Milton

[Seevee]

Jklotz​

I don't know why anyone would want to ride out a hurricane on the islands in a condo, not for me, but MANY people did that, along with many that stayed on the mainland in higher properties.

I could have stayed with my kid in Largo, but no power, so I'll wait.

I did have neighbors that stayed and reported than my home and boat came thru fine, so my new dock lines paid off.

Jay and 3rd Order, glad you came out ok!

 

[Larry M]

I don’t get it? This was left in Marina Jack, Sarasota. Why?

 

[Hippocampus]

Interesting slant posted by several. Without decreasing heat trapping gases population levels will fall. Loss of agricultural land, loss of potable water, direct heat related deaths. Loss of housing and infrastructure from fire, storms and flooding so deaths from exposure. Wars as climate related migration increases. We are already seeing political instability due to this now. We cannot eliminate our footprint but we can both decrease it and work to mitigate the ongoing and future impact.

I currently own a trawler. Although I live in a zero footprint house and drive a EV truck I’m in no position to throw stones. The big contributors now are concrete, factory farms, and electricity production. Although Amazon is using Rivian EVs for final delivery current EVs make no sense for folks traveling or towing long distances routinely where infrastructure doesn’t exist or climate doesn’t allow. However nether does the increase in population into obvious at risk regions. Nor not substituting ways to decrease heat trapping gasses with currently available technologies without negative economic impacts.

Perhaps economics and migration to lower risk regions will mitigate impact to some extent. Find it remarkable how well our government at state and federal levels mitigated deaths from Helene and they continue to do markable work for the folks in NC inspite of the gross lies being told.
But with multiple friends having lost their houses and taking terrible financial hits believe it’s time to wake up. Arrange your personal circumstances so you are less at risk. Do what’s reasonable for you to mitigate the risks for your children. Every little bit helps.

 

[psneeld]

Many here don't like lectures on pure boating topics... think about doing it on other subjects.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Sweet! Glad you did ok.

 

[O C Diver]

Interesting slant posted by several. Without decreasing heat trapping gases population levels will fall. Loss of agricultural land, loss of potable water, direct heat related deaths. Loss of housing and infrastructure from fire, storms and flooding so deaths from exposure. Wars as climate related migration increases. We are already seeing political instability due to this now. We cannot eliminate our footprint but we can both decrease it and work to mitigate the ongoing and future impact.

As America's carbon footprint diminishes by percentage (<15%), and China / India's footprint increases (>40%), what's your plan to force China to stop building dirty coal fired power plants? It's a pointless exercise until you force them to change.

Ted

 

[CharlieO.]

We talk about moving south but I think Florida is a little too far south, I have enough stuff to worry about without adding hurricanes to the mix.
I am glad this storm didn't come ashore at full power and feel for those affected by these hurricanes.

 

[Hippocampus]

Weather prediction and climate science is already at the cutting edge of tech. Beyond marine accurate predictions have huge impact in transportation especially air and huge impact on industry especially agriculture. AI is not the obstacle rather its computing power. It’s quantum computing that will be the foundation of the next massive improvement.

 

[Hippocampus]

We talk about moving south but I think Florida is a little too far south, I have enough stuff to worry about without adding hurricanes to the mix.
I am glad this storm didn't come ashore at full power and feel for those affected by these hurricanes.

Came to the same conclusion. Never much liked Fl. except for the area around Destin and Captiva. To many people and the Florida of Travis McGee has disappeared. But in our travels south really did like the Hilton Head area. They have skated the last few years but even the ICW side still shows evidence of damage.
We spent time looking at houses with an eye for vulnerability and operating costs. Did the same for the Beaufort SC area. In both cases initial costs were too high for what you get, insurance a problem and risks high so waved. Back to winter vacations and occasional freezing rain. But boating season has expanded in The NE and as we speak the stripers are still running.

 

[mvweebles]

We are back at our second floor condo in St Pete Beach. No power but the weather is gorgeous - low 70s and dry. You'd never know Milton came roaring through a bit more than 24 hours ago. We just made a drive around looking for coffee which was almost as rare as gasoline: we found one gas station open and with gas out of perhaps 100 that we drove past, and it was shutting down pumps as we topped off. At least 90% of Pinellas/St Petersburg is dark.

We had already begun planning to move inland a few miles to escape storm risk. Just waiting for the right place to come up for sale. Our timing was almost right. We're fine as we have options and have done a lot of remodel work over the years so this isn't an unknown, but still it will delay our return to Weebles and cruising by several months.

For those who eschew Florida entirely due to storm risk, I understand but in my opinion you're tossing the baby with the bathwater. The postcard parts of Florida with beach scenes are definitely red zones, but there is much more here. We also have a cabin in Colorado that has been close to a couple major fires over the years. We moved to Florida from San Francisco where there is earthquake risk. It turns out the places we enjoy being have some sort of major downside to them. I guess Minnesota or Rochester NY are predictable but cold as hell for much of the year. I find the grey days and early sunsets depressing. Death of a thousand papercuts to my tastes, but some folks like winter. As an added bonus. Florida real estate has contributed mightily to our nest egg (though right now, it has reversed course a bit).

So live a safe life free of winter sunshine with shorts and flip-flops stored for six months knowing you will not have to endure the ravages of mother nature's periodic fury (Pinellas County was last clobbered in 1921, though there's nothing saying it couldn't happen again next week......just as Milton followed Helene). Live a safe life without risk. Die knowing you stayed far from harms way.

Now.....where's my next cup of coffee????

Peter

 

[Larry M]

There are still a few knuckle heads that out there that aren’t helping boat insurance availability in Florida. A big boat in front of Marina Jack, Sarasota.

 

[Hippocampus]

Good attitude Peter for you. Think you viewed risk benefits and have the resources to rebound. However many don’t.

The other side of the coin is many areas have become more attractive as climate change proceeds.First year I was in the tropics wife continued to work. She saw 11’ of snow that winter. Now it’s been nearly a decade since the treaded snow blower left the garage. Thinking of selling it. Now I catch black bass, Bonita and other species I never saw in quantity before. I can start fishing in April and stop in November. I haven’t used my ice tip ups in over a decade.

You’re talking to someone who was an iron butt, rode dirt, rock climber and bluewater sailor. Don’t mind risk. But have always prepped to decrease risk. Still recognize risks change. Some risks you can’t mitigate then avoiding them altogether. I can’t change the current increased risks from climate change. I can’t change with the increased frequency of rapid intensification I’m going to get a 3 d warning or less of the details of cyclonic storms. For me an unacceptable risk. Different folks-different boats. Respect your decisions.


But remember a prior crew. He signed up for. salty Dawg with me. His intention was to sell his business and house and go international sailing. Sandy hit. His business and house in Atlantic City area weren’t sellable. His dream destroyed. He signed on to the SDR a few years after. Thinking that was the only way he’d be able to do passages. Now years later he is still upside down and working. Most people don’t want that to happen to them.

People focus on the acute storm and immediate clean up. The damage persists for years and years. Have had great fun in Florida. If you stay away from the high population density areas there’s beauty. Wife loves horses and we have friends in horse/cattle country. It’s still nice. I like skinny water fishing using a fly and Florida has a lot of it. Much to love. But keeping a boat in the water full time there or owning a house. No thanks. I’ll come and visit.

 

[psneeld]

We are back at our second floor condo in St Pete Beach. No power but the weather is gorgeous - low 70s and dry. You'd never know Milton came roaring through a bit more than 24 hours ago. We just made a drive around looking for coffee which was almost as rare as gasoline: we found one gas station open and with gas out of perhaps 100 that we drove past, and it was shutting down pumps as we topped off. At least 90% of Pinellas/St Petersburg is dark.

We had already begun planning to move inland a few miles to escape storm risk. Just waiting for the right place to come up for sale. Our timing was almost right. We're fine as we have options and have done a lot of remodel work over the years so this isn't an unknown, but still it will delay our return to Weebles and cruising by several months.

For those who eschew Florida entirely due to storm risk, I understand but in my opinion you're tossing the baby with the bathwater. The postcard parts of Florida with beach scenes are definitely red zones, but there is much more here. We also have a cabin in Colorado that has been close to a couple major fires over the years. We moved to Florida from San Francisco where there is earthquake risk. It turns out the places we enjoy being have some sort of major downside to them. I guess Minnesota or Rochester NY are predictable but cold as hell for much of the year. I find the grey days and early sunsets depressing. Death of a thousand papercuts to my tastes, but some folks like winter. As an added bonus. Florida real estate has contributed mightily to our nest egg (though right now, it has reversed course a bit).

So live a safe life free of winter sunshine with shorts and flip-flops stored for six months knowing you will not have to endure the ravages of mother nature's periodic fury (Pinellas County was last clobbered in 1921, though there's nothing saying it couldn't happen again next week......just as Milton followed Helene). Live a safe life without risk. Die knowing you stayed far from harms way.

Now.....where's my next cup of coffee????

Peter

Agree.... would much rather risk the occasional hurricane in Florida (don't HAVE to live less than15 feet above sea level).

Much more likely to die on the road when living in the I95 corridor between Washington and Boston.

I loved summering in my boat in South Jersey (except Dec-Mar when there all year) but one has to drive through the infestation to get there and back out. Almost makes me stop visiting my one son there via RV trip....but 2 days of driving misery is worth it each trip. Sure.... those driving headaches exist in lots of places...just not sure as large an area as that.

Lots of Florida is rural and pretty safe from hurricanes... just not the places most people want to be.... the coasts/water access. Even those coastal have had pretty good warnings (way more than 3 days) lately to get to safety... but if your house, boat, RV or business are still in an inundation area... that's no different than many other areas of the US and different disasters.