Florida roll calls

[Linda Nelson]

HI Cynthia
I wish there was something I could say to make the situation better. Please consider leaving, and worry about all the stuff later. Stuff is just stuff.
We all care for your safety.
Good Luck

[Jean Kelly]

I echo Linda and Wisconsin is about as far away as you can get, so come on up. Stuff is just stuff, a back up hard drive is essential but you may even consider sending it out of state for safekeeping. I have an ex mother-in-law in Pinellas that I'm concerned about. I hope she is handcuffed and physically removed from her property cause she refuses to leave for any reason (Brooklyn transplant and stubborn).

Anyway , stay safe.

Jean

[ReNae Stueve]

Cynthia,

I know how you feel, as a single woman, many of the things we could do to better prepare are a bit out of our own reach. The thing that has me worried about anyone in the path of this new storm, is the shortage of supplies now. Generators, plywood, tarps, things like that.

Do the best you can, and when the time comes to leave,... leave.. I didn't last time, and I won't make that mistake again. The lingering stress over waiting and riding it out is tough. I spent 3 days in the house imagining the worst, then the best, round and round. It didn't change the outcome.

It's funny, the things you decide to pack and the things you find you don't really care about. I put away all my art supplies and works, old books and photos I love, enough cloths for a week and that was it. I forgot my insurance policy the first time during Charlie. The only change during Frances... I remembered the insurance papers.

PS.

I have a small Sony battery op LCD TV and it really saved the day, both times. It's no bigger than the old transistor radios back n the 60's. Get one if you can.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Thanks, Linda and Jean! But, I'm staying. Evacuating is basically sitting in a parking lot for hours on end. And, Gordon Wetmore told me that during Frances, motels were booked up all the way to Chattanooga.

ReNae, I got the TV, which I'd already planned to do. I really lucked out. One of the Radio Shack's was taking names to call when they came in and they really did call. I could have sold it many times - not a chance.

After talking to the condo president, I am feeling better. Our roofs are good up to 180 mph, skylights to 140, skylight attachments to 180. And, I'm not right on the water, have windows on only one side and it's a fairly protected area.

Am working on backing up my entire hard drive on the new external drive I bought last night. Will take photos over the weekend and Saturday, two friends are having a garage cleanout party so I can get my car in.

[Cynthia Daniel]

By the way, I've made a pretty complete list of emergency numbers if any Floridians would like my list. Good to have with you.

Things I didn't think to take in my "safe room" during Charley:

-essential phone numbers (this time I typed everything on a single sheet)
-purse (duhhh)
-glasses
-yellow pages (in case I needed to call contractors in the aftermath)
-pad & pans (again, if I need to call contractors, I'll need to take notes and what if all my paper is wet?)

And, if you have a safe desposit box, the key to that.

Not sure why they always say to take insurance policies with you. I called State Farm and asked if I have my policy number and the phone number to call them, do I need the actual policy and they said no.

I also looked up on the internet the AM radio station for my county's emergency broadcasts.

[Magdalena Castaneda]

Hi Cynthia, and all of you in Florida,

It's times like this that I know the importance of community. I wanted to touch base with you all and tell you that I'm sending you thoughts for a positive outcome with this weather situation.

Though I haven't posted one of my paintings in a while, I feel a part of our community on this forum, and have been thinking of you all this week. I have a cousin on the west coast of Florida as well. Cynthia, you sound very prepared.

Stay safe everyone, Magdalena

[Cynthia Daniel]

Thank you Magdelana. I've been cleaning out the garage tonight trying to make room for my car. What an ordeal. The good news is that the troops are coming in tomorrow - 2 friends. I've just been doing some of the prep work for the morning, but that alone was tiring.

[Sharon Knettell]

Good Grief! Yikes Cynthia! It just occured to me that you live in hurricane hell!

I hope everything is OK. Wishing and praying for the best.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Everything is fine, except my nerves. I was about to pack up my freezer foods and take them down to a friend's house so I didn't lose everything when the electric suddenly came back on. My girlfriend and I cheered!

[SB Wang]

Cynthia
http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/moonlady.htm