re: Hurricane Irma - Spinning Down

Don't forget any prescriptions that my need to be refilled soon.

We're about five miles from the ocean -- one of the least likely flood zones. I'm hoping I won't be hanging out on the roof

I second that. There have been times I've been in my safe room and they've been better at giving me tornado path info than my weather radio.

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Any good links on preparing a home for a major hurricane?

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Unless you have a generator to keep your fridge running, I'd opt for whiskey over beer.

Get a 10-G igloo cooler and fill it with water rather than fight over bottled water.

A coleman camp stove would be useful as well if power is out for a while, grab a few extra mini propane cylinders.

Batteries, obviously, and make sure you know where they are in case you need to find some in the dark. Set them out on the table or kitchen counter.

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Generator, fuel, CO monitor, window shutters. Water and food, obviously, but you can store tap water rather than fight for bottled water.

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Something that gets overlooked sometimes is if you buy canned goods to heat up on a grill if there is a prolonged power outage you'll need a manually operated can opener. During a power outage an electric can opener is useless.

Also, fill your bathtub with water to use to flush toilets with if your water supply depends on electric pumps to provide water or water pressure to your home. Uprooted trees may also cause a water line break which might disrupt your water supply for several days. Unflushed toilets can get ripe after 2 or 3 days.

EDIT: Rather than using candles for light at night in a long power outage, go buy a few of the cheapest solar lights that you'd normally place in your yard. You can often find them for under $3/each. Charge them during the day and place them inside around your home at night in areas where you'll be needing some light.

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Pray that the eyewall passes to the East of Tampa. If not, and Tampa ends up on the East side, it's gonna be a major disaster with the wind blowing the water inland. That's my biggest worry for them.

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Oh, I've been praying! Not worried about flooding for him so much as wind damage (tons of trees on his small lot) and the aftermath. Will be a miserable 2-4 weeks if his area is hit with the east side of the eye.

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Officially staying put in Tampa.

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My cousin and his family are staying put in the Wesley Chapel area. Generator, fuel, water. He says I75 is a mess right now.

My buddy is driving to GA from Bradenton -- he told me the rest stops are packed like a rock concert. They even opened up the shoulder lanes for people to drive on. Nuts

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Reporting in from Bradenton, south of Tampa/St.Pete - preps prepped. We're on the west side of storm track. Surge impact should be nil. Pool draining about 6-8 inches in advance of the expected rainfall. Winds are the wild card. Who knows how high? To be determined. I-75 going north is right along the projected path. A 7 hour drive to Atlanta is now reported as 14 hrs+ I for one don't fancy being stuck in my car in that or during that. Maybe more later. Right now it's sunny humid and hot here. No breezes.

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My uncle is between Palma Sola Bay and 684. He is in zone A but won't leave. At some point your going to get NE and W winds. Does that only affect Tampa Bay and not the lower water ways?

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She has weakened significantly. This is going to end up being a big nothingburger

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What's with you? First you spend much of the thread wish casting this to the Florida panhandle, now it's going to be a "nothing burger."