For all of my Florida brothers and sisters, especially those in and around the area of Tampa, please heed the warnings, be safe and remember that “things” can be replaced, you and yours can not be.
Prayers are with all of you.
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I grew up on the Gulf Coast but lived inland (Dallas and Orlando) after college. Retired to the Atlantic coast 11 years ago. Unfortunately no hurricane is a picnic even if you aren’t the direct hit area.
With that said, this is my personal hurricane preparation list. Even though it is specific to me, maybe some of it will help someone else:
- Year Round Preparations:
- Maintain Stock of Bottled Water
- 1 Gallon containers
- Individual Multipacks
- Maintain Fuel Levels
- Cars, Boat & Propane
- Maintain Stock of Pool Liquid/Shock Chlorine
- Maintain Stock of Batteries & Flashlights
- Maintain Stock of Medications
- Early Preparations:
- Clear Breezeway
- Remove Sun Shade
- Remove Privacy Screen
- Remove Umbrella(s)
- Remove and Charge Boat Battery
- Test Power Inverter
- Strap Rear of Boat to Trailer
- Remove Breezeway Ceiling Fan Blades
- Trim Palm & Coconut Trees
- Trim Bougainvillea
- Test Generator
- Turn on Pool House Water Heater
- Remove Pool Cleaner
- Last Minute Preparations:
- Connect Boat to a Vehicle or Strap to Sun Shade Posts
- Tape Boat Hatches Closed
- Secure Boat Seat
- Secure GPS Cover
- Secure Fence Gate Down-Rods & Bolt/Lock Latches
- Tie/Secure Garbage Cans & Lids
- Zip-Tie Garden Hoses
- Zip-Tie Pool Box
- Tape Front Door
- Latch Garage Doors
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Very useful and thank you for sharing!
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Florida native residing on the east central coast. I sold my boat and in the past was glad I had the extra gallons of gas available to me. Now I have a travel camper, with two propane tanks, that I strap to 36 inch in ground anchors. Other than the camper I still do all the normal prep items at the house; at least 7 days of water and food, window and door hurricane panels (sliders), and generator prep, etc…
Thanks for putting out your list and good luck with the storm.
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My son lives in Boynton Beach, they aren’t TOO worried but they ARE getting stuff ready just in case.
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Hurricane Milton was downgraded from a dangerous Category 5 storm overnight but remained a very powerful Category 4 hurricane Tuesday as it took aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast, which is still reeling from Helene’s record-breaking landfall just over a week ago.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds had dropped to 140 mph but are now 155 mph, just below Category 5 status.
“Milton’s intensity has rebounded,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 2 p.m. ET update. “While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida.”
The center of the storm is expected to make landfall in the Tampa area Wednesday evening and move east-northeast across central Florida on Thursday.
Fifty-one counties in the state are under a state of emergency, with millions facing the prospect of evacuation.
- Hurricane Milton live updates: Category 4 storm to make landfall Wednesday night
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Thank you kindly for posting the update! I am watching it closely in the event that I need to make an exit.
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Milton is now a CAT 5 again.
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I think that if you are any where between Miami and Jacksonville that you need to make an exit sooner than later, don’t wait.
You won’t be able to hold back wind and water.
Save your lives, or else they may be washed, and blown away with property.
This hurricane is a monster in intensity, and size.
Get out of its path now.
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Agreed!
I’m a bit west of Jacksonville, on the boundary of the current watch area. The Jeep is fully packed and ready to go. If, and as soon as, the storm hints of any movement to the north from the current projections, I’m out.
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Make that anywhere from Key West to George.
Anywhere South, or East of the Great Bend, seriously think about getting North, or West of the Great Bend.
Milton is back up to a Category Five (5), and will encompass the entire peninsula of Florida.
If you are on “X,” and that is a Huge -X,
get off of X.
Start putting distance as a buffer, as far away as you can safely get ASAP, and make that possible.
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God be with you.
Like clearing leather, once you decide there is a threat, don’t hesitate to bust a move.
Conditions are going to be deep, forceful, and fast moving, so is the human tsunami trying to stay ahead of it.
That is not a path that you want to be stalled in front of.
Stay ahead of this monster.
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Thank you, my friend.
I am far more concerned for my neighbors to the south. They are going to experience the greatest impact regardless of whether Milton stays course or adjusts North or South.
For ~23 years, part of my profession included being on a catastrophe response team (hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc.). Believe it was 2004 I felt I was never going to be able to go home arriving here the day after Charley and then having to stay for, and during, Frances, Ivan & Jeanne. Didn’t see my own bed for 11 months after what was meant to be a 30-day commitment. Sad time that was, so much damage. Anywho…
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Sorry to say that this might be worse.
I can read weather, and road maps, and what’s developing looks catastrophic indeed.
If you can get North on any numbered highway, like I-75, or a parallel highway to 1-10, and West likewise on any parallel highway, get out of Dodge.
Dodge being the whole peninsula of Florida.
I don’t see any safe bets south of Georgia from the west to the east coast.
Escape route looks to me to be West on the Panhandle towards Alabama’s Redneck Riveriara.
Or, the NAS Naval Air Station out near there.
The traffic on the evacuation routes already looks slow, and congested like a big city end of shift dump out “rush” hour going nowhere soon.
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Been trying to get family to evacuate but they are adamant that they are staying. 2 in tampa and 2 in port Charlotte. All have money so thats not the reason…guess its in the blood.
Got a niece in Orlando but im sure she should be fine there. Yes, power outage and hunkering down for a while but her apartment is new and good neighbors.
Ive been in super typhoons and this girl is bigger and meaner.
Good luck to those who stay.
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My prayers are with them @Joel106, though, like you, feel they should have left already.
I’m thankful that my location gives me several avenues north (NE, N & NW) that I am able to remain on standby a bit longer without jeopardy
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Wal-Mart steps up. 
I had to watch it 3 times. I’m actually… Impressed!
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Thanks zold. Their house in port Charlotte is setup for hurricanes but its that pesky canal they are on for the boat. They are concerned but not scared, shes saying that they are 16miles in off the coast…by road. Only a couple miles from the edge of the bay.
My aunt in tampa lives in a bunker condo. New and built to code, besides, with everything shes been through in her 70’s i think shes done running. Her attitude has always been to bring it. She wont back down. Cousin lives farther inland from tampa.
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I’m from Florida gone through many of these Ivan ect. but if I lived on the gulf side I would be saying out of here north and west now. If I was on the east coast below St. Augustine I’d stay . just me but now I live in Texas so just keeping in touch with family and friends who are still there. God Bless and stay safe if you live in Florida.
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