Hurricane Irma - 11am update

SD - https://www.reddit.com/r/weather/comments/6yjsnq/famous_soggy_dollar_bar_in_jost_van_dyke_bvi/

So why does the Consortium have this pic up for this USVI article?

Mapp Suspends Curfew On St. Croix; Territory's First Responder Resources Being Redirected To St. Thomas

4 fatalities reported on STT so far.

Ferries sunk

south cakalakie for the record

That is still ambiguous. For example, here in Barbados, "cakalakie" means "vagina". So, when you are in the Caribbeans, saying "I am from cakalakie" would come across as uninformative.

a little humor always brightens the day.

any word on the STT locals who come to this board? even OT?

I hope not!!!!!!
But I did read that as well.
I hope they are spared, that is not fair if they get hit again.

Now it looks like Jose is going to clobber Barbuda again on Sat.

Yes! Alana hope Irma will miss you!
You are near Clearwater, I think? On the west coast?
If so the current path will put the worst of the storm east of you but it will be real close.

I hope your house on STT is ok, too, and your tenants! Please update us all if you have news.

And Alana stay safe up there in Florida

We are packing to move to higher ground in St. Pete if we need to on Sunday early afternoon. Our county is under mandatory evac for coastal properties - police are already starting to go door to door.

North facing windows being boarded up. Important papers boxed. Car trunk loaded with water and non-perishable foods. Pet crates assembled and ready for the car. Prescriptions are in baggies. Getting the generator and tools packed into the truck.

Ironically, all of our belongings are in plastic bins ready to move to STX in October. Just grabbing what I need now.

If storm gets into Tampa Bay - all bets are off.

Very bad juju.

wow. i used to live in indian rocks beach, barrier island could get flooded. stay safe. can you even get gas to get out?

check gas buddy-it is supposed to tell you which gas stations have gas

No Evac orders for me yet, but I expect it by late today or tomorrow morning (Apollo Beach) but I'm going to head to my parents house inland. More in the path, but a hurricane 'proof' house with some tornado proof rooms.

is it flood proof? i think that seems to be a bigger threat.

is it flood proof? i think that seems to be a bigger threat.

Yes, it is. over 40' above sea level, and the house itself is is 4' above ground level. With a deep creek nearby that drains quickly.

SOUNDS GOOD. stay safe

Irma Relief for our Sister Islands

a little humor always brightens the day.

any word on the STT locals who come to this board? even OT?

OT I have not heard about but Northside got hit real hard. Roads are so so passable but tons of wires down all over. If you are not on AT&T you probably dont have cell service. Internet pretty much non existant, was able to send this because of the odd hour. Texting is kinda possible but no attachments really go through.

Way worse than Marilyn by what I have seen so far, and the recovery is going to be way worse. I am trying to get over to STX when things open back up for a week or two to give it a little time to settle out before I settle into recovery mode. Nothing is happening except the wait. Supplies I know are on the way but it is a wait and see mode because of Jose as to when they will get here. STT is going to need all the help we can get in the weeks/months/years tto come....

i wish there were something i could say to make you all over there feel better. just know we are doing what we can over here to help.

i wish there were something i could say to make you all over there feel better. just know we are doing what we can over here to help.

We are. I have been doing everything in my power - phone calls, terse letters reminding media that USVI is in fact a UNITED STATES territory, angry tweets directly to media.

In direct contact with Stacy to see what I can do and how best to help in the immediate situation. When things settle down and first responders have had a chance to establish themselves, and when an extra body won't be a nuisance, I will be there for hands on help.

#VIStong, people...VIStrong. We got this. It's going to take some time and it's going to take some effort and it's going to take a lot of money but help is arriving and more on the way.

Hang tight.

You can give thru Tim Duncan's effort:

Don't Forget About the Islands

Or go thru here. There's a cargo staging area from Philly, and you can order supplies thru Amazon:

VI Strong

In eufala, Alabama. The unholy trinity- wind rain storm surge.

CNN is broadcasting incredible live video of the eyewall moving over Naples, FL.

I got to experience the eye last night in Arcadia. It was a good break to refill the generator.

I have circled STT and STJ two days in a helicopter since Irma hit the islands. The damage done to both islands is hard to describe, so I took some video while in the air. For anyone interested, you can see them at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE0wHAHv0qSP_Di7uZbEqxQ

Thank you for the videos. I haven't sent my drone up in STX because of all the air traffic.

Just devastating. I was not expecting such shock from the trees. I wonder how long do the trees take to make a recovery. It looks surreal.

Just crushed for our Islands and having a VERY hard time being in STX and friends in STT, especially my old community on the northside running out of supplies. Still haven't heard from some directly but coconut telegraph says they're ok.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly the trees refoliate. After Hugo went through STX the trees were completely defoliated, looked like a winter scene, that is the trees that were still standing. The hurricanes have been doing this to the native trees for thousands of years.

I think you'll be surprised how quickly the trees refoliate. After Hugo went through STX the trees were completely defoliated, looked like a winter scene, that is the trees that were still standing. The hurricanes have been doing this to the native trees for thousands of years.

I know they'll come back mor quickly than we think. Just so sad that the flamboyants were having a great year and were at their peak when I left on Tuesday ????

i hear trump is going to visit in a week or two

Yes I had Channel 14 (is that ABC?) on the news they said Trump is going to visit, but didn't know how that would be possible due to devastation (or something like that)

Well it IS possible - he can fly into STX and go to STT on a helicopter. Helicopters at the airport are going to STT and back around the clock.

There are tents set up right next to our office (we are next to the National Guard building) for the soldiers to sleep in between shifts.

They are working hard around the clock.

i hear trump is going to visit in a week or two