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mysterydip

Ignorant question: What are your options as far as staying safe as it hits?

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Like any hurricane: stay away from storm surge areas (anywhere coastal), and be in a well-built building.

Or if you are a Floridian, get a 24 rack of some cheap beer those bulk hamburger disks from Walmart and some charcoal.

Source: Ex-floridian.

Stay safe and good luck!

As a current Native Floridian that just got a taste of Irma and just got utility power back on today, I got a good chuckle out of this.

Of course the death and destruction are nothing to laugh at, though I do often find humor in many other inappropriate things as well.

I hope you didn't take too much damage!

Fared pretty well through this one. Some minor water damage to the ceiling due to some lost shingles, and most of the privacy fence was toppled. I learned from the last ones and was well prepared this time -- trimmed trees beforehand, had generators with plenty of fuel, and had stocked up on supplies well before her arrival.

I lost about 1/4 of my roof with significant water damage in the Charley/Jeanne/Francis storms of 2004.

Also, afterward, don't go near wires or any floodwater that may be in contact with something electric.

Source: Was electrocuted in post-Irma floodwater, and am lucky to be still alive.

Story time?

And glad you're ok.

Wow that soundsd bad. Would've thought that fuses prevent any electricity in water for more than a second or so? So walking through water the day after should be fine? Or did it happen during the storm?

I'm guessing maybe the fuse won't be triggered if there is not quite enough current. The floodwater has more resistance than a short circuit.

Or maybe there was no fuse or maybe wire from before the fuse was connected to the water.

Whatever the case, it doesn't always work. Several rescuers in Houston were electrocuted as well, this after several days.

Well I'm about to find out what works since I'm a tourist and it's my first encounter with such a thing. But as sibling said, a big solid building and supplies for a few days. Just hope to make it to the airport on thursday and fly back home.

Good luck and stay safe!

Just survived Irma on St. Maarten. That sounds like a solid plan. Good luck. If your experience was anything like mine, I seriously doubt you will be able to fly on Thursday, but I hope I'm wrong. If you get a chance to stock up on even more water + food, do it -- you really can't have too much.

Good luck and make sure to get some kind of heat source to cook on. Cold canned food tastes horrible. :/

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