Una Comunidad Muy AgradeZIHda

We lost power in Florida with Helene because the ground was already saturated. Large old oak trees with Spanish moss hanging off of them toppled into power lines with winds that only gusted to 50 miles and hour where we are in Atlantic Beach. The ground continues to be saturated with heavy rains this weekend that are unrelated to Milton, so there is a greater likelihood of uprooted trees and flooding. On top of that, the forecast is for a slow moving storm that may still have hurricane force winds on the east coast as it transits across the Florida peninsula. Like Helene, it could also be catastrophic for people living away from the coast where building codes are less stringent.

Thanks for the update, Chris. 50 mph winds are pretty strong, and there's always the threat from tornadoes when these storms hit Florida. I have family and friends in harm's way, and they've been giving me updates of their situation. I lived on Anna Maria Island and on Sanibel Island. Anna Maria was recently devastated by Helene. Sanibel a little bit, but they were already trying to recover from Ian so things are already rough for them, Cedar Key will never again be what it was. Too many of the old original homes and buildings were ruined by Helene.

I lived in Florida for about 17 years, and although I went to a shitload of hurricane parties, including one on Captiva in an old house on wooden stilts on the Gulfside beach with waves smacking the underside while we were partying (Hurricane Freddie in 1979), I can't recall a single direct hit from any hurricane. None for the 3 years I lived in the Virgin Islands either. But in recent years it seems as if Florida has been getting multiple direct hits every year by devastating hurricanes, so something has obviously changed since my time there.

While humans can receive warnings and take action (or not) to get out of the way, Florida's wildlife can't, and I worry not just about all the beautiful old moss-covered Live Oaks but also about the animals that have nowhere to go. I've watched them try to bravely withstand the winds, but they can't do anything about the flooding except try to climb something, and many animals just aren't climbers. I fear a massacre of wildlife.

Milton is likely to reform over your area, so please don't take any risks.