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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to get us all out of Florida?

108 replies

MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:36

We were in Orlando - me, DP, DP's sister plus all 3 children. The news warnings about the hurricane were terrifying, we heard the airports were all about to close, and there were rumours about all the parks all closing too.

So we managed to get one of the last flights home (7 days early) on Friday. DP seemed on board with this at the time, but now that it looks like Orlando is no longer going to take a direct hit, he's a bit grumpy with me. But all the parks have closed, and it seems Orlando is now on lock-down, so god knows what we'd all be doing now if we were still there? Stuck in a hotel rooom praying the hurricane misses us? Probably big power cuts too?

OP posts:
sonjadog · 10/09/2017 20:38

You were right to leave.

donajimena · 10/09/2017 20:39

You did the right thing. Its always going to be disappointing to think you could have stayed but they still don't know where the storm will hit. You were lucky to have the choice. Many didn't.

SideOrderofSprouts · 10/09/2017 20:39

Yanbu

I would have been gone too

ChasedByBees · 10/09/2017 20:39

Hell yes you should have left. Have you explored the insurance options?

Supermagicsmile · 10/09/2017 20:39

You did the right thing.

MrsHathaway · 10/09/2017 20:40

The storm is bigger than the state. Getting the fuck out if you can is prudent.

DH is meant to be flying home through MIA next week. Forecast is hopeful that Irma will have gone and Jose not yet arrived but I'm not holding my breath.

Thoughts with everyone unable to leave, though.

Tour · 10/09/2017 20:40

He's being silly. Yes its disappointing but it could have been awful.

Brittbugs80 · 10/09/2017 20:40

I'd probably feel safer out of there but I'm not sure how far into Florida the storm is going. I thought Orlando was relatively safe as the storm is battering Fort Laundryman at the moment.

Did the Agents/holiday reps recommend you leave? The girl who does my waxing is supposed to be flying out this week, but she did say she isn't bothered as it doesn't affect the theme parks

Original poster
MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:40

Thank you Sonjadog, I'm presently feeling sick with guilt, thinking I may have jumped too soon and ruined the trip of a lifetime for everyone....

OP posts:
Brittbugs80 · 10/09/2017 20:42

Have you explored the insurance options

Will insurance pay out for acts of nature? Ours didn't pay out when planes were grounded because of the ash clouds. We were stuck in Cyprus for 6 days

Original poster
MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:42

Blimey, I didn't realise there were so many other replies! At the point we changed our flights, it looked like Orlando was right in Irma's path, plus the airports were about to close.

We can recover most of our costs with travel insurance, thank god

OP posts:
Rachie1973 · 10/09/2017 20:42

You didn't, you did the right thing. You protected your family! No-one can criticise you for that!

I'm the mistress of blasé! I let things go and go and go, very little worries me but even I would have left Florida right now.

Appraiser · 10/09/2017 20:43

We've been in Florida when Hurricane Floyd was hitting the main part and closed Disney for the first time ever (it's been closed several times since).

If we could have left we would have. The news obviously heightens the anxiety but it was bad when it hit ( not as bad as they thought it would have been).

You did the right thing and your DH is a grump and should be grateful you're all home safely.

misssmilla1 · 10/09/2017 20:44

You can't ruin the trip of a lifetime if everything is shut. Whilst it may not be in the eye of the storm anymore, there's still a huge risk of power outages and storm surges.

Having done Sandy in NYC in 2012 (and we were lucky as we were on a hill so not flooded) both of these had devastating effect on large parts of the city and suburbs

Hulababy · 10/09/2017 20:45

Were you advised to leave? Can you claim on insurance?

Not sure what we'd have done. We were there when Hurricane Charley hit in 2004. Infact it was our second day there. We obviously didn't leave, and we were in no way advised to do so, nor to put off travel there in the first place either. The airport closed the day after we arrived. the parks closed but only for the day. We went back to the villa, with a stocked fridge and stayed in watching the weather channel. Fortunately there was no direct hit for the area, and Charley wasn't as big or fierce as this one.

TBH unless our holiday company had told us that we were advised to leave I think we'd have stayed. But I cant say whether that would have been right or wrong either.

However, had we been on the coastal resorts - we were in Fort Myers beach in the summer - we would have evacuated - would we have come home? I don't know. But we'd have left the region and sought higher, safer grounds for sure.

bambambini · 10/09/2017 20:46

I don't think you were wrong. But even if Orlando isn't hit as bad as it might have been - i doubt Florida is in party holiday mood anyway. Not a good time to be there

Our flights to Boston for an extra special holiday were cancelled becausevof 9/11. We vould have flown our a few days later for the holiday but couldn't bare to be there trying to have fun when the country was still in shock and mourning.

Original poster
MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:48

Still wondering if I over-reacted a bit .....

OP posts:
Hulababy · 10/09/2017 20:48

Also, I don't blame you for going and your DH should either. He agreed at the time and should stand by his own decision - he agreed to come home, therefore it was also his decision.

I cant say what I would have done at all. You make that kind of decision based on the information you have at the time, and what the experts are telling you.

JadeT2 · 10/09/2017 20:48

If you were staying in Disney or a high-end resort, rather than motel or villa, you probably would've been well taken care of and not noticed much wrong other than the park closures today and tomorrow. The Disney resorts are all having a blast at the moment. However, it's self preservation and I don't think anyone could judge you for trying to do what's best for your family.

usualGubbins · 10/09/2017 20:48

It was on the news that all theme parks are closing due to Irma, so you did absolutely the right thing as, even if the hurricane hadn't been too bad you'd have had driving rain and high winds - not ideal holiday weather!

At least you are all safe!

Original poster
MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:50

We were in a timber framed villa, looked impressive, but no concrete structure

OP posts:
JadeT2 · 10/09/2017 20:52

I think you made the right decision in that case. Even if Irma weakens and doesn't affect Central Florida too much, it could've been really bad and you would've spent at least 2-3 days confined to your villa. There is the potential for loss of power and water even if it's quite weak in Orlando.

Original poster
MascaraGirl · 10/09/2017 20:54

Insurance company have said we can claim for 'curtailment of trip' as a State of Emergency had been declared throughout Florida

OP posts:
scaryclown · 10/09/2017 20:56

No, because your accommodation is available to be used for people leaving the serious areas and/or who are made homeless..

Summerisdone · 10/09/2017 20:59

You did the right thing, people should obviously hope for the best but in this case you need to prepare for the worst too, and that's what you did.

All the warnings have been there, Orlando isn't looking to be getting hit by the eye of the storm, but it was at one point and it's still looking at taking a beating because of the size of Irma, so in this case you did the responsible thing of not wanting to risk the safety of your family for the chance things ended up being not too bad.