By Times Staff Writer
Published September 3, 2004 How high are the winds with Hurricane Frances likely to be in the Tampa Bay area?
The latest storm track suggests that Frances will be a tropical storm by the time it passes the Tampa Bay area to the east and north. Some parts of the eastern-most region could experience Category I winds between 74 and 95 miles an hour. Farther west, winds will be under 74 miles an hour. Higher gusts are possible.
What about rain?
Frances had slowed its forward motion to 10 miles an hour late Thursday. If it doesn't pick up speed crossing the state, it could dump prodigious amounts of rain on some areas, and flooding would be a danger.
From what direction will the wind come?
When the storm reaches Polk County, the winds will be almost due north-to-south. As Frances passes our latitude heading out into the gulf, winds will turn gradually west-to-east.
Does this mean south and east windows and doors don't need protection?
No. The wind will swirl and, more importantly, the wind-borne debris of the storm will swirl with it. No window is safe.
Will the local airports close?
As of late Thursday, neither Tampa nor St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airports planned to close. At TIA, airlines said there would be no discussions of cancellations until Friday afternoon, and then only if the storm hit the region hard. St. Petersburg-Clearwater also planned normal operations. The only deviation, according to spokeswoman Michelle Routh, would be if the airport got a lot of flights diverted from such places as Orlando, where Orlando International Airport planned to close on Friday. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Melbourne International Airports also planned to close on Friday.
Will I be charged more to change my airline flight to avoid the storm?
Most airlines have waived the fee to change flights through the weekend. But some carriers will charge extra if you switch to dates or flights that conflict with restrictions on your original ticket.
Will schools close?
Schools will be closed today in 34 counties, including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Will tolls on state roads be suspended, as they were for Hurricane Charley?
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, tolls were suspended on virtually every toll road in the state except in the Panhandle. In the bay area, tolls are suspended on the Veterans Expressway and the Suncoast Parkway, the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, the Sunshine Skyway, the Pinellas Bayway and the Polk Parkway. SunPass users might hear their transponders beep as they travel through the plazas, but they will not be charged.
What's happening at Orlando's theme parks?
Universal Orlando, including Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and CityWalk, will close at 3 p.m. today and remain closed Saturday because of Hurricane Frances. Disney officials had made no announcements late Thursday.Will cruise ships sail from the Port of Tampa this weekend?
Carnival Cruise Lines has postponed two Western Caribbean weekend cruises from Tampa. The port was closed to inbound vessels Thursday afternoon. So, a five-day cruise scheduled to leave Saturday will depart Monday on a three-day "cruise to nowhere." A seven-day cruise set to depart Sunday will leave Monday for an abbreviated six-day trip.
If I am ordered, or if I choose to evacuate, how should I secure my house?
Turn off the electricity, the water and the gas. Turning off the water could protect you from a flood from something like a broken washing machine line. Turning off the gas could prevent a fire. Turning off the power will result in the defrosting of refrigerators and freezers and food spoilage, but it will prevent appliances from frying in power surges when electric power is restored. Board windows to protect the glass from wind-borne projectiles.
What do I do if a tree falls on my house?
If damage to your house is due to wind from a hurricane, you likely would have to pay a hurricane deductible out-of-pocket first before your insurance company starts paying. If you have minimal damage mostly covered by your deductible, you should weigh the possibility that filing a claim could lead to policy cancellation or a higher rate. It might be more economical in the long run to pay the repair cost yourself. For major damage, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Most insurers will not penalize homeowners who make temporary fixes themselves in order to make a home habitable or safe. In any case, keep receipts.
If power is out for a while, what will happen to swimming pools and spas?
There are several issues, some immediate and some long term. Clean out debris immediately. Test the water. Keep chlorine in a pool without power at three parts per million or higher. Pour liquid chlorine into the water and mix it by using a nylon brush at the end of a long pole. This will retard algae growth. Don't swim in the pool unless all water chemistry levels are within acceptable parameters indicated by your test kit. Don't use your pool as a bathtub. Many brands of soap and shampoo, both liquid and solid, contain phosphates that will block the effectiveness of the chlorine. You can use the pool water in a bucket to lather and rinse yourself on the deck, but don't let the soap get back into the pool. Keep the electrical circuits to the pool switched off until power is restored.
What if the pool's screens are torn or the cage is blown away?
You must block unauthorized access to the pool. Contractors or pool-supply and home-improvement stores can provide orange construction fence with posts to encircle the pool. If part of the enclosure is broken, don't try to fix it yourself. The edges are sharp and the work is best left to a contractor.
What do I do if someone is overcharging me for emergency services?
The state attorney general's price gouging hotline remains active for victims of Hurricane Charley, and will respond, as well, to people victimized in the aftermath of Hurricane Frances. The toll-free number is 1-800-646-0444. The line will remain active for as long as the state of emergency remains in effect.
What is the status of food stamps and Temporary Cash Assistance benefits?
Food stamps, usually released over the first 15 days of the month, became available to everyone who qualifies on Thursday. Cash Assistance, normally released over the first three days of each month, also became available on Thursday. The early release was to allow those in the storm's path to stock up on food and other emergency supplies.
Would Tampa Bay area bridges close in high winds?
The Florida Highway Patrol closes the Sunshine Skyway when winds reach 40 mph. Other bridges stay open until law enforcement deems that conditions, such as pounding surf, make them unsafe.
Is it true that homeowners should open the windows on the wind side of the house?
No. If the wind comes in, it can push your roof off. Close everything as tightly as possible to keep the wind out.
What did we learn from Hurricane Charley that might help us now?
Exterior doors that open inward are the most vulnerable entry point for wind. Particularly susceptible are double-entry doors. If you have roll-down shutters, use them. Some homeowners nail 2 by 4s across their doors to keep them shut.
What about storm surge and flooding in Tampa Bay?
Storm surges should be minimal because the storm will approach this area over land. That does not mean the area will escape flooding. Frances is a slow-moving hurricane; it could linger and dump more rain on areas where the ground already is saturated. Flooding could be this area's greatest danger.
Will there be evacuations in Tampa Bay?
Nothing like what the area saw with Hurricane Charley. If models suggest that Frances will be downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches Tampa Bay, people in mobile homes would be required to evacuate. Voluntary evacuations would be called for if projections were only for tropical storm force winds.
Who is evacuating now?
Some half-million people have been told to prepare for evacuation along the coast of east-central Florida, including about 300,000 residents of coastal areas of Palm Beach County.
How does Frances compare to Charley and to 1992's Hurricane Andrew?
Frances covers twice the area that Andrew and Charley did. It was a Category 4 storm late Wednesday, with top winds of 140 mph, almost equal to Charley's. Models suggest Frances could intensify to a Category 5 storm, with 156 mph winds or more. Andrew had peak winds of 164 mph.
What's happening at Cape Canaveral?
The Kennedy Space Center planned to close Thursday and Friday so workers can board up their homes and evacuate, if necessary.
What about Orlando's theme parks?
Walt Disney World won't consider closing until the storm is closer. Visitors who booked through Disney can reschedule vacations without penalty. Others should check with travel agents. At Animal Kingdom, the animals would be brought indoors to secure facilities. At SeaWorld, animals not in the water full time are taken to protected areas; handlers stay with them through the storm.
Will homes in this area require protection?
Absolutely. Stow anything that could become a wind-borne projectile. Throw patio furniture into the pool. Trim dead branches. Don't leave toys and tools in the yard. Board up windows.
Does it help to tape windows?
The American Red Cross strongly recommends not taping windows. Tape does not prevent them from breaking and takes critical time away from other preparations.
What's the best way to mount plywood?
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes recommends 5/8-inch or thicker, exterior-grade plywood. Use double-headed nails, wood screws, bolts, wood or masonry anchors, nuts and large washers. The type of fastener required depends on the type of construction (wood, masonry, or concrete) and the type of exterior veneer (siding, brick or stucco). If the shortest dimension of the window or door is 4 feet or less, space the fasteners at 6 inches on center. If the shortest dimension exceeds 4 feet, space the fasteners at 3 inches on center. Fasten the corners first and then fill in.
Can Florida's insurance companies handle claims from a second major hurricane?
Major insurance agencies say they will be able to handle a second hurricane the size of Charley, aided by the hurricane deductibles now in place, reserves built up through higher premiums and a state catastrophe fund that will help insurers cover payouts if insured storm damage exceeds $4.5-billion. Charley caused about $7.4-billion in insured losses. The stability of the system would be tested if Frances causes $30-billion to $50-billion in damage.
If Hurricane Frances comes through Florida, will the 2 percent hurricane deductible apply to homeowner insurance claims even in areas that don't get a direct hit?
The insurance commissioner and Office of Insurance Regulation determine which areas were affected by a hurricane, and that can include areas that did not take a direct hit. Also, the deductible does not apply to damage from a tropical storm (such as Bonnie), only to damage from a hurricane.
