Early forecasts show Wilma aiming for US Gulf Coast

[Steve_Cox]

With Wilma planning an arrival it's a good time to get away from the coast. We are going tent camping at the Suwannee River Music Park for the Magnolia Music Fest. The TD isn't quite finished yet, sure wish it was though, hate to leave it all alone in St Augustine. Good luck with the weather my fellow Floridians.

Steve in St Augustine

[cracker39]

Florida is full of non-native species. The Jesus lizard is one of them. I read that they are displacing the anole. I hadn't seen an anole in years, they used to be all over the place. You can find other types of South American Chiclids in the canals and ditches of South Florida.

I have litterally hundreds of lizards in my yard. I am pretty sure that the brown anole is one of them, but I don't remember seeing any green anoles. There are several different color variations among mine, predominantly running from tan to brown to gray and almost black.

Some of the non-native species were placed here on purpose. The Talapia, or Nile Perch, was introduced because it would eat unwanted water plants like the Hydrilla (another non-native species probably started by dumping aquarium contents into the water). But that plan backfired as the Talapia poluted the water with it's "crapping" after eating the plants. That's true, no joke. The water in some of the lakes where it was introduced in south central Florida turned foul and murky.

Florida isn't the only state with invasive non-native species of plants and animals. Here's a National Geographic site with info on the Burmese python in Florida.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0603_040603_invasivespecies.html with photos of other species of plants and animals in the US.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/6/photogalleries/invasive/photo2.html

[IraRat]

Why am I panicking again? (I'll never learn.)

I mean, it's amost 9AM Friday now, and an hour ago, I hear it's a Cat 5, and the lowest pressure ever recorded in human history.

Better go stock up on Bud!

(Tom, sorry I didn't reply to your PM yet, but let's play it ear. Regardless of what happens, my TD won't be near ready by the time you're down here.)

[cracker39]

Like I said earlier, you don't know what it's gonna do until it does it. This isn't the first little one to pick up speed at the last minute and blow in full steam. We may be in for more than we expected. Got the Michelob stocked already. Just need to pick up some bags of ice and put in the freezer for insurance if it looks like it's coming close to us. I hope my new tarp on the portable garage just doesn't rip off like the one did last year.

A big oak just across my back fence was splitting down the trunk where it forked, and the neighbor just had it removed...just in time. If it came came down in this hurricane, it would have hit my portable garage, shed, and maybe the house.

Accordint to Accuweather: "AccuWeather.com Senior Hurricane Expert Joe Bastardi says it is a very compact storm, with an eye just 4 miles wide and hurricane force winds extending outward only 15 miles from center" It looks like most of the damage will be in a fairly narrow path, but it could also mean lots of it. It also stated "ranking Wilma as the most intense hurricane to ever be recorded in the Atlantic basin! It is also the fastest intensification of any hurricane in recorded history. "

Get lots of Bud, Ira.

[IraRat]

Not to make a joke of anything, but if you see water up to my roofline and I'm up there, forget the rope. Just throw down some more Bud.

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

To all of our Florida teardroppers. Take care with this powerfull storm heading your way. We are heading to the mountains in New Mexico to hunt. We won't have a tv to keep track of the storm. I will have each of you in my prayers. May God bless each of you and keep you safe.
Linda
Coca Cola Teardrop

[IraRat]

To all of our Florida teardroppers. Take care with this powerfull storm heading your way. We are heading to the mountains in New Mexico to hunt. We won't have a tv to keep track of the storm. I will have each of you in my prayers. May God bless each of you and keep you safe.
Linda
Coca Cola Teardrop

Thanks for the nice wishes.

But I'm really hoping that in the worst case scenario, if God can't make it, at least FEMA will be there to do something--and I hope they bring beer.

But I'm not too confident about that all.

[s4son]

Ira,

I am very concerned that your swimming pool might blow away. You should immediatley fill the pool with ice and beer to hold it down.

Scott F.

[Normspeed]

Well said, Scott.

I sure hope all you folks in that area remain safe. I lived down there for many years and saw a few storms. Very unpredictable.

Norm

[mikeschn]

Not to make a joke of anything, but if you see water up to my roofline and I'm up there, forget the rope. Just throw down some more Bud.

IRA,

Send me your longitude and latitude... If you get a buttload of water, I'll be sure to airdrop you some Bud...

Mike...

[Gage]

Not to make a joke of anything, but if you see water up to my roofline and I'm up there, forget the rope. Just throw down some more Bud.

IRA,
Send me your longitude and latitude... If you get a buttload of water, I'll be sure to airdrop you some Bud...
Mike...

Don't forget Mike, first you have to be approved by FEMA. His best bet would be to do as Scott recomended. On second thought, he should most likely first move the pool to the roof so he won't have to do any swimming to get to the beer.

Have a good day.

[mikeschn]

Maybe I should just send out the Bud now, while it can still be shipped reasonably...

Then when he gets flooded out, he just has to drag it up to the roof with him...

Mike...

[toypusher]

Maybe I should just send out the Bud now, while it can still be shipped reasonably...

Then when he gets flooded out, he just has to drag it up to the roof with him...

Mike...

Just get him a couple of kegs. They float!

[Gage]

Maybe I should just send out the Bud now, while it can still be shipped reasonably...
Then when he gets flooded out, he just has to drag it up to the roof with him...
Mike...

Just get him a couple of kegs. They float!

Then when empty, he can strape them together and use them as a boat and escape to where ever. row, row your boat............

Have a good day.

[Chip]

Just in case y'all are waiting for the feds, state, or local government to let ya know,,, thar is one mean ass storm headed towards Florida,,,,,,,, ya might consider calling FEMA and ask what ya should do to prepare for this thing,, I just know they have it all worked out and are sitting on ready and hung up on go,,,, probably got 5 cases of Bush beer on ice already

seriously yall duck and cover,,, dont be no damn hero,,,,,

good luck ,, we be thinking bout yall

chipper