[golddust]

Well, here it is, May 29 and we already have our first Tropical Depression. Hurricane season doesn't officially start until June 1. This one is not expected to develop into anything - for one thing it is too far north. It is also expected to travel away from the US coastline.

[Firejay]

Not too make light of Hurricanes and their destructiveness, but it won't probably amount to much due to all the Hot Air blowing out of Washington DC at the moment.

[golddust]

Well, if this depression moved over DC it could pick up a lot of warm air for development lol! Might as well joke about the latest depression. Unfortunately, there will probably be future storms that won't be joke material! Let's pray they don't come ashore anywhere.

[Gabriel]

We studied hurricanes in my Meteorology class a few weeks back. Very interesting. I love going to NOAA site and watching the tropical depressions come and go. Hopefully they will not grow into havoc this year

[golddust]

We are hoping the same. Living in Florida near the Gulf of Mexico (about 10 miles away), we watch these storms like hawks. 2004 was a particularly active season with three evacuations for our area within a few weeks during the month of September. The same year Ivan hit the panhandle of Florida and did massive damage. Then in 2005 Katrina hit the northern Gulf coast.

[Jason08]

The last tropical system to move over here was T.S. Hanna last year, but Isabel in 2003 will certainly be remembered for a long time here, as there is actually still a tree at a clinic surgery buliding that came down uprooted, and the rootball still rests on the ground more than 5½ years later. In the past few years tropical systems have been benifts for the rain, but this spring has been very wet. But this is the 2nd day of the season, so we should all be prepared!

[StumpedTechy]

2004 was the year Charlie went right over my house... In all it was the worst I have lived through we had 3 of them hit the Orlando area (Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne)

The good things is I am out of any flood zones, my house is made of cinderblock and not plywood, I have all the hurricane strapping/ties on the roof as well. Also another big + is our neighborhood has no above ground power lines. With it all being buriied there is no worries for accidents with electricity.

In all I feel really safe here the only part a little worrisome is the potential for flying debris but we make sure to weather it out in the center of the home away from windows/doors.

In 2004 I spent most of my time helping neighbors clean up their stuff I only had a few days cleanup of my own (cutting up downed trees).

[jobie_d93]

heh hope theres not another hurricane. Most the buildings and houses are just now being fixed and cleaned..

[golddust]

"my house is made of cinderblock"

Don't put all your trust in that concrete block. Our friend's daughter was in Punta Gorda for Charlie and her concrete block house came down around them - they were huddled in the bathroom and that was all that was left of the house when the storm was over.

[Jason08]

Yep, concrete is the safest.

[StumpedTechy]

Don't put all your trust in that concrete block. Our friend's daughter was in Punta Gorda for Charlie and her concrete block house came down around them - they were huddled in the bathroom and that was all that was left of the house when the storm was over.

I have much more trust in it than a slapped together stick house made in the 80's-90's. Nothing short of a bunker is 100% impervious. I am just saying I have better odds than most people in my area.

[Jason08]

Actually, my statement wasn't completly true. It's solid concrete that is most likely the safest.

[golddust]

You're right there. What happens with concrete block houses is that the high winds and rain wear away the mortar between the concrete blocks and the house collapses - that's what happened to our friends' daughter's place.

[golddust]

Hasn't been any news to report for a long time here - and here's hoping this is just a false alarm! Looks like the calm before the storm is about to end. Meteorologists are watching a strong tropical wave which is almost half way across the Atlantic already.

[ACTI]

indeed, no big storms- but lots of lightning already this year! Make sure you protect your electronics with a battery back-up! This is a must, especially if you're in Florida!