Well folks, here we go again watching and waiting.

If you looked in my freezer and in the cabinets, you would think that over the past 3 days I've been "hurricane" shopping. Not so. Freezer was basically empty so got a variety of meat to freeze. There were sales on certain canned goods I stock, so the cabinets are full. Went to Publix this a.m. They moved all the buggies outside and used the space to stock water. Got what I needed to last minute supplies and feel good. If the storm takes a north turn and runs through approximately the middle of the state, we won't be able to evacuate because of the mass exodus of people south of us. Who knows? Just have to be prepared and continue watching and waiting.

Good luck everyone!

If you looked at our grocery basket every week, you'd think we were feeding a family of 7. In fact, week before last, the couple in line behind me commented on how many groceries we buy every week. She about had a heart attack when I told her there are only us 2.
Since we're on a well, we keep drinking water & "other use" water on hand year round. This time of year I up the totals we keep on hand. We also have 2 six gal. potable containers we fill up. Then there is the big soaking tub that will be scrubbed & filled before the zero hour.

Yes, Arlene brings a good point for those new to FL & hurricanes. There's only ONE way out of FL & that's north. If you think you will want or need to evacuate, I would highly recommend you begin making arrangements NOW - TODAY and get thee gone, hit the road tomorrow & no later than Thursday. If you wait till Fri. or Sat., you will almost certainly be sorry & end up turning back for home after MANY, interminable hours creeping along at a snails pace in bumper to bumper traffic and many hours at a stand still. I'm serious folks! Make reservations for where ever you are going NOW.

Tips for treating water after a disaster:
https://www.clorox.com/dr-laun...

I have an eyedropper set aside for this just in case.

We're seriously thinking about packing the truck and taking the dogs and heading northwest ... out of Florida. We've never evacuated from a storm before; we're not in a flood zone but the streets in our neighborhood do flood heavily with normal rainfall. We have a 2 story house so I figure if water did make it all the way through the yard and up into the house, we could move to the second floor and wait it out there but I don't really like that thought. What really worries me is the dozen huge live oaks and the other oaks and maples on our property, some very close to the house. We have a wood frame house with a metal roof but it's doubtful it could withstand one or more of the big live oaks falling. We had them trimmed July 2016 but if a Cat 4 or 5 storm were to come through here, I'm sure we'd have some major structural damage. I'm not sure where we'd go ... but thinking about heading inland to I-75 and northwest up into Tennessee maybe. We know of one dog friendly motel near Chattanooga and I may call and see if we could make a reservation, just in case. If we go, I'm hoping to get out of here Thursday rather than waiting until Friday ... I know traffic is going to be horrendous. The Keys are already being evacuated and I wonder where all those folks will be heading.

Last month when we were inundated with rain, we found this little guy swimming in the swale at the end of our driveway. If we were to flood, I sure wouldn't want to find one of his relatives (or snakes either for that matter) swimming inside the house!

I think most hotels will try and accommodate pets during evacuations. A neighbor just told me that the LaQuinta chain is very pet friendly. Most Marriotts will take pets for a fee, a friend pays $60, a one time fee, for her cat. Good luck, and if it will make you more comfortable - go.

For whatever it's worth Lin; If I were you, where you live, I would leave. The oaks worry me & if you had to move to the 2nd floor, & one came down on the roof, then you would be vulnerable. If you were on the first floor then I believe the floor joists would protect you from a tree. The ground gets saturated & the wind blows & trees can't hold their roots in the ground & they fall over.
Always better safe than sorry!
You know for a fact that going through a 'cane is stressful even when you're confidant in the strength of your home & aren't in danger of flooding. Do you need the stress? I wouldn't wait till Thursday either. Wednesday night.
Just my 2 cents because I love you.


Check out what Levi says tonight when he posts his video. Usually around 8 or 8:30. You can subscribe to his Youtube channel & get an email when he posts his video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Pet friendly hotels in TN
https://www.bringfido.com/lodg...

Pet friendly hotel chains
https://www.usatoday.com/story...

Just a caution. The hotels are already filling up, if the website says no vacancies call the front desk. The number is always on the webpage. During weather events like this the chains usually turn over reservations to the hotel directly to manage. We learned that last year during Hurricane Matthew, it was a desk clerk that clued us in. The sooner you leave the less traffic you will encounter.

Great info Alice!

We have no choice but to wait it out because of pets and the like. Last year we went two weeks without power, that was fun. Some friends in the southern part of the state are coming to stay with us, in hopes that it won't be as bad here in the north. I'm not so sure about that just yet. The entire water aisle at winndixie was sold out today. O.O

Same woth publix and the water here. As with Mathew, we are heading into the storm to sit it out with my Mother. She just finished the dock from being knocked down durning that, roof off, but it headed right into indialantic, this one seems to be coming from the south, not east. Ive had my daughter make a reservation here, we almost always loose electricity, and I need ac. Do have 6 dogs to look after tho.

Stay safe all and praying it misses you completely!

Take care Pam! I'll worry till it's over & you check in. Your darn stubborn mother!!!!!

Thanks Ginny. You just keep those prayers going.

Stay safe everyone I'm sure you folks are as ready as we are for hurricane season to be over.

You got that right Audrey!

We have a couple spare beds in Iowa

Sending good joo joo to anyone in Irma's path. Be safe.

Wishing all in the probable path of Irma safety