WrestlingRasta

Shutters done, sounds of generator fills the air….think I’m just gonna chill with some coffee and Bob Marley before I start on the fence.

I’ll tell you what though, there’s no better Florida weather than the day after a hurricane goes through.

To illustrate what I was saying about being in a really good spot, this is the most water encroachment I’ve ever had on this property (you can see the line it got to overnight). All good here. Have to replace a fence again but house is in good shape. Going to be without power for a while but I’m well stocked. On to the next one….

Lost power about 45 minutes ago. Landfall shortly before at Siesta Key, about a half hour or so north. Storm sped up (traveling speed) considerably on approach. Made landfall about three hours early. Damage, and surge throughout tonight, should not be near as bad as expected. Which means it should be safe to try to go to sleep Just gonna be a really dark, really loud night.

Cell towers lasted a good bit longer than power during Ian. We may not completely lose cell service, I think it broke up enough that the highest wind we get here will be around 75 mph. We’ll see… The tornado scene around here today has been insane.

Sky is a weird color. Sustained Winds really starting to pick up. Will peak in about 3-4 hours. Surprised still have power, expecting to lose it soon.

I’m in an evacuation zone but I’m abnormally high for my neighborhood in elevation. The barriers are in fact for wind, not water. My neighborhood is an evacuation zone because of the southeast corner of the neighborhood which lies low and gets flooded all the time. I’ve never had water get near my structure.

11:00 update came in and not much change. Looking more and more like Sarasota county for landfall, around 130-135 mph. Winds and rain picking up here and tornadoes have been breaking out in surrounding areas. I'm guessing I'll lose power before the next 5:00 (big) update

BBQ PitDock officially retired. But I’m making Milton work for me; just layed out five gallons of bleach across the dock and steps…

Living like “The Purge” over here…

5:00 update bumps it up to a cat 4 at landfall. Consensus is Sarasota area, about 30 miles north of me.

Try to answer all, and keep posted as it goes and I’m able. Appreciate the thoughts everyone. I do not have a two story house but I know what you’re thinking, and like I said I have plans for all. For a flash flood I have the kayak and dry bag ready. For a surge problem I have a bag packed and in the jeep, cooler ready to fill with ice and food. For a roof off issue, I have the right room picked out for the oh shit room for this one, will get the proper items ready for that in the morning. I’m kinda feeling like we’re going to be okay here though. Get some real nasty weather and will lose power, but okay. Don’t assume silence as in I’m in trouble; just could be while before I’m able to get on. I’ll post and send any pics if I’m able to get anything interesting.

Appreciate the words. I have a plan in place for each scenario. And the peeps being gone is better, now I don’t have to worry about anyone else. The 11pm and 5am advisories will tell a big tale.

Back up to a Cat 5, 165mph. They are still expecting it to drop to about 125 at landfall. Cone is tightening up and we’re still in the cone. Kids left for Miami about 1:00. Everything is done. Sitting in the recliner with a drink; trying to decide what I want to put on the grill…

I feel pretty good where I’m at. Pretty well elevated and house seems pretty strong. I prepped for a week without power with three more people (18-24 years old) here than what is now going to be here, so I’m stocked to the gills.

The 5:00 had it at 180 and 905. Still saying drop to cat 3 by landfall. Not much change in the cone. My kids are going to head out with their Mom and stay in Miami. Going to be flying it solo!

So here’s the interesting scenario…they’ve been saying, and still saying, it’s going to drop on approach. And okay that’s great. But that theme started when they thought it was going to top out 125–140. So if it tops out at say….175….what does it slow down to??

Yessir. And 30 gallons of gas

Did some rearrangement and some trimming down, set up shop on back porch (lanai in Florida talk). Roll down shutters I spoke of will come down Just behind these units, on each side of the vertical blocks. There’s a couch and patio table in this area you can’t see in the picture, and with the shutters down it just gives us more “indoor” space. Compared to Ian, I’m better on supplies and a 1 year old roof compared to an 18 year old roof. One big piece missing but nothing I can do about that. Speakers will be charged and we’ll be ready for da riddems. As I’ve led to before, I work in this community and if it does land anywhere in the current cone, particularly anywhere Tampa or south, the south end of our community and up the river, plus our barrier islands, are going to take a serious hit. Hoping it’s just one of those that gets much weaker on approach than expected, although the opposite is what has been happening in recent history. Can’t hope it tips north of current tracks because those folks have taken a beating the last couple years. Buckle up friends it’s going to be a ride .

I don’t know why we the people keep voting these toads in

Have electric roll down shutters for 90% of the house, including closing off the back porch which gives me more covered space. Have one triple slider at the pool that is accordion shutters that will probably need some reinforcement. They have me a workout during the back half of Ian

PitDock broken down and garaged. Ready to roll after the rodeo is over.