[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

Keep an eye out for a Hurricane Expo. They usually have them at the rec centers. Lots of good information.

We attended one in May at Savannah Center. It was very informative.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by bruce213

There are several web sites for storm prep. Most will sell or recommend an emergency bag. Or you can see what is in the bag and custom make your own. I have a emergency kit and I breakit out beginning of the season make sure everything is working and charged.
Best advice is if you think one is coming your way "Get out of dodge". Go visit a friend, mini vacation and try to leave before a warning to leave is issued. Roads get super packed.

Why leave? You’re just contributing to the packed roads when you’re perfectly safe staying home here in TV. Many coastal residents evacuate to central FL.

[rjm1cc]

If not mentioned above cash in small bills.
Keep gas in your car as it may not be available for a day or two.
Your big risk is a tree falls on the power lines to your home and it takes several days to repair.
The risk of problems are minimal but I have been without electricity for 5 or 6 days in the past. If you need electricity then think about a generator.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Should be an interesting thread.

You will hear..........yes, no, maybe.
Also, we have incurred "a direct hit" a few years ago........not much damage.

Probably wise to do the "supplies side" of the preparation.
Food, water, batteries, gas, medications, etc.

Few Villagers have generations.............not sure if they have used them.
(I have one, but I brought it down from the North)

yes please all y'all run out today and empty walmart and publix of every bottle of water ever possible please please please.

[Pondboy]

So Hurricane Hugo landed in Myrtle Beach, SC …..ventured inland 170 miles and hit Charlotte,NC with 100 MPH winds.

Don’t think being inland will save you

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

So Hurricane Hugo landed in Myrtle Beach, SC …..ventured inland 170 miles and hit Charlotte,NC with 100 MPH winds.

Don’t think being inland will save you

The same thing happened here in Florida. A hurricane ripped through Tampa Bay but there was more extensive damage in Orlando. Unfortunately, many people evacuated from Tampa to Orlando only to find themselves in a worse spot.
Never feel 100% safe. Mother Nature is not predictable.

[crash]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

As this is my first summer as a resident here in The Villages, I was wondering what (if anything) people do to prepare for hurricane season here in The Villages. I know we are usually out of harm’s way, but Ian was initially forecasted to track right over The Villages last year, before deviating south. Most people I ask, sorta laugh it off, and don’t really do anything to prepare. I keep canned goods and water on hand as a contingency measure, having lived through the Loma Prieta earthquake of San Francisco in 1989, and the Waldo Canyon fire of Colorado Springs of 2012. I’m thinking I should buy a battery operated radio. Would keeping some empty sandbags or inflatable water barrier protection be prudent? Interested on what some of the “old-timers” who have lived here for years do. Thanks!

I am from California also and my number one recommendation is by a back pack water filter will prevent you from scrambling for drinking water. They can produce 200 gallons of clean drinking water from a dirty source say a pond. If you don’t like filtered pond water fill your bath tub but we are basically drinking filtered pond water now with the ground acting as the filter as it makes its way to the aquifer.

[westernrider75]

Originally Posted by RICH1

A gas (CNG) stove , candles, and be glad you don’t live on the South end!

Just curious about the south end comment?

[Sully2023]

A few years ago, I attended a 4th of July bbq at a friends house. A hurricane was coming toward Florida. It was my first hurricane prep. I was storing food and water. I asked if others were preparing? They looked at me and said “ what hurricane?” We get wind and rain in the villages and trees lose limbs. Some lived here several years and said they never lost power. The people from the coast come here when hurricanes come. The Wildwood community Center is a hurricane evacuation facility.

I would get basic supplies- I still have water from that last prep.

I saw pictures from a previous storm that torn off roofs in the villages. Who can say - do what makes you feel safe and comfortable.

[wawriwwawriw]

Find out hoe high your house is above see level. No need to sandbag if you are over 35 - 40 ft ASL or you are very close to a body of water I.e, lake, pond, creek, river. Do have you emergency kit readily available. If you have pets, find out we’re is the nearest shelter that accepts pets and under what condition ( county registration, vaccination, amount of food, water, cage etc.)

[PersonOfInterest]

Put gas in your Car and go buy Toilet Paper!

[Donnarae93]

Originally Posted by RICH1

A gas (CNG) stove , candles, and be glad you don’t live on the South end!

Why should the South end be more worried??

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

I lived and still do in the South end and was here during Irma when there was flooding in the northern villages but no problems down here. TV did a great job designing the retention ponds allowing water to go from one to the other and then to the golf courses. We got a lot of rain from Irma and the retention pond we live on was no where near the top and if it ever get's that high it will go over the end where no one lives and then down the road to the golf courses. No worries down here. On the other hand they were pumping water out of the northern sections for weeks, even some of the golf car tunnels were flooded. Also, you don't need to buy a radio if you have a car. Just gas, food, water and meds. A small generator wouldn't hurt, we have one but have never used it, never lost power down here for more than 30 minutes over the last 6 years however there have been long outages in some of the northern villages.

I would agree with you, but a small radio absolutely comes in handy. A weather radio is even better.
If you have to go to your car to access the radio, it's an inconvenience, hot and dark in the garage.
We invested in many long life, rechargable lanterns. Excellent decision.
My husband bought a neat gadget for the cars cigarette lighter to charge our cell phones without the motor running.

We lived on the NC coast our entire life, so I must say that ALL of the responses have been V VERY informed and wise.

Most people that we've known do not underestimate the need for preparedness, but many don't want to talk about it, I guess.

We lived through many, many hurricanes that had direct landfall on us, as Cat 1-3, but nothing like Ian, and we pray that we never do.

A lot of folks left the NC coast and went 4 hours inland with Hugo, but that storm skipped right over the coast, with barely a nudge and battered the heck out of Charlotte with downed power lines, trees and flooding.
Many peoples cars were flooded because they were parked in hotel parking lots.
Most 'transplants' don't have family inland and their evacuation plans are the best they can come up with, which include riding out a storm at a hotel/motel.
Good Luck to us all, as we enjoy life, but stay vigilent during hurricane season.

Don't forget long shelf life pkgs. sardines, tuna, salmon. Crackers. Wine.

[MidWestIA]

I was at Pine Hills for IRMA cat 5 2017 and gathered stats at that time to write what happened. The IRMA NWS wind peak was Leesburg 43 g 69 Spanish Spring 36 g 54 and 10-12 inches of rain – careful of Village – News they have some hyped numbers. It filled almost to the top all the retention ponds and flooded a few of the golf cart tunnels and The Villages overflow is to flood the golf courses some were underwater for 2 weeks. They run the sprinklers by the streets non stop to get the water out of the ponds-lakes.

We did not get roof or house damage (some houses lost a few shingles) but some BIG live oak trees knocked over due to the roots not being deep enough. Did not lose water in the villages & lost Leesburg power 19 hours Seco never lost it. Many areas around us lost both and some did not get power back for 7 days. Everything was closed for a day or two.

A few days before Irma the stores were empty of water, ice, bread, D type batteries but stores had pallets of water a day or so before it hit but no D batteries. Stores always had lots of AA batteries (I bought special lights that take AA after that). Before Irma gas stations ran out every day at some point, sporadic so 1 station had gas or a line 2 blocks long but another would only have a couple cars. (Get full tank & keep it days before it gets to you.) Tuesday night on 4 lane 301 we saw a 1 or 2 mile line at a gas station with 4 police cars with lights letting them take 1 lane and no gas at the end of Wednesday. Wednesday we took our niece to Orlando airport at 330am and the turnpike was a continuous line of cars probably still is today. LINES of cars leaving or returning empty gas stations before and a day or so after – after IRMA some cars sitting in the gas station until whenever they open no gas in the car to go anywhere.

The news HYPED it constantly and scared people (kept saying we'd get 75-95 wind then were saying 115mph gusts). People tried to leave a couple days before in huge lines and we heard many ended up in shelters further north because of no rooms in hotels or no gas to go further but lots of people stayed with someone they knew further inland. People on the coast that will be hit swarm inland and buy up everything a day or so before it hits.

My neighbor is a Florida guy and has been through 15 hurricanes. His advice is don’t watch the news/weather they hype it all and overplay the effects. We were Supposed to have wind 85-90 and our Villages houses are built to a 2004 hurricane standard of a little over 100 but hurricanes spin off tornados from the top right side so that is the real Villages danger.

[Limey]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

As this is my first summer as a resident here in The Villages, I was wondering what (if anything) people do to prepare for hurricane season here in The Villages. I know we are usually out of harm’s way, but Ian was initially forecasted to track right over The Villages last year, before deviating south. Most people I ask, sorta laugh it off, and don’t really do anything to prepare. I keep canned goods and water on hand as a contingency measure, having lived through the Loma Prieta earthquake of San Francisco in 1989, and the Waldo Canyon fire of Colorado Springs of 2012. I’m thinking I should buy a battery operated radio. Would keeping some empty sandbags or inflatable water barrier protection be prudent? Interested on what some of the “old-timers” who have lived here for years do. Thanks!

When we first came we had no experience with hurricanes. We did everything suggested, filled bathtub with water, taped up windows & doors, had emergency supply of food, bottled water, filled up car with gas, stored photos & documents in the dishwasher (It's waterproof) & got ready to leave. Checked with neighbors & found they all just stay put & don't do anything. Although we were prepared, we didn't need a thing. Power never went out as it's mostly underground, no flooding & the interstate was at a standstill. Not saying don't do any of this but for us it was unnecessary panic. Now we just make sure we have dry food for a few days, that's all.