tropical storm

Storm stories abound on the evening news as autumn approaches. Down here in the south, we have a unique storm hazard. Alligators. They can appear in the ditch by the driveway, in the swimming pools, the ponds of a subdivision or quite seriously, in your living room if a door is left open. We once had a 8'6" gator take haven in our courtyard. Had to call in professional trappers fromFlorida Fish and Wildlife (one was a woman, I'm proud to say). » read more

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I've been embarrassed all day for the those reporters in hooded windbreakers on location at the beach talking about the storm. Their sleeves weren't flapping, the hoods weren't wet and the sea behind them was calm yet they were working to drum up a sense of urgency.

They're getting wet now. The rain is steady, daylight is gone and the wind is picking up. My dining room is full of wicker furniture from the porch and the palm trees on the porch are lying down.

I've slowed down my movement somewhat - I'm stumped interpreting the red band scrolling words across the bottom of the TV screen "ordered voluntary evacuation". Can they order someone to volunteer? They are talking about my neighborhood.

Just now the weather man on the air stopped to stare a a piece of paper handed to him. "There's no way Fay is going to head further to the west," he said" The storm is coming in right here in Southwest Florida. The storm surge is going to be your biggest issue folks."

We live on the waterfront. » read more

The Weather Channel guy is sometimes misinformed. I know this because he told me the winds in my neighborhood are at about 25 mph. He is quite wrong. I'm on the porch and the tree branches are barely moving.

Local forecasters are calling Tropical Storm Fay "the Joker" for its elusive tendencies. Hurricane modeling predictions are inconsistent and the storm is unpredictable. No one is excessively concerned on my street. At our house, we've gathered up all our loose items and put them inside, which is a real bonus for me. » read more