CONFUSED HERE IN MELBOURNE

[Pebbles]

People die from TROPICAL STORMS. Saying you won't leave unless a Cat 3 or 4 headed your way is like saying you won't leave until a blindfolded person with a gun is standing 1 foot in front of you rather than 5 feet in front of you.

That's one of the best ones I have heard yet! Very Apt!

[Brent]

I know I should leave. But I'm a 2nd year Met Major at FIT and this is what I have been waiting for to expirience my whole life. I actually chased Charley till there were branches flying at my car. (My home is in Sarasota during summer and no school). I should be ok. If it looks like cat4-5 heading right for me I WILL LEAVE.

The people of Punta Gorda didn't think a Cat 4 would hit them head on and we saw the result. If it's 50 miles offshore(the strong winds will be onshore) and it's moving at 12 mph, that gives you 4 hours until the EYE hits(the eyewall will hit sooner).

[chris_fit]

I think I can work with that Brent if its looking that bad. The roads were dead HOURS before Charely hit.

[opera ghost]

have you looked at the windfield on a hurricane recently? Because... those hurricane force winds aren't confined to the allmighty eyewall. You wait until it's 50 miles out and THEN get on the road- and you're going to be one of those people cowering under the overpass.... or dead.

Be smart man... be smart about it.

[patsmsg]

Chris, you are a student right? So, with all due respect, open your eyes and ears. It's probably time for you to go -- especially if you do not know your elevation. Good luck.

[saltcod]

I dont know if I'm in a flood area. How can I find out? No one knows here.

Try your phone book, Chris. The 3 cities I lived in in FL all printed the Evacuation Zone maps in the front of the yellow pages, amidst the other informational junk--nice and easy to read, will tell you if you are in a evac zone.
If you are just going to a shelter that isn't too far away, then I disagree with those who say it's too late to go--just make sure you get out well before the weather deteriorates. Shelters aren't a great place to spend extra time in, after all, especially if a ton of people rush to them and overcrowding sets in... DO pay attention though, as some shelters may fill up, and if you have to drive a ways to the next one you need to be sure you have time for that.

[chakalakasp]

Hi, Chris! To find out if you're going to die via water or die via projectiles, visit here:

http://www.floridadisaster.org/PublicMapping/StormSurge/BrevardSurge.pdf

Here is a map of where you live with surge indication and a key:



I would wager you will die via water, though projectiles certainly shouldn't be ruled out.

[chris_fit]

Great Graphic.. I'm in the Orange. I should be ok from water!! Thanks again!

[NCECOM]

Chris,
Your area should have some emergency shelters designated by local emergency management. Please locate the shelter nearest to you and determine the best route to it.

Don't wait too late to make up your mind to leave. We have had several people injured in our area trying to get to a shelter when their house became unsafe during the storm.

Mike

[chakalakasp]

Great Graphic.. I'm in the Orange. I should be ok from water!! Thanks again!

Please don't forget that this map only indicates surge. A great deal of flooding is caused by the foot or two of rain that can fall in a rather rapid time span. I see there are a lot of little lakes and such in your area.

If they suggest that you leave, then don't argue. But, if you do stick around against the wisdom of the authorities, at least run a video camera so we can all watch you getting killed on the nightly news.

[wlfpack81]

I plan on leaving when there is a cat4 50 miles off my coast. Thats what it looked like last night but now I dont know.

I remember during Charley there was NO ONE on the road at that time. So I'm sure if i needed to I could haul butt outa here.

My god man. Let's say if that were the case don't you realize that by the time this storm was 50mi off the coast you'd be in hurricane force winds and it'd be too late!? But then again if you want to risk your life like that who am I or anyone else to say anythingn. Just that I'd hate for anyone let alone a Storm2k poster to die b/c they waited too late to leave.

[wlfpack81]

Wow chris I jsut read further and saw you're a 2nd year Met at Fl Int. I'd think you of all people in that area would know what a storm like this can do and would want no part of it.

I'm hearing so many from FL on this board talking about riding out this storm when it appears they live near the coast or will be in the right front quad and will have to put up with prolonged winds due to the possible slow motion of this storm, intense rains like what was saw in Richmond, VA causing massive freshwater flooding inland, and not to mention probably a good 30-50 tornados produced out of a storm of this size. Ya know I hope this thing goes out to sea but it's really looking less and less likely that it will and I'm really begining to worry about the lives of people in that region not to mention some of the posters who've I had the pleasure of interacting wth on this board.

Please leave if they order you to guys, especially if you're right along the coast. At the very least go into a shelter. Once the winds start and the water comes your gone. Winds of 115+ will cause a lot of damage and if this thing maintains its 135-145mph at landfall even if you don't get flooded you'll likely die or come close to dying from your house/apt building being ripped to shreads. Does the damage from Homestead (which was in the northern eyeawall) not open your eyes people?