70 replies to this topic

[Pablo]

Florida residents, I'm starting this thread for you as a Slotblog focal point in case Irma comes your way.

 

I'll get the ball rolling by saying, Slotblog really helped me during my evacuation of Hurricane Katrina.

I had lots of good offers of safe havens and I really appreciated them. Slot car people are good neighbors.

 

I live in a large, cooled, pet friendly second story apartment in southern Mississippi.

Just me and my small dog, JoJo. I have enough room for maybe a two-person slot car family with one cat or one small dog.

First come, first served, and I reserve the right to choose who I think would be a good fit. Send me a PM.

 

Hopefully Irma will hook east to Bimini and this thread will die.

 

Pablo

[Don Weaver]

Very generous, Pablo...

[Pablo]

Thanks, Don

 

I don't know if I made it clear, my intention is for this thread to be a safe haven source of info.

Any time you have a 185 MPH system near Puerto Rico and coming about 280 degrees on a straight path, it's like a bullet in the chamber.

You don't know when, or if, it may hook right. Or how much it will hook right.

 

Slot car people are good people. Let's take care of ourselves.

[Pappy]

I'd like to make the same offer as Pablo did. I have a pole barn that houses my slot car track and workshop. I can put up to four people in one family in the raceway. You'd have heat, air conditioning, bathroom with shower, refrigerator, TV and microwave, plus you'd have a slot car track to play on. LOL.

The only two downfalls would be you'd have to sleep on air mattresses and come to Oxford, OH, which is about 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati.

PM me if you are interested.

[Rick Moore]

Very kind of you Pablo. Even without Irma that would probably be fun. I hope others will take your lead and offer haven for others.

 

In 1992 after hurricane Andrew, a Category 5, smashed south Florida, I spent the next four days volunteering at the Tampa distribution center for the Salvation Army unloading donated items, sorting it all, and loading trucks on their way to the relief effort; it was non-stop; I ached for a week after, but the smile lasted longer. In 2004 I just happened to be doing disaster construction work and saw firsthand what Category 4 hurricane Charley did (as well as hurricanes Francis and Jeanne), and is not something I wish to ever see again, or want anyone to ever see, much less experience. It’s one thing to see it on a TV, and quite another to be standing in the middle of it…

 

As for hurricane Irma, well, times have changed; personally for me it’s a wait and see scenario with little option. My first-floor condo in south Tampa is in a Zone D evacuation area, but evacuation is not an option. My first priority and obligation will be to Tampa General Hospital where I work (a relatively large 1011-bed hospital, and one of two Level-1 trauma centers in Florida); my “work-week” is between Friday night and Monday morning, so odds are I’ll be at TGH by the time we all have some idea where Irma is going, and possibly when this goes down, however this also depends on Irma and the appropriate disaster plan TGH puts in effect.

 

Joey is my big concern. You’ve met him; he’s not such a bad little guy, even though he hangs out with me... Still trying to plan out my options for him…

 

In the meantime, think I’ll try to get over to Fast Eddie’s Raceway tomorrow. Hey, you gotta have fun any chance you can get it.

 

Rick / CMF3

[Pablo]

Joey is always welcome and JoJo would get along fine with him

 

[LindsayB]

Also of Concern is Reggie Coram on the Island of Sint Marteen which is directly in the path of Irma.

[zipper]

The last I saw from the webcam was flying debris, perhaps some fires and flashes - then blackout. Did seem very, very evil!

[Pablo]

Here is my Hurricane tip:

If you evacuate and the power goes out for days and you can't get back home anyway,

you'll have a very pungent mess in your refrig and freezer to deal with upon return.

Avoid it by bagging everything up in heavy duty 55G bags and tying a knot in it.

 

When you return and it's ruined, simply carry the bags to the trash.

Much better than having a big smelly mess to clean up

 

If it's not ruined, remove the stuff from the bags and thank your lucky stars

[Pablo]

Here's another: if you decide to evacuate and start calling to find a hotel, they will already be booked up.

What to do? Find the smaller, independently owned motels, not the chains. It will be much easier to find a vacancy.

[MSwiss]

Also of Concern is Reggie Coram on the Island of Sint Marteen which is directly in the path of Irma.

 

The below headline looks ominous;
Hurricane Irma: flooding and blackouts on St Martin as winds destroy sturdiest buildings -

We can only pray for Reggie and the people on his island.

[zipper]

Last video from the airport before blackout:

 

[Danny Zona]

During Hurricane Charlie I didn't have water for about 4 to 5 days.

Just don't stock up on drinking water.

I have 5 gallon buckets filled with water.

It comes in handy like the important toilet flush, washing hands, sponge bath, Etc.

You can use garbage cans as well. Leave the clothes washer full. At least for the toilet flush. 💯

[Racer36]

Wow.

 

That video from St. Maarten is nasty. Prayers for Reggie and everyone on the island.

[Gator Bob]

Hurricane Model Plots
 
NOAA-
 

[zipper]

 

4.23 partial blackout.

[Bernie]

Last communication I had with Reggie was last night about midnight. Nothing since then. Power is out and no internet. It will probably take a few days to hear from anyone there. I have other contacts there and will update if I hear anything. St Maarten took a direct hit... pretty bad...

[Markomatic]

I hope Reggie makes it out OK. After the 2013 storm that took out his raceway I wish him the best this time. My cousin lives in Puerto Rico and has been evacuated off the beachfront. Last I heard from her was about an hour ago.

[Bernie]

Here is a shot of where Reggie's Raceway is. Hard to tell what sort of damage he suffered but the neighborhood is pretty beat up...

 

[Tim Neja]

Wow – prayers for all in the path of this hurricane!! I hope Reggie and all his family are safe!  

 

Thanks for the update...

[Gator Bob]

This is a good tool for FL east coast guys to punch in your location and see what's coming.
 
Ventusky wind map

[Half Fast]

Airport In St. Martin badly damaged.
 
Hurricane Irma annihilates St. Martin’s world-famous airport
 
Lots of info and photos here via the Dutch Navy.
 
Airport St, Martin unreachable at the moment

[Cheater]

Would love to hear from all FL-based Slotbloggers to know they have prepared for this massive storm and feel they're sheltered in a safe place.

Rollin Isbell, Bill Pinch, Gator Bob (especially), DOCinCocoa, Marcus Ramos, TRP-Phil, Danny Zona, Brian Ambrose, Biscuit, etc., etc.

Not worried about Jay Guard, as he and the missus are in Alaska – what perfect timing!

[Danny Zona]

I'm heading to TN where my sister lives. I live near the Hakifax river so I'm worried about flooding.

I believe Biscuit is staying but he isn't near a flood zone.

I've had many slot racers text me letting me know I have a place to stay if needed.

It is well appreciated. Thank you.

I hope the best for everybody involved.

[CoastalAngler1]

Bugging out from the banks of the St. Johns River to higher ground.  

 

Here in Central Florida, I will go outside Sunday 2 AM into my 5th eye?... Elena, Charley, Jeanne, Frances, and let me tell you - when 100 mph winds happen, trees break. The storm bands sound like 100 freight trains coming at you. This sux...

 

Tonight will be the night for Hurricane Partying! Be safe everyone... tomorrow businesses will start shutting down.

 

I heard there is a race at P-1 tonight NASCAR and JK GT1 RTR. Early start time, 6 PM.