Florida Blows
August 22, 2008 · Print This Article
Florida living has many perks. I mean it is Florida!! It is sunny and you are never more than three hours from the beach. Our winter is almost non-existent and there are years we wear shorts at Christmas. It doesn’t get much better than that!
But then there are the storms. If any of you have been following the news today you know that in my area (An Island located in Extreme North West Florida) is about to get a ton of rain and a Tropical Storm named Fey. Or is it Fay? I have no idea. I have watched the weather channel for fifteen consecutive hours and can tell you which directions the front is coming and the current temperature of the ocean, but not sure of the spelling of the storm.
It goes to shows what this type of situation can do to a gals mind.
I want everyone to know that I realize this type of weather is no laughing matter. Anyone who watched TV or was in the area during Katrina knows this. But, when you are in an area that dodges around seven named storms every summer, you must have a sense of humor about the situation. If not you will go insane.
Some folks actually throw “Hurricane Parties.” After boarding up the house invite some friends over and then drink until the storm passes or until you have to shuffle to the local High School aka Shelter. Unless you have a generator. Then you are the most popular kids in this zip code. Everyone is coming over. And they want microwave popcorn and to play some Wii.
There is even a drink, aptly named, “The Hurricane”
This is not how I choose to spend my pre-disaster time, at least not since Katrina. It showed all of us that hurricanes are a constant unknown. And it is best to be alert and prepared instead of drunk and incapacitated.
Will it hit? What category will it be? Will it stall? Will it strengthen? Will it turn? Will we need to evacuate??? Where will we go?? We never know ANY of this until around 2 hours before it actually hits. And even if it doesn’t hit and just grazes us, we live on an island 15 miles long, give or take. The electricity goes out when the tide changes. Needless to say, we will be down for a WHILE.
So, 3-5 days BEFORE anything happens you have to be prepared for the worst. This means prepared to live without anything for days on end.
Have you ever been packing for a weekend trip and packed way too much because who knows what you may do Saturday night and what mood you’ll be in to pick an outfit, etc. etc. So you pack EVERYTHING?
Imagine having to pack one car load of everything you may need or want out of everything you own. Wind, floods and tornadoes are the biggest worries in regards to destruction. Because of those side effects you could come home and find you have nothing left. Sometimes, not even walls.
Or it will pass by and just rain some.
It is just that kind of emotional rollercoaster. And frankly it is a pain in the ass.
Last year was pretty tame, so I was unprepared for this season. I went to “SUPER WALMART” fought the masses and got what you see here.
Sarahh’s guide to hurricane preparedness!
And yes. That is Beefaroni and Bean Dip.
When it is all said and done all you can do is hope that you avoid the worst and can survive the part you don’t want to think about, yet have all the Vienna sausages in the world to get your through, just in case.
Here’s to hoping no Vienna’s this weekend.
What kind of natural disasters happen around you? Twisters? Earthquakes? How do you deal with the possibility of disaster? Do you party or do you panic?
On 08/22/08 at 3:57 am
Meghan said:
Mmmm Chef Boyaredee!
I am one of those pesky Northerners that looks at the Hurricane Season and says, “How do they live like that?”.
Then Winter hits Boston and I am digging my car out of 28 inches of snow with a frickin’ frying pan because I forgot to buy a new shovel! Yah - that happened!
It’s demeaning! ‘Marking’ my shoveled out spot with whatever I can find so some local bastard doesnt take it. Dining room chairs, garbage bins, friends (’Stand here, I’ll be back in 2 hours!’).
Snow is my disaster, always has been. I grew up and lived in Michigan until I was 21, and then went to Boston. Trading my lake effect snow for Nor’Easters. Not to mention Red Sox Fans, yeesh!
Out this way, we (I) tend to party. I’ve always had roommate/mates and the entire city shuts down when a big one is coming. We get the essentials, frozen food, liquor and TP. But other than that, we know we are in solid for at least a day and a half.
Love the Emergency Preparedness Grey Goose Vodka!
On 08/22/08 at 9:01 am
Carol said:
Sarah will need some vodka…she has been without electric and water for twelve hours already! She just called because she has no internet access and wanted to make sure everyone knew she really was UNABLE to be here.
That, and we had a nifty conversation about how the best things in life operate on batteries.
Okay. Just kidding…my way of lightening things up a bit.
On 08/22/08 at 12:30 pm
Sarahh said:
There is a reason I stocked up more on AA’s more than anything.
Just sayin.
On 08/22/08 at 12:19 pm
Sarahh said:
You saw my Vodka!!! Hahahaha, there is about 2 swallows left of vodka. I figure I may need it in case of any branches through my window, or if our ant friends come back.
I don’t know how you guys do snow. Seriously. I hate the cold. Product of my environment. When I get too cold my teeth chatter then I get the hiccups. My body physically won’t take the cold!!
We are still under about 20 warnings and watches, but all in all, for us, we got through this one ok.
Pending any tornadoes in the next 2 days…
On 08/22/08 at 5:47 pm
Meghan said:
I think my eyes zeroed in on the vodka! And I don’t even drink vodka! I was like ‘Booze! Wise Choice!’
So glad to see you are back online! What a pain in the ass!
I have spent Soooo much money on snow gear! $400 jackets, $200 insulated boots, all that padding and goose down and gortex! It’s expensive to stay warm up here!
So glad you got through it! I had a friend on…Ana Maria Island? I think that is the name!
On 08/22/08 at 8:41 pm
Sarahh said:
It was kinda touch and go there for a while. Especially for a tropical storm. Mostly the fear were the tornadoes. Still under a warning or a watch now.
I honestly think I would rather deal with the possibility of hurricanes than cold. Being cold to me, is almost painful. And I know that people say, well you can put on clothes to get warmer, but some cold, you just can’t accessorize.
Can you tell I am a Floridian or what?? Hahahaha…
On 08/22/08 at 4:34 am
Cassie said:
I, too, live in Hurricane Alley….I have been EXTREMELY lucky that all I’ve seen of them is lots and lots of rain a some high winds. I remember SLEEPING thru Andrew and getting out to play in our part of Katrina!!
Hurricane parties, hate to say, I kinda miss ‘em, but being a now somewhat responsible adult…I no longer throw or attend them!!!
I guess I soon need to go hit the ‘Super Wal-Mart’ for my just in case supplies!!! Makes life a shitton easier, though that I’m a avid camper and have JUST ABOUT anything one might need to rough it for a few weeks!!!
I hope Fay leaves y’all alone soon, but hope just as hardily that she sees fit to just pass me by!!! lol
On 08/22/08 at 9:02 am
Carol said:
Responsible adult? For shame, Cassie!!! Just because you are now a homeowner doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun.
Superwalmart has nothing on SuperTarget. Wally World gets no business from me unless there is no other option.
I hope (and I’m sure Sarah does) the storm passes you by, too.
On 08/22/08 at 9:10 am
Trista said:
Super Target RULES! I get high just walking in one…
On 08/22/08 at 9:25 am
Carol said:
I go broke walking OUT of one! And, taking kids there…NOT a good idea. EVER.
On 08/22/08 at 10:02 am
Cassie said:
I have had this discussion with Mary before….Super Target can LICK IT!!!! IT = my buttocks
I don’t like Super Walmart either, but it’s the only thing near me!!! LOL
On 08/22/08 at 10:15 am
Carol said:
This is Eve…where the word “ASS” and any derivative is welcomed!
You are just mad because there is not a Super Target near you. Admit it!
On 08/22/08 at 10:45 am
Cassie said:
NO–I’m mad that those big stores put little mom and pop grocery/general merchandise stores out of business!!! AND that MOST of the clerks and such seem to be rude but somehow lifeless ASSHOLES who wouldn’t know their ASS from a doorknob!!! AND that they NEVER seem to keep the stores clean and aisle space free!! AND that they NEVER seem to be stocked with the barest essentials!!!
I HATE all big chain stores and will avoid them and pay more $$$$$$ whenever I can!!!
See, dangit, now I’ve gone an ranted totally off subject!!!
On 08/22/08 at 12:56 pm
Sarahh said:
I hate super walmart. I do love me some Target though. Not sure what the difference is except the blue sign and the red sign, but I am not a fan of the wal-mart.
I like to call it Wally world.
On 08/22/08 at 5:48 pm
Meghan said:
I like to call it the White Trash Jungle…but thats only because I live 30 minutes from the WORST WALMART EVER!! I’d go there for essentials if I wasn’t afraid I would walk out itchy or married poorly!
On 08/22/08 at 6:18 pm
Trista said:
hahahahaha! I went to Walmart and all I got was this lousy rash!
On 08/22/08 at 6:24 pm
Meghan said:
Seriously! In Boston we have something called Building #19 - it’s REPULSIVE!
On 08/22/08 at 12:33 pm
Sarahh said:
Cassie,
Yes, Fay has been a BITCH! But when it comes to how bad it can get, we got off (giggle) pretty easy.
Granted it SUCKED, I have missed work, been without my son, a Bull Ant Invasion, Freezer defrosted and leaked, no shower in 2 days… It was more an inconvenience than anything.
And don’t feel bad, I miss the hurricane parties too. I miss thinking well either it will pass or I will pass out!! I think getting older, having a little one, and watching others have one hell of a time has changed that for me… For now.
On 08/22/08 at 6:44 am
Carol said:
This brings back the memory of the week I got married. Go figure. We had a torrential tornado here in Tennessee that did massive damage. The only thing we “lost” was our liquor supplier for our wedding…and another was easily found. We cooked on the grill, sat in the dark and laughed with friends.
Sending you safe and dry mojo.
On 08/22/08 at 12:35 pm
Sarahh said:
Carol -
Thanks for that mojo. Calm right now. It is headed west and going to shake the panhandle/Georgia/Alabama up now. Fay is like that guy you go on one date with but won’t stop calling no matter how many times you drop the hint, I just don’t dig you…
Friggin stalker!
And WOW on your wedding week. Tornadoes are extremely scary to me. They come to quickly with very little warning and can pick you up and throw you.
I don’t dig that…
On 08/22/08 at 5:25 pm
Carol said:
I will never forget the tornado…and the way it made us all feel so vulnerable that week. But, it was cool that it was black as midnight from six am the day we got married until just after midnight. That is when the rain FINALLY cleared. After 24 hours non stop….huh. I thought it was a sign. Go figure!
On 08/22/08 at 8:37 pm
Sarahh said:
Well you know what they say about rain on your wedding day. Wonder how that translates when you put in tornadoes.
Sounds beautiful though…
On 08/22/08 at 7:27 am
Jody said:
I’m one of those that needs the ground to be still, the wind to be gentle, and the ocean… well… to stay in the ocean lol. As an adult I’ve never really lived anywhere they were an issue. An occasional tiny tremor or a tornado warning late at night, maybe a threat of a tropical storm while I lived on the coast. While I have all the knowledge I need to get through in an emergency and to see mine are taken care of, I do NOT look forward to the idea. Thanks for the reminder for a disaster kit.. I need to make sure we have all the necessities tucked away before winter hits. I hear every couple years this area gets a nasty storm *shrugs* Hope it stays as mild as can be for ya! Good luck!
On 08/22/08 at 9:04 am
Carol said:
Jody,
You are right. I do not have a formal disaster kit. But, I always seem to have plenty of stuff for survival in the house. I guess i need to go and invest in a five gallon jug of water for emergency, though.
Thanks for the reminder…
On 08/22/08 at 12:37 pm
Sarahh said:
Thanks Jody!! Back online for now, and that is saying a lot considering how messy this Fay chick has been.
I highly recommend getting that disaster kit ready! I was prepared except I forgot to fill up my tub. And come to find out that was the one thing we really needed!
Go figure!
What do you normally have in your kit?
On 08/22/08 at 7:58 am
Trista said:
We don’t get warning for the earthquakes out here…and I mostly prefer that. Although when the big ones hit, then you wish you could have had some idea, some prep time.
Of course, I am preparing to move to the land o tornadoes…am I crazy? Perhaps…
On 08/22/08 at 9:00 am
Jime said:
SAN ANDREAS FAULT PARTY
Where? Jime’s Place.
When? When the land splits like a pair of fine legs.
How much? $20 cover charge for men. Women get in free.
BYOB.
On 08/22/08 at 9:27 am
Carol said:
I would love coming to one of your parties, anytime! You gotta charge the men more to cover food and bevvies for all! Or, have guests like me who insist on bringing food for twenty to every party.
Someone stop me. I love to cook for other people.
On 08/22/08 at 9:36 am
Jime said:
Yeah me too. Cooking for guests is one of my favorite things. Ok, here’s a codicil to my original invitation:
Sliced, medium rare, tri-tip strips will be sizzling on the grill. Also, Quesadillas with diced chili will be frying in the pan.
For each tremor all attendees must down their drink.
Each aftershock calls for an immediate shotgun of the nearest beer.
Any tremor over 5.0 deserves a shot for all guests in attendance.
ALSO, while in attendance all guests must refer to Jime as “Lord of the Manor” or incur a drinking penalty.
On 08/22/08 at 9:45 am
kiki said:
Sounds like a fun time!!!!
On 08/22/08 at 10:17 am
Carol said:
How about “Oh, Master of Quakes”…you make me tremble!
On 08/22/08 at 11:01 am
Jime said:
Hahahaaaaaa. You win.
On 08/22/08 at 1:37 pm
Sarahh said:
*groan*
On 08/22/08 at 1:30 pm
Sarahh said:
That sounds AWESOME!
Jealous!
On 08/22/08 at 9:05 am
Carol said:
Tornadoes are scary mothers…that is for sure. We get them here, too…but not nearly what you may get in Texas or Oklahoma in Tornado Alley.
Be prepared…so what does that mean to you with earthquakes? What is is YOUR emergency kit?
On 08/22/08 at 12:37 pm
Sarahh said:
Trista - I don’t know if it is a good thing to get warnings or not. Sometimes, of course, yes. But the waiting is a killer!
But being taken off guard is no picnic either.
I can’t imagine an earthquake. I would FREAK!!
On 08/22/08 at 8:14 am
Mesha said:
I lived in New Orleans at the time of Katrina, so I feel for you. Good luck and don’t forget to fill your bathtub with water.
On 08/22/08 at 9:06 am
Carol said:
Mesha…that’s right…you were still in Louisiana with Katrina. Hope Texas is treating you better in that department…
How is the pregnancy coming along? You are bound to be grateful for impending cooler weather. It will make pregnancy MUCH easier!!!
THANKS for coming by…
On 08/22/08 at 12:39 pm
Sarahh said:
Really?? WOW, I remember watching Katrina on TV and thinking, I really need to take these storms more seriously…
I am glad you got out unscathed. Yeah, the tub thing. That was the ONE thing I forgot to do.
My mom got mad at me and called me by my FULL name when she found out.
BUT I BOUGHT BATTERIES THOUGH!
That has to count for something right??
On 08/22/08 at 8:16 am
Karl Rove said:
We get blizzards mostly. I remember going outside when I was a kid in -60 degree weather (including the windchill). But I’d much rather have a blizzard than any other kind of natural disaster. I know I’d hate Florida. I need to have a white Christmas.
On 08/22/08 at 9:07 am
Carol said:
Blizzards do not make me happy! I feel for you in the cold, but I understand that we are all used to whatever we are used to…
On 08/22/08 at 12:44 pm
Sarahh said:
I hate the cold. I am a Southern Girl through and through.
Give me heat or give me death! Well not really, but I do HATE being cold. Makes me miserable.
And to me, cold is 45 degrees…
On 08/22/08 at 8:50 pm
Vic said:
To me, 60 is friggin’ cold!
On 08/22/08 at 12:44 pm
Sarahh said:
Carl - Yeah, shorts in Christmas is great, but I have to say that every once in a while I would like a white Christmas. It snowed here once. 1989. I was 12. It was AWESOME. I was snow card-boarding (with a cardboard Nintendo box from Christmas) down the sand dunes.
It was the BEST! No one could drive because no one knew how to drive in it, but as a 12 year old I was in HEAVEN!
On 08/22/08 at 5:49 pm
Meghan said:
Yes yes, Rove…we get it quite bad in Boston. If you have a car you’re screwed!
On 08/22/08 at 6:52 pm
Karl Rove said:
Did you know that the intersection in the Theater District that has the Freemasons Building is supposedly the windiest intersection in the country?
On 08/22/08 at 7:51 pm
Meghan said:
I heard THAT!!! I lost a child’s hat there once - I thought she was scalped it got whipped off her lil head so fast!
On 08/22/08 at 6:53 pm
Kiki said:
I am soooooooo looking forward to a Boston Winter with my new baby!!!!
On 08/22/08 at 8:39 am
Pecosa said:
Oh, girl. I feel for you. Here in Texas, Brownsville to be exact, we just got passed by Dolly. It was crazy. Boarded windows, empty shelves at supermarkets, drums of water saved up…it really is a scary thought.
My ex is from Florida so he helped us get prepared. He’s been through a few storms. It was weather channel on until the lights went out for three days.
My prayers are with you and your fam.
Oh, and hurricane parties…well, yeah, you need to be sober to be able to evacuate…
On 08/22/08 at 9:08 am
Carol said:
Sarah is struggling right now, for sure. Glad you have someone who knows how to help you prepare. I don’t know that I could take the weather channel for three days.
On 08/22/08 at 12:47 pm
Sarahh said:
It makes you insane. Between the weather channel (on right now) and NOAA.com I am all weathered out.
The worst part, this type of thing can happen again at any time between now and NOVEMBER. Boooo!
And it never gets any less scary…
On 08/22/08 at 12:46 pm
Sarahh said:
Pecosa!! Hey woman!
I am very lucky to have Vic. He has been through three major hurricanes while in Miami. He has seen what we all fear here.
He had the portable DVD player charged (I watched Smokin Aces at 1am when I couldn’t sleep) he knew to spray the doors to make sure the bugs wouldn’t get in.
And he fought the ninja bull ants that broke the Raid seal at 10pm last night…
It helps to have a REAL expert around.
My biggest contribution was batteries and bean dip!
On 08/22/08 at 9:00 am
karri said:
Hurricane parties, tornadoes, blizzards? Mmmmm…ya, no thanks! I’ll take my chances with the occasional roller coaster and shifty foundation.
Thanks for reminding me that I still need to stalk up my Emergency Kit. When we had the last earthquake I realized how much trouble I would’ve been in with only a can of beans and 2 year-old oatmeal in the cupboards.
On 08/22/08 at 9:09 am
Carol said:
*giggles* The idea of you having a fully stocked pantry makes me laugh. But, Yes, you do need to prepare!Stock up, sister!
On 08/22/08 at 9:11 am
Trista said:
She probably has a better stockpile of Lilly food than Karri food!
Puppy’s gotta eat, no?
On 08/22/08 at 9:23 am
karri said:
It costs $2.50 a day to feed that 4-legged little monster. I on the other hand can survive on an $1.08 TB burrito.
There’s something wrong with this situation!
On 08/22/08 at 9:25 am
Carol said:
Oh, hell, Karri….Lilly probably weighs more than you do, too!!!
Gotta love Taco Bell….mmmmmmmmmmm…..tacos!
On 08/22/08 at 1:29 pm
Sarahh said:
Makes me want a Mexican Pizza. Or taco salad. YUM…
On 08/22/08 at 12:49 pm
Sarahh said:
Karrie, I could make some sort of smoothie with that if needed! I had the food, but it was funny, I didn’t want any of what I bought.
Just didn’t seem appealing. Now, had we been out of utilities for more than 2 days, I would be all about applesauce and fritos.
Mmm
On 08/22/08 at 9:35 am
kiki said:
I grew up in southwest England. We don’t have any extreme weather there LOL. A heatwave is anything above 80. It’s freezing when it gets down to nearly freezing. A flood is more than 3 hours of rain. A snowstorm is a light dusting, much akin to confectioners sugar on a cake. We have droughts every year, that are announced whenever it doesn’t rain for 5 days. No one can use their hosepipes to water the garden or wash their car. Everyone bitches on and on about the damn weather. I too was one of these weather- bitchers.
Then I moved to Boston. In February. Holy Mary mother of God. First thing that hit me was the cold. It was like NOTHING I’d experienced since leaving Chicago ten years ago (was there for 2 years, so had experienced Midwest weather) and the snow … Oh god the snow. They told me this was a warm year, a good year. I nearly flew home. But, I hung in there and survived the winter, feeling very proud and courageous like a pioneer in days gone by. I thought I was over the worst of it. Nope. Along came Spring. And mud season. I spent much of my first spring here in VT where the roads were not roads but pitiful rivers of mud. The rain too was fairly constant and huge raindrops (they really DO have bigger everything here!) When I survived the spring I thought I should have been awarded some kind of prize. Then came summer. It was delightful for a week then it got so damned hot and muggy I wanted to live two inches from my air con machine. For weeks I was a red sweaty mess, being told constantly to wear more sunscreen as I was getting burned. Uh no. I am just a red sweaty mess.
Fall was lovely and is easily my best season. Winters are tolerable til February when I’m ready to fly home to my warm, dry, boring little town in England. So far I’ve never been THAT desperate though. I’m beginning to enjoy actually having four seasons.
On 08/22/08 at 10:18 am
Carol said:
Sorry Kiki…I am stuck on the “BIGGER EVERYTHING” bit! *giggle* Oh..and the idea of cold weather snuggling.
On 08/22/08 at 12:54 pm
Sarahh said:
Kiki, we have two seasons.
Hot and Hurricane.
Hahahaha. I am in North FL, so we can get kinda cold, but compared to the northern states it is nothing!
I wouldn’t mind a fall though. Cool sweater weather, see some leaves really change and not just fall off!!
We have hot and muggy. Summers are 90 degrees plus and it is always humid as all hell. I am spoiled by AC and will never give it up NEVER!
On 08/22/08 at 10:40 am
kiki said:
LOL
I wouldn’t really know about bigger EVERYTHING what with me being nowt but a sweet, innocent English rose. (ahem, cough, yeah)
But I do enjoy the weather, mostly. Winter snuggles are great. I miss having a snugglee.
On 08/22/08 at 12:55 pm
Sarahh said:
Hahahaha, I caught that “Bigger Everything” comment. Was hard not to giggle.