September 15, 2004

I didn't realize that I actually caught Ivan in the view.

Click for larger.
------------------

Ivan is the big mass in the right hand side of the frame.
I am standing looking NW from Siesta Key beach at the main access for those of you familiar with the area.
Sorry about the quality of the images. I did my best with what I have.

September 15, 2004

We headed down to the beach to see the waves.

The waves at Sarasota beach (Siesta Key) on the eve of Ivan making shore near Alabama.
Those two people in the waves in the middle of the picture are my boys. My sis Jo is to the right and her friend Vicki splashing in the water. ex-roommate is on the beach behind me.
----------------------------

There were a lot of people there tonight watching the waves.
Some trying to surf, some taking pictures and most people talking about Ivan damaging things wherever it decides to make landfall.
For all the beauty we were seeing, there was an underlying and overwhelming sadness and nervousness for the people whose lives it was about to touch.

September 14, 2004

Get out of there.

I know many of you are sick to death of hearing about hurricanes and where they are going and how big and how prepared everyone is or isn't and no gas, gas shortages, gas rations, plywood, no plywood canned food and water etc etc but if you live anywhere where Ivan is heading, especially the New Orleans area, please get the hell out of there. I was just reading this post over at Wizbang and cannot even imagine that happening but I guess it has happened in the past, can happen and just might happen with this one.
If the fabled "Big One" ever hit New Orleans we were in big trouble.

The tidal surge will top the levees and the bowl will fill from river to lake. The studies say that if we took a direct hit from a category 4 or 5 storm, a city of one million people could be under as much as 30 feet of water. According to the experts there could be over 50,000 dead. What's more, since we would have to pump the water out the bowl, they say the city could be underwater for as long as 10 months.

September 10, 2004

I have just about had it with

WWSB.
I depend on my news reporters to tell us the truth.
We need the facts during these storms to stay up to date and be able to plan.
They did ask the head of the SRQ EOC how far people should go if they wanted to voluntarily leave the state.
He said, with a crooked smile on his face by the way, "phoenix and detroit".
Then, the snotty blond bitch reporter comes back on and says there you have it, the SRQ EOC is telling people to evacuate the whole state.
Then, they go back to the head of the EOC and ask him if people can't afford to leave the state on their own, will they be safe here and where should they go.
He said that they should go to one of the many shelters in our area and if you live in a non-flood zone, you should be able to ride out the storm as long as your house is secured.
Now, does it sound to you like he said that Floridians absolutely have to leave the state?
NO!!
He said it's voluntary and as long as you are above sea level in a secured structure, you should be fine.
ex-roommate Godman, shut the fuck up you fucking crazed, panicky lunatic.
I have listened to you tell half truths all fucking afternoon and I am sick of your shit.
Are you hearing the same head of the EOCs words as I am?
You said you and your family are leaving?
Good, get the fuck out.
You are causing people to panic and get stressed and what we need right now are the FACTS as they are and no opinions from you. I could care less where you go with your family. Do us a favor and don't fucking come back.
The people of this community and this whole state, need facts and to know where to go and what to bring and the TRUTH.
The EOC has also not told people to get into shelters RIGHT NOW.
They said, if you live in a mobile home or on a barrier island, now is the time for them to get to the shelters. They did not say the whole county nor the whole state.

Blogging is the new media.
You can't trust your local news people but you can trust your locals who actually listen to what the people in the know are saying and not adding a sick and twisted spin to it.

September 10, 2004

We have a room!

So I found a room, actually two rooms.
For a whole bunch of us.
Sister, sisters blood sister, me, ex-roommate, Mark, Sebastian, the cats, will all be heading to the east coast.
I have to make some lists of things to do, pack etc.
This is all very precautionary and maybe people are thinking I'm whacked but one model says it's gonna go east into the Atlantic ocean, one has it hitting Texas and one has it coming straight up the middle for a strike.
The rooms are strictly in case they tell us to get the hell outta dodge.
So that's my Ivan update.
Tired of this shit yet?
Yeah, me too.

P.S. There is now a radio station in SRQ that will be broadcasting the simulcast for WWSB ABC7 seeing as Clear Channel sucks ass.
That radio station is WLSS 930 am.

September 10, 2004

I have been doing the hotel search all morning so far.

Sis called. We are outta here Sunday night if that thing doesn't make a drastic turn to some other place.
We have just decided to not take any chances with this one as it's tearing things up in Jamaica and trashed Grenada letting all the prisoners run free. (it knocked down the prison)
It's headed to Cuba and then to Fla.
Why chance this one my fellow Tampa Bayer's?
Find somewhere to go, make your plan.
I'm usually the first one telling people to chill out and relax and I'm not panicking but I just know that we got off really easy the last couple of times, we are so due.
I'm making plans on the house prep too.
Not gonna tape the windows because that really doesn't help.
Will be unplugging all the electronics on Sunday morning and bagging them up in plastic and stashing them in a secure room off the floor.
The cats are going to be locked up in my room which is spacious with food and water. We can't take them with us. :(
My sis can't take hers either. It's a hell of a time trying to find pet friendly hotels that don't cost a fortune.
Anyway, that's all from here for now.
Just making plans and being prepared.

September 10, 2004

It is the weekend right?

So Ivan's gonna come hang with us at some point Monday or Tuesday.
If the evac orders come, we will be outta here so no worries from anyone ok?
Talked to my sis about it last night when we went shopping and we have a plan in order.
The newscasters are starting to feel the weight of their own scare tactics. One of them just said that they were so tired of it and they don't even want to think about it.
I'm just hanging watching, waiting. There isn't much you can do with these things but watch, wait and prepare.
I'll be back later.