I seldom worry about things that I have no control over.

Erica. Anyone worried about this?
 

My guess is you've never taken a direct hit from a hurricane.

The general rule of thumb is shelters do not allow critters.

xcaligirl - hope this helps -

Evacuation & Shelters | Sumter County, FL - Official Website
◦ South Sumter High School
706 N. Main St., SR 475
Bushnell, FL 33513
◦Only pet-friendly shelter. All pets must be crated.

Where Lake County’s shelters are located and what to bring along - Lake County Hurricane Preparedness Web Guide
From that site - "The shelters listed below are equipped to serve those residents who have registered with the County’s special-needs program, and these shelters also accept pets with up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Pets brought to these “pet-friendly” shelters must be crated, and owners must have the required paperwork with them"

Emergency Management Division | Marion County Sheriff
Website will post shelter location info when necessary.

I am a little concerned how the media is hyping this as a "dangerous" and "killer storm" approaching FL....with forecasted winds of 30 to 40 mph!!!!!!

We get that in our daily thunderstorms. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THE STATE OF fl DECLARED IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY?!? The descriptions and emotions being drummed up are the same as we get when there is a cat 2-4 headed this way.

I do not think the media performs a service when they over hype to assure audience following.

Erica. Anyone worried about this?
 

I've been through numerous hurricanes and would caution others to be very careful. Here is the list of FL hurricanes since 2000.
The period from 2000 to the present was marked by several devastating North Atlantic hurricanes; as of 2013, 63 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, cyclones in Florida over that period resulted in over $100 billion in damage[10][11] (2008 USD). Additionally, tropical cyclones in Florida were responsible for 69 direct fatalities and at least 80 indirect ones during the period. Eight cyclones affected the state in both 2003 and 2005, which were the years with the most tropical cyclones impacting the state. Every year included at least one tropical cyclone affecting the state.

The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Hurricane Charley, which was the strongest hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Andrew. Additionally, Hurricanes Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma, and Hurricane Ivan made landfall on the state as major hurricanes, although Katrina was just a Category 1 when it made landfall.

Note the last hurricane. Katrina made landfall in Mississippi but also had hurricane force winds when it hit FL.

Better safe then sorry?

Good info. Thanks for doing the research.

You're welcome VJ. It probably wouldn't hurt for the Admin to make the websites an informational sticky on TOTV.

If she does travel S to N, Crossing that much land will slow her considerably and exhaust a lot of the water. Have lived an hour N of here for over 40 years. Not worried.
Only once did we have a hurricane stall overhead for a few days and cause flooding, trees down and loss of power. Feel better?
Hmmm, better get a fresh propane tank...

The media is very disappointed that the storm fell apart and ruined their broadcasts of doom approaching and then aftermath of people suffering. They give reports of homes and lives lost in places in the islands hit by the storm that are only 4 sheets of plywood nailed together. We feel sorry for them of course but doesn't give us a a real evaluation of what to expect here.

Downgraded, thank goodness!

I'm often amused at the horror expressed by the media at the prospect of 30 mph winds here. Those winds were a drop in the bucket on Lake Michigan shoreline towns. Have sailed in them occasionally.

Weather sells.

Quite correct. 30 mph winds generated excellent sailing weather in the northeast.

The media are paid by ratings, they lie as much as politicians.