[DeanFL]

We have seen some good tips by TV folks on this forum.

I just heard from a neighbor re one I haven't heard. Would like to share. He's a long-time Floridian and has ridden other storms. He has a vertical brace for their garage door which attaches to the header and bolts to the floor. Providing support for the door not to push in with heavy winds. His home faces an open street at the top of a hill here in Gilchrist, so he may be vulnerable.

As a precaution, I may do a workaround on that. Put a long piece of wood (2x4) vertical against the inner garage door horizontal braces and back the car/golf cart to them. The door would be secure against pushing in. Just make sure to move the vehicles a bit and the wood before opening the door after it's over...

Any other unusual/valuable tips for us to use???

[Jima64]

Do not run portable generators in your garage or onn a covered patio because of the gas exhaust fumes

[jimbo2012]

your door in Gilchrist is rated at 140mph!



.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

your door in Gilchrist is rated at 140mph!



.

That's a fast door

[Villager Joyce]

Run your disposal while you have power. It stinks pretty quickly!

[lorilorilori]

thanks for the tips
Much appreciated

[billethkid]

Put a glass of water in the freezer until it freezes solid.
Then put a coin on top and put it back in the freezer.

If you are away from home for whatever reason, you can check to see if the coin is still on top. If submerged in the ice at all you know your power was off, and guess about duration.
If on the bottom....for a long time.

Just another indicator.

[Henryk]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Put a glass of water in the freezer until it freezes solid.
Then put a coin on top and put it back in the freezer. ...

Just another indicator.

Very clever!

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Don't take shelter in a golf cart tunnel unless you are Lloyd Bridges.

[hotpotato]

I lived in Port St. Lucie during Francis and Jeanne. It is now too late to do much of anything pre hurricane except pick-up stuff around your yard including the house sign. You may also want to take off the window screens as they may fly to the next county over and they offer no protection to the window.

My best observation for during the hurricane is to just stay in your house, the houses are built to a hurricane code,( apparently approx 110 MPH in 2002 code going up to around 140 MPH in latest code but measurement methodologies and applications changed so not necessarily apples to apples) they are not going to fall down, and any falling tree, oh yes they will come down, you would be better inside than outside anyways. The garage door also has high wind code rating and should be fine without any additional bracing. Taping the windows does nothing, actually in Port St. Lucie I saw surprising few blown out windows, and the winds were 110 mph to 120 mph and a lot of these were pre-code windows. So just stay in your house, drink some fine wine, and chill.

Also you cannot walk in hurricane force winds anyways. You will do a Mary Poppins.

If the eye goes thru remember to get back inside if you go outside. Both of "my" hurricanes went thru at night, so running around as a howling maniac in the pitch black mist is an experience worthy of my bucket list, even if your wife threatens to have you locked up. But damn, those wind come back quick, I mean quick.

After the Hurricane expect to feel weird and disoriented. My neighbor described it as "Everyone was a zombie for 3 or 4 days". Not a good time to make immediate financial decisions.

Expect every sleeze in world to come thru and try to hustle you. They come in from all 50 states and most of them are CON artists. Some of them are slicker that others. Just say no. I cannot stress this enough, it is not a joke, this is NOT an exaggeration, they will come thru, and they will come thru in LARGE numbers, and they will rip you off.

Also, if you see your neighbor being preyed upon, please go over and do something. Do not expect the cops to do anything as they will be overwhelmed. And I believe Community Watch has no real powers.

There should be groups set up, typically church groups, do do things like blue roof and minor repairs, typically for free. And sometimes, even the government will step up. Check out you options. Dont go with the first guy or gal who shows up in their pickup.

It may take weeks, but things will get back to normal. Most injuries are self-inflicted.

[socrafty]

...

[villagetinker]

Hotpotato,

I liked you reply, lots of good info.

VT

[Northwoods]

I have a question... we enclosed our lanai with sliding floor to almost the ceiling windows. We plan to have them closed during the hurricane. Someone told me that the lanai sliding windows are only capable of withstanding about 75 mph winds. I was told to leave a slight crack in 1 or 2 of the sliding panels to neutralize the pressure. Does anyone KNOW if this would be a good thing? Or should we completely close all the sliding windows in our lanai?

[Happinow]

This is a powerful storm and things could change at any time. Today, we boarded up our windows with plywood. I feel better now about "riding it out". I've been a nervous wreck having never gone through a hurricane before. For our garage door, we will take a few of our chaise lounge thick cushions and pull the car up to the garage very close....enough to trap the cushions between the car and the garage door. This should keep it from buckling. All of our outside furniture is in and there is nothing that could potentially be a flying torpedo.

Don't forget to take the sign off the light pole. That will blow off. Also, we pulled the entryway outside light up about 6" with a zip tie. With the wind, this light will swing and possibly break free and come through the front door window.

Of course we have a blowup mattress for the laundry room since it's the safest place in our home. Yes, it will be tight but we will do what it takes to be safe!

Please, everyone take this storm seriously so we can all continue to enjoy our retirement in TV. If anything, over prepare. It won't hurt a thing!

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I have a question... we enclosed our lanai with sliding floor to almost the ceiling windows. We plan to have them closed during the hurricane. Someone told me that the lanai sliding windows are only capable of withstanding about 75 mph winds. I was told to leave a slight crack in 1 or 2 of the sliding panels to neutralize the pressure. Does anyone KNOW if this would be a good thing? Or should we completely close all the sliding windows in our lanai?

No way do U leave it open, google it

these new sliders had to be built to code the year they were installed.

I doubt they are only 75mph