Milton is going to be a big problem, if it hits Tampa. Tampa had huge damage from storm surge. For Milton, as of now, forecast cat 3, direct hit on Tampa. Horrible news for them and bad news for us. We didn't really do any hurricane prep before Helene, but this one looks bad for us. We get damage from storms that come straight across the peninsula.
Tuesday is the latest to get out of the area that from computer models are predicting a Major Hurricane… I would head north, or maybe south? Good Grief this is a nightmare.
No way we personally would evacuate, as we are a long way from the coast. But those in Tampa on the water, if it is still going to be a direct hit, should evacuate.
Milton is currently heading directly to our old house in St Petersburg right on the banks of Tampa Bay. If it goes south of the Bay it could well empty water out of it. North and there'll be a catastrophic storm surge. I fear for the new owners. More interesting is the transatlantic repositioning cruise from Southampton UK to Barbados we're taking in 11 days time prior to arrival in SXM. Always a risk this time of year but 2024 seems livelier than usual. Fingers crossed and sea-sickness pills packed ...
Sadly but probably fortunately we don't have a house in Florida any more but we have lots of friends in Pinellas County. They're all evacuating. Some believe this could be Katrina levels of devestation. The winds will drop before it hits land but the storm surge as high as a basketball hoop won't. And there's a lot of debris from Helene which is still lying around which will become projectiles. Millions of dollars spent on beach rehabilitation will all be wasted too. It's desperate times for those folks on the water.
Last edited by Nobby Aristotle; 10/07/202411:30 AM.
Even though you don’t live there anymore, I know what it is like when you sell your home but still care for it. This is a Katrina event sadly and to those not evacuating please stay safe and for those evacuating believe it or not the cold weather is refreshing and just head north. The leaves are changing color and it is really beautiful in Vermont. Return home after this nightmare is over. St. Maarten is also a great place to go and get away from the Cat 5 Hurricane.
Update: Our old waterside neighbourhood in Tampa Bay is pretty battered but was spared the worst after Milton took a late dip south towards the unfortunate Sarasota area. Clean-up will take months and there's a ton of damage but our old house is still standing. However the psychological damage of the 1-2 shot of Helene and Milton will last much longer. Our eyes now turn to the Atlantic coast off Africa with another system of rough weather forming in advance of our Transatlantic cruise. Crossing the Bay of Biscay can be lively this time of year.
Nobby--yes, Tampa Bay is pretty battered up at the moment. Glad your old house is ok. Best wishes on that cruise! We got our electric back on last night, amazingly enough! Got to clean up the yard and the pool yet, but we did pretty well over all.
We los tour South Ft Myers house with evan. Son moved to Lake City and this time had only fallen trees that missed his house. Unfortunately, daughter is in Nashville, NC and STILL has no electricity or water.