Floridian's get your Generators ready!

[glb]

I'm in Miami outside of the evacuation zone. I have battery-powered air pumps but that's it. I'll freeze some waters bottles today. Luckily my tank is fowlr but it's only 6 mos. old. I just got everything up and running and don't want to lose it all. I lived through Andrew and the 3 2005 storms. We're staying because our house is solid as a rock. But anyone in an evac zone should leave. Trust me. The destructiveness of this kind of storm is hard to put into words. And the aftermath is awful. Most importantly, everyone stay safe. No thing is as important as your safety.

 

[kashman100]

I just read the damage likely if it hits as a Category 5 storm. I would leave

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

Up in Broward here(Margate)...solid house with shutters.. got supplies....gonna ride it out too...locals give a shout if you need any help throughout this mess

 

[Captmcfly]

I'm hoping Irma gets distracted and goes wandering off into the Atlantic to never be heard from again. I'm in SC and not FL, but still worried. No generator, but I have a UPS for a computer that should keep a few pumps and a heater running for a little while. I need to get one of those LP generators on a transfer switch and convert it to run on my house NG. That would be the ultimate tank insurance policy there...

Normally they come natural gas and have to be converted to run lp gas .. either it's no big deal to go one way or the other. I hard wired a 6500 watt portable into my home. It's not automatic but I give it one pull and it's running throw the main hit the disconnect and the house will run all day on 8 gallons. My home is 1500 sq feet. I live in ny we don't get hurricanes but do get ice storms and FEET of snow. It's not uncommon to get 4 feet of snow 5 plus times a year in a matter of a few hrs.

 

[dylana407]

How do you guys weigh down the generator so it doesn't fly away? Do you cover the generator while it is running?

 

[Mattrg02]

How do you guys weigh down the generator so it doesn't fly away? Do you cover the generator while it is running?

Just hang on to it.

 

[dylana407]

Just hang on to it.

LOL. I would it it wasn't a CAT5

 

[Mattrg02]

LOL. I would it it wasn't a CAT5

If you change your mind, remember the golden rule: pictures or it didn't happen.

 

[glb]

I just read the damage likely if it hits as a Category 5 storm. I would leave

I lived through Andrew. The problem with leaving is getting back afterwards. It depends on where you are. For the Keys and other low-lying areas, evacuate. If we're going to be without power for a long time, we'll probably leave then. If the governor tells us to leave we will. I know our house is super strong (it's 70 years old and has survived many super storms. Plus we have pets.

 

[Richard baker]

Thank you very much for that as I would do the same for most on this forum ..

 

[Desmo996]

Where in the panhandle?

I'm in the Fort Walton Beach area.... seems like we aren't in for too much now... as long as the model is accurate....
My boss has a great sayin, which he doesn't take credit for,
"All models are wrong, some are useful."

 

[Mattrg02]

I'm in the Fort Walton Beach area.... seems like we aren't in for too much now... as long as the model is accurate....
My boss has a great sayin, which he doesn't take credit for,
"All models are wrong, some are useful."

Yeah, you'll probably be fine. I need this storm to push out to sea. Saint Augustine is where I was married and where I was supposed to be next week. It's now right in the path of this devil.

 

[cracker]

I managed to get a 6500 generator. Wanted a stand by but man this year went by so fast! I have my 80 something Mom to take of so anything was going to work ! I got mine thru Ace hardware they are taking prepaid orders . They are here in Jacksonville.

 

[dbl]

Naples checking in. One suggestion since the stores are running out of water. If you have a mixing station with two containers, rinse out the saltwater container and fill it with fresh water. It's not going to hurt us to drink RODI water for a few days if necessary. I personally have two 55 gallon containers now filled with fresh water, so 110 gallons. That equates to about 850 or so bottles of water.

Bottom line though...human safety is priority #1. Things can be replaced. So to all Floridians, please be safe and hopefully we all get through this without major damage.

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

Right now I have a Generac 4000 watt generator with a lot of extension cords. I am getting the whole house auto generator installed this coming year at tax time. I would have already had it but the wife said it was a waste if money. However after losing power for a week last year because of the hurricane that came through and now having a newborn in the house she says the "it is a must to get the generator with the auto switch on it's. LoL... gotta love the spouse's. On a serious note though guys... if you are in Florida be safe.. prepare for the worst and hope for the best. My family will be praying for all you guys from South Carolina.

 

[jazzmik]

That moment when you finally find a generator in stock after calling every place under the sun for a week, spend 1300 on it.... but can't get a gas can anywhere :mad::(

 

[Radman73]

That moment when you finally find a generator in stock after calling every place under the sun for a week, spend 1300 on it.... but can't get a gas can anywhere :mad::(

It's crazy. We're able to find gas after searching a bit west of Orlando.

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

Not much gas to be found down south here, few stations here and there

 

[RTab619]

How do all of you cover and protect your generators from the rain?

 

[dylana407]

It's crazy. We're able to find gas after searching a bit west of Orlando.

Check Sam's Club. They had gas yesterday. Not sure about today though.