Oh well…

[Deleted member 5962]

We went to Myrtle Beach, arriving last Saturday evening. We were supposed to be heading back to WV today. Thursday morning, the storm was still supposed to miss Myrtle Beach, but only by about 30 miles. The forecast late Wedneday night was 100% chance of rain, 2-3” of rain and winds of 30MPH with gusts up to 50 MPH. The hurricane was supposed to turn inland, which breaks them up of course, and disburse to a normal rain storm by just north of us. Then by today when we were supposed to be driving home, it would be done, mostly sunny. We had to roll the dice and decide, but knowing the unpredictable nature of those things, and the fact that we wouldn’t be able to do much of anything Friday anyway… we left the beach at 12:30 Thursday afternoon.

Well, as you all know, the storm turned back out over the ocean, built up steam, and hit that area as a Category 1 hurricane. We have a video of the pace we went for dinner Wednesday night and the water was flooding the streets there. They got between 10-18” or rain, sustained 80MPH winds, etc. We lost two days of vacation. But the destruction this thing has caused makes me realize how lucky we are. And, takes away ANY thoughts of EVER buying a place in Florida! My sister in laws house 2 1/2 miles from our hotel was not damaged, but will be without power for a few days. It’s about 6 blocks off the ocean so it was far enough back, and sitting up high enough, to not get flooded. But in some parts of that area, 10-12 miles inland was flooded.

So, good thing we left early! But holy crap I feel so bad for the people in Florida!

 

[dmatthews]

Man I've been glued to the news... it's horrible!
Sorry you had to cut things short, but glad you and yours are OK.
Things are changing... everywhere. It's October in Vancouver and was 24c today... that ain't normal.

 

[alantig]

We came to the Outer Banks on Thursday for a Friday wedding. Yeah - my wife said a couple times ”Is it a bit odd we’re driving towards the storm when so many people seem to be going the other way?” A lot of wind on Thursday, but that was it. Friday, different story - rained all day. Constantly. I fetched the car when we went to lunch and when I took my wife and daughter to the wedding. Got drenched the second time. The wedding had to be moved from the beach into the house where they were going to have the reception. A few people bailed, so I got a late invitation, but I didn’t go - I was wet and just kind of wanted to chill, so I got a pizza, watched TV, and read. The wind made the hotel sound like something out of Scooby Doo - you could hear it howling through the halls.

Today - sunny and beautiful. We had discussed going back today if the weather was still bad, but it was gorgeous, so my wife got her beach time. We’ll head back to my daughter’s as planned tom’w, then home on Monday (most likely - maybe tom’w).

We’re fortunate for how it’s all turned out. My wife talked several times about bailing on the trip, but ultimately, it was good for her and my daughter. And it kept me away from the guitar stores with the new pedals…

 

[JasonE]

I am on the East side of Florida directly across the state from where the hurricane made landfall. We had some tornados in our area that tore some things up. We had a little wind damage but nothing super bad. We are very thankful for that. The folks on the other side of the state from us have serious destruction. The flooding was severe. Everyone wants to be down here, until there is a storm heading your way. There has been a huge influx of people in the area I live in. I am betting the same has happened in the area the storm hit.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

One of my friends and clients has a home there (edit, in Fla.), and one up here. He showed a picture of his boat, undamaged, and tied to the doc, but the doc was ripped loose and is sitting on a road a few hundred yards from the water. He was amazed that the boat is not damaged at all. He also caulked all his doors shut and boarded his windows (with Kevlar) and had no damage to his home, even though there were brief periods where water was 3 feet high on the outside. He got LUCKY!

 

[alantig]

Slight update - made the drive from OBX to my daughter's apartment yesterday. Hit some rain once we were back in VA. Still thinking there was some effect because the traffic was nowhere what we expected. On the way down, we hit a tunnel where we waited about 20 minutes in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic. The other side (the way we went yesterday) was much. much worse - the backup was at least a mile long. Yesterday - nothing. We barely slowed down. Even I-95, we only had one place where traffic crawled, due to an accident on the southbound side. My GPS told us almost 5 hours on the island - actual travel time was less than 4.

We drove home today, with plans for a nice leisurely drive, with a stop for lunch at Carrabba's in Winchester, VA. My buddy and I found Carrabba's about 7 years ago on a trip to Philly to see Vintage Trouble, and it's one of my favorite restaurants, but the nearest is now this one three hours away. But disaster struck - they are no longer open for lunch M-Th. 4:00 open. My vocabulary got flexed. Everything is thrown into disarray now, because I feel like we can no longer return from my daughter's during those hours. Fortunately, there is one near-ish her apartment, so I did get my fix. So, it's not like we can never visit her again. Although she did introduce us to a little restaurant last night - a smokehouse that was awesome. FWIW: I lived in Fredericksburg for my first job after college almost 40 years ago. The guitar store where I bought my Charvel is still there. Can't beat that.

 

[László]

The guitar store where I bought my Charvel is still there. Can't beat that.

Based only on personal experience owning a Charvel in the 80s, you can beat that with a PRS.

 

[alantig]

Based only on personal experience owning a Charvel in the 80s, you can beat that with a PRS.

I'm glad the store is still there. I still have the Charvel, but in all honesty - it's in a case in a closet.

This store had a couple things that, under different circumstances I may have checked out. A Hamer Eclipse. A new National resonator. They had an old square-neck National, but that's not what I'm looking/hoping for. On a previous visit, they had a beautiful harp guitar.

 

[Daryl Jones]

Some of the reports and pics/videos are terrifying! I often grouse about the -40 winters and the occasional summer twisters and downbursts, but I'll stay put thanks. My deepest condolences for those that got ransacked (and worse) by this horrible event. I have friends that were in and close by the worst of it, but they managed without too much serious damage (how I don't really know). But others were far from fortunate. Thoughts and prayers.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Slight update - made the drive from OBX to my daughter's apartment yesterday. Hit some rain once we were back in VA. Still thinking there was some effect because the traffic was nowhere what we expected. On the way down, we hit a tunnel where we waited about 20 minutes in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic. The other side (the way we went yesterday) was much. much worse - the backup was at least a mile long. Yesterday - nothing. We barely slowed down. Even I-95, we only had one place where traffic crawled, due to an accident on the southbound side. My GPS told us almost 5 hours on the island - actual travel time was less than 4.

We drove home today, with plans for a nice leisurely drive, with a stop for lunch at Carrabba's in Winchester, VA. My buddy and I found Carrabba's about 7 years ago on a trip to Philly to see Vintage Trouble, and it's one of my favorite restaurants, but the nearest is now this one three hours away. But disaster struck - they are no longer open for lunch M-Th. 4:00 open. My vocabulary got flexed. Everything is thrown into disarray now, because I feel like we can no longer return from my daughter's during those hours. Fortunately, there is one near-ish her apartment, so I did get my fix. So, it's not like we can never visit her again. Although she did introduce us to a little restaurant last night - a smokehouse that was awesome. FWIW: I lived in Fredericksburg for my first job after college almost 40 years ago. The guitar store where I bought my Charvel is still there. Can't beat that.

If you like Carrabba’s, lemme hip you to this other lil’ obscure restaurant: Outback Steakhouse.

 

[alantig]

If you like Carrabba’s, lemme hip you to this other lil’ obscure restaurant: Outback Steakhouse.

Guess where we had lunch because Carrabba's was closed...

 

[jxe]

If you like Carrabba’s, lemme hip you to this other lil’ obscure restaurant: Outback Steakhouse.

ha! try the 'aviation gin'.

 

[Wakester]

My cousin and her husband live in Punta Gorda right where the Eye made landfall. Remarkably they came out of it reasonably well. She reported only minor roof damage, and minor damage to the catamaran. They got power back yesterday and all communications (cable, cell, etc) were restored today. They were in the lucky few. A lot of people lost a lot of stuff down there.

 

[jxe]

i am from florida and here to tell you the hurricanes is the least of it.

 

[11top]

Next time you’re unhappy with your insurance premiums, ask a friend in southern Florida about theirs.

 

[garrettb]

Next time you’re unhappy with your insurance premiums, ask a friend in southern Florida about theirs.

There's a good reason the Mrs and I refuse to own property here again. We learned our lesson when we had our first house back in the '00's.

That SOB Ian was headed straight for my doorstep, but then took that last turn towards Fort Myers. This put me in the best possible position: northwest of the eye. If it hadn't turned, I'm certain my place would've been flooded.

 

[gush]

Based only on personal experience owning a Charvel in the 80s, you can beat that with a PRS.

I had a charvel model 4 in the late 80s. Played the crap out of it.



Don't miss it.

 

[alantig]

I had a charvel model 4 in the late 80s. Played the crap out of it.



Don't miss it.

Whereas I played the crap into mine!

 

[JasonE]

i am from florida and here to tell you the hurricanes is the least of it.

Do tell...

Next time you’re unhappy with your insurance premiums, ask a friend in southern Florida about theirs.

This right here is on point. I moved to South Florida a little over 10 years ago. My auto insurance tripled. My home owners insurance is easily triple of what I paid up North and this house is 100 sq ft smaller.

The home owners insurance is getting way out of hand down here now. There have been a few companies pull out of Florida limiting your choices. I have been seeing posts on social media for the past couple of years from people that paid their premium to then receive a cancelation notice due to the company pulling out of Florida. It is going to be something the governor is going to have to get involved in. The insurance companies are saying that they are having to pay out on a bunch of false roof claims. However, the claims are within the terms in the plans they are writing. I hope they find a way to fix this soon.

 

[garrettb]

This right here is on point. I moved to South Florida a little over 10 years ago. My auto insurance tripled. My home owners insurance is easily triple of what I paid up North and this house is 100 sq ft smaller.

The home owners insurance is getting way out of hand down here now. There have been a few companies pull out of Florida limiting your choices. I have been seeing posts on social media for the past couple of years from people that paid their premium to then receive a cancelation notice due to the company pulling out of Florida. It is going to be something the governor is going to have to get involved in. The insurance companies are saying that they are having to pay out on a bunch of false roof claims. However, the claims are within the terms in the plans they are writing. I hope they find a way to fix this soon.

It's been out of hand for a long, long time. Bought a house in FL in 2003. '04 and '05 were crappy hurricane years. My property insurance doubled in cost by 2006.