IMPORTANT Hurricane Milton

My mom made it through the storm! Her new build condo in Port Richey suffered no damage, although there was some minor flooding in the parking area. If the hurricane had made landfall 30 miles north, I don't think the outcome would have been as fortunate. I could not dissuade her to evacuate; she's a stubborn ol' gal, lol.

Thank you for your inquiry! This is what makes GC so great

 

What's insane is the USCG had already rescued him once and then he went back out to try and fix the boat and get it in. Epirb, life jacket, cooler. Strap it all together and hang on

 

Drove down to my office in south Tampa. No power in the office condo complex, Channel 13 (Fox affiliate) on generators, huge lines for gas, and lots of traffic lights out (people have no idea what to do when approaching a flashing or inoperable traffic light.) I did not encounter any flooded streets, but I avoided the areas that typically flood.

 

It's always scary pulling up to traffic lights that aren't working. No telling what idiot driver might do what.

 

Same with roundabouts.

 

My only question is do the Rays repair the Trop roof or play open air? Sucks to have to repair something that will soon be torn down.

 

We are in S. Tampa too. The office and my house got power Sunday afternoon. Mostly a lot of debris but it could have been so much worse. No power for 4 days isn't fun though.

 

Still alive...

 

When the power was out, did you continue to flip the light switch every time you walked into the bathroom?

 

Yes, but only at night.
We evacuated to the in-laws house and I cut my main breaker in the house just in case.
Buddy of mine who also lives down there did the same thing but his power was on but he had cut the main breaker and didn't remember doing it. He was looking at his neighbors wondering why their lights were on then figured it out.

 

Our power went out for eight hours with Helene. I was out in the yard picking up branches when I realized the AC was running. Actually stood there a few seconds thinking "how can that run when the power is out ...?" Then I finally realized.

 

Had to "watch" the Gator game on that ESPN gamecast thing where it's a graphical play by play. Ran my phone out of charge so sat in the car to charge it up while watching it. That experience is more frustrating than watching it on TV. Guess I could have use the radio in the car.

 

Is anyone concerned about mold growing in the AC system while the power was out? Any experience from earlier hurricanes?

This was the first time that my son had to evacuate and leave his house unattended. The power will be off for a week or more before he gets back. Thanks!

 

Unless there was water intrusion, I would not be concerned. I've been on longer vacations than that and have shut my HVAC system completely with no issues.

 

Traveled back down to the office this morning due to TECO's Outage Map giving me the green light. Only two traffic lights out, most stations had gas with little to no lines.

Went in my office, switched the breakers on and no power. A neighbor was there, said power was on for less than 5 minutes, she heard a loud boom and the lights went out again.

Attention TECO: Red goes to positive, black to negative.

Just got an email from TECO saying service restored. Court system in Hillsborough back in operation tomorrow, having electricity would be a bonus.

 

Thanks! His neighbor went in the house and looked around and didn’t see any water coming through windows or ceiling. Looks like he’s escaped with no damage to house and only some cleanup in the yard.

 

Read somewhere that Milton was the 65th most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the US. Scant consolation to those who suffered loss, but a far cry from the storm of the century.