Fay Approaching Panhandle
August 21st, 2008 by Mike VasilindaFay continues to act erratically but is on the move west after stalling off Daytona Beach. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, residents along the panhandle coast are doing little to prepare but wait.
The first breezes from Fay were being felt midday Thursday on the coast in Panacea, 40 miles southwest of the state capitol. Boats remained moored at the Panacea Harbor Marina, where manager Ben Sanson says his staff is making minor preparations.
“We are still making sure everything’s tied down real well, and that boats don’t go floating off into the ocean,” Sanson said.
The local grocery store has not seen a flood of people stocking up…yet. At the State Emergency Operations center, the call is for a lot of rain but little wind. Still, there is uncertainty.
“I mean, nobody knows for sure exactly where this thing is going to go,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “That’s why it’s so important for people to stay in touch with local news reports, stay in touch with local officials.”
These beach goers were unaware Fay could be heading their way, and were unconcerned when we told them to expect a lot of rain.
This tide is exceptionally low right now, but local residents remember Denis three years ago when an unusually high storm surge destroyed dozens of homes.
Chris Calvert wasn’t taking any chances with his 24-foot boat.
“If the storm’s surge is 6 foot like they say some of the models might be, it’ll swell up and push our boat into the lift. So we want to get it up while we can,” Calvert said.
Fay has dumped up to two feet of rain on parts of Florida, and the panhandle is not expected to fair any better.
Posted in Charlie Crist, Hurricane Season, Weather | No Comments »