Milton is turning out to be a real climate change monster, with a possibility of striking the Gulf Coast anywhere between Cedar Key and Ft Meyers. If it goes the southern route, we’ll probably get some bad weather here, but the storm will probably be attenuated by crossing the peninsula. Helene flattened Cedar Key, a picturesque little town that is our last reminder of “Old Florida”, If Milton follows up the town will simply vanish, or be replaced by some obscene tourist trap.

If it goes N, it will hit areas already affected by Helene, so those people are really between the devil and the deep blue sea. In the middle (and most likely) of the potential landfalls is my home town, Tampa, and the conditions are such that it will cause catastrophic surge flooding on top of category 3 0r 4 winds. It will be a disaster. It probably won’t affect me, but I have friends and relatives in Tampa and the authorities are predicting extreme damage and loss of life.

If it goes S, Ft Myers can expect a beating, and its still not fully recovered from last year’s hurricane (Ian). My brother lives in Ft Myers, and Ian bankrupted his insurance company.

After slamming Tampa, the storm would continue across the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, the fastest growing area of the state. The storm would then cross the Atlantic coast near Cape Canaveral. The space port is built to handle big storms, but some damage is to be expected.

We’ll know in a few days. I don’t expect any problems myself, but I’m not expecting any good news either.

But so too is the community. I’m getting information of people armed with chainsaws and determination clearing roadways, checking on neighbors, putting things to rights.

Reports are still trickling in from them as they find their way through tree strewn roads trying to get cellular service. Nobody has grid power. Flooding not seen since 1916. All roads into and out of Asheville are impassible. I-40 west into Tennessee is gone in multiple places. Gasoline is running out fast.

Not only are powerlines downed by trees, the substations that distribute the electricity are ruined.

Basically, it’s really bad there.