View Full Version : Hurricane Irma
Cheo_D
09-10-2017, 01:28 PM
Coverage shows that even though the eye is on Naples at this hour, MIA/FLL are having damage done anyway. Anyone in FL who can still get up higher and into a more solid structure, must. But otherwise hunker down people, here's hoping that y'all can safely tell your scary stories by Tuesday...
whirlerz
09-10-2017, 01:35 PM
I've been watching basically since last night..
115 - 110mph @ Naples, slowing down. Wind speeds dropping, the streets are very flooded
Continuous coverage on CNN, I'm still hoping & praying for the best
Yes, hope your Grandpa's ok & everyone, seniors are more fragile.
LoveyDovey
09-10-2017, 06:11 PM
Late to this, but DJ I hope and pray you are okay. Please check in if you can.
Optimist
09-11-2017, 06:49 AM
KEY WEST, Fla. — As the waves and winds began easing Sunday, residents of Old Town emerged not knowing exactly what to expect from the most powerful hurricane to strike the Florida Keys in more than a half century.
But all in all, many in Key West seemed relieved that the damage from a Category 4 Irma was not much, much worse. "It's not as bad as we thought," said Robert Phillips. "It's just trees and foliage and cars."
That wasn't the case across the rest of the 110-mile island chain. In the Middle and Upper Keys — on the more savage right side of Irma's 130-mph winds — the damage and storm surge appeared far more severe. Monroe County emergency managers hinted that they feared there could be fatalities. Emergency Management Director Martin Senterfitt, calling the destruction a looming "humanitarian crisis," said a huge airborne relief mission mounted by the Air Force and Air National Guard was already in the works.
Among the services coming to the Keys are "disaster mortuary teams," he told a conference call on Sunday afternoon.
Some damage images posted to social media were startling. On Grouper Lane in Key Largo, vehicles were almost entirely under water. The storm knocked out power Keys-wide and damaged some of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority's transmission lines, which could cripple the flow of fresh water to the island chain. There were also reports of serious flooding and sunken boats in the Marathon area.
The center of Irma's eye crossed Cudjoe Key, a mostly residential island perhaps best known as home to the portly Air Force blimp dubbed Fat Albert. It's only about 20 miles east of Key West, but that small margin seems to have kept a town renowned for charming gingerbread architecture, fabulous sunsets and quirky characters on the less severe side of Irma.
There was plenty of damage in Key West: Surge swamped streets to hip level near Mallory Square, wrecked boats near Galleon Marina and toppled ficus trees onto cars. The huge trees also smashed parts of two houses on Williams Street — one, neighbors said, belonging to the late, great children's book author Shel Silverstein.
But it was nothing like the destruction farther up the Overseas Highway, the road leading back to the mainland. On Big Pine Key, which had been on the right side of the eye that typically unleashes the strongest winds, the road was littered with debris: coconuts, palm fronds and five pleasure boats thrown from a nearby dry dock onto the highway. Nearby, a surf board hung in the trees as if delicately placed there.
On Summerland Key, which fell under Irma's eyewall, Yeorgo Kapriris rode out the storm as it beat his home to pieces. By early afternoon, he emerged to go check on his boat even as the rain continued pounding, and described a harrowing time in Irma's eye.
"About 5 o'clock in the morning when it really started to blow, the trees started snapping and we saw roofs getting ripped off," he said. "The water came up about 5 feet. We lost our van. We lost everything."
Optimist
09-11-2017, 06:50 AM
Down the road, George Ramos rode out the winds inside a large Atlantic-side home, where he works as a caretaker.
"It sounded like war," Ramos said. "It sounded like explosives."
Slideshow by photo services
But the scariest part was the sea rushing in and engulfing the first-floor garage and hallway. By Sunday afternoon, the water had receded but not before depositing all manner of sea debris: a jet ski yanked from a pier, fish in the pool, and sea grass entangled in the spokes of bicycles in the garage.
And then there was the small boat embedded in the mangroves of the backyard.
"I have no idea who the boat belongs to," Ramos said.
Monroe County emergency managers will quickly begin formal damage assessments, but there will be complications of clearing debris and checking highway and road signals. In a release issued Sunday, they also said they want to make sure it is safe to travel. At Snake Creek in Islamorada, on the dirty side of the storm, the bridge was not out but the county wants it inspected by the Florida Department of Transportation to ensure it is safe for vehicle traffic.
The county also warned that surrounding waters could be navigation hazards because of scattered sunken debris and boats and uprooted buoys and markers.
In Key West, even while rain continued in the afternoon, Monroe County crews armed with chainsaws and backhoes began driving down to clear the debris-littered road. Residents who had been either brave or foolhardy enough to ride out a major hurricane — the strongest to hit the Keys since Donna in 1960 — began returning home from shelters or friends' homes.
Over a dozen Key West friends and associates — some with children, most with pets — had taken shelter in the Studios of Key West, a three-story art gallery in a former Scottish Rite Temple built of massive concrete. Edward Muska, 25, was part of the group that spent nearly 36 relatively undramatic hours inside — playing cards, watching movies, drinking beer — while Irma howled and rattled outside.
By Sunday evening, most everyone left the makeshift shelter. Even though Irma was still scattering tree limbs and drenching the island, everyone felt as though Key West had been spared the worst.
Nobody had electricity. But the gallery hadn't lost a window. And their homes were mostly intact.
All but Muska. When he visited a nearby marina, the other boats docked there were fine — except for his houseboat, which had sunk. He lost most of his possessions, save his passport and personal documents.
"It wasn't nice to see. I had tears in my eyes," Muska said. "It's pretty devastating."
———
(David Goodhue is a reporter for The Florida Keynoter. David Ovalle, reporting from Key West, is a Miami Herald staff writer.
Optimist
09-11-2017, 06:56 AM
Look at this bonehead y'all...
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/article172398397.html
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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article172502436.html
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PhatGirlDynomite!!!
09-11-2017, 07:08 AM
Look at this bonehead y'all...
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/article172398397.html
Yea he's been making the rounds on social media. There were lots of people posing and taking pics right there. Like it was just any other day. I love how he just strolled away. In one video you can see the owner of that beach cruiser walk up and then a dog runs out to the water. I'm sure the pup is okay. But yea that really happened.
Optimist
09-11-2017, 07:20 AM
I don't know why he thought it was selfie time. During Matthew last year I got video of kids and adults running out in the middle of the storm until a wave rolled up on them. People are a mess.
Look at the poor flamingos:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article172512426.html
http://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/4faqa5/picture172494991/alternates/FREE_1140/Keydeerfawn
http://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/4faqa5/picture172494991/alternates/FREE_1140/Keydeerfawn
And they don't know if the Key Deer knew to get on high ground:
Another unknown in the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Irma is it’s impact on the federally-protected key deer population, found only in Monroe County.
Dan Clark superintendent of the National Key Deer Refuge, said his first priority as the massive storm approached was to evacuate National Wildlife Refuge personnel assigned to the area.
“After we receive information from Monroe County that it is safe to return and we can inhabit the Lower Keys, a post-storm assessment of our facilities and residences will be conducted to determine if we can operate,” Clark said.
The small deer, whose estimated numbers range from 800 to 1,000, live mostly on the Lower Keys islands of Big Pine Key and Little Torch Key.
It’s been a traumatic couple of years for the Keys treasures. First, after a nasty infection by the larvae of a parasitic fly called the screwworm began to infest the population in the fall of 2016. Not only did the screwworm take out a significant portion of the already-sensitive local deer population, it killed the animals slowly and painfully.
The infestation was finally eliminated after scientists released roughly 124 million sterile screwworm flies to mate with wild flies. The mating process results in eggs that never hatch. Five months after introducing the lab-made flies, the screwworm problem was over.
Then, earlier this summer, two young men — one from Miami-Dade County and the other from Broward — were arrested in Little Torch Key July 2 after a traffic stop by a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy revealed three live deer stowed in their car. Two does were in the back seat of the Hyundai Sonata, and a buck was in vehicle’s trunk.
The buck was badly injured in the ordeal and wildlife officials euthanized him. The men face charges federal poaching charges.
Now comes Irma, which has raked much of the Keys with its high winds, hard rain and damaging storm surges. The key deer habitat is only about 15 miles east of where Irma’s eye made landfall in the Keys Sunday morning.
What’s become of the key deer is not known. But, Clark said, not much could have been done to protect the wild animals from Mother Nature.
“Since the federal-trust resources on the Keys refuge are wild, we do not have specific plans to collect any" deer,” Clark said. “We do not have the capacity to do so and husbandry following the hurricane would be extremely difficult.”
Like all other agencies planning to come back down to the Keys post-Irma, Clark said he and his staff have no idea what types of conditions to which they are returning so they can’t adequately plan their response when it comes to the deer.
“We will assess the status of all refuge resources when it is safe to do so and we have the ability to do so,” Clark said.
Optimist
09-11-2017, 08:38 AM
We're getting some storm surge Since they were too cheap to replace the dunes washed away last year, the water is rolling right up to the beach entrance. I'm facing north to avoid any fuckery but this stupid storm is so large that it's whipping around into every direction any way! Grrr. So, the pool water on the first floor is blowing up and out as if a tornado was sucking it in and spraying it around the courtyard. This is just tropical storm strength here not hurricane strength winds but I already want to jump on a plane and be out!
PhatGirlDynomite!!!
09-11-2017, 12:13 PM
We forgot to drain some of the water in our pool a few years ago. Had one of us remembered to do we could have avoided damage to the house. But nope once that water started to overflow we couldnt do anything to stop it.
I wondered about the key deer and if they would make it through.
A deer...in a sonata? Really?
Glamourmilf
09-11-2017, 12:15 PM
So happy to report that my cousin in Orlando texted me this morning to let me know they survived.:relieved:
He said the only damage they had were shingles blowing off their roof.
Oh, and they have no power.
That he's charging his phone in his car.
laurielegs
09-11-2017, 02:48 PM
I was wondering about how the Keys fared and found the facebook that includes that county that covers them (can't find anything much on Twitter).
https://www.facebook.com/MonroeCountyFLBOCC/?ref=br_rs
They are saying preliminary reports show there is no cell service below Islamorada so probably they can't get news out yet below there.
Must be so hard for those who are waiting to hear from family and friends and can't get through.
Optimist
09-12-2017, 08:27 AM
OK, they are calling for the hold outs to evacuate. Two thirds of the homes are smashed. Electricity will be off for at least two more days. The forecast is 99...fucking 99! No water running. They're sending food, I think they call it GREs? Cell service is out. There's some landline connects but it's super spotty. They estimate it will be 5-6 days before hotels on the Keys will be habitable again and survivors can move there from their informal shelters. I think the two hospitals will open today. Send up prayers y'all. That's all I got right now.
SubSpace666
09-13-2017, 12:01 AM
How did everyone hold up? We lost power for about a day but had a generator. Lots of flooding. A decent amount of damage to structures.
Smoothcat
09-13-2017, 02:43 PM
OK, they are calling for the hold outs to evacuate. Two thirds of the homes are smashed. Electricity will be off for at least two more days. The forecast is 99...fucking 99! No water running. They're sending food, I think they call it GREs? Cell service is out. There's some landline connects but it's super spotty. They estimate it will be 5-6 days before hotels on the Keys will be habitable again and survivors can move there from their informal shelters. I think the two hospitals will open today. Send up prayers y'all. That's all I got right now.
I think you mean MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) which is a type of military food ration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meal,_Ready-to-Eat
Have you seen any charity trucks in your area bringing food and water?
Optimist
09-13-2017, 11:52 PM
How did everyone hold up? We lost power for about a day but had a generator. Lots of flooding. A decent amount of damage to structures.
Our power went off over and over. The dish went off 3-4 times. Some patio furniture was smashed by the wind. And palm fronds went flying. That was the worst of it. Flooded ares have gone down. It's back to normal.
I think you mean MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) which is a type of military food ration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meal,_Ready-to-Eat
Have you seen any charity trucks in your area bringing food and water?
No, I'm in the Carolinas. We got flooding/heavy wind and that was it. It probably is MREs!
I was relaying what was going on in the Keys now that they have finally gotten aid workers on the island.
LoveyDovey
09-15-2017, 07:28 PM
Hope everyone Is okay.
Djoser
09-16-2017, 01:36 AM
All good here, many thanks! It's been HOT though!
Djoser
09-16-2017, 02:22 AM
Oh and all the kitties made it! Been back to feed them many times 😁
Glad you made I through ok.
oldster
09-16-2017, 05:56 AM
Well about time you got back to us
Don't you know people are worried about you over here!
But seriously, glad to hear it, and the kitties too...........
LoveyDovey
09-16-2017, 06:14 AM
Glad to hear you and the kitties are okay! We were wondering!
whirlerz
09-16-2017, 07:10 AM
Yay, so glad to hear back, & the Kitts too!
Glamourmilf
09-16-2017, 07:34 AM
All good here, many thanks! It's been HOT though!
Yeah!! So glad you're ok.
Did your place/neighborhood have any damage?
Nyla19
09-16-2017, 10:30 AM
Oh and all the kitties made it! Been back to feed them many times 😁
I'm so glad.;)
Smoothcat
09-16-2017, 10:47 AM
Glad you (and the cats) are OK, Djoser!
Speaking of Key cats...:black_cat
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/09/11/hemingways-six-toed-cats-survive-irma-still-have-nine-lives/
http://www.hemingwayhome.com/cats/48859
Djoser
09-16-2017, 06:26 PM
Aaand POWER back on this evening! Sitting here after 1st warm water shower, drinking 1st actual cup of instant coffee (before it was cold instant yeccch!)
whirlerz
09-16-2017, 07:08 PM
Nice, so happy to hear! :)
Bahuba
09-17-2017, 04:40 AM
I love happy endings - I was forcing myself not to check this thread more than once a day 😂
Optimist
09-17-2017, 03:30 PM
Glad to hear you're ok! Here's the $64,000 question: are the strip clubs still there?
laurielegs
09-17-2017, 05:31 PM
Aaand POWER back on this evening! Sitting here after 1st warm water shower, drinking 1st actual cup of instant coffee (before it was cold instant yeccch!)
Wow! I was afraid it might take a long time. Considering the widespread damage that's pretty impressive they already have it back on, though I'm sure it was agonizing to tolerate that heat and all the other inconveniences with no power.
happy to hear you and the kitties made it thorough uninjured!
Djoser
09-17-2017, 09:01 PM
Glad to hear you're ok! Here's the $64,000 question: are the strip clubs still there?
All three still intact, though two have yet to reopen. I avoided the martial law/curfew patrols to visit my hangout club last night.
Contrary to the reputation this island has, there were no obvious 'Hurricane Parties', not at night anyway. Though I did ride my bike around a lot in daytime the first 3 days, and the three big gay bars on that end of Duval St. were slamming--they sure put our straight clubs on the other end of Duval to shame! None of them were open at all.
Though I heard they finally had to shut down after the 3rd or 4th night because all the riff raft and street people were hanging around & making things unpleasant--I did see that starting across the street but I guess it got worse.
Hell I was out wandering around the first three nights after the hurricane, looking after the kitties at the club, visiting JordanKeyWest (an old school SW member, one of my oldest & best friends here), and checking to see if some of my favorite clubs had reopened. It was pitch black and a ghost town and by the 4th night the furthest I went was 3-4 blocks to see Jordan.
I did sit out on my porch several hours each night in the middle of the week, partly to guard the house and partly in an attempt to relieve the boredom. Hurricane aftermath--not fun for vampire types.
Amazing what a difference that NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER will make! It's very eerie if kind of cool in a way. And the cops driving everywhere with all the lights flashing can be intimidating.
The cops and the National Guard patrols saw me a few times, but no hassle & one National Guard driver offered me some bottled water, which was pretty cool. I have heard that they did arrest some people for violating curfew, but I suspect that you had to be stupid, drunk, or obnoxious to wind up that way.
Djoser
09-17-2017, 09:19 PM
Yeah!! So glad you're ok.
Did your place/neighborhood have any damage?
No damage to my apartment, very minor damage to the old mansion it's a part of. Trees down all over, on average one big tree every 2-3 blocks. But most missed houses, just crushed some cars, a few houses I saw were kinda smashed up. Branches and debris EVERYWHERE, as well as power lines all over.
Smoothcat
09-17-2017, 10:51 PM
No damage to my apartment, very minor damage to the old mansion it's a part of. Trees down all over, on average one big tree every 2-3 blocks. But most missed houses, just crushed some cars, a few houses I saw were kinda smashed up. Branches and debris EVERYWHERE, as well as power lines all over.
I think you said you would be riding out the storm inside that stone church. Did you stay in there and what was it like? Also, how long did you have to listen to the storm before you felt safe enough to go outside?
Djoser
09-23-2017, 02:04 AM
I think you said you would be riding out the storm inside that stone church. Did you stay in there and what was it like? Also, how long did you have to listen to the storm before you felt safe enough to go outside?
Sorry, just saw this. The Old Stone Church was so secure, and especially the room I took shelter in, that i literally slept straight through the worst 3-4 hours. Like a baby. Meanwhile, less than a block away, and enormous tree was ripped out by the roots and crushed a car, barely missing the front of a house it would also have crushed easily.
Of course, I was exhausted by dealing with the fact people were telling me I was gonna die for sure, and believing it part of the time. And trying to 'hurricane-proof' my apt at the last minute (dumbass thought the hurricane would turn north until the last 24 hours or so). I've talked to other people who ride this one and others out, and apparently sleeping thrpugh the worst is common.
But 30-40 miles north of here, sleep might not have been so easy even in the really secure buildings!
I went outside shortly after I woke up the 2nd time, about 11 AM, it was very gusty but not too bad. Went to check on the kitties right after making sure apt was safe.
whirlerz
09-23-2017, 11:33 AM
So Happy to hear, you're ok, apt.ok, & of course the Kitts!
Whew!