Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Giving up is unforgivable.

He really is that stupid.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

The revolution will be supervised.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

People are complicated. Love is not.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Irma Saturday evening check-in

Reader Interactions

233Comments

  1. 1.

    TaMara (HFG)

    I haven’t heard anything new from Betty Cracker, but Adam Silverman checked via email. He and his family are headed to higher ground with all the critters. If he has internet, he’ll probably check in later.

    My brother and family have left the Ft. Myers area and are safely settled with friends. So I’m feeling more relaxed. But I’m thinking of all you BJ folks down south – looking forward to hearing you check in tonight.

  3. 3.

    efgoldman

    Repeating something I said in an earlier thread (and also a few time over the years).
    Most of us will never meet and speak in meatspace; yet it continually amazes me how much this den of jackals care for and about each other, in many cases more than our actual families.
    Yes, please check in if you can, but take care of yourself and your loved ones first

    Be safe.

  4. 4.

    trollhattan

    Latest map shows the damn thing hugging Florida’s west coast well into Monday and not dropping from “major” to mere “hurricane” until it’s past the panhandle.

  5. 5.

    Karen

    I have a friend who lives near Atlanta, she said the wind is getting dangerous and they are beginning to get effects from Irma.

  7. 7.

    danielx

    As I recall, Mustang Bobby was ready to light out to higher ground yesterday; his brother’s house (I think) is in a non-evac zone and he had the essentials all packed and ready to go.

  10. 10.

    cope

    From just north of The Big Mouse, I finally finished bracing and stabilizing our 150+ feet of aged wooden fence, cleared potential projectiles from the yard, battened down the back porch and am now just waiting for whatever may come. Food, supplies and the like were sorted out over the previous week. Oh yeah, and today, on my third try, I was able to get an infusion of cash money just in case.

    In a bit of a zero sum game, the slight jog to the west that puts Betty’s place in greater jeopardy decreases the threat for us here in the middle of the state.

    We will still see 10-15 inches of rain, winds gusting to 50-70 miles per hour on top of 35-40 mph steady wind. It is projected to get interesting tomorrow morning which is when I expect we will lose power. For the uninitiated, Florida power lines are almost totally above ground and a ripe target for falling trees and water-logged branches.

    More later as things develop.

  11. 11.

    raven

    Our Ft Meyers peeps and critters drove all night and got here @ 10am. I just fed them smoked chicken, okra corn and maters, sautéed sweet potatoes and quinoa. No, WHUP THE FUCKING IRISH WOOF WOOF!

  13. 13.

    FlyingToaster

    @efgoldman:

    yet it continually amazes me how much this den of jackals care for and about each other, in many cases more than our actual families

    The BJ jackals I’ve met are infinitely nicer, more intelligent and would make better neighbors than the 25% of my family who are thieves, thugs, and religious whackjobs. Specifically including you and mrs.efg, and the rest of the alumni from the last Boston meetup.

  15. 15.

    Ohio Mom

    Just left the Cincinnati meet-up. It was a lot of fun — such good company! I believe a photo will be on its way.

  17. 17.

    Doc Sardonic

    @Quit now: Floridian here, just want to wish you and yours a very Merry Fuckyoumas and a Happy and Prosperous New Stick Your Head Up Your Ass.

  24. 24.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    We’re staying here in Sarasota, it seems. We’re several miles inland, almost 20 feet above sea level, & in a house built with hurricane resistance in mind. I’m still nervous as hell. Even in a best case scenario, I doubt things will return to normal for awhile. And the storm tracks seem to be continually revised so that it spends more time over the Gulf before it gets here. I’m pretty sure we’ll be OK, but it’s certainly not good for the nerves.

  26. 26.

    FlyingToaster

    @Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): My mom’s in Lehigh Acres; a kid I babysat 40-odd years ago just evacuated from Ft. Lauderdale, my nebbish BIL and family as well, my aunt’s in Daytona, yadda yadda yadda.

    Seems we fought and won a war about being all one country. I had ancestors on both sides of that one (and one set exempt from the draft out in Kansas because they were supplying beef on the hoof to the Union Army), and I’m not inclined to give up the country. But I’d willingly consider giving them a state if we can do a population transfer of our 49-sets of crazies for their sane folks.

  28. 28.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    @Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): For that matter, while Texas is red overall, Houston went for Clinton by about 85,000 votes, IIRC. So characterising Harvey relief as a bailout of Red America is also something of an oversimplification. The divide is really more between cities and rural areas than between red states and blue states, though that’s still a bit of an oversimplification.

  29. 29.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    From Chris Hayes’ twitter feed

    Chris Hayes‏Verified account @ chrislhayes 1m1 minute ago
    Palpable sense on Gulf Coast of residents and authorities scrambling to deal with the storm’s western track. Command centers moved…

    Brett Murphy‏Verified account @ BrettMmurphy 28m28 minutes ago
    Sheriff just told us 1. not enough shelters b/c there aren’t enough buildings 2. Doesn’t know if the ones that took people can handle Cat4

    Joseph Cranney‏ @ joey_cranney 21m21 minutes ago
    Modern Naples has never seen a CAT 4 direct hit. Collier County has no assurance that their shelters can withstand a CAT 4 storm.

    My aunt has a place in (on?) Marco Island. She called a friend to check in and they had evacuated, but three women in her 12 story building were refusing to leave.

  30. 30.

    Karen

    @raven: I am not sure, only know very rural and is an hour to town where her granddaughter goes to school. All I have to go by is what she said about starting to feel effects of wind and starting to cloud up

  31. 31.

    Holaitsmonica

    Hi ya’ll, mostly lurk occasionally comment. I live in Tallahassee, just moved here 2 months ago from outside of Charlotte NC for a dream job after completing my MSW. Leon County is currently under a voluntary evac,but I am hunkering down. I’m by myself so this will be a test of my resiliency. I’m primarily worried about the trees *which Tallahassee has lots of-it’s kinda a claim to fame thing*. I’ll keep trying to check in as I feel ya’ll are gonna be a source of strength!

  34. 34.

    Betty Cracker

    I’m still at home. If the current track holds, the eye will pass over our ‘hood at about 2 am Monday and probably bring a sample of Tampa Bay into my house. I’m still hopeful it’ll keep going west and spare us.

    But we’re set to bug out in the morning, dogs and chickens in tow, if the storm makes the expected turn. It’s tough to figure out what’s irreplaceable. I’m bringing my kiddo’s kindergarten art. Old family photo albums.

    Thought about bringing the urn with my mom’s ashes. But she was stubborn as hell; she would have definitely refused to evacuate. So she stays.

  37. 37.

    Currants

    @efgoldman: Yes: this is one of the reasons I keep coming back, even though I seldom comment. I’ve been worrying about Adam and Betty as if I really knew them….and yet, I DO know them, or at least I know their online personae. And I like and worry about the folks behind those personae.

  38. 38.

    Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA

    @(((CassandraLeo))): It’s nerve-wracking to watch from a distance — I can’t imagine the stress of actually having to deal with it. Keeping you (and Betty and Adam and all the other Florida BJ jackals) in my thoughts.

    (Last I heard, my brother-in-law in Cape Coral was still saying Irma was overhyped and wouldn’t be any big deal. My FSM, my sister is a schmuck magnet.)

  41. 41.

    Schlemazel

    I have a friend at work, his 92 year old father lives on a barrier island up near Tampa. As of Thursday he was refusing to leave and my friend is pretty worried. He called his sister that is 50 miles away and wanted her to drive down and get him but who knows, short of kidnapping if he would go. I have not been to work since Thursday so I am left with nothing but the hope they convinced him to move inland.

  42. 42.

    Karen

    I was just looking at the satellite imagery, using that RAMMBA link that was shared, there is another storm forming behind Jose.
    The weather service puts it a <40% at this time; the last thing the area needs is another storm after Jose

  51. 51.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Betty Cracker: What to bring is a hard decision. I thought I had my car packed up when Los Alamos was anticipating a forest fire. When we actually had to evacuate, I ran through the house picking up more stuff, some of it I later realized was silly.

  52. 52.

    JPL

    @Betty Cracker: I have a fenced in yard with a shed that’s virtually empty, and a mutt that loves dogs. You can access the email, but it is a hike to the Atlanta area. Of course, I have wifi and wine. Do chickens like sheds?
    I have two spare bedrooms, one with a queen size bed, the other a double.

  54. 54.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Thinking with love and only the best of thoughts to our entire BJ community in Florida (and elsewhere in harm’s way). So I hope it won’t be taken amiss when I say that I’m already sick of this hurricane and it hasn’t even made U.S. landfall yet. To be more accurate, I’m tired of all the media hype about Irma. I know they have to fill airtime, and the wait can be interminable, but the ratio of fluff and filler to actual factual information is huge, and annoying. But again, my thoughts are with our Florida Juicers and extended families. (My ex-SIL and ex-BIL — the siblings of my late ex-husband — live about a mile apart from each other in Lehigh Acres, and are staying put. She’s 78, he’s 75. They both live alone, although they see each other nearly every day. A bit worried, as ex-SIL just got a pacemaker last week and has fallen a couple of times since then and hit her head.)

  56. 56.

    Sab

    @FlyingToaster: I went to elementary school in Daytona. We moved there during Donna and left right after Betsy. I still remember Betsy vividly, and it was 400 miles off the coast of Florida.

  58. 58.

    Mustang Bobby

    @danielx: I am ensconced with friends about three miles north of my house and five feet higher in Pinecrest, which is a suburb south of Miami. We have had rain and wind squalls. I evac’d because they said the storm surge might come into my neighborhood, but with the shift of the storm, maybe not. I’m not taking chances, especially since my landlord (who is also a lawyer) told me to get out. If I stayed, he’d probably accuse me of negligence. (I doubt it, but hey…) The cars are locked in a secure garage. We have food, water, batteries, and a secure house with shutters and impact glass.

    I also have a friend on the Miami-Dade Metro police force who checked on the house; it’s fine for now and he will check it again after the storm passes. We are battening down for the night. I’ve been posting NOAA maps on the blog using good Quaker thoughts to push the storm away from all land.

    Thanks for asking.

  59. 59.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @JPL:

    Monday the high is suppose to be 63.

    Refreshing! I can’t wait — I love the cooler temps.

    But I’m supposed to leave (driving) for Mackinaw Island next week, for a week-long family reunion from Sept 17-24, and I don’t much like what I’m seeing in the forecast. Last thing I want is to drive the better part of 820 miles in hurricanic or tornadic conditions. Day by day, I guess, and will make the final decision on Wednesday or Thursday.

  61. 61.

    Betty Cracker

    @SiubhanDuinne: Tbogg on Twitter said CNN is covering Irma like a missing white woman in a missing plane brought down by a great white shark. True! Hope your ex-in-laws weather the storm.

    @sharl: ?

  62. 62.

    efgoldman

    @FlyingToaster:

    The BJ jackals I’ve met are infinitely nicer, more intelligent and would make better neighbors than the 25% of my family

    Only 25%?
    My guess is, people who can make it and want to go to meetups tend to be a bit more social (a lot of people who hang around here claim to be introverts) and mix well.
    Also there’s something about sitting across from somebody and talking directly to them that makes conversation easier. Even Cole is actually civilized in person, as we found out.
    Speaking of which, is Warrior Girl going to stay with violin or graduate to something else?

  64. 64.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Betty Cracker:

    Tbogg on Twitter said CNN is covering Irma like a missing white woman in a missing plane brought down by a great white shark. True!

    LOL! That’s exactly right! What a great description — CNN to a T.

    Hope your ex-in-laws weather the storm.

    Thanks. I remain very fond of them. They are native Miamians and know their way around hurricanes, so I imagine they’re pretty well prepared. But one can’t help worrying a bit.

    You and yours stay safe, now, Betty! Assume your daughter is well protected.

  66. 66.

    smedley the uncertain

    @Currants: Well said. I share your sentiments. Be safe all.
    BTW my New York tax dollars will be well spent renewing and restoring the homes and businesses ravaged by the storms regardless of politics.

  68. 68.

    Aleta

    Wondering where the idea that Irma might not turn north is coming from? Though the models have shown various centers and widths, it seems like all have been in agreement about the turn north from the start. They each incorporate variables (pressure and temps for locations, etc) into their runs, but the turn has seemed like it’s not in question.

  80. 80.

    Steve in the ATL

    @efgoldman:

    Most of us will never meet and speak in meatspace; yet it continually amazes me how much this den of jackals care for and about each other,

    That said, I would have totally chipped in to buy a plane ticket to south Florida for this weekend. No offense!

  81. 81.

    Cacti

    Be safe Florida BJ’ers.

    If it’s any consolation to you, Rush Limbaugh said the hurricane was just a deep state conspiracy.

    I think that was before he evacuated though.

  82. 82.

    trollhattan

    @Betty Cracker:
    Heh. Two nights ago I turned CNN on hoping for…not sure, just something meaningful about the storm and was treated to an interview with a young single(?) mom, all prepared in her Miami apartment with a shitton of cup-o-ramen, bottled water and formula. In her care were a toddler and an infant and she was staying put despite her neighbors evacuating. I wanted the damn reporter to tackle and drag her out of the joint–be stupid about yourself but not on behalf of your kids, it’s not their decision.

    “When we come back, Anderson Cooper on the curious run on sunscreen.”

  87. 87.

    feebog

    Just hoping everyone makes it through to the other side of this mess on Monday. Property can be replaced, Juicers, not so much.

  88. 88.

    lamh36

    @Betty Cracker: As someone who didn’t evacuate, my mom (and my grandmother) wouldn’t leave and I didn’t want to leave her. If I had one regret, it was not fighting with my mother enough and MAKE her evacuate whether she liked it or not. Katrina had passed over us, but it was the aftermath that left us stranded. If I had it to do over again, I would have evacuated and made sure to take my mom and grandmother with me. Mom survived…my grandmother did not.

    Having said all that, it’s not for me to tell folks to stay or go…just sending up good thoughts and prayers that Irma is just a blip for you guys!

  89. 89.

    Shalimar

    I’m in the western panhandle, so still waiting to see how much it turns north. We’re in kind of an awkward position, since the worse it is for everyone else in Florida, the less of it we will get here.

  92. 92.

    sharl

    @Felonius Monk: haha, it was the 6’8″ detail in that story that made it hilarious to me

    “Mr. Comey ― who is 6 feet 8 inches tall and was wearing a dark blue suit that day ― told Mr. Wittes that he tried to blend in with the blue curtains in the back of the room, in the hopes that Mr. Trump would not spot him and call him out.”

  93. 93.

    FlyingToaster

    @efgoldman:

    Only 25%?

    We added up the numbers earlier this summer; it’s running to about 25% of our collective in-laws are just not worth the oxygen to complain about.

    Speaking of which, is Warrior Girl going to stay with violin or graduate to something else?

    Both‽

    She’d been “excused” from school violin the past two years because [ahem] “being advanced”; I had just come up with a contingency plan with our school librarian when I received the new music teacher’s e-mail about adding Recorder for 4th graders (and keyboards for 6th). As HerrDoktor plays recorder, we the ‘rents approve. He dug out his baritone recorder and played it for her, and will be in charge of recorder practice (as I am of violin practice). Since school practice is 10 minutes a day (Suzuki is 45), we’re pretty sure we can make it work.

    She’s on the next to the last song in Suzuki Book 3; lessons started this past Wednesday and the group & theory classes start next Saturday. And once we’re past the rank insanity that is September (school starts, suzuki starts, 10th birthday, cousin’s 10th birthday), we can start adding in the other stuff she’s supposed to be doing ?

  97. 97.

    FlyingToaster

    @SiubhanDuinne: We* know viola players. We are underwhelmed by viola players.

    * That’s the imperious We. After one unfortunate year where the violas were part of the annual Violin Gala, disdain was vehemently expressed.

  98. 98.

    satby

    @Holaitsmonica: Keep us posted and stay safe!

    @(((CassandraLeo))): you too!

    @Betty Cracker: The last couple of hurricane threats my mom lived through, she refused to evacuate as well, and her condo was on Isla Del Sol. Fortunately, nothing awful happened, but if we were there now and had to leave, I’d scatter her ashes in the bay first, because that ol’ girl still wouldn’t want to go.
    Take care Betty, hope it ends uo not being as bad as we all imagine.

  99. 99.

    efgoldman

    @FlyingToaster:

    He dug out his baritone recorder

    A baritone recorder! Super cool!
    She’d get a lot more opportunity playing oboe, cor anglais, bassoon or horn. OTOH, those instruments, even good used ones, are stupid expensive.

  104. 104.

    CaseyL

    Thinking good thoughts for our Florida peeps!

    I have friends and family in Broward and Dade county who are staying put. I’m a little less worried about them than I was yesterday, what with Irma shifting west. But that frees me up to fret about the West Florida BJers who are now projected to get the brunt of the storm.

    Besides fretting, though, I would like to put in a request for video of Betty Cracker wrapping her chickens in newspaper a la Rooster Burrito. (I’m assuming the boxers will be more manageable. I could be wrong.)

  108. 108.

    satby

    @efgoldman:

    Most of us will never meet and speak in meatspace; yet it continually amazes me how much this den of jackals care for and about each other, in many cases more than our actual families.

    very true! You’re all my tribe!

  110. 110.

    zhena gogolia

    @(((CassandraLeo))):

    I’ve been through Irene and Sandy (on the edges), and the waiting is so horrible. I hate that feeling. We are all thinking of you with great sympathy and hope for a good outcome.

  112. 112.

    FlyingToaster

    @efgoldman: It’s grade school. Even where I went to school, they didn’t start winds before fifth or sixth grade. And in a tiny private school, they’re not going to expand the curiculuum beyond capacity. At least the instrument rental is included in the tuition.

    If she wants to stay with it in 6th, she can, or she can go over to keyboards. She already pokes around on the little one in the living room, and we have a 67-key up in the guest room. Either way, she wants to stay on violin and take it to orbit. A la Chris Hadfield and his guitar.

  116. 116.

    Adam L Silverman

    @raven: by the power vested in me as a front pager, I hereby declare Raven’s house the official Balloon Juice evac site henceforth and forever more.

  123. 123.

    Juju

    Betty, save all your important pictures, wedding, baby’s first birthday, pictures that can’t be replaced. Also notes and letters from parents and friends, if you have saved them. Things that are important but can never be replaced. Also keys to safety deposit boxes and any important papers you may need later when things settle down and you’ll be dealing with insurance companies. Enough clean undies for a week at least. I’m trying to think of what my brother said he wished he had taken after his house was flooded during Floyd in ’99. Those were some of the things he mentioned. He was sorry he didn’t have time to get the coin collection my dad and he had worked on for years, that and his diplomas, which he left on his office walls. He completely forgot about the diplomas. He only had about 30 minutes to gets things out and get out of his house. Children and dogs came first.

    Be safe on your drive inland.

  124. 124.

    CaseyL

    BTW – If CNN’s coverage irritates you, switch on over to the Weather Channel. More pure weather reporting, less “human interest.”

  127. 127.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    @zhena gogolia: @satby: @rikyrah:

    Thanks to all of you. This is definitely one of the worst points of the whole experience – maybe the worst. I just went outside for a brief walk, mostly because I still could; it’s probably blowing about 30 or 40 mph right now, which was actually kind of pleasant, though also a bit surreal. Will probably be staying inside from now until the storm passes, though.

    I think we’ll be OK, and I texted most of my friends recently to make sure they’re OK too (thus far, they all seem to be). But I think I’ll have elevated adrenaline levels until the storm passes. I don’t expect to sleep much tonight, either.

    I’ll try to keep checking in, assuming we still have power.

    edit: Glad to hear Adam & Betty are OK.

  128. 128.

    FlyingToaster

    @Schlemazel: I live 1500+ miles from my siblings and mom (though I once shared a zip code with the youngest sib). I live under an hour from my SIL and her family. I adore them. My brother and my husband’s brother — well, wasn’t the Chiefs’ win a real shock?

  129. 129.

    trollhattan

    As OT as it gets, family just returned from Napa Valley were an in-law has about 10 acres of grapes, ready for harvest. Only he can’t find pickers. Trump fallout? Nope, they’ve mostly gone north to Mendocino to trim buds, because it pays better.

    Talk about your unintended consequences.

  135. 135.

    jayboat

    After reading Adam’s post earlier about the Cuba effect I decided to hang at a rest stop near Tallahassee and see what the prognosticators prognosticated. After seeing the westward bend I made a command decision about 4:30 to head back east and am currently boondocked near the intersection of I-10 and I-75. I get a slightly weird feeling of comfort from having 3 options of escape, but my plan A is to head for Jacksonville tomorrow and ride it out there unless it bends toward the east and then I will head north on I-95.

  136. 136.

    NotMax

    @Betty Cracker

    Only if there is enough extra space, of course, but if so bring along some of your favored libation(s). Your host will appreciate it (and the likker stores likely to be closed, short stocked or price gouging).

  138. 138.

    MomSense

    If anyone is looking for a diversion, the Marc Maron comedy special on Netflix is pretty funny.

  139. 139.

    trollhattan

    @zhena gogolia: @Aleta:
    He shares a gold medal for best orchestral experience with Victor Borge, who my parents took us to see play with the Seattle Symphony when I was a wee lad. Like Schickele he was an accomplished musician also gifted with a very droll sense of humor. To be fair I probably wouldn’t have understood much of Schickele’s talent at that age.

  140. 140.

    efgoldman

    @Schlemazel:

    I used to love PDQ Bach but have not heard of him recently, hope he is OK

    Schickele is 82. It doesn’t look like he’s made a public appearance in quite a while, although i won’t draw any conclusions.
    I met him at the premiere of this piece, (not by the same band – by another with which I am associated) and also announced the concert and had a (group) dinner the night before, He was every bit as crazy, and a bit more profane, in person. He also knew everyone in the business and where all the bodies are buried.

  143. 143.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @trollhattan:

    He is even funnier in person than on his many wonderful recordings. He’s 82, and assuming he is in reasonably good (mental and physical) health, no reason to think he won’t go on for a few more years.

  148. 148.

    Wayne

    Down here in Palmetto Bay. My house is about midway and west between Mustang’s house and where he’s at. We are on high ground and well prepared. First big band just came thru. Big wind/rain and “sporty” but not damaging. Tornado warning for another 30 min. Tornadoes is the only issue I am concerned with. Still have power, flickers, fails for a few seconds but has been coming back. Eventually it won’t. Have heard some transformers popping in the distance as tree branches short them out.

  150. 150.

    NotMax

    @efgoldman

    His annual winter holiday concerts at NYC’s Town Hall were legendary. Radio station at the alma mater he and I share has archived recordings of things musical he produced during his student days. There also exists a short film of a musical version of Shakespeare (Hamlet, IIRC), produced along with the decidedly eccentric head of the astronomy department there, Peter van de Kamp.

    Strictly for grins, Iphigenia In Brooklyn.

  151. 151.

    Baud

    Now will you believe me when I tell you the NYT is garbage?

    News Analysis: Bound to No Party, Trump Upends 150 Years of Two-Party Rule

    Is there a way a hurricane can hit just their building?

  152. 152.

    marcopolo

    As a mostly lurker let me chime in my own keep your heads down and stay safe to all the folks in the path. St. Louis is keeping y’all in our thoughts. And let me apologize for all six MO GOP House reps (though my MO House Rep is a D) who voted against Harvey relief–they are @ssholes who obviously don’t feel any responsibility for providing real government. I realize that is redundant as I already said they were GOP, but there you go.

  153. 153.

    rikyrah

    Tampa has not been directly hit by a hurricane in 90 years.
    They are just going off of ‘plans’ for preparation.
    Lord, have mercy.

  154. 154.

    mike in dc

    My sister and her family relocated to Clearwater from Tampa, to a friend’s house in a no-evac zone. My dad is hunkered down in Melbourne, so is one of my best friends. They’re about 5-10 miles inland. One cousin is trying to drive out of state, hopefully she made it.

  156. 156.

    efgoldman

    @trollhattan:

    Like Schickele he was an accomplished musician also gifted with a very droll sense of humor.

    There is a PBS Evening at {Boston] Pops program with Borge, When he delivers the line about the soprano being five feet tall – in every direction – you can hear a very loud and distinct female cackle. That was mrs efg; we were in the second row, about six feet from the stage, and right under a microphone.

  160. 160.

    Emma

    We’re ok. Feeder bands starting to come through. Weird to watch the racket through what looks like unprotected glass, but so far, so good. Still have electricity and internet service.

  164. 164.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @efgoldman:

    During my years as a symphony manager, I attended a few American Symphony Orchestra League conferences, at one of which Victor Borge was a keynote speaker/performer. I knew him well from years, if not decades, of TV appearances and recordings and the like, but that ASOL* conference was the only time I ever saw him live. Hilarious and memorable.

    *(Yeah, I’ve heard all the jokes. And th organization is called something else now, with a boring, perhaps even unpronounceable, acronym.)

  165. 165.

    efgoldman

    @rikyrah:

    Florida Light and Power believes 3.4 million will be without power.

    Not that it matters to those involved, but 3.4 million people, or that many households?

  169. 169.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: How about a 2-for-1? NYT + Trump’s property in FL. Or perhaps every Trump property everywhere. (with ample time for evacuation)

  171. 171.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @NotMax:

    Recitative: “And in a vision Iphigenia saw her brother Orestes, who was being chased by the Amenities; and he cried out in anguish: ‘Oh ye gods, who knows what it is to be running? Only he who is running knows’.”

    Aria: “Running knows.”

  172. 172.

    Patricia Kayden

    @efgoldman: Who are you referring to as a “den of jackals”? I’m a very foxy lady, thank you very much!!

    On a serious note, I hope all BJ commenters and Frontpagers are safe as they deal with Irma and possibly Jose. If we were living in a sane country, our politicians would be discussing ways to deal with climate change. But alas.

  178. 178.

    FlyingToaster

    @OzarkHillbilly: I remember packing sandbags in ’78 to help some friends over in Platte County keep the floodwater out of their house. And it’s never been my job to know this stuff.

    * I was born in raised in Kansas City, second generation Kansas Citian and 4th generation Missourian. Left in ’79 on an honors scholarship “back east” and kept going till I hit the ocean. But honestly, the utter fuckwittedness of the Missouri GOP leaves me sputtering.

  179. 179.

    sharl

    @Baud: I kept waiting for the water to come rushing back.

    I assumed that as well, but a number of those responding to that tweet say that never happens, because it is dependent on wind direction and speed, and wind changes gradually. So the water returns slowly, rather than like, say, an earthquake-initiated tsunami.

    They also said this happens in bays on a regular enough basis that lots of people have witnessed it. I didn’t get the feel that it is common, but it is apparently not extremely rare either.

  183. 183.

    Steeplejack

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Does anybody know of a GoFundMe or some other campaign I can contribute to for PSAs to get people to turn their motherfucking cell phones sideways when they’re taking video?! Skinny portrait format no bueno.

  184. 184.

    Cowgirl in the Sandi

    My husband and I fell in love on Siesta Key in Sarasota almost 40 years ago. Our families are still there and hopefully, safe behind their hurricane-proof windows and shutters. It makes me sad to think that such an awful storm is headed for them and could wipe out such a beautiful place.

    Stay safe Floridians!!

  189. 189.

    MazeDancer

    @(((CassandraLeo))):

    20 feet above sea level is excellent. Zero of the storm surge maps even come close to that. In a house built for hurricane you may be hot in the lack of AC and bored in the lack of power, but you will be fine. We look forward to your reports.

  190. 190.

    FlyingToaster

    @Marcopolo: My dad was a TWA mechanic at Fairfax for the flood of ’51; my brother was working as a dispatcher for a commuter airline at KC Downtown for the flood of ’93, and was getting equipment outta there as the levee breached.

    If you’re in government, you’re supposed to know the disasters of the last two generations in your patch, because they’ll likely be right back…

  191. 191.

    Ken

    @rikyrah:

    Tampa has not been directly hit by a hurricane in 90 years.
    They are just going off of ‘plans’ for preparation.

    I hope the plans have been updated. 90 years ago the Tampa population was about 100,000, which is a wee bit less than the current metro population of three million.

  193. 193.

    Shakt

    So, I’m west of Tampa. We’re in Zone C and they’ve had a mandatory evaucation for Zone A & B in our county. The storm apparently is going to zip right over Bradenton and then over St. Pete very early Monday morning. Right now we’re staying in the house and I don’t feel prepared at all. My family is… not handling it well. We’ve never been through ANY hurricanes. My dad cancelled a flight that was going to Pittsburgh early Friday morning only to turn around and attempt to find flights out. LOL. Then he started ranting about wanting to buy a weapon and take a weapons course. Dude, you can’t shoot the wind. His contribution was to park his car in a hospital in Zone B and make hotel reservations in a evacuation zone. Ok.
    My mother bugged out when she misplaced our important papers for a full hour today, the ones proving we are legally here. My family thinks I’m insane for saying “maybe we should go to a shelter.” My brother is checked out. All this storm prep is harshing his mellow.

  197. 197.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Ken:

    I hope the plans have been updated. 90 years ago the Tampa population was about 100,000, which is a wee bit less than the current metro population of three million.

    My alma mater alone (USF) has an enrolment these days of about half that. Just to put things in perspective.

  198. 198.

    Sab

    This week has made my spouse and me think a lot more seriously about disaster planning. Being in the Midwest, our disasters are more of the flood or tornado variety. Usually not much warning.

    We realized that we have four cats but only one carrier, our emergency water is four years old, and we have given no thought to how to contact the kids who are grown up and living all over the county if the power or phones go out.

  200. 200.

    MazeDancer

    @jayboat:

    I get a slightly weird feeling of comfort from having 3 options of escape,

    It is good to have options. May whatever you choose shelter you well.

  203. 203.

    Felonius Monk

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Who knew?

    Well, you have been observed weaving silently through the inky blackness and I distinctly remember the time you hid behind a sunken freighter. So yeah, we all knew.

  204. 204.

    MazeDancer

    @Sab:

    We realized that we have four cats but only one carrier

    If you get more carriers, the ones that open from the top are much easier for getting cats in them. If the cats get along, a giant one that can hold several cats is also good. Have both kinds. Have used both kinds. Depends on the cats.

  207. 207.

    madmommy

    @Betty Cracker:
    When we bugged out for Katrina I just took the kids, dogs, family pictures, some clothes and important papers. We went to my mom’s house north of Tuscaloosa. One brother showed up with wife, pets, motorcycle and the contents of his liquor cabinet (mom lived in a dry county). Other brother had a few days worth of clothes and their dog in his car, his wife had two full sets of china, her wedding pictures and most of her closet in her car, the ass-end of which was nearly dragging the ground.

  208. 208.

    Origuy

    @Sab: I saw somewhere that those large plastic buckets that kitty litter comes in can be made into emergency cat carriers. The one in the picture had flat sides; I imagine a round bucket wouldn’t work well. Just cut some holes in the lid.

  209. 209.

    Gvg

    I am bored in Gainesville. Middle of the state and pretty protected, we are where many friends evacuate too. Only a bit of drizzle starting at 3, some wind gusts. Really bored today. Friend of my mom’s with one cat lodging with me as my very social mom already had a few refuges. UF extended closed times through Tuesday. I sort of expected that as this baby is taking almost forever to move.
    Bad luck this far inland for anything to happen but a falling tree can happen anywhere. Likely lose power which I won’t enjoy. Tree branches and some trees will be down and we’ll have to cut up debris with no power for showers which sucks. Eventually I will be back at work. Last time some people didn’t have power for awhile so they would use the rec center for showers. We were also charging all our devices at work especially lanterns. Nice to have a big employer with generators. As long as I have power I will be reading. Man I hate waiting.

  210. 210.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Omnes Omnibus: Ah. My dad was army (enlisted), but he never mentioned that one. Come to think of it, he’s never said anything about his time in the military.

  211. 211.

    CarolPW

    @Sab: Pillow cases work, with a shoelace or string tied around them. Readily available, quick to find, no assembly required. The cats will be pissed but they will be alive.

  212. 212.

    Sab

    @MazeDancer: Our two males can be easily stuffed into anything, at any angle. The two females could be put in together, but they are both incredibly skittish. We almost end up in the ER ourselves every time we try to take either to the vet. They will sit on laps, but we can’t pick them up. What carrier is best? Maybe a top-loading with cats trapped in pillowcases?

  215. 215.

    OldDave

    SWMBO and I are in Broward. Today’s not been too bad, except for the lights blinking from time to time. According to the Weather Channel, tomorrow promises about twelve hours of near Cat 1 howling winds and probably the lose of electricity for some unknown amount of time.

    It is what it is.

  216. 216.

    VeniceRiley

    @Schlemazel:

    Schlemazel says:
    September 9, 2017 at 6:44 pm
    I have a friend at work, his 92 year old father lives on a barrier island up near Tampa. As of Thursday he was refusing to leave and my friend is pretty worried. He called his sister that is 50 miles away and wanted her to drive down and get him but who knows, short of kidnapping if he would go. I have not been to work since Thursday so I am left with nothing but the hope they convinced him to move inland.

    I worry most about people like this. The elderly, for all their reselient bravado, are deathly afraid of leaving their familiar surroundings. I think the only thing to do to save his life is to call the 800 number the Gov. Scotthole gave out, and instruct them to lie to him “We’re here to take you to your daughter’s house.”
    Just get him out!
    That’s my dry California hot take. My mom is 95 though, so I kinda get it.

  217. 217.

    Sab

    @Origuy: @Sab: Great ideas. I have used pillowcases before. I never thought to use them with the litter containers. We always have a bunch of those in the basement since they are useful for all sorts of stuff. The girls would be furious if I used them for cat transport, but they would also be safe and alive.

    Meant to reference CarolPW, not myself.

  218. 218.

    Sab

    @VeniceRiley: The problem is that even if you get them out, a shelter may not be suitable for them.

    I had in-laws in Katrina that didn’t feel that they could evacuate to a shelter with a parent with dementia, and a sibling with Downs syndrome.

    I have spent a couple of tornado warnings in a back hall with my 90 year old father with dementia and my disabled mother, because I couldn’t get them to the basement. It was frightening, but we didn’t have any alternative.

  220. 220.

    Sab

    @VeniceRiley: Your mom is 95, so I am sure you also get my point of view. Even if you get them out, days or weeks wherever you get them to will be extremely traumatic both physically and mentally.

  222. 222.

    feathers

    Wishing everyone in Florida well and safety. People take hurricanes so much more seriously now. I wonder if it is better forecasting, the 24 hour news cycle, more awareness and general risk averseness.

    During Hurricane Agnes in ’72, there was a dinner party some ways away, which wasn’t cancelled, my parents went, there was flooding and they didn’t make it home until nearly dawn. I spent the night listening to the horrible howling and thrashing with a babysitter I had never met before, terrified that my parents. My younger siblings slept through it all, but I still remember it. I don’t get as freaked out by storms as I used to, but this is another reason I’m glad not to have cable anymore. I would be glued to the Weather Channel for the duration. It’s funny, I have anxiety issues, on the agoraphobic side, but I’ve never really tied it to that night. Although I have told therapists that my parents left me with a new babysitter and went to a party during a hurricane and get very angry with me if I bring it up as an indicator of our relationship. I was eight. Nobody here is doing that, right?

    On a lighter note: they just repaving the parking lot of my building, and a mouse has taken refuge in my apartment. I can tell it is an outdoor mouse, as it runs across the middle of the room, looking a bit confused. It’s a bit fat and will just sort of look at me, know it wants to run away, but just sort of goes zig-zaggy. Does anyone have a live trap to recommend? I probably should just get her back outside again. I’ve decided she is a lady mouse.

    Anyway, I am watching Miss Marple, knitting, and thinking of you all.

    ETA: Just was looking at the Washington Post anniversary writeup on Agnes. I lived right near National Airport and the top wind was only 49mph. I can only imagine what a full blast hurricane must be like.

  224. 224.

    Felonius Monk

    @Suzanne:

    My aunt and uncle are stuck in Sarasota. Argggggh.

    I hear you. I have a SIL in Boca Raton, a SIL in Tampa, a cousin in Naples, another cousin in Orlando, and a niece who had to evacuate from NSB Kings Bay (Georgia) to Atlanta. We are nervous about them all.

  225. 225.

    MazeDancer

    @Sab:

    The ones that have a top gate are easy to load. But if you can’t pick up your cat, then less so.

    The giant one is pricey. And will take up much room in the car. And they’re heavy. But very useful in an emergency. As two cats in there will seek comfort with each other. They can stand up. They could use it as their home. I used mine to fly cats together across country. And as the easiest one to load until I got the top gate model.

    Whatever one you get, just have it out all the time in a spare room or something. Put a towel in there. And catnip. And food treats. Let them use it as a retreat. Also keep some thick gloves in ghere. So they fet used to smell, and in an emergency you can put on gloves and grab cats.

  227. 227.

    reality-based (the original, not the troll)

    @MazeDancer: also – because kitties rarely have to go to vet at same time – I have one expensive plastic carrier, and one cheapo cardboard thing i bought at Petco years ago – about 8 bucks, top-opening, and kitty was perfectly comfortable in it driving between CA and NoDak.

    Course, i have normal-seized and behaved cats. I’m sure Cole’s Steve would have tunneled his way out in short order –

  228. 228.

    Isobel

    Up at my hospital in Jacksonville on the emergency response team. So far, so good. The cat is in Saint Augustine because I can’t leave the hospital until Wednesday morning.

  230. 230.

    Suzanne

    @Felonius Monk: They chose not to evacuate, because originally the path looked like it was going to go up the east side of FL, and my aunt’s mom is in an old-people facility, and so they planned to all go to my cousin’s house, which apparently has hurricane shutters. By the time they re-modeled the hurricane and it became clear that they were likely to get hit directly, it was too late to GTFO.

    My cousin and her husband have two little ones, so they were looking at evacuating seven people, including an elderly person in not-great health and a toddler. Not an easy thing to do. So they’re all at my cousin’s house. We heard from them this morning, but nothing since. Echhhhhh.

  231. 231.

    Holaitsmonica

    @Emrys: Hello fellow Tally resident! I’m hoping the trees on the property don’t fall directly on the house and the yard doo dad’s my neighbors apparently intend to leave out don’t become missiles.

  233. 233.

    Suezboo

    I have been following from afar this horrible unfolding hurricane drama. Someone said the worst is the waiting. I can believe that. Having no control over something that is going to happen within hours or days and could screw up your life entirely – anxiety and adrenaline levels must be off the charts.Along with all of you, I worry over Betty and Adam, even though all I know of them is what I read here. FSM be with you both and all the people of Florida that are unknown to me. Maybe the over-the-top hype about this is necessary to persuade people to get the hell out of its way.

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