Hurricane Milton

[KenAdams]

Couldn't see a thread for this in Weather.

This looks like it's going to be really bad. Helene has already caused enough devastion in the area and the poor people of Tampa are in for a lot more today.

Some people are refusing to evacuate from what I understand but the Mayor of Tampa has warned if you don't evacuate you die.

I can't imagine how scary it must be for them.

To be more accurate, there are shelters available that are relatively close to where people live, but that are much safer than people's homes. You don't have to drive to another state to evacuate. Organizations that work with elders and people with disabilities, in addition to municipal governments, are helping many of these people. Some shelters are designated as pet friendly and others for people with medical needs. One major problem is that a lot of people just don't want to go to a shelter. It is not an ideal situation, but it is usually much better than the alternative.

We are not in an evacuation zone, but we are in Florida, and we are planning to host family who are evacuating from other areas that are actually fairly close by because of the high risk of flooding. We expect high winds and a lot of rain and I am sure that we will lose power, possibly for several days, but we are on relatively high ground in an area that will not take a direct hit, based on current forecasts. But still it is very scary. And I have been through a lot of hurricanes.

Floridian here. Lived in hurricane country much of my life and I've been through many, too many to count. There's a LOT of misinformation here.

1. Not everyone needs to evacuate, even in the Tampa area. Only those in evacuation zones that have been told to leave should evacuate, but people get scared and leave anyway, clogging up the roads. A huge problem.

1. Every county in Florida has multiple storm shelters and they are all open right now. Most take pets and many are set aside for special needs. They are supplied with water, food, etc. and have generators. The state is paying for ubers for anyone who can't afford to get to a shelter. The police are picking up homeless people and taking them to shelters. Most FL schools are hardened against hurricanes. All hospitals are.

3.FL has some of the most stringent building codes in the world. Houses built since 1992 are hardened against wind, have hurricane straps, shutters or impact windows etc. My house, completed in 2023, can withstand category 5 winds.

4.The only people who are likely to die are the Darwin award self-nominees who think they can ride out the storm on a barrier island or in a house by Tampa Bay. The police will drive around evacuated areas telling those who choose to stay to write their name and the phone number of their next of kin in permanent ink on their bodies. The hope is that will scare them enough to leave because after a final ride around, the police close off the causeways/bridges to the beaches and wait out the storm on the mainland. By law they don't return until the storm is over and engineers have determined that bridges are safe, even if they receive distress calls.

5.FL is a giant sandbar which drains easily and has a system to drain water into the ocean/gulf. Those lovely retention ponds you see all over Orlando when you visit Disney are actually part of a drainage system designed to move water quickly out to sea.

6.For most people the worst thing about a hurricane, even one like this, is losing power. Hurricanes bring hot, humid air behind them and without aircon it's miserable, but 40,000 electrical crews are pre-positioned to restore power quickly after the storm.

I am Floridian and Tampa is my hometown. I don't live there anymore but many childhood friends and family do. Please send good vibes/pray/whatever you do. This isn't looking good at all.

We have booked tickets for Disney World and absolutely distraught that we might have to cancel plans on a much looked forward to holiday. Our kids were in tears this evening..

For those in a similar position, I've looked up some of the terms and conditions.

www.disneyworld.co.uk/faq/hurricane-policy/

We will be looking for a refund as from the news reports, I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few of the rides won't be operating for a while.

@LifeExperience

Excellent post. Yes there is a tremendous amount of disinformation on this thread and all over social media.

And for the person who asked about animals in animal shelters, I can't speak for other communities, but our shelter has a cadre of volunteers who are willing to house animals from the shelter for the duration of the storm.

As for "sailing away", that is exactly what large ocean-going vessels do. It's called a hurricane sortie and they leave before the hurricane becomes a threat. Otherwise they will destroy the pier they are tied up to. Private vessels may be moved, but many sink. That's why owners have boat insurance.

Many shelters take pets, also. We took a direct hit in my area several years ago and a local horse farm spray-painted the horses with identifying information and let them loose. They all returned safe and sound after the hurricane. Mother Nature is amazing.

@fundsandfrolics How entitled are you? There's nothing more insenstive than talking about ride cancellations and refunds when peoples lives are in danger

So heartened to hear that pets are given priority too! Would hate to think of them being left behind to perish! I couldn't leave without my cats!

Why do Americans give storms human names?

Well, they used to only be named after women. At least now they alternate.

It can be a bit troublesome though. I have a good friend named Katrina. She used to love it, not so much anymore.

Where's Trumps place?

Most of the world does, it's only the North Pacific and North Indian oceans where they're usually not human names.

@marmadukedoggo, Mar-a-Lago is on Palm Beach, South Ocean Boulevard. At the moment it doesn't look as though it is in the path.. but who knows? 🙈
Last time I book a family holiday to Florida, turning out to be a complete disaster

Great post, thank you. Is it true homes usually have sink hole insurance too?

does house insurance pay out for hurricanes?
what happens to those who have no insurance

The poster is using shorthand.

1. Evacuate northwards, rather than south or east. Milton is headed east, but is likely to veer a bit southward.
2. Georgia (and elsewhere?) has repurposed sports grounds as temporary camp grounds.
3. Many gas (petrol) stations have run out. The government is bringing in tanker-trucks, but emergency vehicles have priority for fuel
4. I live in Florida, every hurricane people wait till the last minute.
5. We were warned to evacuate 4 days ago, but people don't listen. Maybe the economic opportunists (?) will leave Florida. (I think the poster means that people who have moved to the Tampa area to take advantage of economic opportunities will think twice about life in Florida.)

do People not help others or is it too busy? Ie someone mentioned staff living in camper vans and tourists being in safe hotels. Can’t people share rooms if it’s between life and death?Or it isn’t like that?

That's the most breathtakingly self-centred post I've seen on mumsnet for a long time.

Oh gosh. I bet you wish it was just your life and home at risk. Poor you.

What on earth happens to people in hospitals?? Do they evacuate them?

Awful situation

Wow. Just wow.

I read someplace, maybe CNN, that FEMA has sent 1000 ambulances to help move hospital patients. There was no other info, so where they are moved TO is not stated.

I live in Far North Queensland and several years ago the entire Cairns Hospital was evacuated due to an incoming monster cyclone. Massive logistical operation. Late pregnancy women were also evacuated.

The Cairns Hospital is right on the foreshore though- had it not been so close to a potential storm surge it would have not been evacuated. Cyclone downgraded and missed Cairns so all was well in the end.

im thinking it might be similar in Florida? Waterside and pre-code hospitals evacuated but others not?

Disappointing yes but at least you’ll be safe and have a home. Have a thought for others who will lose everything, possibly even their lives or lives of their friends and relatives.