Hurricane Advice

[Peeps61]

The curator of the Hemmingway house is staying to take care of the cats. She is like in her 80"s I saw on tv a couple nights ago.

Not sure she'll be allowed to. There were mandatory evacuation orders and if she doesn't go, she'll probably die since the Keys routinely get submerged by storm surge. I can't imagine anyone allowing her to stay. I think the cats, or most of them, will be evacuated too.

 

[TriciaAnne]

Hi all. I am in north Florida about 10 miles from the west coast and not in a flood zone. I have two coops. A small one with a Dom rooster and 3 Dom hens. The larger has 17 hens of various breeds. Bottom line is that the larger is more secure and weatherproof than the smaller by far. I usually free range them separately but the runs are right next to each other. The last few days I have free ranged them together and would like to try putting them all in the same coop during the hurricane. The coop is quite large, about 10 ft by 12 ft. Can anyone tell me if this is an okay idea? Thanks!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Yes, I think so. We live about 12 miles north of Pensacola and 6 miles east of the Alabama state line. If the hurricane keeps to the peninsula of Florida, then we will probably get a few breezes and some rain. But! If it goes into the Gulf, that's a whole different story. That means a more powerful storm making a northern landfall and could spell out trouble.

I work at a federal prison and the place is set up for riding out a hurricane if it is cat 2 or less. If more, then it will be evacuated. The thinking is that it's a good practice run in preparing for a major hurricane if we don't need it, but if we do, then it's already taken care of! Don't like the hurricane shutters on my office window though, .

Glad to hear you are okay for now and have plans in place just in case. Smart!

 

[Peeps61]

Hi all. I am in north Florida about 10 miles from the west coast and not in a flood zone. I have two coops. A small one with a Dom rooster and 3 Dom hens. The larger has 17 hens of various breeds. Bottom line is that the larger is more secure and weatherproof than the smaller by far. I usually free range them separately but the runs are right next to each other. The last few days I have free ranged them together and would like to try putting them all in the same coop during the hurricane. The coop is quite large, about 10 ft by 12 ft. Can anyone tell me if this is an okay idea? Thanks!

You sound like you are near where I live (Molino). I wouldn't change anything - if it stays on track as it is now, we will see some breezy/rainy weather, but nothing really worse than that.

If it goes into the Gulf and makes landfall near us, then they probably need to be moved into a shed or barn if you have one. Good luck! Keeping an eye on Irma!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Not sure she'll be allowed to. There were mandatory evacuation orders and if she doesn't go, she'll probably die since the Keys routinely get submerged by storm surge. I can't imagine anyone allowing her to stay. I think the cats, or most of them, will be evacuated too.

Don't know for sure, but I don't think they can "make" you leave, even in a mandatory evacuation, you have rights, even if you chose to be foolish. Here, in Louisiana, they cannot make you leave, even for a mandatory evacuation. They can only strongly suggest that you leave. We had our first mandatory evacuation in 300 years in NOLA for Katrina (2005) and those who chose to stay were told to write their SSN on their arms, in case they didn't make it. Total of those who did not make it was around 2,000 for the gulf coast. Coroner's office spent most of a year trying to find relatives through DNA. A few people were never identified. There is a monument to them and their burial site at the foot of Canal st, near other cemeteries here. ( canal st is a major central street through our city).

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Hi all. I am in north Florida about 10 miles from the west coast and not in a flood zone. I have two coops. A small one with a Dom rooster and 3 Dom hens. The larger has 17 hens of various breeds. Bottom line is that the larger is more secure and weatherproof than the smaller by far. I usually free range them separately but the runs are right next to each other. The last few days I have free ranged them together and would like to try putting them all in the same coop during the hurricane. The coop is quite large, about 10 ft by 12 ft. Can anyone tell me if this is an okay idea? Thanks!

only 1 rooster? I would think that wouldn't be a problem as long as the coop holds up.

 

[Melodychick]

Looked up the Hemingway cats the other day. Looks like they stay along with their caretakers.

http://www.chron.com/news/nation-wo...st-Irma-Hurricane-12180112.php#photo-14065178

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Looked up the Hemingway cats the other day. Looks like they stay along with their caretakers.

http://www.chron.com/news/nation-wo...st-Irma-Hurricane-12180112.php#photo-14065178

That's rough, considering this storm.

 

[TriciaAnne]

Here is a pic of both coops. My larger is a beast and much stronger than a shed. It used to be my kids tree house and we converted it. It has double walls, Windows that have shutters and a roof with hurricane straps. Small one is just straight plywood and ventilation with no covers.

 

[Bunnylady]

That's normal. Surfers do it all of the time. That guy was in a spot that is difficult to navigate due to reefs and rocks even if you know what you're doing. Very dangerous spot. Had nothing to do with the hurricane. He was world class and probably surfed much bigger waves.

Unfortunately, you are right; it is "normal," and it does happen all the time. Guys with thousands of hours on surfboards who think they are invincible, and don't have to pay attention to the experts who say that hurricane waves aren't just big, they are treacherous, unpredictable, dangerous, and not to be played with. So they may even run a gauntlet of LEO's and beach patrols who are there to protect them from their own foolishness, to get out there and risk their lives for a thrill ride. And on a semi-regular basis, one or more of them lose their lives, even on normally relatively safe beaches like those here in North Carolina.