Confused... need evac advice, please

[Radar]

bay,

I can tell you from experience after Ivan hit last year that in Birmingham, AL the conditions weren't too bad... Alot of rain and some pretty good wind gusts and tornado watchs etc. I evacuated from Biloxi to Birmingham last year for Ivan because I have friends there and the conditions were alittle worse in Birmingham then in Biloxi LOL... However the conditions werent too catastrophic, we didnt lose power or flood. I feel if your sister lives pretty far inland in Alabama you should do ok, as long as she is in a well built home and you stay inside and monitor the weather... Whatever you decide to do just stay safe and STAY off the Coast! But your sisters may be the a good choice because of the money you save!!! Good Luck!

[birdwomn]

For a little more advice, in case you haven't decided yet. Check traffic conditions just before you leave and let that weigh into it as well.

The last thing you want is to flee your home and find yourself stuck on the road in a storm like this. Also, don't try to drive when you are exhausted.

FWIW, we have evacuated to Lake City and Gainesville several times and while the motels aren't the greatest, it was safe and everyone was very helpful. (even with our 4 large birds, 3 dogs, and a cat)

Good luck in whatever direction you choose, we will be thinking of all of you.

[wxwatcher2]

Just heard the OEM director in NOLA say that Max Mayfield told him this was the big one they had all been talking about.

Yes, I heard the May or New Orleans on the radio telling about the phone call from the NHC and them pleading with him to issue a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans.

THIS IS the BIG one.

Get out of harms way if you can......and stay safe.

[baygirl_1]

Okay.... now have 2 rooms reserved in Lake City, in case we decide to go there. A little more peace of mind, but not a whole lot, y'know? Thanks, again, folks for sharing your thoughts and advice. God keep everyone safe!

[Recurve]

The only point of evacuation is to not be in a collapsing building or one that is going to be under water. You can't get completely out of the storm's way, you just need to not be in the eye wall on the coast. Wake up, stop overthinking this, and go 30 miles away from the danger area. The main point in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is TO NOT DROWN.

[mtm4319]

baygirl_1, I'm 10 miles to your NNW. I'll be following this thread, but our family hasn't even discussed evacuation.

[wayoutfront]

If your sister is at least 75 miles inland, then I'd recommend that... Katrina ought be moving slow enough that the storm cannot transport too much of its winds far inland. For example, the Birmingham area will likely escape without too much wind impact.

I suspect that the recommendations are not to head north, as people might decide to move only 20 or 30 miles north then camp out at a hotel or the sort, where strong winds will be a real threat.

- Jay
KSC FL

why would you say that ?? the freaking eyewall is that large..

[wayoutfront]

The only point of evacuation is to not be in a collapsing building or one that is going to be under water. You can't get completely out of the storm's way, you just need to not be in the eye wall on the coast. Wake up, stop overthinking this, and go 30 miles away from the danger area. The main point in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is TO NOT DROWN.

i
some of this thread is the dumbest things I have ever heard

a strong cat , 4/ 5 hurricane has an eyewall that large...

plus do you really want to be without power, and water living in 90+ degree weather ,

this isn't Jeanne or Francis.

if you are asked to evacuate... go

[Florida_brit]

Wayoutfront - Agree...but it depends where they are. Have a look at this: http://www.skeetobiteweather.com/picservice.asp?t=t&m=12 seems to imply that Katrina will be at least a CAT 2 some considerable distance inland and the chart is plotted way before CAT 4 status announced. Also not to mention the floods, tornados etc that are bound to come with the hurricane. Also post hurricane conditions such as lack of electricity, phones, water, fuel, food etc.

[Florida_brit]

this isn't Jeanne or Francis.

A friend sayed through the eye of both Jeanne and Frances. She has never evacuated....y"ou know they can't be that bad" she said on the phone to me in th UK and "we have never been hit badly in the last 60 years it always swings away nothing to worry about"....she phoned me after the experience and said never again when Jeanne - strong of the two - went through. She descirbed the noise, conditions etc. She was really shaken up!

Don't take any chances with your lives it really isn't worth it! Even the CAT 1 over Miami caused considerable damage. This weather system has so much rain attached to it, more than most hurricanes plus it has had the chance to absorb more water over the GoM.

[wayoutfront]

follow this link for some damage assesments

http://hurricane.methaz.org/hurapak/

[wayoutfront]

this isn't Jeanne or Francis.

A friend sayed through the eye of both Jeanne and Frances. She has never evacuated....y"ou know they can't be that bad" she said on the phone to me in th UK and "we have never been hit badly in the last 60 years it always swings away nothing to worry about"....she phoned me after the experience and said never again when Jeanne - strong of the two - went through. She descirbed the noise, conditions etc. She was really shaken up!

Don't take any chances with your lives it really isn't worth it! Even the CAT 1 over Miami caused considerable damage. This weather system has so much rain attached to it, more than most hurricanes plus it has had the chance to absorb more water over the GoM.

yeah I did a whoile lot of claims from those storms... most interesting story abaouyt evacuating.. My insured was telling me how they decided to stay .. because their house was extremely well built with as much hurricane proofing they could do. ( It was the best of everything).

Their house did stand up to the winds... but didn't survive the impact of two of their neighbors houses that flew into theirs

lesson. its not where you are flying too.. its whats flying at you

I have some pictures somewhere of 12 ich broken tree limb that flew into a house and out the other side,... luckily it was on the 2nd story and the insured were in the bathroom, and they were in daytona which didn't get a direct hit.