Bush declares state of emergency in Fla

[CharleySurvivor]

Not to bring politics here - I truly admire our Governor. He always does an awesome job when it comes to hurricanes. I've read in a news post online that he even cancelled a trip to NY tomorrow to stay in Florida to moniter the cane.

Like others said, better early then to late and I like that thinking.

[Terry]

definition of State of Emergency:

A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, may work to alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or may order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans.

The Gov cannot do the above without the formal declaration.

[pcwick]

crazycajuncane, Agreed. The reality of the situation is unpleasant. 96 hours was described as a physical limit. The number of automobiles that can be squeezed out of a population cluster in a given time frame. No easy answers. That's why I wouldn't want to be an official in Florida just now.

[crazycajuncane]

I'm all about the state of emergency... I was stating the problem with evacuating 96 hours prior to the storm... if you are in Florida where would you go right now? North? South? The storms tracks change by the day.

[pcwick]

Cookiely, is Interestate 75 still four lanes, or has it been widened? I recall I-75 sometimes jammed in the middle of the day out in the middle of nowhere.

[pcwick]

I'm all about the state of emergency... I was stating the problem with evacuating 96 hours prior to the storm... if you are in Florida where would you go right now? North? South? The storms tracks change by the day.

Sorry I misunderstood your point, and an interesting point it is.

[Cookiely]

Cookiely, is Interestate 75 still four lanes, or has it been widened? I recall I-75 sometimes jammed in the middle of the day out in the middle of nowhere.

I haven't driven it recently but the last time I was on it a couple of months ago, parts of it are under construction. I hate driving on the interstate, my nerves can't handle it anymore.

[CharleySurvivor]

As far as I know, it's 4 lanes, and depending where you come from. It's only 2 lanes from end of Sarasota (towards Venice) to Naples.

[WhirlWind]

I was from Naples to Tampa, and back to Naples today, and yes 4 lanes, and 2 lanes from Sarasota to Naples
WhirlWInd

[LaBreeze]

Learning not only from the mistakes of last year, but from all of the mistakes over all of the previous years from all of the states that were struck by storms of the past. We learn from each new experience.

[cinlfla]

Very well said

[Rieyeuxs]

Sorry to be a person of disagreement here, but it is still too early. Any wobble to the west takes this offshore and to the panhandle. If this was a Cat 3 or higher, I could see the early warnings; but at a TS going over land, Ernie has a bigger chance of crying Wolf IMHO. I'm not -removed- this anywhere. I just suspect that if this fails to intensify, then the "it wasn't that big of a deal" mindset occurs. Especially if the Govenor is out on center stage wringing his hands.

[Terry]

I'm wringing my hands. State of Emergency is what the Governor has to execute to get any preps going. It is part of the checks and balances.

Heck, I'm not even a fan of Gov. Bush in general. But on the hurricane prep and recovery, you betcha this guy knows what he is doing.

A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, may work to alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or may order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans.

[HDGator]

I'm all about the state of emergency... I was stating the problem with evacuating 96 hours prior to the storm...

Florida Keys are the only area under evacuations:

http://floridadisaster.org/index.asp

Based on the official forecast they are within 48 hours of impacts (not 96 hours) which necessitates the evacuations .

It doesn't help the situation to spread disinformation.

There is only one road out of the Keys in an evacuation... so there is usually not much confusion about whether to go: " North? or South?"

[vbhoutex]

Sorry to be a person of disagreement here, but it is still too early. Any wobble to the west takes this offshore and to the panhandle. If this was a Cat 3 or higher, I could see the early warnings; but at a TS going over land, Ernie has a bigger chance of crying Wolf IMHO. I'm not -removed- this anywhere. I just suspect that if this fails to intensify, then the "it wasn't that big of a deal" mindset occurs. Especially if the Govenor is out on center stage wringing his hands.

Do you not think the panhandle is part of Fl also? Or am I missing something here?

[cinlfla]

Sorry to be a person of disagreement here, but it is still too early. Any wobble to the west takes this offshore and to the panhandle. If this was a Cat 3 or higher, I could see the early warnings; but at a TS going over land, Ernie has a bigger chance of crying Wolf IMHO. I'm not -removed- this anywhere. I just suspect that if this fails to intensify, then the "it wasn't that big of a deal" mindset occurs. Especially if the Govenor is out on center stage wringing his hands.

Do you not think the panhandle is part of Fl also? Or am I missing something here?

Sorry but some of these people crack me up.

[crazycajuncane]

I'm all about the state of emergency... I was stating the problem with evacuating 96 hours prior to the storm... if you are in Florida where would you go right now? North? South? The storms tracks change by the day.

Sorry I misunderstood your point, and an interesting point it is.

Let's say you are in the middle of the cone right now. I'll say Tampa. Where would you evacuate to at the moment? The tracks can change to the north or the south. Where would you evacuate 96 hours out?

I know people from Houston that went east to Louisiana.... only to get slammed when Rita hit the TX/LA border. You can call for evacuations 96 hours out, but in 96 hours the storm will likely have changed it's path.

That is why most people wait 24 - 48 hours before making that crucial decision.

[pcwick]

HDGator, In this thread, I read no other mention than yours of evacuations currently taking place anywhere other than the Keys.

It seems clear to me that this thread has invovled a discussion of a theoretical estimate of the amount of time it would take to do a complete evacuation of the Tampa Bay Metro.

[debbiet]

FEMA also isn't risking anything this time (except maybe criticism that is is over-reacting)...Virginia's Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 2 is scheduled for deployment probably staging in the Jacksonville area until more is known about the storm strength and path.

[GalvestonDuck]

Let's say you are in the middle of the cone right now. I'll say Tampa. Where would you evacuate to at the moment? The tracks can change to the north or the south. Where would you evacuate 96 hours out?

How about east, to the Atlantic coast of FL? Isn't that a mere 2 hours away or so?