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.

I find the Mayor's "evacuated or die" message a bit OTT and as though he thinks he's in a Hollywood film. Yes, there will be dozens/hundreds of deaths but MOST people who don't evacute will survive.
One thing I have noticed is that the authorities have said just driving 20 miles out and waiting would be enough but there are scenes of people filling trucks with multiple jerry cans preparing to drive hundreds of miles away, causing jams and hogging the fuel. People such as the mayor have caused too much panic.

For the people piling on and tearing @fundsandfrolics a new arse hole, I’m sure she is as concerned for the people of Florida as everyone but two things can be true at the same time. People can be horrified and concerned at the potential devastation but also, and understandably, conscious of how it is also going to affect them if they are planning to be in the area in the immediate aftermath.

It would be odd if someone who was due to travel to Disney in the next few days wasn’t contemplating how their trip would be impacted by the hurricane so I don’t think that sharing a link on a thread about the hurricane for those also potentially affected in some way by the hurricane (albeit not to the same extent as the residents) makes her a terrible human.

Honestly I’m sure there are some people who read mumsnet who sit down there practically gagging to give someone a kicking.

I want to make one point about the building standards: The modern codes are strict, yes. But as far as I know there's no requirement to retrofit older homes. It's the people in older, poorly maintained homes that have the most to fear. They can't afford to add motorized hurricane shutters and have to nail theirs up manually. BUT, the codes are strongest in South Florida, as a result of Andrew. The statewide code was strengthened about 20 years ago, but parts of the state still have laxer codes, so not all of the affected area may be built to that standard. And in this case, the flooding is going to be a big problem, and building codes won't fix that. The only thing that fixes it is having your house elevated. That's hundreds of thousands of dollars to do.

I think people do forget; people in the Miami area never will, but Tampa has been lucky.

I’m so worried. I used to live in St Pete and have a lot of friends there still. Several only just cleared out their houses after being flooded/ destroyed by the last storm…… and now again. Most of my friends have evacuated, but some have decided to stay and I am worried sick.

Completely agree. The poster voiced what was an immediate concern for her, doesn’t mean she isn’t as moved by the plight of those in the path of the storm as anyone else. No need to be arseholes.

No. It wasn’t the thread for it. And “distraught” really? How ridiculous.

That storm surge clip below was full on, but good at showing why have evacuation zones

No you're being OTT. It's perfectly understandable she's upset at losing potentially a holiday of a life time for her children.

From the pictures above it looks like Cuba is going to be hit too. Nowhere for them to evacuate to. Is that right or will it miss them?

I am going to disagree with you.

I just have to assume they did not read the thread, and jumped in with this comment.

They should have started a new thread on the holiday board.

But I also don't want to derail this thread because of one poster.

mexico also in the path i believe

@KenAdams I'm glad the zoos are protecting the animals. They lost too many in hurricane Andrew

A tad insensitive to talk about devastation in regard to missing a holiday when people will be losing their lives, homes and livelihoods.

Who made you the judge and jury on what a thread is for?

It's not OTT at all. It's a stark warning this hurricane could be one of the worst in recorded history. They are advising people refusing to leave to write their names and dob on their limbs in sharpie so they can be identified should the worst happen.

This isn't a joke. If it lands as pedicted the storm surges alone have the potential to be catastrophic to life, no matter how 'prepared' they are. On top of the furniture/cladding/homewares waste outside houses from last weeks storm, it's a deathwish to do anything but evacuate.

I agree that the Mayor's tone was unprofessional - and limits should have been placed on how much petrol people can get - but I'm sorry if there's less than a thousand dead I'll be very suprised.

Tampa general hospital isn’t evacuating, they have set up a waterproof flood wall around it. Saw a video yesterday of it being installed. Only looked about 8ft high though so if the water comes over the top they’ll flood. I assume they can move up levels if needed though.

Think it’s left Mexico, I saw a video yesterday of strong winds in Cancun. So it’s now heading across the gulf to Florida and getting stronger as it goes.

Good god, that is awful. The poor people and animals 😔 I follow a lady on instagram who has 6 poodles (she reads to them in matching pjs 😍😁) and they evacuated but her husband is staying out due to his job. Their drive out, which is normally around 2 hours, took 10.5 hours. Unimaginable.

The writing on your body with permanent marker really got me yesterday on tik tok. Also horse owners writing on their number on their animals and trying to tag them. That broke my heart.

Thanks @Overheater! I thought it was that but was too tired to go looking further.

That's terrifying.

People like this are making me angry. Why take such a stupid risk

@redorangeye110w Orlando isn't meant to be getting hit very hard I don't think? Unless it's changed from what I was reading half an hour ago, Tampa is more central.

Unprofessional was the word I should have used, thank you @GingerMaineCoon

I absolutely would be evacuating if I was there! I greatly hope the hurricane decreases in strength and all this will end up being a training exercise. Must be so hard leaving your house not knowing what you will return to.