Milton

[N Florida Mike]

Another one on the way. Those of you south of me, what are your thoughts and plans? 

[Mike L]

I’m staying home. 
The problem is I may not be able to get back. 
After a direct hit and being in the eye of both Charlie and Ian and being just outside of Debbie and Helene we’re as ready as I can be 
 

My daughter who lives on the Peace River just inside of Charlotte Harbor is my concern. 
She is still rebuilding from Ian over 2 yrs ago. 
 

All you guys down here do what you need to do now, don’t wait. 
Milt’s comin and he looks pi**ed off

 

Be Safe

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Eric 26]

@Mike L You and everyone else down there stay safe. My prayers are with you all for a much weaker storm than is being predicted.

[Koz]

I hope everyone makes good decisions. It’s now a category 5.

 

If you need a place to stay I run a hotel in GA. DM me. You can even bring your boat.

[N Florida Mike]

I’m not going anywhere. I’m slightly concerned about the lake flooding because it’s at full pool now. The city was out right before Helene cleaning out the outflow drains so we should be ok. We are 21 ft above sea level and the ditch/creek that drains the lake goes downhill to the St Johns, which is 1 mile or so away. The highest I ever saw the lake was during hurricane Matthew, and even then it didn’t make it to the top of my bulkhead. 
We aren’t even in a flood zone, although my house is only 30 feet or so from the lake on one side.

Still hoping and praying for a weaker storm before landfall.

95 going north was a zoo today…

[DaubsNU1]

Oh my, that is NOT GOOD! Stay safe my Florida bass fishing brethren!!

 

Question for you on insurance, and the aftermath of hurricanes (please help a Midwestern boy understand).

 

My niece is still fighting with her insurance company related to a Nebraska tornado in April of 2024. Her house had roof and siding damage, but she dodged a bullet...houses less than a block away were leveled...all that remains is a foundation.

 

How does all this work with insurance in hurricane world?

 

I see all the devastation on TV and wonder how the heck anyone recovers or builds-back from that?

[gim]

I saw a thing on 60 minutes a couple weeks ago about major insurance companies pulling out of Florida (and other higher risk states) because the costs of insuring homes and businesses there are too high.  So now a bunch of smaller insurance companies have shown up, but when it comes time for them to pay up, they don't have enough capital to cover.  And then it gets tied up for years, like the example above.

 

Also, some people are going completely without any insurance at all.  I can't say I agree with that.  Your home is probably your biggest lifetime investment.  Not protecting it is a dumb idea.

[TnRiver46]

I wish self insurance was…. Legal? We would probably all have enough money to fix our own stuff if we didn’t have to pay insurance bills and then subsequently have to fight with the company to get them to pay out 

[gim]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

and then subsequently have to fight with the company to get them to pay out 

 

There is a lot of fine print in many of these insurance policies.  Read them thoroughly.  I've definitely missed some of these disclaimers before myself.

[TnRiver46]

17 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

There is a lot of fine print in many of these insurance policies.  Read them thoroughly.  I've definitely missed some of these disclaimers before myself.

No thanks 😂. I’ll take a sharp stick in the eye instead 

 

that’s a job for lawyers 

[Glenn]

22 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Mike L You and everyone else down there stay safe. My prayers are with you all for a much weaker storm than is being predicted.

My sentiments exactly.  Keep us posted please!

 

[Mike L]

If you don’t have flood insurance which is totally different than a standard home policy you’re on your own. 
 

Many folks even those who live in a flood zone don’t have it because they either can’t get it or can’t afford it. 
  
In some cases it’s 3 times more expensive will insane deductibles than a standard home owner policy. 
 

 

42 minutes ago, Glenn said:

My sentiments exactly.  Keep us posted please!

 

Will Do

 

 

 

 

Mike

[F14A-B]

Took a large van into NC last week, those mountain hollers are apocalyptic. Gone. Bodies in trees, caskets in random locations. 
 

Now Florida is under the gun again and this thing although slightly weaker at the moment will get stronger. A cold front has passed thru here heading and expected to disrupt Milton to some extent. Thoughts and prayers to all Floridian peoples..

[FryDog62]

43 minutes ago, Mike L said:

If you don’t have flood insurance which is totally different than a standard home policy you’re on your own. 
 

Many folks even those who live in a flood zone don’t have it because they either can’t get it or can’t afford it. 
  
In some cases it’s 3 times more expensive will insane deductibles than a standard home owner policy. 

My wife’s Aunt lives in Fort Myers and was completely flooded out and lost her home for both hurricanes Irma and Ian. After going through it twice and now at 79 years old she has given up. No longer has insurance and Milton is bearing down on her, expecting the worst. She’s not alone, many like her… 

[GReb]

Theres a chance the storm weakens a bit before landfall to a cat 4 but if it lands north of Tampa the surge in the bay will be problematic either way. Hoping for the best 

[Mike L]

11 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

My wife’s Aunt lives in Fort Myers and was completely flooded out and lost her home for both hurricanes Irma and Ian. After going through it twice and now at 79 years old she has given up. No longer has insurance and Milton is bearing down on her, expecting the worst. She’s not alone, many like her… 

I feel for her, theres a lot of folks down here in the same situation

 

This is our 4th one in 2 yrs and the 2nd either a Cat 4 or 5. 

 

Mike

[SC53]

I’m in Debary and we are staying.  I’m 100 miles from Tampa where it’s expected to make landfall as a cat 3 or 4. And its path takes it a little further south than expected, which is good for me. Hurricane force winds are only 50 miles from the center.

We’re as prepared as we can be.  The biggest problem with going is having to get back.  There are only 2 roads to get to where we live and both are lined with big trees.  Some will definitely fall and block the roads.

Plus even if we wanted to leave, there are no hotel rooms until almost GA. And I75 is bumper to bumper and very little gas available along I75. I4 is jam packed as well.

[Mike L]

45 minutes ago, SC53 said:

I’m in Debary and we are staying.  I’m 100 miles from Tampa where it’s expected to make landfall as a cat 3 or 4. And its path takes it a little further south than expected, which is good for me. Hurricane force winds are only 50 miles from the center.

We’re as prepared as we can be.  The biggest problem with going is having to get back.  There are only 2 roads to get to where we live and both are lined with big trees.  Some will definitely fall and block the roads.

Plus even if we wanted to leave, there are no hotel rooms until almost GA. And I75 is bumper to bumper and very little gas available along I75. I4 is jam packed as well.

I thought that too

If we left I may not get back either.
If this hits like the others we may not back for literally a week. 
 

Hunker down Pal and Be Safe

 

 

 

 

Mike

[SC53]

@Mike L you too Mike.  

[Bird]

Prayers for safety and sanity, seems to soon for another.

[N Florida Mike]

Starting to rain in earnest here now. The wind is light so far.I’ve heard some contradictory reports. Of course, the storm won’t arrive until late tonight.

On the insurance side of things, The company we used to have doubled the cost in one year. We just couldn’t afford it , so we switched to a less expensive company, and reduced the coverage. For us, it’s the only option outside of no insurance.

So far , we’ve been fortunate and blessed not to have had a claim. Even though 2 tornados just missed us.

I have an adjuster friend and a lawyer friend. Both of them fight insurance companies to get people the full amount they deserve. Hopefully, I won’t need them. @DaubsNU1 Your niece may need to contact an adjuster that will help her get what she deserves. If that doesn’t work, an insurance claim lawyer would be able to help.

Please keep updates coming in from your areas of Florida. Praying for y’all.

[Catt]

Praying for y'all 🙏

[Mike L]

It’s starting to get bad here with constant lightning and tornado warnings starting. 
(There’s one over The Lake now)

 

I’m shutting everything down..

You guys in it’s path please take care of yourselves. 
 

Catch you all on the flip side. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[GReb]

Yikes

[king fisher]

I hope it is not as bad as predicted.  Everyone stay safe, best of luck.