Will the 2005 season be one to remember and of records?

[cycloneye]

Will we see records going by the boards as the experts are saying that it will be an active season due primary to the lack of el nino and very warm sst's?

And about a season to remember my opinion is that we will have plenty to talk about this season and I am afraid that the caribbean and somewhere in the US coastline this season will be remembered but of course time will pass and we will know if that will happen.

But folks the most important thing is to be prepared early on and not go at the last moment when a warning is issued to prepare and hope for the best.

Be free to comment about this theme that I am bringing here that is important.

[Scorpion]

Yep, I think the season will be as memorable or even more so than 2004.

[cycloneye]

Yep, I think the season will be as memorable or even more so than 2004.

The question is if 2005 will have early systems forming in June and July or it will be like 2004 when things went wild from August 1.

[sunflowerkist]

Yep, I think the season will be as memorable or even more so than 2004.

The question is if 2005 will have early systems forming in June and July or it will be like 2004 when things went wild from August 1.

I really have to wonder what the experts are thinking that they have not said. I am extremely suspicious of the tax free holiday for hurricane supplies in Florida. I know I am venturing into the political arena here but I am all for not "causing" complacency. In my experience with the hurricanes last year, we needed electricity for a day and a half and did not need all these fancy supplies that are hitting the floors for hurricane tax free week. The people who got hit hardest had no safe place to stay and their supplies if they had them did not do them any good. I am so afraid that if too much is made of the "buying process" and the products are not needed, it will undo all the educating that the hurricanes did in Florida last year. I think the most important message of all is, if your home is not up to minimal standards for a F-0 tornado, you do not need to be in that home for a hurricane such as the ones we saw last year. We were perfectly safe with loss of only a few shingles not enough to meet our insurance deductible. But, it lasted for what seemed like forever. We need to get the message out that batteries and junk food do not equal safety if we can do so.

[TheShrimper]

Dont really understand your post. Do you see it as trying to promote a binge buying spree, purchasing non essentials? Believe me, being on the Lee/Charlotte county line, many, myself included wish we had taken heed when the situation approached. At the last moment there was nothing available, squat , not a god damn thing could be had. If, the politicians create some incentive in some way to eleviate the burdens, problems and hardships we experianced last year, that is a great idea. Some will be complacent and some wont, and some that were complacent prior to 2004 will not be now. And it does not take an act that messes your house up directly. You could suffer little to no damage structurally and still feel major effects of the wrath. Untouched homes here were still subjected to the loss of power for 7-10 days, so those batteries and generators DO come in handy. Anything that is offered in the tax break that is deemed somewhat essential, should be purchased. By no means am I going to wait in line for an hour to save minimal monies, but just them promoting it in the venue they are attempting to, will be an alert to folks to buy the stuff you need before it is to late to do so. It is not so much the money that is to be saved, but just an informative wake up call to prepare before time does not allow you to do so. TheShrimper.

[cyclonaut]

I think this season has lots of problems in store for someplace in the U.S &/or Caribbean Islands.

[sunflowerkist]

Dont really understand your post. Do you see it as trying to promote a binge buying spree, purchasing non essentials? Believe me, being on the Lee/Charlotte county line, many, myself included wish we had taken heed when the situation approached. At the last moment there was nothing available, squat , not a god damn thing could be had. If, the politicians create some incentive in some way to eleviate the burdens, problems and hardships we experianced last year, that is a great idea. Some will be complacent and some wont, and some that were complacent prior to 2004 will not be now. And it does not take an act that messes your house up directly. You could suffer little to no damage structurally and still feel major effects of the wrath. Untouched homes here were still subjected to the loss of power for 7-10 days, so those batteries and generators DO come in handy. Anything that is offered in the tax break that is deemed somewhat essential, should be purchased. By no means am I going to wait in line for an hour to save minimal monies, but just them promoting it in the venue they are attempting to, will be an alert to folks to buy the stuff you need before it is to late to do so. It is not so much the money that is to be saved, but just an informative wake up call to prepare before time does not allow you to do so. TheShrimper.

You really made my point for me. That the ones in the line of a direct hit, need to be completely prepared. Those who were merely touched by the storm this last time, my fear will be lulled into complacency. The idea is a good one, I hope it is not needed this year.

[TheShrimper]

The point is that no none never knows exactly where the hurricane will end up...so get the poop you need whether it is tax free or not. I think the people in Lutz, Zephyrhills and Brooksville were more on alert for Charley than Arcadia, Zolfo Springs, Lake Wales and Bartow were, and looked what happened. I somewhat understand what you are trying to get across but it is confusing. In your scenario, anyone living in substandard housing with in 100 or 200 miles of an expected track should haul ass. That is not feasable, although it might be logical. What one needs to do is have the supplies you deem essential on hand. If your dwelling is suspect, then leave if it is imperative that you must. If you do not, you still have the nessecities to thrive if you are impacted in to a lesser degree. we cant base this hysteria on Charley solely, it was a freak storm with little warning. Most will give you ample time to access the situation. The forward speed of the storm complicated matters as did the directional change...but it should have not, as the entire W coast was under a warning from Marco to north of Tampa. Again, I think the tax leniacy serves more as a warning to get ready and prepared, than to encite a buying frenzy

[Radar]

I can agree with TheShrimper on the points he has made and I think the tax free policy is an exceptional one that I wish they would execute throughout the Coastal areas that have a high risk for hurricanes. I know last year when Hurricane Ivan was coming most people in this area waited until the last minute to buy supplies and so many things were sold out before most of the shoppers even got to the stores. Some of the reason was because the stores had already shipped their stock to their stores in Florida. Thankfully this area did not feel the brunt of Ivan, but if it had many residents would have been ill prepared. I feel that this year with another active season looming early preparedness needs to be stressed to alleviate some of the problems we saw last year, if a tax free policy helps to get shoppers in the stores and well supplied it is a good policy because it could make a big difference in how well a person survives a deadly hurricane strike!