 45 extra dropsondes in the Atlantic and therefore should be a little better than usual has it moving towards Volusia cty, north to the GA border area. So it doesn't look good.

I know what this hurricane can do, but I must admit I've never had to evacuate a cane and know it could be worse than I think and that traffic from the south could be clogging eveything up pretty early. Again at this point I am planning to go, but will keep an eye on this and will do as much as I can to avoid it. I just really need to try and be there. It is important for me to try and really be there, and a lot of money has been invested in my going already, so it's a little early to call it off and all this info helps me decide how late would be too late to cancel it all and guarantee safety.

Thanks again for the specific evacuation tips all, and your concern, and I just might end up emailing you Grim!