Hurricane Wilma and Miami, the Keys?

OK boys, how did it go? Thankfully it was very fast moving, we didn't lose power up here in Sebring. How did it go down south? Naples? Miami? The Keys? Rick? Anyone there got an internet connection? The Tampa news said wind was gusting to 104 in Miami...any damage? Best wishes, I hope all are safe.

I just found a new photo from Key West on Fox News. Looks like the flooding is worse than the wind damage in that area.

roh no!

not sloppy joes

I wonder how Hogsbreath did... IIRC its just across the street from SJ's.

Is that Rick Loewen in the first pic? Man, what retirement does for ya.

Rick and Mary,

We hope to hear from you guys soon and that everything came out relatively unscathed in Key Largo. Is that internet satellite still working on the RV?

We are back in the real world, thanks to a small generator I happened to have. (have to refill the gas tank every 20 minutes.
In the Keys we had gusts well over 100. No structural damage but every tree in the area is down.., we now have a water view. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
No power in most of the area, although the Winn Dixie up the street just got their power back.
But, all in all, it was nothing like the folks at Pensacola have suffered the past couple of years.
Our house was like a rock. Despite a few big limbs falling on the roof, is was almost quiet inside.
Our screened in porch was on the lee side of the house, so I sat out their and watched the trees falling. Incredible.
All the boats are fine. The 5.7 that Lance bought from me and had not picked up yet came through just fine. We took the trap wire on each side and tied them to trees and it rode out the storm beautifully.
Not much time.., gotta go fill the gas tank.
Rick

Good to hear it! How are the motels looking for Tradewinds?

West Broward County, city of Davie is FUBAR.

The motels should have no problems once electric is restored.
For the upcoming events, i.e., Wave Week and Nationals, Steeplechase and Tradewinds, we are working on a list of motels where folks can stay.
We will be based out of Gilberts, but they are still up in the air as to whether or not they will be renting rooms.
Meanwhile, Neptunes and Kellys are bought out for condos as well.
A few miles down the road are a number of small hotels. We will be getting that info posted pretty soon.., as soon as we get electric and phone service again.
Rick

I was actually hoping the hurricane would come closer to here so it would be farther away from the Taipan
Thanks for taking care of her and thanks again for everything. I will be down very soon to get her out of your way. I've been an incredibly frustrated sailor this year. It's like having a Ferrari in the garage and not being able to drive it because the garage door is broken. Thanks again for everything you've done, words can't really express.

Hi Lance,
Sooner the better. We have a very sick tree that needs to come down and it will land right on the boat.
We may have to move it around to the other side of the lot. Good thing about taking down a bad tree after a hurricane is you don't have to cut it up in 4' pieces for pickup. Just throw it on the huge pile already there.

We have a small generator that we run every so often to keep the frig stuff cool and use the phone and internet. We still have about 10 gallons of gas left. No power in sight it appears.
I can't understand all the ticked off people in lines for water and ice in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. First of all, why did they not stock up on water and ice, 2nd, Why do they expect the government to give it to them free and get mad when it doesn't get there on time, when all the Publix and Winn Dixies have ice and water, 3rd, why don't they just turn on their tap for water.., it is potable, but they suggest boiling it first, although not necessary.
Guess people are dumber than I thought. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Rick

Rick, et al,

Glad that everyone made it threw this last storm,...they are no fun,.... yes!

..plus, it is the aftermath, that is really the trial,...which, can last months (..or longer)!

However, I watched CNN last nite to hear the same thing Rick commented on.

..like, you do not know enough to have extra water in the house?

...or, extra canned goods on your shelf?

..or, a few jugs of water frozen in the freezer at all times?

..this is like Basic Life 101 you know...,

Do you know what also is in the 'Hurricane' supplies in the islands?

Board games.... yep, no power, lo tech, plenty of time to play.

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
US Virgin Islands

I couldn't agree with you more - Bonnie and I make more preparations for a two day ice storm than the majority of these people do for a freakin Hurricane.

I also agree, all those people panicking in line are an embarrassment to South Florida, we had more than a week warning, even had to restock and refuel because Wilma was so slow getting here. Some people have no water at all due to lost water mains from trees and even a sky crane falling.
But the goverment said be self sufficient for three days.
I guess sailors know how to do that.
My family and I are good for a while but will be looking for fuel for the generator soon. They said 4 weeks for power to be restored.
Good Luck

Amen to that Brother!!!
After our last hurricane we lost power for a week, the wife and I hit the Board game Aisle at the Toys R Us and stocked up!!

This year I made sure we would not get hit without power.........I bought a generator, The next best thing to Pat Robertson Praying them away

people really don't have any excuse after the 4 hurricanes last year and then Katrina this year. I live near pensacola and before dennis, the grocery stores had stacks upon stacks of bottled water- cheap. Put tupperware with water in it in the freezer for ice and all should be well for a few days. I don't understand how anyone should expect the government to prvide for them all the time- and after Katrina people shouldn't think that they will.

I am going to see if I can get down later this week but I might not be able to get down until a week from Friday. I will contact you before that so I can bring down any other supplies you might need like ice, gas, etc...
Thanks,

I recieved a call from Bret Moss last night on his status in Ft Lauderdale. Power is out in most areas until Nov 22 and the place is really a mess! He had the eyewall over him for much of the time. He and his family are okay and the house is standing. Trees are down everywhere. He's taking a break from chainsawing and is going to ride around a bit today. It could have been worse.

Bob

I see on the Orlando news some people are driving all the way up there from Ft. Lauderdale, to get gas and ice? Instead you could drive up 27 to Lake Placid or Sebring, or up 710 to Okeechobee. You don't have to go all the way to Orlando to find gas and ice.

OR the Keys.
Also, they say gas will be plentiful as soon as the gas stations get some generators. Funny, you would think all gas stations would have emergency backup generators.., geez mine was only a couple hundred dollars at Home Depot. I got it several years ago when I did a seminar in Virginia and there was no power to run run the video and TV for replays of how the students did.
Problem is the very small gas tank -- every 20 minutes for refills. But, that is OK.., keeps me from overworking myself. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Rick

Just now got electric in the Keys.
Here is a picture of a cat climbing a tree down by our little beach park.
Rick

For those of you that rigged at the Caribbean Club for the Key Largo Steeplechase, check out the lack of dock and chickee hut.
Rick

Right after the storm I was able to stop several places and get some pix. Check them out at the following URL:
http://www.catsailor.com/Stories_Temp/HurricaneWilma05.htm
Rick

Glad to hear you have power back Rick.

I'm guessing that it was sooner than you expected? Nov 22nd is what was told for all of FL to get power back.

Florida Power and Light supplies electric to South Florida, but for the Keys we have Florida Keys Electric. They did a great job of restoring power, but then again it is a much smaller area and grid.
We were one of the last ones to get it back, however, but we were getting by with our little generator.

You just never realize how much you miss something like electric. Or water. We never had a problem with water.., kept coming strong and it was drinkable.
Rick

What I find funny is that people will spend $50 in gas to protect $20 in old freezer burned food.

I don't have a generator, but have managed fine so far. Of course, I don't have any kids to drive me crazy yet...

Plenty of food, put water in containers and froze for cold and drinking. Ate all the stuff as it defrosted. Filled bathtubs with water (duct tape on drain to keep it from leaking) and use it for flushing. Scoop out water and heat on the grill for bathing. At this point, I don't have anything left that needs refrigeration, so I don't need ice. Weather has been absolutely fabulous these past few days, so we didn't need air conditioning.

Haven't been driving all over creation rubber-necking at the damage, so I've got two cars with 3/4 tank of gas left for emergencies.

Life is good.....

The only thing I could have done better was to iron my work shirts before the storm, so I wouldn't be all wrinkley when I'm doing all my claim work!

Last year I mastered cooking spaghetti and Campbell's soup on the gas grill! I still have a few cans left over if you need some.

**** for the 'deluxe' job.
- add a filter for the 'super deluxe' job.

cost...about $2.00,...unless you root around your garage and find most of the items for free.

Down here, in de islands, we convert to LPG as much as possible.....range,.....water heater,....they even have marine grade LPG refrigerators and a/c units...


Hot water for a shower?...try one of those black shower bags,...I suspect Rick has them at the 'store' available.....works every time...


Ice cubes?...forget it,....it takes too much energy to make one,.......if someone knows how to freeze things efficiently,...please share info!


Welcome to 'Island Style' living!...there are fish in the Ocean and fruit on the trees,..right :-)

..plus, now you have time to go sailing,...because there is nothing else to do!


regards,

Bruce
St. Croix

Hey, Rick and Bruce in the Islands, What do you think about solar panels and wind driven generators as a backup source of electricity for when the lights go out? I'm doing some research. Have you seen any one using solar panels or windmills to generate power? You never need to refuel it.

Forget using solar or wind for backup, use it all the time! Problem is, a full-up photovoltaic system to take the whole house off-grid is tens of thousands of dollers. Even a system to take just the fridge off-grid is several thousand. (That includes a DC fridge to eliminate the conversion losses from a DC to AC inverter) On the upside, the fridge doesn't need to run all the time, so the system could also power TV, internet, etc when it's off. Still a long time for payback; 10+ years or so. Hard to justify when a small Honda generator is a few hundred bucks.

A whole house system would be expensive, and a generator needs fuel, which cannot be pumped at the station when their power is out. What I'm talking about is a couple solar panels or a wind driven unit, or both, that could help you after a hurricane, and also use it year round to help offset the high cost. I'm not talking about removing the house from the grid.

Hear! Hear! We get some rain in Ireland and traffic stops dead. Snow, and the Country comes to a complete halt !

We have a holiday caravan in County Kerry. We have 2 solar panels (cost Euro600.00)on the roof. In summer we have plenty of lighting, water pump, colour TV, laptop etc. all 12 volt.
Fridge, cooking, heating, if we need it, is gas. You can survive on gas cylinders and solar panels for a short time anyway

P.S. Tim, Where did you say Wilma is at the moment ? We have a few lows coming in this weekend with galeforce winds

Slightly larger (and more costly) than the gasoline powered portables are residential units that can be permanently piped for natural or liquid propane fuel. Quite popular in our area because of the ice storms.

Solar panels are great for DC power, such as lights in RV's. As previously stated, AC to DC is an obstacle to refine in the development of solar and wind energy.


Wait...is this a sailing forum?

Dermot, Wilma should be reaching you soon if not already! It sure took off up the east coast on Monday-Wednesday, it should be across the pond by now. Look out.

Why do people stay? Brother and sister in-law stayed in Bay St.Louis MS for Katrina in a house about 200yds from the beach and 18 ft above sea level. Wrong move!! They bailed as storm surge sent them to the 2nd floor and they were forced to "jump in" as the house disintegrated around them. Survivors(luckily) of the "Camille Syndrome" and the tug of home I suppose. Estimated a 30 ft storm surge. As a midwestern weather geek, one look at the satellite of Katrina filling the Gulf would have had me packing days before. Another survivor sort of, one of my old H-17's I kept at the house, might be good for a few parts.


nathan

Dermot,

Does your country run off of DC power?

I understand that DC over the power grid is more efficient.

I suppose the USA definition of efficient is more drive thru fast food places......:-)

(,..hey, I was born in Ohio,..so I can say this stuff )

....yep, solar and wind makes alot of sense,..especial this close to the Equator and in the Trade Winds..

I predict S. Florida will be back in great shape very quickly,..they work fast there.

IT will be sad to see all the 'broken' boats though..


regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI

My cat got lucky, only 1 small puncture and lots of scratches.

Eric,

Very interesting pic.

I see you are wise enough to have a proper Hurricane shutter on your house,...congrats.

I saw a wind tunnel video down here after the '95 Hurricane hit on us,..it showed the effect of high speed wind on roof material..

....the asphalt/fiberglass shingle promptly blew off or self destructed starting at 85 mph,....was 100% gone at 100 mph........I see the roof shingles on the ground and off your roof.....so, you were at 85 mph, at least, over your roof.

...down here one never sees shingles,....metal roofs or 3/4 plywood with hypalon,......no overhangs either,.....they are like sails to the wind....

..either roof design is screwed into 4 inch by 8 inch roof beams,..this wood beam is cast into the cement wall with steel rebar going thru it....it stays put!

....your building code for roofs to tremendously underbuilt...and actually very dangerous.....really

...fix that cat and go sailing!

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI

here is another shot.
Without shutters the inside would be outside and the outside would be inside. I learned my lesson with Andrew, total loss of house and personal property.

I actually chartered the boat to a sailor to use in Hirams haul, he is repairing the punture, very nice gesture on his part.

and my favorite

Bruce,
No we actually use 220V AC. (Same as UK ).
Our holiday caravan is right beside the beach in County Kerry (Ireland). We do not have any mains power, so we use solar panels and gas (as in Propane or butane - I'm not sure which we have).

Tim,
We are in the middle of a stream of lows, one after the other - I am not sure which is Wilma - winds are 60 to 70 kilometres - just gale force ! It did cause the 4th Sunday of our Frostbite Series to be cancelled. We have actually only had 2 races out of 8 so far - two more weekends to go, then hibernation. I sailed a Shadow for the first time last week and won both races on the water - not many out - 2 F18s, 2 Dart 18s, 1 Dart 16 and a Shadow. The Shadow was beautiful upwind - took a bit of getting used to downwind, with the small spinnaker - and it being not as far forward (no pole) as on a Spitfire or F18.
Stay safe over there

Eric,
I see your mailbox made it. Did you cast that into rebar concrete too? Glad to hear you did better with this one than last time.

-Rob

Wilma ranked herself while going over Florida.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=4715&z=3&p=

Bobru,

AC power is transmitted more efficiently over long distances than DC. Edison tried to put a DC transmission system in place in the early 20th centruy, but couldn't get the power very far due to heat loss and other electrical engineering mumbo-jumbo.

Electricity is nice, but is it absoulutely essential for survival? Those of you who are familiar (and comfortable) with cruising probably have plenty of options that don't require electricity (or very small amounts).

Candles, the solar shower (that bag thing), and propane grill will probably carry you a long way before you have to stop at the gas station.

Had the weather been hot, I'm sure I would have been groaning about the lack of air conditioning, but I'm thinking I'll get a 'window unit' to run off the generator and cool off one room for sleeping at night. Got to be cheaper than a whole-house generator.

I remember working in the Bahamas when power/water interruptions were common and would last a week or more while they waited on spare parts. You learn to deal with it.

As for why I didn't evacuate, three things:

1) I planned on leaving if it was a CAT 3 or better. Unfortunately, they didn't upgrade it until it was too late.

2) The emergency shelter for my area was actually CLOSER to the water than my house (and not built as well, either)

3) Working in the insurance industry, I knew that I would have to be available to my clients that afternoon (storm passed around 3:00 pm), it was easier to stay put than to travel too far (and not know if I would have the fuel to return)

Hello All,

Since we are all seasoned alternative energy folks by now..

..and we know that the Generators we see have 2 parts,

..the engine part

..that turns the 'electrical' part.

Seeing, that we all have the 'engine' part sitting in our driveways with big gas tanks built in..

..we need the 'electrical part' to hook up too.

I bet the Farm and Tractor stores have the solutions already.

Other than PTO, I suspect a type of belt or chain drive could be had reasonable.

Just a thought.

By now, you all have realized some candles last longer than others,.right?

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix

Eric,

I don't know if your area has any restrictions on the fence, but when you repair/replace go with galvanized steel posts and put them at least 3' in the ground. Schedule 40 will hold up just fine as long as the ground holds. Even then all you do is straighten the post and re-pack the ground around it and you're back in business.

Good luck,
Clayton

I sink those things in about 2 feet of concrete. I think the fence will stand long after the rest of the house falls down...

Clayton,
Great observation.

I had a fence guy stop by yesterday. He recommended 3" square galvanized tube with 2x4 bolted to it and screw the stringers on to that. 3'Deep x 11" wide hole with 3 bags o'cement per hole.