Preparing for Hurricane Irma

[Catherine]

The South Florida Wildlife Center is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane  Irma. They are in the path so they are moving the animals out and protecting the building until it is safe to return. They are a wildlife hospital, traumas centre and rehab facility for wildlife. They are needed now, but they will be needed more after the hurricane has passed.

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_...90717.html

I am glad they are making plans to keep everyone safe, including the building. This is a devastating storm and there will be a lot of displaced and injured wildlife when it is over.


I just hope pet owners are taking the same precautions.
There are articles telling people what to do to prepare.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants...fe-9651383

http://abcnews.go.com/US/floridians-prot...d=49651563


I hope people follow the advice. There should be no reason to leave pets behind in danger.

[Catherine]

The Bahamas Zoo has worked very hard to prepare and all of their animals are safe. It won't be a pleasant time during Hurricane Irma, but they animals will be able to sleep in safe dry quarters in a secure building. It is the best anyone can do in a crisis like this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-hits.html

I notice that they already had a hurricane plan in place. They just had to upgrade it for this situation. They already had supplies on hand since it will be hard to get new supplies for a while. 
Now we just have to hope that they come through the storm safely.

[Ruth]

Yes, I pray that all the beings in the hurricanes path are saved.

[Tobi]

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the path of the storm. 6 million have now been told to evacuate so I hope they will find it easy to drive out. But what about those lonely people who are maybe old, alone or don't have transport? Or the very poor? Let's hope and pray they will be safe and will find safe shelter.

But today I have been thinking of all the animals....maybe those animals who don't have families, who are street dogs and cats. Not only in Florida but in the Caribbean islands. My heartfelt prayers for them all. And let's hope no animals are left behind -or worse, even tied up outside -by their people!

Florida has had plenty of warning about this. I would have been gone inland a week ago. I know someone who lives there and she and her family I think were under-estimating this storm and decided to stay put. She lives in Daytona beach. I have heard that 15ft storm surges are expected....

[Catherine]

I fear for people animals and the vegetation in the path of the storm. It has down graded to an F3 right now, but the storm surges will still be way beyond what people are imagining. A 15 ft storm surge is 3 times my height and it will be a powerful wall of water. Water is stronger than people realize. It will overwhelm the main floors area of most beach houses. It will probably wash out a lot of smaller homes.

You are right about people who are poor and alone. Many of them will have no where to go and no way to get there. 

I am wondering if the sea turtle eggs have hatched. If not any in the path will be lost.
Many trees will die. So much vegetation will just be washed away. I hope many wild animals will have moved inland. Animals on the shore will not stand a chance. 
In the Florida Keys there really is no inland so much will be lost.

Does anyone still doubt the effects of climate change. The ocean may be full of plastic, but it is still very powerful.