Hurricane Frances

[esprit]

Huge amounts oif traffic streaming out of Orlando, many residents are evacuating, trying to get north to the state line. They have removed the tolls off the toll roads but even so it is like spaghetti junction x 100. The turpike, 1-95 and US1 are all very congested. Likewise the Beeline into Orlando from Cocoa with people evacuating the coast areas. The Beeline is chocker, they are comsidering making both lanes one way. Gas becoming an issue again, huge queues with panic buying, likewise water and flashlights.

[cameron]

Having just completed on a villa at the end of june and having been there for 4 weeks in July/aug (just missing Charley) we were feeling sad to leave our holiday home so we talked my mum and dad into visiting. They arrived in Florida 5 hours ago!!!
Any recomendations as to what to tell them other than internal room for safety and having a stock of food and water. I have spoken to them and established that we didn't get away unscathed from Charley as there are holes in our pool cage.

Boy am I feeling guilty about talking them into going.

Gail

[traceya89]

i bet there are no queues for the rides at the parks! cant believe 2 hurricanes so close together. pleased i am not there.

[blott]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by cameron
Having just completed on a villa at the end of june and having been there for 4 weeks in July/aug (just missing Charley) we were feeling sad to leave our holiday home so we talked my mum and dad into visiting. They arrived in Florida 5 hours ago!!!
Any recomendations as to what to tell them other than internal room for safety and having a stock of food and water. I have spoken to them and established that we didn't get away unscathed from Charley as there are holes in our pool cage.

Boy am I feeling guilty about talking them into going.

Gail
[/quote]Don't feel guilty, none of us (not even you!) are responsible for a hurricane!

Fill up the baths with water for washing and flushing loos. Fill up the rental car with petrol. Torches, batteries, etc or candles and matches if there are no torches. Bring the pool furniture inside the garage and everything else that's loose and likely to blow around. Pillows, comforters, etc into the 'safe room' (ie anywhere without windows, like a walk in closet). Take a table in there to shelter under if possible/necessary. Battery radio, manual can opener. First aid kit. Make sure that all the windows and doors are tightly closed and put some towels inside the front door and other doors to stop the water blowing in. Stay away from the windows and, of course, don't attempt to go out, whatever noises there are! If they can, tape the windows up in 4 - 6 inch squares. Someone suggested pulling already torn pool screen netting off so that the wind can go through more easily and hopefully save the structure itself. Find out where the nearest shelter is. Talk to your MC to see if they have any other tips.

Oh, if the eye goes over where they are, the hurricane will die down - don't go out during this time as it will be coming back without warning.

[cameron]

Thanks for that Blott, It's going to be a long 48 hours.

Gail

[blott]

Yes, it will be for everyone with either people or property in Florida. All you can do is prepare well and cross your fingers.

The problem is that afterwards you can't get any news from anyone there as the phones and electricity tend to go off for some time.

[cameron]

I've tried ringing the villa already but the phone is out. This could still be the result of Charley as we haven't started to let our villa out yet. Do you know about mobile phone coverage after such a hurrican?

Thanks

Gail

[blott]

That's dicey as well because of the radio masts being affected (or demolished) and also difficult to recharge with no electricity. Sorry, not good news...

[esprit]

After Charley there was limited mobile phone coverage, firstly it kept failing and coming up emergencies only, then it was very hit and miss. People in the UK could ring me on my US cell phone but I couldnt ring them.
Buy some canned food in just in case also bottled water and torches though they are in short supply. There is a curfew in Osceola as from midnight on Friday ( emergency trips only) so dont go out on Saturday ( supposing they even wanted to!!)

[cameron]

Thanks anyway I just hope this doesn't put them off florida.

Gail