Anyone else watching Hurricane Irma closely? [MERGED]

[dioxide45]

Seeing how the tracks are heading for Ohio, I'm reminded when the remnants of hurricane Ike came thru a few years ago. Most of southwest Ohio, Cincinnati, Dayton, east to Columbus and more was without power for a week or more.

Cheers

We don't wan't another Ike here. We were only without power for a day in Beavercreek, but my in-laws were without power for a week in Jamestown. Most people I know had to throw away full fridge and freezer fulls of food. It was pretty much just a wind event with very little to no rain.

I think Orlando is probably okay regardless of how the storm tracks. The worst hit areas are coastal with the storm surge and brunt of the storm. Even if it tracks directly over Orlando, it will have lost much of the punch that the coastal areas get. Localized power outages and flash flooding would perhaps be the worst of it.

 

[Talent312]

Hurricanes & Orlando:
Typically, the theme parks shut down briefly when a hurricane threatens Orlando.
The parks themselves are usually undamaged. They just don't want guests there.

For Matthew (2016), WDW evacuated some of its resorts:
Fort Wilderness, Polynesian Bungalows, and Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas.

Frances (2004) took the screening off my brother's pool at his Orlando home.
There was a lot of yard debris stacked street-side for weeks.

Personal Concern:
We are booked for Longboat Key (near Sarasota) a week from Saturday.
Hopefully, the storm will have cleared thru and the resort is still functional.


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[TUGBrian]

Wow, I can't believe YOU said that! The updates aren't changing much anymore. This is going to be bad! What are you thinking!

View attachment 4656

every one of those "tracks" was pointing a completely different way just 72 hours ago as not a single one predicted it would plant itself between cuba and miami on saturday (as the current ones do).

Id also gander that with more information and as weather conditions important enough to impact a storm of this size continue to change over the next 72 hours...the tracks will change again.

its most certainly going to be "bad" wherever it hits for sure, I never said otherwise. but its also important to mention that the actual reach of the hurricane force winds is very very small for a storm of this size, i believe at last report it was only some 30 - 50 miles wide (talking about the hurricane force winds, not the overall size of the storm). So while it looks awful, and huge, and like a 300 mile wide tornado heading to flatten whatever it comes across...for the vast majority of it folks would see just tropical storm conditions.


(and as I say this I can totally see this being the first hurricane ever to follow the predicted path a week out)

 

[Panina]

every one of those "tracks" was pointing a completely different way just 72 hours ago as not a single one predicted it would plant itself between cuba and miami on saturday (as the current ones do).

Id also gander that with more information and as weather conditions important enough to impact a storm of this size continue to change over the next 72 hours...the tracks will change again.

its most certainly going to be "bad" wherever it hits for sure, I never said otherwise. but its also important to mention that the actual reach of the hurricane force winds is very very small for a storm of this size, i believe at last report it was only some 30 - 50 miles wide (talking about the hurricane force winds, not the overall size of the storm). So while it looks awful, and huge, and like a 300 mile wide tornado heading to flatten whatever it comes across...for the vast majority of it folks would see just tropical storm conditions.


(and as I say this I can totally see this being the first hurricane ever to follow the predicted path a week out)

I agree with you, we really don't know yet. Unfortunately with all the speculation on "where", other areas where it will actually occur may not pay enough attention as it gets closer.

 

[jd2601]

I hope it misses but does not seem likely at this time. We were to be at Surfwatch next Saturday and made the call last night to change to Canyon Villas. I feel fortunate that there was an option this late. Not visiting Surfwatch was a difficult call and I hope for the best for Florida, Gulf, and East Coast.

Loosing MF for Surfwatch is minimal compared to the devastation of a hurricane.

 

[Glynda]

We have Bonus Time reservations at The Fountains in Orlando beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) for a week. I am going to cancel this morning when the call center opens. It's, of course, past the cancellation refund date. I'm hoping that Bluegreen won't charge us due to Florida being declared in a state of emergency. The problem is that hubby needs to go to a trade show in Orlando this week and just day before yesterday we had a death in the family in Plant City, FL. I added nights to the reservation and our plan was to drop my mother off tomorrow in PC to stay with my cousin. Hubby and I would go back to Orlando for the show and until the funeral which is in planning process for next week (delayed as the adult grandchildren are in Iceland). I suspect it may be delayed further depending upon the hurricane. By cancelling, I will have to drive my mother and myself back down to attend the funeral when it does take place. We don't want to get caught up in the storm in Florida and need to protect our own homes in Charleston if the storm should turn and come this way. I hope it will just head off into the Atlantic but that is not what the majority of models are predicting. Stay safe everyone!

 

[FLDVCFamily]

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to cancel a Getaway if I book one for the storm and either can't get there or else don't end up needing it when another Floridian could use it? I have a call into the TUG2 Interval rep to ask also, but I haven't heard back yet.

ETA - The travel insurance offered looks to only activate in the case of medical issues. There doesn't seem to be a provision for extreme weather events.

 

[1st Class]

From the FAQs on the II website:

Q. Are Getaways refundable?

• No, all Getaway confirmations are final and nonrefundable.
  

​

 

[Glynda]

every one of those "tracks" was pointing a completely different way just 72 hours ago as not a single one predicted it would plant itself between cuba and miami on saturday (as the current ones do).

Id also gander that with more information and as weather conditions important enough to impact a storm of this size continue to change over the next 72 hours...the tracks will change again.

its most certainly going to be "bad" wherever it hits for sure, I never said otherwise. but its also important to mention that the actual reach of the hurricane force winds is very very small for a storm of this size, i believe at last report it was only some 30 - 50 miles wide (talking about the hurricane force winds, not the overall size of the storm). So while it looks awful, and huge, and like a 300 mile wide tornado heading to flatten whatever it comes across...for the vast majority of it folks would see just tropical storm conditions.


(and as I say this I can totally see this being the first hurricane ever to follow the predicted path a week out)

I also heard a report that this is a fast moving storm, unlike Harvey which stalled and caused even more flooding and damage than a fast moving storm would have. However, it never hurts to be prepared. When we lived in Mississippi there was a terrible tornado near us during the night. People were trapped under debris in their homes. From that time on, I kept a box under the bed with items I might need if a tornado hit and I was trapped in that bedroom. Long shot but I slept better

 

[Cropman]

Too early to know for sure, but the Keys could be very vulnerable to this one.

 

[Talent312]

Evacuating the Keys:
Typically, they orders evacs for Cat. 3 - 5 storms in the following tiers:

• 72 Hrs before landfall: A visitor evac is called. Resorts will likely lose utilities.
• ... No elevators, no A/C, no power, no pumps = no water. No flushing, no lights, etc.
• 48 Hrs before landfall: People in mobile homes and 'low lying areas' get the evac order.
  
• 24 Hrs before landfall if KW is in the NHC probability cone, a resident evac is ordered.
  
• No Shelters will be open anywhere in the Florida Keys.
• Main Shelter: Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, 10901 SW 24th St., Miami.

Hotline numbers for available hotels are sent to resorts and posted on the Keys website.
Expedia lists available hotels & rates during storms at Expedia.com/Florida.

-- Source: http://www.fla-keys.com/hurricane-information/
-- Source: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g34345-c72398/Key-West:Florida:Key.West.And.Hurricane.Season.html
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[DianneL]

We are watching with interest as we are supposed to be at Hilton Head in a couple of weeks. This is our home resort. That being said, my worries are minimal compared to the thousands that will be impacted with loss of homes, personal belongings and may be displaced for weeks.

 

[Talent312]

The Worst Hurricane to strike the Florida Keys:

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane was equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. It caused extreme damage in the upper Florida Keys with a storm surge of approximately 18 - 20 feet sweeping over the islands. The winds and the surge destroyed nearly all structures between Tavernier and Marathon. The town of Islamorada was obliterated. Portions of the Florida East Coast Railway were swept away and never rebuilt. 408 deaths were attributed to the storm.

Image of the Islamorada Memorial for the 1935 hurricane:

 

[ronparise]

I agree with you, we really don't know yet. Unfortunately with all the speculation on "where", other areas where it will actually occur may not pay enough attention as it gets closer.

That's the point. If we don't know, we have to be prepared, just in case. I always have five 5 gal jugs in the garage and a well stocked pantry and propane for the grill. So I was prepared for Harvey too

I drove by the Ft Myers Costco this morning and the place is packed

And I just changed my plans. I'm gonna put up the shutters move the outdoor furniture inside and bug out to Worldmarks Reunion Resort

 

[FLDVCFamily]

I booked a getaway for Orlando so I'm going to release the 3 nights I had at Lakeshore in a 1 bedroom (fri-tues). If anyone needs these, please PM me and we can try to time it. This was a direct booking through Marriott.

 

[AJCts411]

Read on the FL Keys newspaper..tourists mandatory evacuation on Wednesday AM.

 

[Talent312]

Read on the FL Keys newspaper... Tourists' mandatory evacuation on Wednesday AM.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County has issued a mandatory evacuation of all visitors, tourists and non-residents, beginning 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6. Monroe County also has issued a mandatory evacuation of all residents, beginning 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Keys SPCA are evacuating all animals from their shelters.
The Key West shelter is evacuating 89 cats, 1 chicken, 24 dogs, 23 rabbits, 8 land turtles and 1 parakeet.
The Marathon campus is evacuating 43 cats, 8 dogs, 4 water turtles, 1 box turtle and 3 iguanas.
Source: http://floridakeyssheriff.blogspot.com/
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[SueDonJ]

FYI, if you're headed to a Marriott timeshare property they have a dedicated info line which is noted on the owners' home page and accessible to everyone:

"We continue to monitor Hurricane Irma closely. As always, the safety and security of our Owners, guests, and associates is a top priority. If you are at our resort now, please check with the Front Desk for further information and instructions. If you will be arriving in the next few days, please call the resort hotline at (800)-306-9506 for more information."

Right now for coastal Florida properties they're saying that "Irma has not made landfall" and "we will continue to monitor." For the Orlando properties they're still referencing Emily, and nothing's been updated on the Carolina properties since Matthew.

Anyway, as the storm approaches I would expect the hotline to be updated correctly, and if past storms are any indication then any Marriott properties in Irma's path will no doubt be closed. (And it may help to know that when resorts closed for Matthew last year the onsite and incoming guests were NOT refunded in any way.)

 

[FLDVCFamily]

FYI, if you're headed to a Marriott timeshare property they have a dedicated info line which is noted on the owners' home page and accessible to everyone:

"We continue to monitor Hurricane Irma closely. As always, the safety and security of our Owners, guests, and associates is a top priority. If you are at our resort now, please check with the Front Desk for further information and instructions. If you will be arriving in the next few days, please call the resort hotline at (800)-306-9506 for more information."

Right now for coastal Florida properties they're saying that "Irma has not made landfall" and "we will continue to monitor." For the Orlando properties they're still referencing Emily, and nothing's been updated on the Carolina properties since Matthew.

Anyway, as the storm approaches I would expect the hotline to be updated correctly, and if past storms are any indication then any Marriott properties in Irma's path will no doubt be closed. (And it may help to know that when resorts closed for Matthew last year the onsite and incoming guests were NOT refunded in any way.)

?? Closed? We evacuated to Marriott Grande Vista for Matthew and we're also evacuating to an MVC property this time around. They aren't closing that I know of...I sure hope not, since they are a lot of people's evac destination.

 

[pedro47]

Yes! We lived on the east coast and after hurricane Harvey & Katrina disaster. The very first sign the new hurricane Irma may make landfall in our area. We will be leaving early and headed out to the mountains in Virginia.

 

[silentg]

Not going to panic, but preparing for the storm hoping it goes away.

 

[SueDonJ]

?? Closed? We evacuated to Marriott Grande Vista for Matthew and we're also evacuating to an MVC property this time around. They aren't closing that I know of...I sure hope not, since they are a lot of people's evac destination.

Orlando wasn't in Matthew's path which is why GV didn't close then but Irma is a different storm, which may affect other properties including the one you picked for evac. Right now they have no way of knowing, any more than we do, where the storm is headed. They, like every other hospitality company, continue to take reservations and don't announce closures until they're sure. But once they are sure it would be disastrous for them to stay open against all odds and directives from local officials!

So yes, if in the next few days the track fleshes out that any properties are in its path, I expect they'll close those properties. That's why they have the hotline, so guests can keep up with the latest updates that are based on the latest projections.

For those onsite, they'll use the resort-wide telephone system as well as put flyers under each door. If you usually ignore the blinking message light on the unit phone, now's a good time to start listening.

 

[FLDVCFamily]

The entire state is in it's path right now...here's hoping they don't leave people with nowhere to go. I can't imagine that.

Wait, we WERE in Matthew's direct path in Brevard last year and they didn't close the Marriott hotels. The mandatory evac area was evacuated (island) but even the hotels just onto the mainland had guests. If there's mandatory evac they won't be open I'm sure, but lord help us if they have a mandatory evac on orlando!

 

[TUGBrian]

certainly not looking good for south florida....shame that we have to "hope" it hits some land masses (mountains in cuba) to lessen the impact on florida by the time it arrives

dont get me wrong, if I lived within a few miles of the beach...id be ramping up preparations by a huge margin and seriously considering moving inland.

but to call for everyone in the state to start "Getting out" or panicing is just going to cause more damage than it helps.

 

[pedro47]

I am praying that Irma turn hard right back into the Atlantic Ocean.