Hurricane Dennis

[CBulla]

I've been out of touch with the world for a few days, sooooooo imagine my surprise to see Tropical Depression Three (http://intellicast.com/Local/USNationalWide.asp?loc=usa&seg=StormCenter&prodgrp=TrackingCharts&product=HurTrack1&prodnav=none&pid=none)!!

[simbrooks]

I think you should worry more about TD 4/TS-H Dennis that is coming our way - just see where the front between TX and the Great Lakes goes, if it stalls we are seeing that 'cane, if it keeps moving we might dodge that bullet next weekend ;)

[Rick Murchison]

The tropical weather is lining up for an assault on the Northern Gulf coast. TS Cindy and TD4 headed our way.
Sheeesh!
Gulf diving from Beaumont to Appalachicola's gonna be mighty iffy for the next two weeks.
Rick :frown:

[The Kraken]

That's OK. You just make sure it's going to be good for the week of the 25th.
You got THAT ? ? ? ? ?

Do I make myself PERFECTLY CLEAR ? ? ? ?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Defintely sucks.

Cindy looks to be heading for New Orleans. I'm heading there in a few minutes for work and won't be returning until Thursday evening. Front row seating, yay?

They are expecting TD#4 to become TS Dennis by the end of the day and conditions are favorable for it to continue building into a Hurricane. Its still damned early too.

[simbrooks]

I want to see where that frontal system that is linking up from TX to MI is going. That is what will send Cindy NE when she gets on shore. Depending where that front moves, or if it stalls will help steer Dennis as it nears FL and maybe again the Panhandle is in for it again (maybe this year is the Panhandle year like last year was Central Florida?). Of course its still early, but Dennis could swing wildly as it moves up the FL gulf coast depending on a few conditions, but i think that front is a major player, we shall see, supplies are waiting for a decent sized hurricane to pass through here again ;)

[Rick Murchison]

TD4 has just been upgraded to TS Dennis - Earliest ever for four named storms in the Atlantic/Caribbean.
Isn't that just grand?
Rick

[simbrooks]

TD4 has just been upgraded to TS Dennis - Earliest ever for four named storms in the Atlantic/Caribbean.
Isn't that just grand?
They said it might be a busy season.....

Keep one eye on NHC (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/)

[Bill51]

If you can figure out that long frontal activity that’s been hanging out for so long you get the meteorologist award for the year. The jet stream has completely flattened out and no highs from the north seem to be able to bust it up. It might be that Cindy is the only thing that will break the cycle of scud across south Georgia that’s been hanging in for over a week.

[simbrooks]

So we have the high just off Florida and the lows around Central/Latin America all moving Dennis along until some time late on friday, from there its a crap shoot depending on the front (if Cindy helps shift it) and if that high stays just east of Florida, those two look like the major players in steering this hot potato around the Gulf. Could make for some interesting checking on friday on what the situation is looking like if nothing happens any sooner to give a heads up.

Y'all hang tight in LA, AL and MS, looks like it could be a wet night and tomorrow for you, depending what happens with Dennis you might be calling Cindy just a little rainstorm...

[ReefGuy]

And there was an article here today about all of the buildings that are still scheduled to be demolished from last year :(. And this time, if one hits here, I have to go to work.

[Tom Smedley]

Just another balmy summer day. From left to right Dora, Cindy, and Dennis.

[CBulla]

Yeah.. I noticed that this evening when I turned on the TV again.

[SeaYoda]

Does anyone remember the drought? :D

[fun2chase]

Arlene hit us (gently, but she hit us), Cindy is hitting us (gently, but it is blowing out there right now), and Dennis is on his way with a vengence. Could it be I live too close to Genesis? This is getting rediculous. It is the beginning of July and we have 4 named storms already. With the cleanup/repairs from Ivan still unfinished; here comes more....

[CBulla]

If your referring to proximity karma, yeah, sometimes that could be a factor. When I was with my ex-gf I had 6 tornado's blow over camp sites we were at over 3 years. One weekend was 3 in flying V formation and literally came across a lake right at us and over the tent (coolest thing I've ever looked up into).

We're in for another year of fun it looks like.. hope everyone has their high waders on!!

[fun2chase]

Wow; 6 tornado's and we are only up to 3 named storms (YUK)...

[CBulla]

4 named... I bet 6 by the end of July

[simbrooks]

4 named... I bet 6 by the end of July
I see your 6 and raise you 1 to 7 ;)

[Teamfour]

Yeah, the tropical weather sucks. Just went through 4 hours of 60 mph winds. Headed for the Flower Gardens in a little while. Looks like we will squeeze in some dives between storms.

[Rick Murchison]

Does anyone remember the drought? :D
Oh, yeah... that sucked too.
Looks like Dennis is now forecast to be a major cat 3 before it even gets into the Gulf, and to be sitting on top of P'cola Monday morning.
Rick

[philmottrek99and02]

With a little more rain we could start diving some of the puddles here in Hattiesburg! Vis would probably suck!

[chickdiver]

<happy happy joy joy>

[Randy43068]

you folks hang on down there. Looks like a tough year.

[jeandiver]

With a little more rain we could start diving some of the puddles here in Hattiesburg! Vis would probably suck!

Oh cool !!!
Puddle diving ...
I am going to have to check to see if my PADI puddle diving Cert is still good ...

Jean ;)

P.S. Of course , being originally from N.D. , I am also certified in Ditch Diving too ... :11:

[philmottrek99and02]

Never dove a ditch before. Is that a Tech Dive or Adventure dive?

Oh cool !!!
Puddle diving ...
I am going to have to check to see if my PADI puddle diving Cert is still good ...

Jean ;)

P.S. Of course , being originally from N.D. , I am also certified in Ditch Diving too ... :11:

[CBulla]

Ditch diving is fully technical. In some cases your dealing with intense run off, the occiasional mobile home or travel trailer that wasn't properly secured, as well as environmental hazards such as branches or cows!

Please welcome to the stage, Hurricane #4, Dennis!

[ggunn]

Heads up!

http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html

[melfox26]

Heads up!

http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html




:censored: I leave for Coz in 2 days, guess I should pack an umbrella.


Mel

[CBulla]

Catagory 2, the cone of "uncertainty" looks to have been changed and Southwest Florida is under the gun. Keep us in your prayers... I'm stocking up on gas today. :)

[divetahoe]

Catagory 2, the cone of "uncertainty" looks to have been changed and Southwest Florida is under the gun. Keep us in your prayers... I'm stocking up on gas today. :)

Button it down!
I'm curious... what's the price of regular unleaded in your area? We're at $2.39/gal here.

[ReefGuy]

I can look out my front door and see 6 houses that have stacks of shingles layed on their roof waiting to be installed. I can also see 3 houses that just have tarpaper (no shingles or anything).

Buildings are still being knocked down daily, and the amount of construction debris around the town is considerable, and buildings with blue tarps on their roofs due to damage are still plentiful.

All of this from last year.

If this hits this area, it's not gonna be pretty.

[simbrooks]

Looks like the high has shifted more north that was off the east coast of FL and that ex-Cindy is making a dent on the front that is across the general southeast US, which might be what is pulling the tracks back east - less pushing it to the west. Even so, as it stands it looks like a grazing up the coast rather than a direct hit - at least at this time.

As for great projectiles, any chance of getting the shingles etc off the roofs or roads before the winds hit? Otherwise just get the plywood out and hope it withstands flying stuff. When it comes to roofs not repaired, not much anyone can do about that now....

Thought i would split off this stuff that is mostly on Dennis from the storm names thread too.

[simbrooks]

I leave for Coz in 2 days, guess I should pack an umbrella.Looks like its just gonna be a bit blowy and wet, its on the "nice" side of the storm in Coz and not in the path.

[simbrooks]

Just like i think it was around Lakeland (although really Polk Co in general) last year, all 3 major storms that hit FL went through there. Looks like there might be a place around there where Arlene, Cindy and possibly Dennis might go through this year - no fun and early in the season too.

[Rick Murchison]

Heads up!

http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html
What a great "all-in-one" site. Thanks.
Rick

[chickdiver]

ALL 3 MAJOR STORMS THAT HIT FLORIDA LAST YEAR????

Are you crazy? There were 4 storms that hit Florida last year. Ivan was a Cat 3 a landfall in NW FL, with Cat 4 storm surge... The damage we sustained - quantity and dollar wise was greater than that sustained by the rest of Florida in all 3 storms COMBINED.

[simbrooks]

ALL 3 MAJOR STORMS THAT HIT FLORIDA LAST YEAR????

Are you crazy? There were 4 storms that hit Florida last year. Ivan was a Cat 3 a landfall in NW FL, with Cat 4 storm surge... The damage we sustained - quantity and dollar wise was greater than that sustained by the rest of Florida in all 3 storms COMBINED.
Sorry about that, i forgot that this end of Florida dodged that bullet when you guys got it. I was just drawing up the 3 that went through southern/central FL all kind of met in the same area (not to mention the Frances and Jeanne coming on shore in pretty much the same location) and whether that was something happening this year with the 2 that have already hit and 1 that is possibly going to hit in the near future, not meaning to degrade the impact of Ivan with you guys up in the panhandle.

[chickdiver]

Its a sore point with me... you would be surprised at the number of people in Central/ South Fl who do not consider NW FL to be "part" of FL.

[simbrooks]

Its a sore point with me... you would be surprised at the number of people in Central/ South Fl who do not consider NW FL to be "part" of FL.
I can understand and i guess with both those up in that part and those down here, its what personally effected you and your area that is closest to home, hence my poor memory about that event last year when grouping with those that effected us down here.

My mind is also elsewhere on events in the UK and moving this stuff around for the new "storm" forum, i should have been more careful with my choice of words and said 3 of the 4 that hit FL went through one "target area" a bit south of here.

I wish you guys up there and just along the coast the best in dealing with this and future storms, just as i do for those still picking up the pieces in SW and SE coast who were hit badly.

[Rick Murchison]

Its a sore point with me... you would be surprised at the number of people in Central/ South Fl who do not consider NW FL to be "part" of FL.
That's 'cause it's LA, don'tchaknow? :) :) :)
Rick

[chickdiver]

That's 'cause it's LA, don'tchaknow? :) :) :)
Rick


Yea- its still beyond my why we didn't secede and annex into Alabama years ago!

[ReefGuy]

As for great projectiles, any chance of getting the shingles etc off the roofs or roads before the winds hit? Otherwise just get the plywood out and hope it withstands flying stuff. When it comes to roofs not repaired, not much anyone can do about that now....

Not a chance. These homes are on my street alone. There are hundreds of homes around Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte that are in the same fix.

Fortunately, I have excellent storm windows that I will be putting up tomorrow (although they are already pretty battered).

[simbrooks]

Not a chance. These homes are on my street alone. There are hundreds of homes around Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte that are in the same fix.

Fortunately, I have excellent storm windows that I will be putting up tomorrow (although they are already pretty battered).
Rather the storm windows than you and your family Jeff ;)

[CBulla]

Today has been fun so far! I've been trimming bouganvilla like there is no tomorrow as it's on a barrier fence between us and a not so cool neighborhood next door. Since our lawn service company for the condo association is to lazy to do it, its quite prolific... now with the storm coming I may not have to worry about hauling this debris off, it'll end up all over the adjacent neighborhood where they have free horticulture service anyway!! :D

The cone of uncertainty is ever so interesting.
http://intellicast.com/Local/USNationalWide.asp?loc=usa&seg=StormCenter&prodgrp=TrackingCharts&product=HurTrack2&prodnav=none&pid=none

More like "The Blob of Where?" on intellicast :D

[ReefGuy]

No doubt :). I did get some good news just now, though. If called up, I only have to setup the EOC, then I'm releived and don't report until immediately after the storm. We learned a lot from Charley, Frances, and Jean.

Rather the storm windows than you and your family Jeff ;)

[SuPrBuGmAn]

That(Cindy) was fun...

Power went out Tuesday night(along with over 250,000 others in LA) at the hotel I was staying at, unbeknownst to me. By the time I got back from the bars, I was greeted with a chemlight and a staircase to my 14th floor(that I requested for the view) room. Ugh! No power throughout Wednesday in my tower. I got them to move me to their other building that had partial power(lights and one elevator), but no TV or AC. It had cold water pressure too :D I was living large considering my tower room had no power and no water. This morning there was still 130,000 without any power, so I wasn't alone.

It was pretty wicked for a TS. Nothing like Arlene.

Back home now, just in time to start nailing some ply to the windows!




Ivan was a big storm :) The eye went over my house in Loxley, AL the night it hit. NWFL had all the heavier bands and winds from the East side of that big beast.

[DennisS]

Arrggh, just saw the first newscast of people stocking up at the home depot, can the overcafinated weather person in foul weather gear be far behind. Looks like the hurricane season is starting early this year.

[Orlando Eric]

Well Here we go again! The new models today have this thing skirting the West Coast.

For all of us MegaDive Campers we have our gear we just have to get some canned goods and get ready for the great Florida Hurricane Camp out 2005.

There are STILL blue tarps here in St Lucie County from last year!

I am working overtime this weekend so the 6'-8' seas on the east coast did not wreck my plans.

Batten down the hatches..

Eric

[dlndavid]

Try this thread
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=103542&page=1&pp=10

[CBulla]

Hey.. that means that by August the "weather persons" will be totally worn out and just doing reports from their offices.

And how fun is this?! We're not projected to get much from Dennis than a little wind and rain. But what are people doing around here? Mass hysteria. the gas stations are starting to do "out of gas" signs, the stores are selling out of all those weird canned goods they normally sell 3 of in a year, and folks have that rabid goat look in their eyes as they graze around.

How fun!

[Rick Murchison]

They keep creeping east with their forecast... looks like Perdido & P'cola may now both be on the low-water side of the storm; Destin's in the Bulls-eye and Panama City in line for the eastern eye-wall.
I should take a break from watchin' this thing...
Rick

[chickdiver]

They keep creeping east with their forecast... looks like Perdido & P'cola may now both be on the low-water side of the storm; Destin's in the Bulls-eye and Panama City in line for the eastern eye-wall.
I should take a break from watchin' this thing...
Rick


C'mon Rick- you know there's no use in trying to reason with Hurricane Season! In all seriousness, there's no way to accurately predict until its about 6 hours out- 12 at most.... I'm about to go to work bringing in the outdoor stuff and battening the hatches down. I'll make the final stay/ run decision Saturday AM.

[DEEPSEAWOLF]

I work at one of the largest insurance companies in the Southeastern US. We finally got the generator installed and the 1500 gallon tank. Last year, I was filling a rental from reserves on a trailer all weekend long, every storm!
I remember what it was like at the end of the season, just waiting to be rid of the storms. Now the realization has hit that we didn't get out of storm season last year until two days before the October Megadive. This year had better not turn out like or worse than last year, or I'm moving to Canada!
Ah well, at least all the new sand will be cleaned off the reef in Venice by Christmas.
Hee hee hee. So much for their beach restoration project! Dad just paid big bucks to have trees cut down that were held off the house by cables since Frances. So much for my prospective Destin trip this weekend, too. You guys be careful. Our prayers are with you! Call me if you need help after the storm. Hopefully we'll still have a house, too.

[Bill51]

I’m afraid that landfall for Dennis is pretty much a wild guess right now, but I do hope that it stays as compact as it is with hurricane force winds only 45 miles out still. It backed up for an hour or so earlier today and intensified, but never enlarged so there’s still hope it won’t take out the entire coast wherever it hits.

Chickdiver, you may want to wait until Saturday afternoon to make your final decision and give Dennis time to get past the Keys to see which way it’s headed then unless there are some major changes (unlikely) in the upper level winds.

I’ll be thinking about you all and hoping for the best for you, but please don’t start sending these things over my way when you’re done with them like you did last year.

[CBulla]

The more east it gets, the more it looks like I'll be having a LOT of fun in my jeep :D

They keep creeping east with their forecast... looks like Perdido & P'cola may now both be on the low-water side of the storm; Destin's in the Bulls-eye and Panama City in line for the eastern eye-wall.
I should take a break from watchin' this thing...
Rick

[chickdiver]

Chickdiver, you may want to wait until Saturday afternoon to make your final decision and give Dennis time to get past the Keys to see which way it’s headed then unless there are some major changes (unlikely) in the upper level winds.

I’ll be thinking about you all and hoping for the best for you, but please don’t start sending these things over my way when you’re done with them like you did last year.

No way, dude- if your gonna run, run early, otherwise dig in and ride it out. They are predicting landfall on late Sunday/ early Monday- if I run North it will be before the weather deteriorates- last thing I want is to get trapped on the highway in crappy weather.

[Scuba_Dad]

Well Here we go again! The new models today have this thing skirting the West Coast.

I am working overtime this weekend so the 6'-8' seas on the east coast did not wreck my plans.


The storm kindof messed up my weekend. I was supposed to teach a Rescue class at Peppers Park (Your neighborhood) and an AOW in Lake Denton. Looks like Saturday is pretty much a wash... I'm still planning on Denton on Sunday. I sure hope all the LDS' in Florida don't decide to hit Denton on Sunday. Maybe they'll stay home. ;)

Al

[ScottZeagle]

I just saw on the news that this is the first Cat 4 hurricane to ever hit the gulf in July??

I honestly don't know if dive shop owners can make it through a season worse (and earlier) than last year... :(

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I'm just hoping this thing keeps tracking further and further East, it'd be great not having to buckle in or evacuate.

[Bill51]

No way, dude- if your gonna run, run early, otherwise dig in and ride it out. They are predicting landfall on late Sunday/ early Monday- if I run North it will be before the weather deteriorates- last thing I want is to get trapped on the highway in crappy weather.
Good point for your location since you’ve got a well-defined escape route. Over here if we run too soon we’re just as likely to run into it as away from it.

[Rick Murchison]

This just in...
...Dennis becomes an extremely dangerous category four hurricane on
the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale...new warnings issued...
And the forecast track has been revised westward - back right on top of P'cola again.
Rick

[String]

Im typing this from my key largo hotel room. Afte spending about $1200 in air fares and suffering 2 weeks of orlandos wettest ever june i spent 7 hours ffdriving here for the last week of my holiday. Arrived at 7pm snf told have to evacuate at 10am. As i only have 7 days here and it looks like i cant return until sunday/monday this could be the nost expensive non diving dive-trip ive ever had. At best i may get 2 days in. Im being forced to ft. launderdale in the morning. I must say im not amused by this storm!!

[fun2chase]

We need prayers up here. There are lots of homes that still have damage from Ivan & here comes another major storm. If the Air Force tells me we are under mandatory evacauation I am hitting the road... It is only a house!

Should be headed down to South FL the week of the 18th (after any cleanup) and will dive down there. Hope Dennis is at least nice to the East coast diving for me...

[FSUgly]

I'm just hoping this thing keeps tracking further and further East, it'd be great not having to buckle in or evacuate.


NO, NO, NO.....You guys keep this thing as far West as possible......Preferably Texas ;)

[showboat]

Yup leave it up to Dennis to screw up everyones plan for this weekend.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I want to go diving and now nobody can, I just cant wait till my vacation in a few weeks..... can I just go now?

[CBulla]

We need prayers up here. There are lots of homes that still have damage from Ivan & here comes another major storm. If the Air Force tells me we are under mandatory evacauation I am hitting the road... It is only a house!

Should be headed down to South FL the week of the 18th (after any cleanup) and will dive down there. Hope Dennis is at least nice to the East coast diving for me...

Hey hun... ever get the feeling we're playing poker against the worlds top poker player and when it comes to poker hands (http://www.pagat.com/vying/pokerrank.html) all we've got is a full house and suspect they are carrying a royal flush?

We'll be starting to feel the effects today - winds, rains, worse as the day drags on. Tomorrow will be the worst of it.

As we all know the cone of "Where will it go" is just a guess and once it hits the Gulf it can go anywhere.

Have your chainsaw and gas cans ready, if anything you'll have something to do should it hit your area.

[CBulla]

Im typing this from my key largo hotel room. Afte spending about $1200 in air fares and suffering 2 weeks of orlandos wettest ever june i spent 7 hours ffdriving here for the last week of my holiday. Arrived at 7pm snf told have to evacuate at 10am. As i only have 7 days here and it looks like i cant return until sunday/monday this could be the nost expensive non diving dive-trip ive ever had. At best i may get 2 days in. Im being forced to ft. launderdale in the morning. I must say im not amused by this storm!!

On the flipside, you're getting a real close look at one of the storms that completely redesigns local landscaping and housing in a very short period of time!

[matts1w]

Let us all keep things in perspective...

If Dennis goes ashore as a catagory three or four as it is right now there will be families who lose EVERYTHING they have in the world. Our diving inconveniences are minimal.

I am very worried for some of my friends in the Lower Keys who are riding out the storm. Catagory four storms are freaking scary.

Everyone in the Keys please be smart and safe.

[Rick Murchison]

Friday morning...
"SOME SLIGHT WEAKENING MAY OCCUR OVER CUBA BUT DENNIS IS FORECAST TO REMAIN AS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE WHILE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. THIS IS SUGGESTED BY MOST OF THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE."
For you Destin/FWB/P'cola folks - I have some room in Montgomery and I know others who do as well. Contact me by PM or email (rick@murchison.bz) if you need a place to camp.
Do not try to weather a category 4 storm on the coast. Trust me on this :)
If you are in the lower keys I give you my very strongest recommendation to get the hell out of there NOW!
Rick

[Rick Murchison]

There is a book called "A weekend in September" that's about the Galveston storm of 1900, the United States' worst natural disaster ever (minimum 8,000 - best guess 10,000 - estimates as high as 12,000 dead). I think it's from Texas A&M press, and if you live in 'cane country I highly recommend you get a copy and read it. There are a lot of eye-witness accounts in that little book.
Whenever anyone says they're going to "ride out" a Hurricane, and you ask them why, they will (unknowingly) quote someone who died while "riding out" the Galveston storm. Best guess is the Galveston storm was a Category 4. Ivan was a 3; Dennis is a 4.
Run away... run away...
Rick

[Maya]

Looks like Tampa Bay will be spared...but our best wishes and many prayers for all our fellow gulf coast residents. Please take this storm seriously. Good luck!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Looks like I may be heading to Tuscaloosa, possibly taking a little excussion to Huntsville for a quarry dive if time/weather allows.

As for today, another full day at work, heading to Ft. Walton to measure for countertops in a house that very well may not exist past the weekend!

[simbrooks]

Dont know, something isnt looking right with the tracks, with the high not being as strong as they thought, moving more eastward (towards Bermuda) and the front being pulled south and east as it got caught up in the remanants of Cindy, unless they think the hurricane is going to get pushed behind the front or something - i see it heading more northeast when it gets into the north Gulf waters, but that is only my guesswork based on what i am seeing on the plots of weather systems going on in the SE, i may not be privy to a bunch more info they are using in their modelling that may not be available online for me to use as an armchair meteorology buff - guess we'll just have to wait and see. For those on the predicted path if i were there/you i'd get out of Dodge real soon, for those up to 150 miles either side i would think about it or board yourselves up really well as i dont have full faith in the model forecasts yet (and last year showed they werent 100%).

[Trisha]

On the road again....
It's been fun, but we're headed back home before this thing takes out the bridge over Pensacola Bay. I'm so glad our hotel has cable 'cause I was up until 2:30 am packing scuba gear and watching the Weather Channel.
About hysterical weathermen... we were glued to our TV during May 3, 1999, when a category 5 (6?) tornado hit Chickasha, Moore, Midwest City and south Oklahoma City. We had some anxious weather forecasters that day and night, too, and God bless them!
Good luck and play it safe!

[Rick Murchison]

Dont know, something isnt looking right with the tracks, with the high not being as strong as they thought, moving more eastward (towards Bermuda) and the front being pulled south and east as it got caught up in the remanants of Cindy, unless they think the hurricane is going to get pushed behind the front or something - i see it heading more northeast when it gets into the north Gulf waters,
My Gulf shrimper contacts agree with you and are insisting it's headed for Appalachicola, even though all the computer models are now shifting west.
Unfortunately I don't see anything that has a reasonable chance of weakening this bad boy before it strikes somewhere along the northern Gulf coast... somebody's gonna get kicked hard. And it's looking more and more like Alabama's going to get its fourth tropical storm/hurricane in less than a year. Ridiculous.
Rick

[CBulla]

I've got the feeling that its not going as far west as is believed either. We've been debating here (my wife and I) about how things went Charley style last year..."Its going north of Tampa" they say.. then it falls over and rolls right into us! Dunno about yawl, but until it hits land and makes its way north through GA, it can go anywhere.

[simbrooks]

I am wondering if people all the way to St Marks and towards the big bend shouldnt be planning ahead to get out quickly, not sure its going to go as west as the track says. I dont have the training of these guys, nor am i needing to know on a daily basis like i used to in my teens and early 20's when i was sailing all the time and kept up with weather patterns, of course also only being in one of the hurricane magnet areas for the last few years - but something in my gut is saying its not quite what the models or official track say. I dont think it is coming here with a wild NE turn, but if i lived anywhere west of Live Oak or out to New Orleans (and the coast below) i would be very concerned more so on the eastern side as IMO i think that is where it is going. I am also of the opinion that it might stay offshore past the SW FL area and curve back in towards shore as it goes north towards the big bend-Apalachicola area, but i am not saying dont take precautions/actions and particularly i am saying to those areas close, but still in the cone of uncertainty - a lot of us got fooled last year of following the "forecast track" line....

[FredT]

Im typing this from my key largo hotel room. Afte spending about $1200 in air fares and suffering 2 weeks of orlandos wettest ever june i spent 7 hours ffdriving here for the last week of my holiday. Arrived at 7pm snf told have to evacuate at 10am. As i only have 7 days here and it looks like i cant return until sunday/monday this could be the nost expensive non diving dive-trip ive ever had. At best i may get 2 days in. Im being forced to ft. launderdale in the morning. I must say im not amused by this storm!!

Time to make lemonade. :eyebrow:

The diving off Ft Laluderdale to WPB is MUCH better than most of the Keys tourist areas. The Boynton beach area is especially well reccomended. Diving on the east coast should be good after noon on Saturday. It may take until next Wednsday or Thursday for the water to clear off the Keys.

FT

[SuPrBuGmAn]

My Gulf shrimper contacts agree with you and are insisting it's headed for Appalachicola

I'm totally not opposed to that(sorry Jon, Chris, Tom)! Still heading to Tuscaloosa just in case though...

I dont think it is coming here with a wild NE turn, but if i lived anywhere west of Live Oak or out to New Orleans (and the coast below)


870AM can be picked up throughout quite a bit of FL, lower AL, lower MS, and its a LA station. They're saying there is a voluntary evac of alot of Jefferson Parish(New Orleans area). So it appears as though they aren't taking this thing lightly. They shouldn't, TS Cindy put alot of them out of power and knocked alot of trees down while soaking the ground. It would suck if Cindy was just a warm-up for em.

[DivesWithTurtles]

Diving on the east coast should be good after noon on Saturday.

Hmm....

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
353 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2005

ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO OCEAN REEF OUT TO 60
NM AND GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE OUT
20 NM AND CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH OUT 60 NM...INCLUDING THE
WATERS OF BISCAYNE BAY AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE.
SATURDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 7 TO 9 FEET.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS ROUGH IN EXPOSED AREAS. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS.

SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS. SEAS 6 TO 8 FEET.
INTRACOASTAL WATERS ROUGH IN EXPOSED AREAS. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY.


My dive for tomorrow afternoon at Palm Beach has already been cancelled by the boat. I know the coastal waters forecast is often wrong, but...

[nipi]

#71 Ivan was a 4.

[Dee]

NO, NO, NO.....You guys keep this thing as far West as possible......Preferably Texas ;)


Hey! What did we ever do to you!?!?! :D I have a feeling we'll have our turn this year.

Oh Man....you guys have my prayers, regardless of where this thing goes.

[Natasha]

There is a book called "A weekend in September" that's about the Galveston storm of 1900, the United States' worst natural disaster ever (minimum 8,000 - best guess 10,000 - estimates as high as 12,000 dead). I think it's from Texas A&M press, and if you live in 'cane country I highly recommend you get a copy and read it.
Rick

I live 27 miles north of Galveston. I'll have to read the book.
Keep it far away from Texas..and all the US. Let it just stay in the water and fade away. Adding it to my prayer list tonight.

[DEEPSEAWOLF]

For those of you who just need to keep food in case of power outages, I just picked up a camp generator 1200 watts for less than 200 bucks at Wal-Mart. That's the smallest and least expensive to be found 'round these parts. It'll run a few things at once, or a freezer/ac/fridge on rotations. one gal of gas lasts 5 hours plus on constant.
I am predicting Dennis will strengthen once it crosses Cuba. Winds prior were gusting in excess of 180 MPH according to the NOAA website! I think it will hit Apalachicola or just East of it at a Category 5 with sustained winds in excess of 165 mph. If we get hit by anything over a hundred in Gainesville, we'll be pulling student bodies out these paper apartment buildings! Our best wishes are with everyone in this hing's path.
Upgrading my castle plans to TEN foot thick walls now! Thanks Dennis! Stinkin' Hurricanes! At least we don't have tornado season like the Midwest, or Earthquake season like West coast. Those are all year long! I'll stick with my week plus advance notice of incoming storms weather!

[chickdiver]

#71 Ivan was a 4.

Not when it made landfall on the Gulf Coast. It was borderline when it came ashore, but the hurricane "experts" finally called it at a category 3 based on the wind speed indicators along the Gulf Coast. It's actually been the subject of much debate, as the Saffir- SImpson scale is based solely on windspeed, and does not take storm surge into consideration. Storm surge was the real agent of devastation on the Gulf Coast from Ivan. Ivan was an extremely strong storm for so long that it was pushing category 4 storm surge levels though the landfall windspeed was clocked only within the levels of a category 3.... go figure...

[SeaYoda]

As I write this, the tourists and gas have all but evaporated from anywhere near here. Gulf-Gulper, his family, and part of mine will be headed North to GA. Some of the family will be riding the storm out here in Niceville. As for me I'm headed South to the Hospital to babysit the lab until the storm passes and the Hospital opens again. I hope Dennis will miss us, but if he does visit, I hope they get the bridges open soon. I'm due to open the lab with a fellow worker and we will be the only ones there until help arrives when the bridges are clear. I'm taking my camera (in the waterproof housing) and if I get a chance I'll take some pictures. I probably won't be posting for a few days because the rotten people at work have SB blocked. See you all on the other side!

[Bill51]

I was just reviewing the 11PM NOAA charts and it looks like Dennis is back to 110mph winds and still maintaining a relatively small core of hurricane winds, so hopefully it won’t leave a large footprint when and where ever it hits. It appears that there is still a small low trough and a cold front (odd combination) connecting the NE quadrant of Dennis with the SW quadrant of Cindy that seems to be draining some of the inflow off Dennis and that is why it hasn’t gotten much larger despite the higher winds he’s had at times. Let’s hope it stays that way.

I had a meeting with some folks from FPL this afternoon and they have already sent many of their lineman from the east coast over toward the panhandle to be ready to start restoring power as soon as possible so hopefully they can keep your disruptions down over there.

I’m not looking for the east coast seas to settle down real fast right now because the high sitting over the Bahamas while not real strong at 1010 MB is going to keep the easterly winds and corresponding waves aimed right at us for some time. Those easterly winds are holding up all the way to somewhere between 39,000 and 45,000’ (boy that must be some windshear and turbulence to fly through up there).

[CBulla]

Its raining, its windy... so far much like Charley, including how its churning away down south, except its not turning NE. Reports are that Key West is down to partial power. However until it gets past the 26th parallel (Ft Myers lat/lon is 26.63N -81.85W) it can always get friendly with us.

The good news is that all the forcast centers seem to be saying the same thing.. Yawl up there in P-cola, put on your hardhats!!

Rick, ChickDiver, SeaYoda, S-bugman, and others up there.. my thoughts will be with you as this beastie heads north!

[Splitlip]

Its raining, its windy... so far much like Charley, including how its churning away down south, except its not turning NE. Reports are that Key West is down to partial power. However until it gets past the 26th parallel (Ft Myers lat/lon is 26.63N -81.85W) it can always get friendly with us.

The good news is that all the forcast centers seem to be saying the same thing.. Yawl up there in P-cola, put on your hardhats!!

Rick, ChickDiver, SeaYoda, S-bugman, and others up there.. my thoughts will be with you as this beastie heads north!

Just got off the phone with my wife's cousin in Key West. (actually Shark Key area).
Yes he is without power. It does look however that they dodged a bullet when the storm took the westward track over Cuba and weakened. He's getting the North East quadrant now it seems. Still has a while before the center move past him.
Hope the folks further north in the Gulf can catch some kind of break.

[CBulla]

The 11am pictures... Hope everyone is having fun :)

[Rick Murchison]

Looks like Cuba took some energy out that won't be recovered, so maybe we're looking at a Cat 2 vice 4 - which makes a HUGE difference. Also, for me and BugMan, looks like our places will be on the low-water side of the eye... good for us but sucks for y'all in P'cola and Destin/FWB.
But now I'm worried about my niece who lives on Mud Island in Memphis...
Rick

[nipi]

#86 chick - Ivan was a 4 (borderline 5) with gusts of 200 mph + when it went past those of us in my house in Cayman.

[Splitlip]

Looks like Cuba took some energy out that won't be recovered, so maybe we're looking at a Cat 2 vice 4 - which makes a HUGE difference. Also, for me and BugMan, looks like our places will be on the low-water side of the eye... good for us but sucks for y'all in P'cola and Destin/FWB.
But now I'm worried about my niece who lives on Mud Island in Memphis...
Rick
Thankfully it lost some of it's punch. (some of the weather channel folks seemed disappointed). Still need keep guard up and stay with the plan.

[chickdiver]

#86 chick - Ivan was a 4 (borderline 5) with gusts of 200 mph + when it went past those of us in my house in Cayman.


I am well aware of that, though I didn't know you were from Cayman. However, you were referencing Rick Murchison's post, who was referring to its strength at landfall on the Gulf Coast.

[nipi]

Granted. Whether 3 or 4 it was nasty enough anyway.

[chickdiver]

never mind

[CBulla]

The Intellicast Java Loop (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USLocalWide.asp?loc=keyw&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=RadarImagery&product=JavaLoop&prodnav=none)

Windy and rainy.. and dark most of the day. :)


Is it me or has it slowed down?

[dkramer]

It seems like it has slowed down to me as well. It's taking forever to get past us!

[nipi]

I don't.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Its back to a Cat 3 from what I understand and they are saying its strengthening more. Possibly a strong 3 or even a 4 by landfall. Storm track hasn't changed much and it still looks to be heading towards the AL/FL line.


Looks like Cuba took some energy out that won't be recovered, so maybe we're looking at a Cat 2 vice 4 - which makes a HUGE difference. Also, for me and BugMan, looks like our places will be on the low-water side of the eye... good for us but sucks for y'all in P'cola and Destin/FWB.

I hope we stay on the West, I feel bad for P'Cola though... None of us need this one.

I'm posting from Tuscaloosa now, should be far enough north to keep the brunt of the wind off us(even though we'll get alot of wind never the less) and flooding isn't a problem in our particular area. We are expecting to lose power, but I'll post while I can.

We're already getting bands(as of about an hour ago), rainy, windy, but nothing too serious yet.

[Florabama]

Dennis is now forecast to be a Cat 4 or possibly 5 hurricane when it makes landfall on the Alabama/Florida line just about where Ivan hit. This is going to be bad for both Gulf Shores and Pensacola. There are still piles of debris from Ivan and folks are still doing repairs.

At least the Oriskany is gone to Texas. I cussed the folks who sent the Oriskany to Texas, but now they look like geniuses. If we live through Dennis, maybe we'll still get to dive the mighty O.

[Rick Murchison]

I was dang sure overly optimistic earlier... forecast track has shifted back west to put both my place and BugMan's home town on the eastern eyewall. I was surprised I could be so wrong on the strength, but when I read the NHC's discussion... "AFTER DEEPENING AT A RATE THAT BORDERED ON INSANE DURING THE AFTERNOON...DENNIS HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN AT A MORE NORMAL RATE THIS EVENING." I didn't feel quite so bad at my underestimation...
Hide & watch, folks, this could be a really bad one.
Rick

[Tom Smedley]

Place & Station ID Water Temp Wave Height
Pensacola, FL 42039 (http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/42039.html) 83 °F / 28 °C 22.97 ft / 7.00 mW.
Tampa, FL 42036 (http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/42036.html) 80 °F / 27 °C 24.93 ft / 7.60 m

Definite E Ticket rides. It appears that he will hit and go inland as a Cat IV.

I hope that Matt and Sheree and Heather have booked already. I also hope and pray that Gene and Ilene have the Wet Dream way up in the creek and tied down well. I'm sure the Y-Knot is on a trailer headed north.

[Rick Murchison]

Good Grief!
Rick

[Splitlip]

I was dang sure overly optimistic earlier... forecast track has shifted back west to put both my place and BugMan's home town on the eastern eyewall. I was surprised I could be so wrong on the strength, but when I read the NHC's discussion... "AFTER DEEPENING AT A RATE THAT BORDERED ON INSANE DURING THE AFTERNOON...DENNIS HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN AT A MORE NORMAL RATE THIS EVENING." I didn't feel quite so bad at my underestimation...
Hide & watch, folks, this could be a really bad one.
Rick

I'm with you. NHC, Weatherunderground and even Dr. Lyons indicated this thing would not strengthen past a 2 after Cuba. My admonition that people stick with their plans was only a precationary suggestion which resulted from my own experience with Jeanne last year.
My thoughts go out to all in the path of this storm.

[Corigan]

I learned long ago, these weather people have no clue. I used to cancel dive trips when it would say chance of tstorms 40% and such. It would never rain! Now I just go on the trips even if it says the weather is going to be horrible all weekend. 9 times out of 10 I get to dive with no issues.

Hope everyone is ok down there and has gone to safety. Hang on! We'll see ya after the storm to go diving again.

That graph from the South bouy is crazy.

So much for me seeing gulf shores and pensacola back to normal this year. :( I feel for ya'll down there and wish ya'll the best.

Matt

[Rick Murchison]

NHC has it going up Mobile Bay. I'm looking at the latest Radar loop and it looks to me that the storm has done an Opal and taken a right turn - and if it keeps up that trend it's going in somewhere between FWB and Panama City.
Rick

[Bill51]

I’d like to know what the waves are like 64NM south of Dauphin Island, but it looks like that buoy has been knocked offline now.

Maybe the buoy is on it's way up Mobile Bay by now.

[chickdiver]

Place & Station ID Water Temp Wave Height
Pensacola, FL 42039 (http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/42039.html) 83 °F / 28 °C 22.97 ft / 7.00 mW.
Tampa, FL 42036 (http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/buoy/42036.html) 80 °F / 27 °C 24.93 ft / 7.60 m

Definite E Ticket rides. It appears that he will hit and go inland as a Cat IV.

I hope that Matt and Sheree and Heather have booked already. I also hope and pray that Gene and Ilene have the Wet Dream way up in the creek and tied down well. I'm sure the Y-Knot is on a trailer headed north.


Y-Knot is in her hurricane hole upt he Escambia River, where she rode out Ivan- I saw Dave on Wednesday. I'm sitting at home with the shutters up waiting for the power to go... :-)

[CBulla]

Rick - that graph definitely shows the magnatude of the seas coming in with that storm!


So much for me seeing gulf shores and pensacola back to normal this year. :( I feel for ya'll down there and wish ya'll the best.

Matt

Matt, I'm afraid that this is a the paradigm shift of weather patterns for the next decade or two. We've enjoyed a very long period of relatively quiet times.. last year I believe it was said to expect more storm activity.. tell ya what, the experts weren't joking on that one!

What can we really do? Prepare, buckle up, know when to 'get out', and accept the fact we live near the water where Cyclones are a fact of life.
---
lil rant
---
I'm watching the news right now and they just highlighted two couples who were close to finishing the repairs on their house. Where do they live? Right on Pensacola Bay. Now they're sad that they have to evacuate again. "We're sad that we may lose our house this time..," says the wife.

It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of surprise folks show when their house or homes built on the water (or better yet the barrier islands) are suddenly in peril or are flat out removed by natures fury.

I Belieeeevveeee
I belive that folks who build on the water or barrier islands should have to sign waivers stating they will not act surprised, emotionally distressed, shocked it happened to them, or any other favorite 'emotion' reporters look for when searching for people to interview. If you build in the middle of the catchers mit, expect to get hit by the ball!
---
end rant

[Bill51]

Y-Knot is in her hurricane hole upt he Escambia River, where she rode out Ivan- I saw Dave on Wednesday. I'm sitting at home with the shutters up waiting for the power to go... :-)
But is the generator full of fuel so you can keep us posted? Behave for the next 20 hours and don’t make any history – or not. :D

[Rick Murchison]

I belive that folks who build on the water or barrier islands should have to sign waivers stating they will not act surprised, emotionally distressed, shocked it happened to them, or any other favorite 'emotion' reporters look for when searching for people to interview. If you build in the middle of the catchers mit, expect to get hit by the ball!
Most folks are pretty realistic about it. But those are boring, and so not sought out by the news bubbas. The ones they ferret out would be hysterical with or without any waiver.
I don't want to lose our place on Perdido, but if it gets flattened it gets flattened and we rebuild a better place.
Rick
---
Pensacola South Buoy @ 0800 local

[simbrooks]

Keep safe this afternoon, evening and night y'all - you'll be in our thoughts.

Cant believe we were quite as wrong with the forecast, glad to see the models were somewhere in the ballpark this time. That high and the front that looked like they were going to steer this system just moved out of town, so it went just were they thought it might. Repeating - keep safe, you're in our thoughts.

[chickdiver]

But is the generator full of fuel so you can keep us posted? Behave for the next 20 hours and don’t make any history – or not. :D


Heh- no generator. I'm young- I don't need ac to make it.

[JWU42]

Hunker down and stay safe...

[Bill51]

Heh- no generator. I'm young- I don't need ac to make it.
I don’t need the AC, but it was sure nice to keep the beer cold and the computer on-line. :D

Take care of yourself over there.

[CBulla]

As we continue to go through feeder band squalls here I can't help but have a flashback or two to last year when the C-cane came by... so I checked the Radar (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USLocalWide.asp?seg=StormCenter&loc=katl&prodgrp=RadarImagery&product=Radar&prodnav=none&pid=none)...

My wife lit a white candle, while she and the oldest one said blessing hoping everyone makes it through safe and sound.... if you lose power soon, we'll see you on the other side!!

[ReefGuy]

Y'all be safe up there. I surely don't envy you at the moment.

It would be nice if the state put a moratorium on new building on barrier islands. They are, after all, called "barrier" for a reason.

[Scuba_Jenny]

Keep safe ya'll, I am not wishing I could change places with ya!
See ya when the electric is back on!

[dlndavid]

Our prayers are with you guys, be safe.

[JustAddWater]

I just heard a report that Dennis has a wind speed 15 mph short of category 5. Stay safe.

[simbrooks]

The 11am report from NOAA suggests the recent intensification has stopped and steady in the 120's, which is a solid 3 edging towards a 4 on the surface - its also headed more for P'cola than Mobile due to a recent wobble, but now it back off moving as it was before. Its moving quickly, thankfully, so should hit in a couple of hours and leave those folks on the coast alone by the early evening.

[chickdiver]

Still here, still doing fine.

[Rick Murchison]

The 11am report from NOAA suggests the recent intensification has stopped and steady in the 120's, which is a solid 3 edging towards a 4 on the surface - its also headed more for P'cola than Mobile due to a recent wobble, but now it back off moving as it was before. Its moving quickly, thankfully, so should hit in a couple of hours and leave those folks on the coast alone by the early evening.
That's 120 Knots, Simon... solid Cat 4.
Rick

[dkramer]

Ya'll stay safe. I did Charley & I surely don't envy you guys. Be careful.

[Natasha]

Still here, still doing fine.

chickdiver:
Are you going to leave? The weather channel is saying 100 mile per hour winds headed right for your downtown area.

[Spectre]

Are you going to leave? The weather channel is saying 100 mile per hour winds headed right for your downtown area.

She decided to avoid the traffic jams and lack of gasoline on the routes north. Power just went and she's holed up with her family riding it out.

[Natasha]

She decided to avoid the traffic jams and lack of gasoline on the routes north. Power just went and she's holed up with her family riding it out.

Thx Jeff. She's in my prayers today, as we watch it closly here, knowing it could still be us this year.

[dlndavid]

How's everybody? Looks like Dennis has made landfall.

[Spectre]

How's everybody? Looks like Dennis has made landfall.

Heather's power actually was only out for about 1/2 hour. It turned due north early enough to strike far enough east that she'll probably avoid the brunt of it. As well as some weakening just before landfall... as best an outcome for pensacola as possible... but it's still overlapping the damaged areas from Ivan.

[baitedstorm]

Glad to hear her and her family are safe.... My thoughts and prayers are with the entire area.

[Spectre]

Looks like Dennis has made landfall.

000
WTNT64 KNHC 101940
TCUAT4
HURRICANE DENNIS TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
335 PM EDT SUN JUL 10 2005

RADAR OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT HURRICANE DENNIS MADE LANDFALL AT
1925Z...225 PM CDT...ON SANTA ROSA ISLAND BETWEEN NAVARRE BEACH AND
PENSACOLA BEACH FLORIDA. DATA FROM THE STEPPED FREQUENCY MICROWAVE
RADIOMETER ON BOARD THE NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT...AS WELL AS
FLIGHT-LEVEL OBSERVATIONS FROM NOAA AND AIR FORCE RESERVE
AIRCRAFT...INDICATE THAT THE LANDFALL INTENSITY OF DENNIS WAS 100
TO 105 KT...115 TO 120 MPH...CATEGORY THREE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE SCALE.

FORECASTER FRANKLIN


$$

[Splitlip]

Somebody 'splain something to me please. The talking heads are saying the storm made land fall with max winds of "99 MPH winds. Still a catagory 3." Maybe they mean 99 knots. In any case better than the 4 which was expected.
Talking heads seem alittle disappointed that they don't have video of devistation.
Anybody know how some of our folks in the area have made out?
Having gone through Jeanne and Frances, having sweated out Ivan and having run from Floyd, I know that the stress can be worse than the property damage.

EDIT: Just answered my own question. Reporters were apparently reporting wind speeds at THEiR locations.. Not the actual wind speed.
Had to chuckle though. One of them asked if it was true the wind changes direction after the eye passes.

[Dee]

Hope everyone is alright.

[Rick Murchison]

Somebody 'splain something to me please. The talking heads are saying the storm made land fall with max winds of "99 MPH winds. Still a catagory 3." Maybe they mean 99 knots. In any case better than the 4 which was expected.
There were no talking heads where the storm actually came ashore, which was between P'cola and Destin. Haven't heard any reports from its "ground zero" yet, but it was about the most sparsely populated piece of real estate from the Alabama line to Panama City - so lucky in that sense. But hard of course on those directly there. We probably won't get any real reports out of there until morning.
Montgomery... now Montgomery was a most amazing situation... bands to the east of us; bands to the west of us - we had a little rain and some medium (40 mph) winds but absolutely nothing substantial. Power blinked a couple of times here while folks all around us got more rain and more wind and more power outage than we did.
Probably my mother's prayers :)
Rick

[cmalinowski]

There were no talking heads where the storm actually came ashore, which was between P'cola and Destin. Haven't heard any reports from its "ground zero" yet, but it was about the most sparsely populated piece of real estate from the Alabama line to Panama City - so lucky in that sense. But hard of course on those directly there. We probably won't get any real reports out of there until morning.
Montgomery... now Montgomery was a most amazing situation... bands to the east of us; bands to the west of us - we had a little rain and some medium (40 mph) winds but absolutely nothing substantial. Power blinked a couple of times here while folks all around us got more rain and more wind and more power outage than we did.
Probably my mother's prayers :)
Rick
Glad to hear things worked out for you. Let's hope that all of the others faired beter than expected too.

[MoonWrasse]

I hear the next one is queued up already and christened "Emily".

I think I'll stick with earthquakes. Less messy.

[bobmaggi]

NOT what we wanted to see on the maps. . . we have a liveaboard trip scheduled out of WPB in mid July! Thank goodness for trip insurance. . .

and there's another tropical depression not too far behind "emily" This is supposed to be the slow time for hurricanes!

just hope these go someplace else!

[Damselfish]

It's not Emily yet, still just TD #5.

[CBulla]

I think I'll stick with earthquakes. Less messy.

To random, show up without warning, can make the ground open up and things disappear...

A hurricane can be prepared for, with modern technology its seen coming, and folks can get out the way if they so choose.

Give me 'canes over the ground creating random acts of movement anyday!

[Mrs.Prages]

Got word from my family in P'cola today. All seems to be pretty good for them. They are still rebuilding from Ivan, so we were glad that Dennis gave them some reprieve. They are saying that Santa Rosa County looked to be in pretty bad shape. Anyone from around there? I hope it is not as bad as it looks.

Paula

[SFLDiver]

Sometimes all I can do is stare at the Talking Heads of News on the boob tube. They DO tend to get very carried away in the moment (hype!) and some of the "facts" reported (hype!) are waay off.

Yep, depending on what station you are tuned into, the info can vary.
Storm category, location, landfall, even preparation (duct tape .... hype!)

We were laughing yesterday at my fav ... Anderson Cooper and most everyone in South Florida is familiar with the likes of Mr. Rick Sanchez (king of hype!) and the pure acting that was going on as they stood in yet another windblown parking lot hollering "GET BACK!" at each other as tree limbs blew down (can I get an AUNTIE EM!! ?)

I mean, heck, I walked my dog thru nastier conditions in Frances last year.
Poor pooch couldn't hold it any longer.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Back at home now :)

A few of my buddies who actually stuck it out here during the 'Cane didn't even lose power. First storm this close to us that didn't take any trees from our yard too. :D

Power blinked a few times in Tuscaloosa(where I rode the storm out one drink at a time) and we lost cable TV and internet :P but that was the brunt of it. It rained and we had some 30ish mph winds(guessing).

We're crazy lucky, I'm glad that damned things strongest winds kept compact to the eye and it weakened a bit before biting into the land. TS Cindy was more a pain in my butt to be honest. I didn't like hiking up and down the 14 flights of stairs at the hotel I was staying at the day of and the day after it hit LA.

[mike_s]

Well, Looks like Dennis flipped the Speigal Grove. Upright this time, the way she was supposed to be.... (wish it was done before last weekend though, cause we were there diving her.

Two different Scubaboard threads on Dennis uprighting her.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104077

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104107


Also heard (not on Scubaboard) that Dennis trashed the
Empire Mica and tore it apart and collasped it.

[aquaholic901]

Anyone know the status of the other Keys wrecks, particularly the Thunderbolt off Marathon?

[chickdiver]

Santa Rosa county took the brun tof this one. In many of the same areas that were hit hardest by Ivan. Landfall was officially between Gulf Breeze and Navarre, FL. Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach took yet another beating. Peple are starting to filter back into town. We have power at the office (in Pcola) but not at my house as yet. They are saying it will be back up byt he end of the week. We got lucky with this one- it was a compact storm. Had it been the size of Ivan, things would ave been much worse.

The bronchitis I came down with as the storm approached has made this more miserable than anything else.

[simbrooks]

At least you and all the rest around there are still in one piece and alive! ;) They had a whole slew of trucks ready to step in and put the power back on asap last i heard.

[Rick Murchison]

Anyone know the status of the other Keys wrecks, particularly the Thunderbolt off Marathon?
I have heard that the Empire Mica got essentially "finished off" and is nothing but a rubble field now. I'll bet the Strength is gone too.
Gotta go see to be sure.
Rick

[MoonWrasse]

To random, show up without warning, can make the ground open up and things disappear...

A hurricane can be prepared for, with modern technology its seen coming, and folks can get out the way if they so choose.

Give me 'canes over the ground creating random acts of movement anyday!
You've been watching too many movies ;)
Quakes are like heart attacks, sudden and swift (a long one would last 30 secs), while anticipating hurricanes would seem like having cancer.

The last major quake I recall experiencing here was 16 years ago. The only damage I incured was picking up the CDs which were tossed around the livingroom.
How many hurricanes in the past 16 years has FL seen? 10?

[simbrooks]

You've been watching too many movies ;)
Quakes are like heart attacks, sudden and swift (a long one would last 30 secs), while anticipating hurricanes would seem like having cancer.

The last major quake I recall experiencing here was 16 years ago. The only damage I incured was picking up the CDs which were tossed around the livingroom.
How many hurricanes in the past 16 years has FL seen? 10?
Random maybe, but last summer i went to LA for a long weekend and we got a quake (only a 4.5-5 or something, but still enough to wake you), is that a weekly thing around SoCal?? I am guessing NorCal is a little more out of the way from the San Andreas (having poor geographical knowledge here) hence you get fewer quakes up there. Even so, its still early in the season, but i couldnt think of a better place than Orlando to ride out a storm, nicely away from the coast so we get less impact than where they make landfall!

[MoonWrasse]

Random maybe, but last summer i went to LA for a long weekend and we got a quake (only a 4.5-5 or something, but still enough to wake you), is that a weekly thing around SoCal?? I am guessing NorCal is a little more out of the way from the San Andreas (having poor geographical knowledge here) hence you get fewer quakes up there. Even so, its still early in the season, but i couldnt think of a better place than Orlando to ride out a storm, nicely away from the coast so we get less impact than where they make landfall!
Lol, most 4.5-5 quakes you can't even feel. Might have been a truck driving down the road.

Me, I like my water tame ;)

[simbrooks]

Lol, most 4.5-5 quakes you can't even feel. Might have been a truck driving down the road.

Me, I like my water tame ;)
A 15-20sec shake that woke all in the house (inc SoCal residents) and rattled the lights etc, maybe it was a little more than a 5? Not many trucks going past this house ;)

[chickdiver]

heh- move to Guam- you can have Typhoons and Earthquakes. I was there for Supertyphoon Omar (equivalent to a cat 5 hurricane) and about a week or 10 days later we had a great big ol quake!

[CBulla]

You've been watching too many movies ;)
Quakes are like heart attacks, sudden and swift (a long one would last 30 secs), while anticipating hurricanes would seem like having cancer.
Quakes are more like random acts of terrorism as far as I can tell... or a heart attack. Neither of which I care to experience. Hurricanes are like building up for the ultimate showdown... one you know that if you take on unprepared you'll lose. Even if you ARE prepared you can lose... but its your choice to take the chance and face it or go away and let it happen without your presence.

The last major quake I recall experiencing here was 16 years ago. The only damage I incured was picking up the CDs which were tossed around the livingroom.
How many hurricanes in the past 16 years has FL seen? 10?
I've not really kept track of how many cane's, tropical storms, etc., I've been through here in the 31 years I've lived here, but I can tell ya I've faced everyone head on, sometimes surfing, sometimes just keeping my boats in the right place as water receeded so they were on the wet side of the dock...

[Scuba_Jenny]

Of course there is a price to pay for living here in paradise...we get to dive year round. ;)

[Bill51]

Me, I like my water tame ;)
Wimp. I like my water like my women – a little on the wild side, but my backyard still hasn’t recovered from the saltwater storm surge from last year. :D

[fun2chase]

Of course there is a price to pay for living here in paradise...we get to dive year round. ;)
Now that the storm has past; how long before we can really see what we are diving up here??? My house had very little damage and power was back on before I returned from my evacuation point in Jacksonville. There was no diving while I was there since the waves were so large. Good for the surfers though.

Looks like I will be in South FL next week. Will post in the FL Conch Divers.

Have fun & be safe,
-fun2chase
-stacy

[MoonWrasse]

Wimp. I like my water like my women – a little on the wild side, but my backyard still hasn’t recovered from the saltwater storm surge from last year. :D
You talking about category 1 women, toe taping to Glenn Miller type of wild, or
category 5 all out psycho knife in the back after sex - cannibal type black widow spider gal?

[fourdivers]

Can anyone confirm that the Speigal Grove rolled over onto her bottom during Dennis ? :dazzler1:

[Bill51]

You talking about category 1 women, toe taping to Glenn Miller type of wild, or
category 5 all out psycho knife in the back after sex - cannibal type black widow spider gal?
At my age, category 3 women are just fine by me. :D

[MoonWrasse]

At my age, category 3 women are just fine by me. :DSo no tasmanian she-devils named Emily for you?