We're in the clear Almost

Originally posted September, 2004

Well, we've watched a total of 700,000 hours of weather reports.

By Sunday evening we had everything in the apartment in plastic bags and away from the windows. The apartment complex provides no coverings for our windows or any other protection. We have renters insurance, and so we can replace stuff. We packed the mementos and everything else we could and set it by the door.

Last week, early in week, we made hotel reservations at a hotel in Tampa. Monday afternoon we cancelled our hotel reservation for Monday night. This morning we cancelled the hotel reservation for this evening. We still have the reservations for Wednesday though the weekend-even though the forecasters say it is passing us by.

We have evacuated to safety every other time there has been the threat to Saint Petersburg, often going to my mom's on the east coast, sometimes going to get my mom and bringing her over here.

For Charley we evacuated to Orlando the night before, but could fine no hotel rooms (good thing because Charley went through ther about 24 hours later. We ended up traveling all the way over to my Mom's in West Palm.

For Frances, I begged my Mom to evacuate, to either fly out to my brother's in Atlanta or let me come get her. But she would not. So she stayed in her house which has flooded once before, with my brother and his kid and a dog and a cat.
On our radar here in Tampa, we saw 100 mile an hour winds approaching her house in West Palm. I was on the phone with her an told them they needed to go into the safe room, but they had not even taken the glass shower doors out of the bathroom they were using. They didn't even know that they needed to get into the tub and cover their heads with a mattress.

What finally convinced her that the next time she would not stay, is that after the storm she had no power for two weeks. Prior to the storm I told her to get a bucket and a lid, to pee in after the storm- because the sewers would back up. She said she didn't believe it. After the storm she had to pee in a bucket because her sewers backed up. Hmmmm.

So when it came time to evacuate for Ivan, I called my Mom and we discussed leaving. She said she wanted to fly to my brothers in Atlanta. I told her we would meet her in Atlanta. After awhile I got a call back, my brother in Atlanta was recinding his age old offer of a place to stay for my family, but it was ok for mom to come.

He said he didn't want us to break down on the way and have to come and rescue us. And he didn't want to have to put up with our 3 cats. Now they have a four bedroom house and a motor home in the driveway, but they couldn't find room for us??

Needless to say, if you think you have a place to stay out of danger with families and friends, verify it on a regular basis, as you might be grabbing your ass as we did to find a place to stay.

Another tip, the first time you hear someone mention that you might get hit by a storm-make a hotel reservation at the place you are planning on staying when you evacuate. You can always cancel the reservation, but you won't get one anywhere if you wait until you are on the road. Everything will be full. Take my word for it.

Also make a reservation at the same time for a place to board your pet.