Andrew was something.
Mobile home parks were specifically under a mandatory evacuation order in Punta Gorda for 24 hours prior to the storm.
I never said anybody deserves such devastation.
It's just that this one didn't look like it was going to be a false alarm early on. The weather maps from Thursday looked ominous enough for me.
Who knows what that storm is going to do. It's picking up strength at sea last I heard.
It could hopefully go off into the Atlantic. If things go badly it may go around Hatteras and then zig to the NW right up the Chesapeake as Agnes did in '72 [it eventually went into PA, then zagged again NE before dissipating in New York]. A lot of people would be affected. I remember that [as a TD] Agnes blew out part of the US 1 bridge between Fairfax and Prince William counties here in Northern VA.
ps. My father is in the tidewater section of VA right now -- Northern Neck of the Rappahannock. I'm worried about him.
It was Cat2 before & after passing over Cuba, and was fully expected to be Cat3 before landfall in Florida.
It did go to Cat4 amazingly quickly, but I fully expected damage in the area that now has damage - perhaps not such significant damage, but it was obvious that the area was in danger of a significant hit.
Add the rains from hurricanes, the storm surge that was expected, and the fact that much of that area was somewhat flooded already, and there was a large obvious potential for damage.
No matter what sophisticated models Man can come up with, nature has the final say.
It's incredibly cold hearted that anyone would imply they 'got what they deserved' I hope that noone does that here. You rely on what the weather experts tell you and decisions made by those in authority in the state. Our forecasters have become very accurate but they still can't know 100% if a storm will turn or how it will act.
You're right. People evacuated the Tampa area and headed east to Orlando, filling up all the hotels.
Charlie changed course and slammed smack into Kissimmee and Orlando.
This one grew very fast. Heck, a few days ago, it was a small summer squall. Then it hits as a 4!
God help those in Florida.