Damn. Yup, Sarasota is in the crosshairs. Prayers. They're now saying that the storm may empty Tampa Bay. During Ian, people could walk out on the sand in the bay.

It could empty the bay of water?

Reverse storm surge. Winds can move the water out before it changes direction and moves it in.

Wow that's crazy.

This man should run for President!

I just read up on that. The south side of the eye the wind is blowing to the land, but the north side of the eye (where Tampa could be), the wind blows from land to ocean, so blows the water out.

horrible

and now, they are shutting down Waffle Houses - that's a sign

My youngest son is on a lineman crew from Denton are currently staged between Orlando and Daytona. They spent the last two weeks in northern Florida and southern Georgia. 100’s of crews from all over ready to move in as soon as the storm moves out.

I was wondering how that works. Are all the linemen that show up to work these disaster areas employed with private companies that typically work in one area or power companies? Do they work disaster areas out of simply a willingness to help or is it just how that industry works?

Wife drove I-10 all day yesterday and she said she passed 100s of line trucks heading east. I appreciate what your boy's doing for the folks in the storms' paths.

Maybe the storm will get most of the roaches.

It happens. After Katrina the first business to reopen on 90 in Long Beach, MS was the newly built Waffle House as the old one was gone. Being the only place open they were packed daily.

Leading edge of eye wall coming into Sarasota now.

Yup, winds have arrived here... but I think the worst will arrive around midnight. Local forecaster said Tampa is getting 4" of rain an hour right now, and looks like the most of the bay will be spared from surge as it's currently emptying into the Gulf. Just crazy.

Here's the aftermath of Ian...

Some utilities and power companies do storm work and some don’t. Some take volunteers and others just send crews as part of their employment. My son has been all over doing storm work from hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.

St Pete airport reported rain for one hour of 6 inches.

My app shows about that and almost 3 inches an hour for your Base Sir.

Thank you, sir. I have an app to manage my home wifi mesh and so far, I can see the power is still on. Crazy day.

https://poweroutage.us/area/state/florida

Also:

This morning on I-20 near Putnam saw a convoy of 2 dozen electric service trucks and skid steers on trailers headed east. A little late but better than never.

Not necessarily…many of those crews rotate in to replace other crews that have been there. My son’s crew will rotate out on the 14th then likely go back later on a second deployment to the area if the work isn’t completed. Additionally, more crews are being dispatched because of the second storm.

very cool that so many states send linemen to help out all over the states!