Hurricane Irma

[Reformed]

By now most people know of the devastation that Hurricane Harvey caused in Texas and Louisiana. People's lives have been destroyed and over 50 lives taken. Harvey was an equal opportunity hurricane. It did not care about race, creed, or economic class. Praise God that many Christian relief agencies are at work trying to care for physical and spiritual needs. Specifically, I am thankful for the relief ministries of Samaritans Purse and the SBC.

I live in Central Florida and, while not in a coastal area, the storm can still cause substantial damage if it travels inland. I am well stocked on supplies and expect, by God's grace, to weather the storm. I am writing this post to ask God's people to pray for the most vulnerable; for the poor and those who live in the path of Irma. Many people in South Florida still have memories of 1992's Hurricane Andrew. Irma has the potential to be just as bad. While you pray, ask specifically that God will preserve life and use this hurricane as a means to share Christ. I have read many stories about people coming to faith in Christ as a direct response to Christians sharing the gospel while doing relief work.

Thank you.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

By now most people know of the devastation that Hurricane Harvey caused in Texas and Louisiana. People's lives have been destroyed and over 50 lives taken. Harvey was an equal opportunity hurricane. It did not care about race, creed, or economic class. Praise God that many Christian relief agencies are at work trying to care for physical and spiritual needs. Specifically, I am thankful for the relief ministries of Samaritans Purse and the SBC.

I live in Central Florida and, while not in a coastal area, the storm can still cause substantial damage if it travels inland. I am well stocked on supplies and expect, by God's grace, to weather the storm. I am writing this post to ask God's people to pray for the most vulnerable; for the poor and those who live in the path of Irma. Many people in South Florida still have memories of 1992's Hurricane Andrew. Irma has the potential to be just as bad. While you pray, ask specifically that God will preserve life and use this hurricane as a means to share Christ. I have read many stories about people coming to faith in Christ as a direct response to Christians sharing the gospel while doing relief work.

Thank you.

We're in Lake Worth. Our plan was to evacuate to Cape Coral, but now, they're saying Cape Coral's going to get hit just as hard.

We have family in Alabama who are on Facebook pleading with my mother to come stay with them, and she can do that if she leaves this morning, but she's determined that she's going to stay. I'm sending the wife and kids (and dogs) to Alabama. I'm going to decide this afternoon if I'm leaving or staying to take care of my mother.

 

[Reformed]

Latest track as of 15 minutes ago. I live smack dab in the center of the state about 30 minutes from Disney. I do not think any of us in Florida will need a Fast Pass for this ride.

 

[Reformed]

We're in Lake Worth. Our plan was to evacuate to Cape Coral, but now, they're saying Cape Coral's going to get hit just as hard.

We have family in Alabama who are on Facebook pleading with my mother to come stay with them, and she can do that if she leaves this morning, but she's determined that she's going to stay. I'm sending the wife and kids (and dogs) to Alabama. I'm going to decide this afternoon if I'm leaving or staying to take care of my mother.

Prayers for you too, my friend. Get your Mom out if you can. We will probably stay, but if the storm looks like it will keep Cat 3 status when it hits the Orlando area, we may bug out to a friend's house near Atlanta.

 

[Revmitchell]

I'm staying put. In fact I have opened the church up to Seminole County to use as a storm shelter. Even inland it can create a lot of damage. I was in Hardy county when we had Charlie come through. The devastation was incredible. We were without power for two and one half months, under curfew, standing water for about as long, homes destroyed etc. Hardy county is inland just west of Brandon.

It looks like we will be canceling church Sunday even if it veers off to the east a bit. Pray we can be a blessing to our community.

 

[Reformed]

I'm staying put. In fact I have opened the church up to Seminole County to use as a storm shelter. Even inland it can create a lot of damage. I was in Hardy county when we had Charlie come through. The devastation was incredible. We were without power for two and one half months, under curfew, standing water for about as long, homes destroyed etc. Hardy county is inland just west of Brandon.

It looks like we will be canceling church Sunday even if it veers off to the east a bit. Pray we can be a blessing to our community.

I will be keeping you and your church family in our prayers. I am in Hardee County, FL weekly (Bowling Green and Wauchula). It is a fairly remote county, so I can see how it took a lot of time to restore service after Charley. I am in Polk County, not too far from Lakeland.

 

[Revmitchell]

I will be keeping you and your church family in our prayers. I am in Hardee County, FL weekly (Bowling Green and Wauchula). It is a fairly remote county, so I can see how it took a lot of time to restore service after Charley. I am in Polk County, not too far from Lakeland.

I pastored my first church in wauchula

 

[Reformed]

It looks like Irma is tracking more to the west. This will bring it more towards the center of the state. Hurricane Irma Nearing the Bahamas as a Potentially Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane; Hurricane Watches Issued for Parts of Florida

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Oh no! My inlaws are in Tampa

 

[TCassidy]

The big picture. A Triple Threat!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

They come in 3

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Any word from Florida?

 

[TCassidy]

They come in 3

Except there are 4.

The remnants of Harvey is that cloud line up the east coast.

Left to right there is Katia which struck the Mexican coast just south of Veracruz yesterday.

In the middle is Irma, heading for Florida.

And to the right, still in the Atlantic, is Jose.

A very interesting season.

 

[Revmitchell]

Any word from Florida?

We are still here. I did hear one man say he was just going to ride it out in his boat because he had it tied to the dock tightly. Then I heard one weatherman ask another weatherman from the weather channel what did he mean by dry land.

 

[Reynolds]

We are still here. I did hear one man say he was just going to ride it out in his boat because he had it tied to the dock tightly.

I wonder if he was serious or just getting a reaction.

 

[Reformed]

Irma has finally made its turn and is now over the 90-degree waters of the Florida Straight. Naples, Ft. Myers, Venice, Sarasota, and Tampa look like they are going to get hammered. I posted this on FB earlier today:

"If Irma hits Tampa Bay head on it has the potential to devastate Greater Tampa and Saint Petersburg. Tampa Bay is a shallow bay. Since there is less depth in the bay the water will be more easily displaced. Also, the water will have no way to head back into the Gulf of Mexico during the storm surge. Please pray for God's smiling Providence on the Tampa-St. Pete area."

The last time Tampa was hit by a hurricane it was almost 100 years ago. At the time Tampa was nothing but a cow town. Now it is a major city with sprawling suburbs. St. Petersburg is smaller than Tampa, but just as densely populated. Even though Tampa is on a bay, the water will be bottle-necked under a heavy storm surge. Also, all the utilities in Tampa are underground. If downtown floods (which looks likely) Tampa's utilities will be severely damaged. Mayor Buckhorn said that the Florida Department of Emergency Management told him Greater Tampa could be without power for 6-8 weeks in many areas, including the downtown business district. I live about 35 miles east of Tampa directly off Interstate 4. My town will not experience the storm surge Tampa will, but we will be dealing with our own problems. We have designated our master bathroom as our "safe room", as the small window is tempered and there is a large walk-in closet we can retreat to if necessary. I never liked the aesthetics of concrete block construction, but I repent of that mistake.

FEMA is going to have a full slate, as it is still funding recovery work in Greater Houston. I know that Samaritans Purse is already staging relief crews, as well as the SBC, and other charities. None of my customers are going to want to see me for at least a week, so I am going to lend a hand in relief work as soon as I assess any damage to my home and the development I live in.

May the Lord protect His children, and may He extend His hand of mercy.

 

[Salty]

Baptist Convention of NY will be leaving Monday to provide assistance in Fla.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Baptist Convention of NY will be leaving Monday to provide assistance in Fla.

Amen

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Irma has finally made its turn and is now over the 90-degree waters of the Florida Straight. Naples, Ft. Myers, Venice, Sarasota, and Tampa look like they are going to get hammered. I posted this on FB earlier today:

"If Irma hits Tampa Bay head on it has the potential to devastate Greater Tampa and Saint Petersburg. Tampa Bay is a shallow bay. Since there is less depth in the bay the water will be more easily displaced. Also, the water will have no way to head back into the Gulf of Mexico during the storm surge. Please pray for God's smiling Providence on the Tampa-St. Pete area."

The last time Tampa was hit by a hurricane it was almost 100 years ago. At the time Tampa was nothing but a cow town. Now it is a major city with sprawling suburbs. St. Petersburg is smaller than Tampa, but just as densely populated. Even though Tampa is on a bay, the water will be bottle-necked under a heavy storm surge. Also, all the utilities in Tampa are underground. If downtown floods (which looks likely) Tampa's utilities will be severely damaged. Mayor Buckhorn said that the Florida Department of Emergency Management told him Greater Tampa could be without power for 6-8 weeks in many areas, including the downtown business district. I live about 35 miles east of Tampa directly off Interstate 4. My town will not experience the storm surge Tampa will, but we will be dealing with our own problems. We have designated our master bathroom as our "safe room", as the small window is tempered and there is a large walk-in closet we can retreat to if necessary. I never liked the aesthetics of concrete block construction, but I repent of that mistake.

FEMA is going to have a full slate, as it is still funding recovery work in Greater Houston. I know that Samaritans Purse is already staging relief crews, as well as the SBC, and other charities. None of my customers are going to want to see me for at least a week, so I am going to lend a hand in relief work as soon as I assess any damage to my home and the development I live in.

May the Lord protect His children, and may He extend His hand of mercy.

Actually they live in Largo but are riding it out at a friends house in Sarasota. But see folks, I really believe in the power of prayer. With enough prayer...

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Irma has finally made its turn and is now over the 90-degree waters of the Florida Straight. Naples, Ft. Myers, Venice, Sarasota, and Tampa look like they are going to get hammered. I posted this on FB earlier today:

"If Irma hits Tampa Bay head on it has the potential to devastate Greater Tampa and Saint Petersburg. Tampa Bay is a shallow bay. Since there is less depth in the bay the water will be more easily displaced. Also, the water will have no way to head back into the Gulf of Mexico during the storm surge. Please pray for God's smiling Providence on the Tampa-St. Pete area."

The last time Tampa was hit by a hurricane it was almost 100 years ago. At the time Tampa was nothing but a cow town. Now it is a major city with sprawling suburbs. St. Petersburg is smaller than Tampa, but just as densely populated. Even though Tampa is on a bay, the water will be bottle-necked under a heavy storm surge. Also, all the utilities in Tampa are underground. If downtown floods (which looks likely) Tampa's utilities will be severely damaged. Mayor Buckhorn said that the Florida Department of Emergency Management told him Greater Tampa could be without power for 6-8 weeks in many areas, including the downtown business district. I live about 35 miles east of Tampa directly off Interstate 4. My town will not experience the storm surge Tampa will, but we will be dealing with our own problems. We have designated our master bathroom as our "safe room", as the small window is tempered and there is a large walk-in closet we can retreat to if necessary. I never liked the aesthetics of concrete block construction, but I repent of that mistake.

FEMA is going to have a full slate, as it is still funding recovery work in Greater Houston. I know that Samaritans Purse is already staging relief crews, as well as the SBC, and other charities. None of my customers are going to want to see me for at least a week, so I am going to lend a hand in relief work as soon as I assess any damage to my home and the development I live in.

May the Lord protect His children, and may He extend His hand of mercy.

Do you have a generator?