Comments on: Blogging Hurricane Fay

By: INC

INC — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:56:46 +0000

Here's a Weather Underground link to the Melbourne local radar in which you can see the rain and circulation. Here's the regional radar.

By: INC

INC — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:14:31 +0000

We are here in the Melbourne area in Brevard County. The wind has been as you would expect during a heavy rain storm–only more sustained. A few minor branches down, but Monday evening we took a large dead branch out of a tree and trimmed some other minor ones to try to prevent any wind damage. There’s some small ceiling water spots; we don’t know yet if wind blew rain under some shingles or what exactly is going on.

Fay stalled and moved slowly across Brevard yesterday and today and the heavy rain has been the problem for us. Some minor leaks around a window and damp carpet so far–we think drainage in the yard and some caulking problems are the culprit. Our son was out digging a small trench last night. Our street is several inches deep in water.

We’ve heard that beachside on the barrier island they’ve had problems with sewage backing up. I hope we don’t have to start doing the bottled/boiled water drill here on the mainland.

By: Frankly Opinionated

Frankly Opinionated — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:35:28 +0000

Is this post a spoof, or the first Southern Storm that the writer has covered? I am a Keysian, and usually living aboard a boat when in the Keys. We who’ve been there for 30 or more years are not extra brave, but commen sensical. We would readily evacuate for a cat 3 or greater. A tropical storm is just a wash job down here. Reading the post did provide some entertainment though. Has anyone seen any wind damage? Other than the normal dead limb being blown off the tree?
nuf sed

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:26:56 +0000

Fay may be getting an eye (from radar) and actually getting stronger.

Reports from Port St. Lucie: 6 inches of rain and in flash flood watch this morning. Reports that 4 inches of rain fell in one hour.

Melbourne, where Fay may exit and stay awhile over the Atlantic, at least two inches of rain from bands as she is not even here yet.

By: rashzoo

rashzoo — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:55:03 +0000

Conditions at my place in Lehigh Acres, Fl. Temp:73.9,humidity:94%,wind:11 to 28 mph out of the N-NW. Barometer: rising 29.53 inches of mercury. Raining. Power was outn for one and a half hours. Just had breakfast and all is well.

By: Dr. Mercury

Dr. Mercury — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:19:22 +0000

Actually, it’s a “motoryacht” by category, but since I live aboard it I suppose “houseboat” works as well.

Re: the comment about the insurance, the insurance company prefers it just where it is. Each piling is actually three big pilings chained together and they ain’t goin’ nowhere.

It’s still blowing to beat hell down here, with some really serious gusts. The rain seems to have tapered off a bit as the eye goes by, then we’ll probably get lashed again. Thanks to Michelle for the link. It’s certainly been an unusual day.

By: supersean

supersean — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:09:32 +0000

And just like that it is as calm as a typical Miami afternoon.

Hurricane warnings for west coast replaced with tropical storm warnings

By: zorro

zorro — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:03:00 +0000

My family has lived on the water in Florida for more than a century and let me tell you that Mother Nature commands respect…

Copy that. My place in Ft. Walton is concrete construction, including the roof. I still left for Ft. Deposit, Ala. when the time came. I was working in Daphne the year Daniel came ashore, Force 1, it stalled out in the middle of Mobile Bay for 18 hours. I was stuck there, it was not fun.

By: zorro

zorro — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:52:53 +0000

I’m somewhat inland, in a marina slip, safely lashed between some gigantic pilings.

The marina’s insurance company will probably require that he pull away from his slip and use anchors to secure the boat. Staying tied up will only pull the pilings out and wreak the dock.

By: supersean

supersean — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:50:51 +0000

Storm is hitting pretty strong now. lightening is pretty heavy right now and winds are well over 50 mph and the rain is just increasing in downpour… the last hour it was 8′ in. It is amazing how the weather radar is so focused that they are giving neighborhood updates.

Just got a tornado warning for our area and the electricity is now out in surrounding areas

By: CommentGuy

CommentGuy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:50:44 +0000

From what I see on the Key West Radar the eye is sitting over the tip of the Keys right now.

By: Laree

Laree — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:32:28 +0000

Update

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080818/ts_nm/storm_fay_dc_30

By: deadpoet

deadpoet — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:22:27 +0000

Mercy4Me: A few years back both Charley and Frances tore up the real estate here destroying houses and stomping on businesses in places like Seffner, Brandon, Lakeland and Haines City–none of which were ON THE WATER. Frances caused 9 billion in damage and managed to give a sharp bruising kick to the city of ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA on her way out which is not only NOT ON THE WATER but happens to be nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains. It spawned 101 tornados landing them as far away as Virginia. By the way while we are the subject, houses aren’t built to be oak tree-proof or flying car-proof. So ,again, no one’s being hysterical by being watchful, prepared( and in prayer) .

By: Mercy4Me

Mercy4Me — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:13:17 +0000

#44
No doubt about it. You don’t underestimate bad weather. I was in St. Thomas for a hurrican, can’t remember the name, but it was a cat 2 and the place I was in had water coming in through the walls, it was crazy! I have seen first hand a few yrs ago what happened in Cancun, cause I was there. RE: The casualties that have already happened are mainly caused by poor construction. The people live in shacks, and thats really an understatement.Or they are out in boats fishing and get sweeped away. I have seen it first hand. I think the media just wants to scare us more than anything. Prepare!

By: sofla texan

sofla texan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:02:12 +0000

Mercy4me:
If you lived in Belize and have lived in Florida any amount of time, then you should know that you never underestimate the power of a tropical system. Hurricane Andrew is an excellent reference. Too many people rely on the center of “the cone” to determine the track and path of a storm. Hurricane Charley was the perfect example, although it did not deviate from “the cone” it skipped along the extreme edge and made landfall 80 miles away from where it was anticipated. Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 moved over Hispanola into the Bahamas and started moving out into the Atlantic. It looped back around over the Bahamas and then it hit So. Florida around Port St. Lucie.

In 2005,Hurricane Wilma was supposed to be a Cat 1 and ended up being a Cat2 almost a Cat3.

I lived in St. Thomas in 1995 when Hurricane Marilyn hit. 80% of the homes were either completely destroyed or uninhabitable. The entire duration of the storm, the NHC kept saying it was a Cat 1. There was way too much damage and devestation for anyone who went through that to believe. After two years of research and re-evaluating their data, the NHC conceded that they indeed made a mistake and re-classified Marilyn as a Cat 2 with 129mph gusts and maximum sustained winds of 105mph. It didn’t help rebuild anything, but we knew we weren’t crazy or dreaming what we experienced.

I agree that sometimes the local media and the Weather Channel get a little carried away, but it is better to be safe than sorry.