My fellow Floridians, what are you doing so far about Erika ?

[steve2470]

I live so far inland that I'm doing absolutely nothing. What are you doing ?

Georgians, Alabamians, Mississipians, Louisiana folks and Texans, feel free to chime in. Who knows, it might swerve out to sea and miss us all, or might just fizzle out.

[cigsandcoffee]

1. Yawn. Nothing. Let me know when it's a cat 3. n/t

[FLPanhandle]

24. +1

Tropical Storm or a small hurricane are just reasons for a party.

[malaise]

2. The thing is that Tampa can't take another drop of water

That's the problem

[steve2470]

14. yea, I'd hate to live in the Tampa area right about now nt

[greytdemocrat]

22. Retension ponds

Around me have just dried up from all the heavy rain a
few weeks ago so it won't take much to fill em again. Our area
didn't flood but north & south of us did.

We always have water and emerg. food. It shouldn't be
too bad but if the storm intensifies who knows. The Gulf is
bath tub warm.

Cars gas tank is full.

And we have flood insurance.

[yeoman6987]

28. Thank you about the gas.

I forgot. I am down in Florida for awhile. Tonight seems like the hurricane is here already. Big storm in Leesburg FL.

[djean111]

3. I live below Tampa. Traditionally, we just get a bunch of rain.

I will be gathering up all loose stuff in the yard. Actually, a hurricane threat means my yard looks better.
My insurance company is quite clear that they don't pay for "wind damage: - so I will just be cleaning things up and also bought a very large bucket of roof sealant, and will be swabbing all the iffy places this weekend. New roof later this year.

[davidn3600]

4. For a tropical storm, flooding in some areas may be the only major concern

Unless this thing suddenly strengthens a lot, I think all you will see is some very mild preparation. With its current track it is mainly going to be a rain event with some heavy gusts. (You always have to watch out for tornadoes with these systems though.) West central Florida though has had tons of rain over the past month or so. So the ground is very saturated already. Flooding may be a real problem in some areas.

But the way the NHC keeps moving this track to the west, I wouldnt be surprised if it heads more towards the panhandle or New Orleans.

[djean111]

5. What I have seen happen due to saturated ground is big trees just toppling over,

because their roots just don't have enough to grab on to.

[Eleanors38]

6. Looks vaguely like the 1935 Labor Day hurricane alluded to in Key Largo

Washed the FEC train right off the tracks, winds busted the gauge at 200 mph.

[KamaAina]

9. Actually that track looks a lot like Charley

It was forecast to hit Tampa, but swerved east and the last minuted and hammered Punta Gorda.

[RKP5637]

10. Yep! n/t

[spin]

13. I evacuated Tampa and headed south near Ft Myers. ...

I remember watching the TV when Charlie turned and nailed Punta Gorda. I ended up on the outskirts of the storm.

Charlie was a small but intense storm. There was lots of damage about 20 or 30 miles to the east of where I was at but we suffered only some strong wind and rain. Power was out for several days but we had a generator and a motor home with AC.

Tampa suffered no effects from Charlie. Many people who evacuated Tampa went to Orlando and were impressed with Charlie when it passed.

I now live in north Florida and I don't really expect much from Erika but I am keeping an eye on it.

[FloridaBlues]

31. I lived through hurricane charley in my closet as the eye went over my area!

[KamaAina]

34. Yikes!

[Eleanors38]

46. It does. That year three (3) hurricanes hit Florida, and all had one thing in common:

They crossed Bartow, where my mother's folks are buried (old pioneer-era Crackers). I drove home for an indefinite stay in Gainesville. Cut up several downed trees in our old home's backyard; my brother had previously taken almost three days to clear the dirt lane so anyone could reach the house. He and his wife lives on Lake Santa Fe and related a disturbing story. While holed up for almost a week in their house, with crashing cypress all around, they heard the deep humming of a large propeller plane (old Neptune bomber?) cutting over closely. It went on for some time, and he thought it was lost or in trouble, and might ditch into the large lake, so he ventured outside in the blowing debris: No plane. It was just the visible fluttering vibration of his second story roof. They somehow felt relieved.

[mcar]

7. I bought wine

Got the flashlights. Will get the car gassed up tomorrow. So we're set.

BTW I live inland in CFL. If I was on the coast I'd be reacting differently, havingg lived through Andrew in Miami.

[malaise]

17. One lady's reponse to the local ten reporter - I got

red and white

[mcar]

21. That's what I got

[packman]

8. Stocked up on milk,water and toilet paper

But this looks like a big yawn compared to what I've lived through in the past.

[Marrah_G]

11. Everything can change once it hits the warm waters of the gulf

[ChiciB1]

30. Just Related The Gulf Waters ARE Very, Very Warm!

Just back from the Keys!

[monmouth4]

12. I'm in West Palm and so far I've done nothing out of the ordinary. Do you think Publix and the

Weather Channel are in cahoots? Lots of folks in Publix but no panic yet....

[1939]

39. We sure could use some rain out of it though NT

[Kurska]

15. Not even a cat 1?

Thats all you got nature?

Is my response a a Floridian, but I'm in NC for university anyways.

[EL34x4]

16. Jacksonville resident chiming in.

Just back from Walmart where I spent about $200 on bottled water, canned foods, batteries and a really cool little Midland ER200 emergency AM/FM/NOAA radio that you can charge with a hand crank, solar or plug into the wall, and it'll charge your cell phone as well.

Lots of people at Walmart buying water and canned foods.

Now it looks like it is getting downgraded to a tropical depression.

[csziggy]

18. We'll put the plastic outdoor furniture in the house

And that will be about that. I'm up here in North Florida so even if it hits we'll probably just get a bunch of rain. That could be enough to knock out our power even though they've been trimming trees like crazy around here.

I'll watch the rain bands and if any look bad, I'll fill up some containers with water for flushing the toilet. I'll have to save a milk jug or two so I can fill them and put them in the freezer to help keep things cold.

[lpbk2713]

19. If it goes up the west coast offshore nothing will slow it down.

And the stormiest conditions are usually in the three o'clock part of the hurricane.

I hope to hell it goes out in the Gulf and by some miracle dissipates.

[TBF]

20. Just watching south of Houston ...

but I am in an evacuation zone near the coast so you better believe I'm paying attention. Houston meteorologists have been reporting on it daily.

[hay rick]

23. Got the generator ready and put in a supply of various liquids.

After I was done they switched Erika's track to the other coast. At least I'm ready for the rest of the season.

[Islandurp]

25. Bought a couple of cases of water

But this storm ain't shit.

[FLPanhandle]

26. What Floridian prepares for a mere Tropical Storm or a Cat 1 Hurricane?

Maybe stock the bar and get ice for a hurricane party?

[Nay]

32. Yeah, really. I'm a native Floridian and for this storm we might bring in the patio

umbrella.

[malaise]

38. Well Erika moved again overnight and appears to be heading

straight for the Panhandle - sadly she will have some time over water so you'd better pay attention.

[FLPanhandle]

41. As you know, it's smart to watch them closely

Hurricanes can be a bit crazy.

[lpbk2713]

27. I was at Lowe's this morning.

Not for anything related to the weather. But I noticed
a guy ahead of me in line bought two generators.

Lakeland.

[ChiciB1]

29. Nothing So Far, But I'm Stocked Up Anyway.

I live south of Tampa... We NEVER know for sure this far out. I've lived here for a very, very long time, but we just came back from the Keys and the gulf water is VERY, VERY WARM!! We go down for lobster season and I couldn't believe how warm it was.

Keeping fingers crossed, could be nasty! A long time coming you know!

[Deuce]

33. NWF...nothing.

[NightWatcher]

35. Going to Disney World Sunday and Monday

[KMOD]

36. It sucks for the areas that are already waterlogged.

flooding sucks.

[quaker bill]

37. New batteries for the flashlights - EOC conference calls

A tiny bit of my job is participation in the EOC team. It was getting going yesterday, now mellowing out with the latest forecast track. Probably no action at all by Monday.

[Baclava]

40. TWC might as well admit they don't have a clue what this thing is going to do

All their computer models are junk right now without a well-defined center.

[greytdemocrat]

42. Yep

I can do better. "There is a bunch of clouds and wind and rain
and stuff. It's moving. Back to you Bob."

Unless it suddenly blows up in the Gulf all I'm worried about
is some flooding in the Tampa area IF it even get here.

[Baclava]

43. Poof - Erika dissipates as tropical storm: National Hurricane Center

yeah - i'd still keep an eye on the remnants, just in case something reforms over the GOM

[Quackers]

45. I have a borther-in-law that lives in key west.

He and his boyfriend aren't doing anything different. That's life in the keys.