Dorian: I have lived on the Atlantic coast in central Florida for 25 years.
I cannot possibly convey how absolutely bizarre this feels.
If you look at a map of Florida and spot that narrow triangle jutting into the Atlantic about halfway down the east coast of the state...that's the Space Coast (Brevard county). That's where I am.
Although the state of Florida is routinely threatened by tropical systems, it's actually not an annual event for all Floridians. I have seen comments from folks saying they wouldn't want to live somewhere that had to deal with this year in and year out. The truth is, we don't - well, we haven't. For example, Hurricane Michael devastated the panhandle last year, but didn't generate any storm prep in my community. The west coast of Florida and the panhandle aren't impacted by this. We're big. It would take you 12 hours and 45 minutes drive time (no stops and no traffic!) to get from Pensacola to Key West. Seven hours from Tallahassee to Miami.
In the quarter century living here, I've had 8 years where I've experienced tropical systems. And tropical storms are not much more than an extended heavy rainstorm - often without the thunder and lightning typical of thunderstorms. I've evacuated from some threats and ridden out others. I went from Tropical Storm Faye in 2008 to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 without any threatening tropical systems that I can recall.
This storm is insane! The joke around here is that facing a hurricane is like being stalked by a turtle. And that analogy seems woefully inadequate with Dorian. We have been preparing for Dorian since last Wednesday. I will always remember that, because right after my surgeon declared me able to walk again, we went to the shopping plaza next door to get water and non-perishable foods.
In advance of storms like Irma, Matthew, Frances, and Jeanne it became increasingly difficult to find gasoline, water, batteries, generators, etc. in a relatively short amount of time - a couple of days. I popped in to Home Depot this morning for an extension cord and saw an aisle lined with well over 100 generators. No exaggeration! I then went to Publix to buy some fresh food for lunch and dinner today (we've avoided buying anything refrigerated in advance of the storm). They had flats and flats of water. Folks, I cannot tell you how strange it is for these places to have time to re-stock before a storm hits.
We're going nuts. Anyone who is going to evacuate has done so. Anyone staying is hunkered down with nothing left to do to prepare. We're boarded and shuttered up. We have our generators, fuel, water, and food. Shelters are operational. And still it sits there and we tune in to every NHC update to see if we're still inside the cone of uncertainty or not (we are).
We don't know what to expect and are painfully aware that Matthew's shift of a mere 40 miles spared us devastation. We are hoping the models indicating a north turn are correct, but know there is no guarantee the storm won't stay on the western most edge of the cone. I don't mean to imply it's a state of anxiety. Not remotely. This may be the most calm and orderly a pre-hurricane experience any of us in this area have had. And that is unnerving in its own right.
I've never see anything like this. Damn that Chinese hoax!
= new reply since forum marked as read
We actually did live through Hurricane Iniki in on 9/11/92, though.. and were lucky enough not to have to leave our home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki
We were at Poipu Beach the day before and it was so hot and muggy like the doldrums.. we were speculating if there was going to be a hurricane! And, sure enough at 5am ish the next morning the Island wide siren blew
5 years to rebuild.. 3 months to get back our electricity.
Good thing Cat 5 storms didn't exist...
always heard back then that Iniki was a 5 and learning lately it was only a 4.. we were lucky in that respect.. seeing what Cat 5 Dorian is doing to anything in its path. 
Hey, if you can't laugh, right?
for sure
You stay safe you hear!
Long story that involves being a student athlete once upon a time, unfortunate genetics, a quack surgeon, and a series of surgeries to fix what the quack did in 2011.
Got good news actually. It was anticipated to involve a bone graft from my tibia with a 10-12 week cast recovery. But on the table, the surgeon (the one I trust) found slightly less disintegration than anticipation and compatible cadaver tissue on hand in the hospital. So I didn't have to have the graft.
Four week non-weight bearing for the hardware to set and then another eight weeks in a post-op shoe for the donor bone tissue (think ground up bone and blood to make a kind of mortar) to harden.
Bet you didn't want that much detail, did you?
P.S. You should also know I have a rather sick sense of humor. I've been hoping the donor was a Trump voter. Because it means a) I am literally walking on a Trumpist, and b) they aren't around to vote for him in 2020. Oh the things you think when in pain and on strong meds.
I've been watching stand up comedian specials on Netflix, HBO, Amazon, etc. for the last few days. I was starting to think about a second career. I can make people laugh.
But no, you have me beat, and in writing too! 
Don't run or swim until cleared in about 8 weeks. But if a hurricane is chasing you, feel free to commandeer a golf cart for your evacuation. 
In all seriousness, I can't believe I forgot to ask about swimming. He demonstrated the gait I have to use whilst walking in the post-op shoe, but didn't mention swimming. Definitely texting him that question when the storm is over!
I was just telling BigmanPigman about us going through Iniki on 9/11/92.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12431986
Glad you made through!
The only place open at a local shopping area this afternoon around 2:00 was World of Beer. My husband would have been right there with you at the breweries. He is a home brewer and loves to check out breweries. Feel free to recommend some in the west Orlando area.
I love this thread.
Heard of it, never been there.
If the 5:00 a.m. modeling holds, I'm not sure we'll have much more than some wind and lots of rain here....some time between now and the end of the month.
That was good reading. I'm giving it to my husband now.
Just over the causeway. My youngest goes to Satellite High. Welcome to the Sunshine State! 
Reminds me of how long it took for them to bury George Bush.
Still going on, but nothing worse than a particularly blustery rainy day.