Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Live from Englewood, Florida. We just got our first band of rain, lot of wind and rain, then back to light rain. Have shutters up and just about everything put up. The Wagon is under a carport which is vulnerable to debris flying around. We'll see what happens, the "Moss Wagon" doesn't get along too well with wind, especially head winds.
The eye is supposed to be here around 9:00 PM. We live near some Indian burial grounds known as "Indian Mound" and it has prevented any hurricanes from hitting here as long as I know, at least 45 years. Several years ago when "Charley" brutalized the state it came straight at us and then took a 90° turn right into Charlotte Harbor, just several miles south of us. Once again, the Indian Mound. Years ago a hurricane came across the state straight at us and somehow looped right around Englewood. I believe in these burial grounds. But, this Irma is predicted straight dead center of Englewood, we'll see what happens. Our elevation is 13 feet and I live one mile from The Gulf Of Mexico.
Will try to keep you all updated. Like the song by The Who, "just another tricky day for you"

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Wow, I will be thinking of you. Please keep us updated as you can.

Good Luck!

Bill

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Ronnie,
Stay safe, I'll be thinking of you today.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Where is Indian Mound in relation to Stump Pass Marina. I have a place in Rotonda West but never heard of it. Good Luck down there. Most of my neighbors left.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

JThomas, it is 4 miles up the coast. Located in downtown Englewood, just south of Dearborn St & Englewood Rd. It is like a little peninsula.
Still light rain and a strong breeze. All kinds of people leaving here today as they worried all night. Don't know where they are going. FL and GA has evacuation warnings. I-75 is open northbound in all lanes including southbound lanes.It is 300 miles to the state line from here, if I were to leave I would run out of gas about there. I believe all who left previously have probably bought it all up.
Being that I'm at 13 feet elevation and most of all Englewood is around 10 feet, I don't think it would be wise to leave here.
I am going to put on my Homer Simpson hat that says, "have no fear, have a beer"
I have heard that animals can sense things going on, my two dachshunds and big sheppard are laying around like it is siesta time. So much for them.
Power has flickered only once so far, but that is common during any storm. Talk at you later.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA wish I was racing

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Good luck!

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Good luck Ron! I hope you and your family stay safe.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Ron and anyone else who is reading this.

When there are tornado warnings in the Louisville area, I bring in my two crash helmets for my wife and I to wear in case we were to take a hit close to the house.

So Ron you might keep your helmet(s) handy if the winds get real serious to at least protect from flying debris that could cause head injuries.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

My sister-in-law judged posted a video of the water going out of Charlotte Harbor.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Thanks Travis, so we are sitting here watching TV and decided to see if the helmets fit right. Now we are sitting next to each other, looking at each other, not a word is spoken, but I can tell in her eyes, she wants me to stage first. I go in, she follows, we start making motor sounds, the dogs come in and freak out. We take the helmets off in fear of being attacked.
It's starting to rain a little harder and the wind has picked up. Weather guy can't figure where it is going. A little east, then a little west. Originally they predicted from Maine to Mexico, I guess they are narrowing it down when it's right on top of you.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Power going off and on several times, wind has picked up, but not real bad. Still a medium rain. We have bamboo around the property and it seems to cut the wind down dramatically. Just took a wind reading and it is at 12-15 mph. Probably about 35-38 in the open road.
Anyone on here want to send me their phone number in the event the power goes off, I can keep them updated so they can post here on ClassRacer.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Getting hit by the big bands of rain & wind now, should stay this way for the next couple of hours. Looking at the top of the pine trees, they are whipping around, not violent yet though. can't get a wind reading over 20 mph due to the bamboo filtering the wind. I'd say that in the open area it is probably 40-50 mph gusts. The wagon is intact so far.
Depending which way this thing goes will determine the amount of water that will come back in. This thing looks like a monster from the satellite views.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

TV is showing Naples getting it hard. It's coming your way. Good luck.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

We're in Vero Beach, the northeast corner of the storm, they call it the dirty side and it's living up to it's reputation. I have a palm tree that broke in half and laying on my pool gazebo roof and another fell next to my garage in the driveway. My yard is flooded. But thank God we still have electricity. I think it's time to move to Tennessee!

Bret Velde
SS/LA

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Prayers for Everyone, Stay Safe !

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Raining hard for last hour, winds are strong, no idea how what mph. We have a very large Elephant or Monkey ear tree in back yard that just went down. It is about 30 feet tall with a 30 ft spread and an 18" trunk. Just up rooted and laying against The Imperial Palace (motor home). The Palace is protecting the wagon. Power going off & on. We are safe, thank you for the thoughts.

Bretv, you catching the dirty side, how's everything going besides the palms.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Same as you Ron as far as the wind and rain, just heard a huge pop and lost electricity as I type!!


Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Good luck to all affected by this one AND Harvey!

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Ron and Bret you guys be careful and I hope your damage is minimal. Living here on the coast I know all too well what you guys are experiencing so my thoughts are with y'all.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Power went out at 7:00 on cell now. Winds real strong, heavy rain. Just finished dinner as power went off. Back porch has roof with vinyl windows on frame. Have tarps covering it. They are really flexing but holding up.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Sitting in our room with candles and flash lights listening to the wind howl off the shutters. Wondering if FFFFords float!!




Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

There will be three homes being buit on 1 acre next to us .see the home we bought with the link below .need racers as neighbors

https://www.trulia.com/property/3275...tland-TN-37148

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

My in-laws live close to Murfreesboro, so we'll probably look there, thanks for the info Don. Would be great to live around some racers



Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Well I believe that the Indian Mound is sacred ground. Irma took a right and has skated around us. Have to watch out for the backside of this thing, that's when they get brutal. We are so fortunate, hope everything works out for those in it's path. Feel so sorry for those who endured Harvey.

Ron Ortiz

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

You rowdy Arizonians moving into my state. How are you liking it so far?
Lots of land out by me. Rural no smog inspection fire the racecar up whenever great people and it is a red state.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Hey Rod I got permission from you love it so far wife is happy

Just need some more racers to move in this area ,the more the better

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

I read this and spit my coffee out I was laughing so hard. Ron it is so cool to see your humour in this time. Please take care and be safe.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Power out since 7:00 pm, Irma went around us, just amazing. Big tree uprooted and was against the motorhome. 6 trees snapped. Everything else is fine. Finally I have internet on my phone. Generator running to keep food and beer cold. Son in laws told me that Englewood has some trees laying around, but no structural damage. When I recently saw the weather and where Irma went, I think of all the people that went to GA. I see that it is approaching like TN and NC. I can tell you this, Mother Nature sure knows how to clean up the landscape.
Thank you for the thoughts and prayers and I wish all well to those who endured.
Now that it's over, do I have to take the helmet off.

Ron Ortiz
Indian Mound.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

Bless the mound.

Re: Reporting live from Englewood FL & Irma.
 

The Indian burial grounds worked again. We had zero damage at our place in Rotonda. Never even lost electric. Lots of water. The river was high. If it had stayed on the forecast track of going over Pine Island then the harbor, it would have been very different.