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Junior Member
 
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Last Login: 4/15/2008 6:23:33 PM
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| I've lived in Florida now since 1983 and have seen my fair share of extreme weather conditions (tornados, hurricanes, 100 year storms and fire storms). Seems about every 10 years Florida has drought conditions that are just prime for fires to start and Florida has enough stupid people to actually be dumb enough to either deliberately start those fires, or toss cigarettes out their car windows and starte those fires, or mother nature sparks a fire with a lightening strike. Joy O' Joy! There were fires in '87 severe enough that while they were over ten miles from the actual beach the winds were blowing the ash and scalded bugs onto the beach so hard it appeared to be snowing! 1998 was a tremendous firestorm that brought firefighters from all over the country and even other countries to qwell the hungry beast. Hundreds of thousands of acres were consumed. I was just starting into my farrier (horseshoeing) business in '98 and actaully got hemmed in for a day by converging fires! Scarey stuff. Now here is is 2007 , not quite a ten year stretch but when Mother Nature does the counting - we all mind our P's and Q's! We didn't get much rain last year and things started drying out. This year has been dry again (usually we get afternoon monsoons like clockwork), no rains and the past hurricanes have created a trememndous amount of deadfall that remains decaying in uninhabited areas. Florida contrary to popular beleif has more PINE trees than PALM trees and pine trees have extreemly flammable sap! Cool huh? So I get home tonight and my upstairs neighbor informs nme that we may have to evacuate tomorrow due to the fires! There isbn't a fire in site of the house, but a wind shift is expected as well as thunder storms which may bring lighteneing and certainly will bring wind, but not likely to have enough rain to quench the raging fires! Currently there are 15 fires in a tri county area! So I have to figure out how to prepare to leave at a moment's notice with a Horse, a potbelly pig, a ferret, a snake, 5 mice, my most precious belongiongs and enough food for my animals! Did I mention that my old horse trailer isn't road worthy anymore? Lets see I could hitch up the horse to the cart, snap the lid on the mouse house tight and tape it to be extra secure, stuff the mouse house inside the snake terrarium and Slinky will just have to salivate at what she cannot get to. tie the terrarium to the side board of the cart. tuck Josie into her satchel. oad my most precious items into my truck. Tie the horse to the back of the truck, load Emmett the pig into the truck and off we go like gypsies to an evacuation center! [:O] Oh the HECK with all THAT! I'm gonna stay right here, buy a huge bag of hot dogs and marshmellows and have a weiny roast! Ahh, living in the country is so nice and quiet! Regards, JosiesMom
Josie made me do it! I had to build this just for her! www.vanityferret.com [ ]
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Average Member
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Last Login: 9/15/2007 10:37:01 PM
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| Josie's mom lol... if I were you I'd be gone already!!! I'd go rent a horse trailer at 5am!!! Here comes the question what three items you'd take with you on a deserted island lol! That is scary Josie's mom. Do you really mean it when you say you'll stay put????? Wow! You know your wereabouts of course and how far to a place where you can get/borrow a trailer...Sometimes ppl and the news exaggerate so indeed you might not have to do anything. I'd have all the animals ready though in case I need to evacuate... Josie in a carrier, Slinkie and her food to be like you said.. Emmett can fit in your car...so just need a trailer for the horse... geez....are you sleeping tonite?? Lol Good luck I hope you won't have to move at all from where you are...I hope they do exaggerate as usual....Be safe.. both you and all your kids..... By the way... just to chat (I'm at work it's 5am and I'm struggling to stay awake). If I had to evacuate.....besides the fuzzies and the dogs... I think the most precious thing I'd wanna save from a fire would be all my photos, cd with photos, camcorder and camera! Hmm.. anything else.....can't think of anything else....I think that's the most important thing to me....I know hubby would save the TV and the PC maybe a few clothes....ok ok I'd might save few clothes not that I have any favorite...or expensive ones...you can replace all that.. photos and memories you can't... Again Josie's mom... hope everything turns out well.....please keep us informed....
[]No ferrets? No fun![]
http://skunklove.myphotoalbum.com
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 1/25/2008 7:46:49 PM
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- Hey J'sMom,
- That situation stinks. I guess every location has
- it's pros and cons when it comes to weather and
- climate. Hopefully you won't have to heed those
- warnings. But if you must, you must!!! Good luck
- and stay SAFE!!! (keep us posted so we don't worry)
Later, Matt & Kristi (Iz & Brut)
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Average Member
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Last Login: 9/15/2007 8:43:51 PM
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 4/15/2008 6:23:33 PM
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| Hi All! Well so far so good, no barbecued pets! The fires are still raging and our subdivision is still in a state of alert. Our county has issued a "fire Red flag" meaning evacuations may ensue,be ready, things are ripe for an out of control fire, but for the moment things are contained. More official labels but still no changes. I've postponed my hoof work clients while I hang out at the house for an official notice (if any). Thanks for the well wishes! Yep, I'm sort of ready - got a few important things together and a plan in my head. Which is as good as it gets,right? Now there are even more fires in other counties! Brevard county has a structural fire started from a welder's spark. LAke County has a fire going in a forest, and Seminole county has over a thousand acres burning! Yep, Florida is a paradise! IF you are a burn bug: Sun Burn, Fire Burn, wind burn, sand burn, asphalt burn, rope burn, freezer burn... [ ]
Josie made me do it! I had to build this just for her! www.vanityferret.com []
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Average Member
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Last Login: 8/12/2007 3:46:12 PM
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| my aunt and uncle live down there, but on one of the keys in Islamorada Florida.. so i dont think they're getting any fires like you.. hopefully you wont have to pack up the zoo and move.. im sure trying to tug along a horse, a pig and other assorted animals would only be fun for the first 30 mins before something went wrong lol...
-------------------------- Mommy of 5 lovley ferrets- Kiba, Sable, Amon, Aphrodite and Titus Over the Bridge- Podo, dec.06 
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