So at what point do you decide to leave?

[dolphinslady]

I'm confused and hearing different stories. Many people in our area (St. Lucie/Indian River Counties) are staying in their homes or in a relative's homes. Others are choosing to leave.

My concern is that we DO NOT KNOW exactly where Frances is going. So how are people deciding 'where' to go? I mean, we just don't know where the storm will hit. They can predict all they want but the chances of it actually making landfall where they say is not 100%. I would definitely feel better living on the west coast of FL, but is it really that much better to load up and go?

All my family has pretty much decided to stay here...but I'm wondering if that's a good idea. How do you decide when it's right to leave?

This is the scariest feeling I've ever had.

[jaysonx]

It is very reckless IMHO to subject your family to the force of a category 4 storm. Get out ASAP, drive as far north as possible. You will be glad you did.

[nickd]

If you are in an evacuation zone and are ordered to leave then by all means leave. Have a plan in place and go. This is not something you want to be fooling around with. And if she doesn't come then its better to be safe than sorry.

[skysummit]

Leave now! Take a vacation up to the mountains or something. It doesn't pay to risk anything.

[paulvogel]

get in your car, and drive to the hills of kentucky.

Or, bend over and start kissing your bum good bye

[tracyswfla]

Bottom line, leave when they tell you too. I have been through Charley and THIS is NOT something to mess around with. Hurricanes are dangerous.

[incogneato]

we are here in PSL and we're evacuating. I think it's too late to try to get out of town/out of the state, but I would seriously consider a shelter at this point. while the home you live in may be up to the current codes, there are a LOT of homes here in the area that are certainly NOT (remember GDC?) and I am convinced that the debris from those homes would only contribute to the danger. All flip answers and sarcasm aside, there is no shame in going to a shelter regardless of whether the storm is a direct hit to you or not. we are ALL going to be effected by this no matter where on the coast she hits.

[Steve Cosby]

It is very reckless IMHO to subject your family to the force of a category 4 storm. Get out ASAP, drive as far north as possible. You will be glad you did.

...as far north... and west

I'm not sure but what I would be concerned about being in Georgia as a refuge. If Stewart's 11PM discussion verifies, it will probably be Cat 5 at landfall. By the time it reaches the Georgia/Florida border, isn't it still going to be a strong storm with flooding rains?

If the track goes northerly, it is likely that hurricane conditions will be present in that same area.

[southeastva]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this. My grandmother lives in a mobile home in East Orlando about 90 miles from vero beach. She is about 27 miles due west from Titusville. She made it through Charley with just some damage to her carport. What are your opinions on the effect of this area? Thanks in advance.

[HeatherAKC]

If you live in an evacuation zone, leave when ordered. No questions. Don't wait. Just leave when ordered.

If you live out of an evacuation zone and your home is protected by "professional" storm shutters, Stay at your own home. If your home was built after 1992 and is complete CBS concrete AND you have approved shutters, better yet.

If you are concered about the stability of your home, go to an inland shelter. We learned here from Andrew that damage CAN happen well inland.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[GalvestonDuck]

get in your car, and drive to the hills of kentucky.

LOL! Believe me, no one should evacuate there!

[therock1811]

If it were me, I'd be outta there soon as the order went out!

[Robert]

A question... What good are you going to do if you stay there? Are you going to hold down your roof if it starts to blow off? Is your staying there going to effect the track of the storm?

This is a holiday weekend, so take a holiday. Pack up the family (and pets) and get out of town for the weekend (find a hotel before you start driving). The house will be there, or not be there, when you get back. Your being there will not change that at all.

Robert

[jude]

[quote="Robert"]A question... What good are you going to do if you stay there? Are you going to hold down your roof if it starts to blow off? Is your staying there going to effect the track of the storm?

This is a holiday weekend, so take a holiday. Pack up the family (and pets) and get out of town for the weekend (find a hotel before you start driving). The house will be there, or not be there, when you get back. Your being there will not change that at all.

Robert[/quote]

Wish we could 'sticky' Robert's post.
Do heed it!
try to fly- put it on a credit card- just get out.
http://www.spiritair.com/welcome.aspx?pg=syberspecials
Even if your home is spared the days following Frances will be hell..

Jude in Jersey

[alicia-w]

okay, think about it this way. you decide to stay. your house stays intact, but you have no water, no electricity (no air conditioning), you wont be able to drive around because of all the stuff everywhere, curfews. yada yada yada

i think i would leave. take my chances with a nice motel or cabin in the mountains. A/C, a nice cool drink, maybe even a nice hike around.

What sort of choice is there to make?

[Mello1]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this. My grandmother lives in a mobile home in East Orlando about 90 miles from vero beach. She is about 27 miles due west from Titusville. She made it through Charley with just some damage to her carport. What are your opinions on the effect of this area? Thanks in advance.

IMO, if this storm makes landfall in east central FLA, then the Orlando area will definitely experience some major winds. By all means, your Grandmother should NOT be in her mobile home. She should be making plans to go to a shelter.

[ilmc172pilot]

I live right on the water and have never left for a hurrricane, if I were in this monsters path....I'd be gone

[Derek Ortt]

I will NOT leave my apartment in zone B of Dade county

[FloridaHawk82]

We just arrived at our hotel in Macon, GA (just South of Atlanta).

Our home is 1-story, all CBS, excellent custom shutters, and protected to the East by a 2 story home.

We were planning to leave this morning around 10am, but I was in at work backing up data when the 11pm came in... I called my wife and mother-in-law and said "We are leaving as soon as you can finish packing".

We left Palm Beach County at 2:30am, arrived in Macon at Noon today. 80mph on the turnpike...

Unfortunately, I am hearing the turnpike and I-95 are getting clogged already... In hindsight it was a lucky guess, as we got out at the perfect time... and my 4 year old boy is sitting next to me in safety.

[wlfpack81]

Just amazes me how many people I see on this board from FL so near the coast or in danger of seeing strong hurricane winds in excess of 100mph who are choosing not to leave. I'm not the most religious person but I pray people come to their senses in that region or else I think 100+ deaths aren't out of the question.

So foolish to try and ride out a storm of this magnitude, ESPECIALLY if you're within 5 miles of the coast and have a chance of being within 30 miles or so of the northern eyewall where the worse storm surge flooding is going to take place.