2976

To be fair most of the forecast models had this going up the east coast of FL earlier this week. It was only in the last 48 hours or so that the track shifted to the west coast.

2977

True. And to be honest, that might end up really hurting a lot of those on the western Florida coast.

2978

(Hopefully this isn’t too political; it is a thoughtful, well written piece.)

2979

I can’t stop watching these Key West cams. It’s starting to pick up there quite a bit and we have, what … hours to go still?

2980

Yep. It’s coming, slowly but surely.

2981

Still people taking selfies at the Southernmost Point in the Keys. Are these future statistics we’re watching or can they still get out?

2982

They can try to make a run for it along Highway 1 (the road which goes over all the bridges) and get to Miami, where they’d at least miss the brunt of Irma. However, if they wait too long, I suspect a bridge may go out and/or the winds will make driving untenable.

edit - to be blunt, I suspect some of them will be statistics

2983

Yeah I was thinking that if they left right now they would make it.

2984

Co-worker who retired and moved to Florida, is reporting on his facebook shelters are either full or shifting people to other counties. News feed I was listening to said full shelters are turning people away, and are asking people who feel they are in a safe fortified home, to let in family members and to shelter strangers.

2985

My GF lived there for 7 years. They typically open both sides of the Overseas Highway heading outbound during events like this, though she was never there during anything this crazy. But with the calls of flooding and storm surge, it’s only a matter of time before that highway becomes dangerous to drive out on. Not to mention the local roadways long before then.

2986

I don’t think they can make it out, or they have to be very careful if they try:

The one bridge out is between Key west and south of that homestead link. So Key west isn’t even getting it as bad as the other areas yet.

2987

People are still taking selfies at the southern most point marker. D:

2988

This stream was shown further up, but there’s currently (like, as of this minute) people stopping by and taking selfies here.

Here’s one from a couple hours ago (took the following image link from a NeoGAF thread).

2989

Yeah, good article. The real insight here is about collective amnesia, and the willful blindness we have towards the glaringly obvious sometimes. Like with Las Vegas and other desert sites artificially sustained by immense engineering projects, but with the added fun of killer storms on a regular basis. People continue to routinely buy houses on hillsides in California that everyone knows are going to collapse in mudslides or be consumed by wildfires. No matter where, everyone finds it super easy to forget about what happened in the past and will most certainly happen in the future and just roll the dice.

2990

That was an interesting read thanks.

2991

Good piece. I agree with it, always have. Florida (at least the southern half) wasn’t meant for how it’s settled now. It’s only going to get worse, and more expensive.

I hope all of you there are safe and come out of this OK.

2992

Just down the block for a while having jello shots with the neighbors. Everyone here seems to be ready, supply wise, for the coming storm. What will be, will be. We’re a close knit group. Everyone saying to each other, If you need anything, etc, etc.

Hoping that everyone else comes through it okay. Much love.

2993

Pardon me but those Capital Weather Gang guys can go fuck themselves.

They got a thunderstorm due to a rain band and the winds gusted a bit. They are not going to get much in the way of this storm. Leave the “this is getting real” for those of us who will be dealing with 70+ mph winds steadily for 12 or more hours.

2994

Gov. Rick Scott needs to put out an advisory to record storm damage video in landscape mode.

2995

Please post back in three days and report how they fared.