calliecritturs
Posted : 8/18/2008 3:32:30 PM
Ok -- Faye is another of those storms that no one wants to say is a non-event because folks got killed in Haiti, but neither does anyone want to "call" it as bad or not. It could fizzle in the Gulf (it's gone PAST the Keys but that means it's gone back out into water and could re-form). Now it could re-form as a Category 1 (or worse) or it could just fizzle out (but likely not totally).
The problem is some not-to-bright-person in Haiti (I think) drove a packed bus of people over a rain-swollen river and they can't tell yet if all 50 people died or if only 5-6 died. It's storm-related but not like 50 scattered people died in separate incidents (which happens in huge storms) but this was one unfortunate, horrible incident where someone out of panic exercised bad judgment or it was just a horrible horrible accident -- but because there is a BIG potential death toll already, no one wants to ignore this storm.
Also -- the entire Central Florida corridor (from Tampa to Daytona with Orlando in the middle) is now almost one big huge suburb -- so you've got a ton of folks with kids (and Mom and Dad all work and/or live in Tampa, Orlando or to Smyrna/Daytona) -- so everyone needs child care if their schools are closed but THEY have to work. So they gotta call closures "early"
Polk schools are closed tomorrow PERIOD. Weather channel says it's only a tropical storm now and it is hitting the Keys and it should be "over" and above us by Wednesday but the whole peninsula is going to take a soaking. *Should* hopefully be a non-event -- but those non-events have a huge way of walloping people like Erica's shelter and Megan's dog business *sigh*.
However -- they're wanting everyone to err on the side of caution and we haven't had a significant storm yet this year. My boss says if the schools are closed tomorrow WE will close. The girl I work with lives in Polk County. (like I said, Polk schools are *already* closed and she's gotta drive up here thru that)
My husband works for a resort and they just plain don't close unless absolutely forced to by mandated evac -- so if I wind up at home it will be me and the 4 feets and Hootie. However, I know 16 feets that aren't gonna wanna go outside tomorrow anyway.
So the burning question beyond safety is ....
How long can everbuddy's animals "hold it" so they don't have to go out and get their feets wet? Billy wants to know if he gets Mom to get him a boat, can he lift his leg over the side wif-out tippin over? Luna wants to know if she can just use an innertube and balance on the edges? Tink's ordered LOTS and LOTS of pixie dust for ALL of us!!
**I want some too**
Sunshine Girl -- I'll send ya some if I can get it, and then Erica and Megan will get some too. DumDog's gotta day or so yet to prepare to get drenched.