Hurricane Milton - If you're in need of help or advice..

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by formosagirl

We are in a villa at Windsor hills, we have plenty of food and water but really worried. I know there isn't a mandatory evacuation here but should we evacuate? What is the worst case scenario if we stay here? The house is on the top of a hill so doesn't appear to be a flood risk and it's two storey so at least we could go upstairs if it does flood

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Oh no, just read your update about norovirus as well. First of all try not to worry too much. Take a break from the constant weather coverage. There are lots of tips on this thread and others. Worst case is you have no power for a few days.
I would make a list of what to do before Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
Freeze bottles of water (that can keep other stuff cool too).
Towels in front of the front door and patio doors (stop some water getting in)
Take all the outside stuff in - you've already done this.
Find a radio station if the villa has a radio with batteries (in case of no power) .
Fill a bath with water for flushing the toilets.
If you've got any travel cups make extra tea/coffee and it'll stay warm.
Fill extra cups/ containers with water and leave them on the kitchen counter- doesn't all have to be bottled water.
Charge all your devices.
Have a bag/backpack ready with all your passports, money, valuables just in case you would need to leave in a hurry.

I hope I haven't made it worse! You'll get through it!

[sam7]

When we were staying in a villa during a hurricane we put the car in the garage. DH's reasoning was that it would be safer, and in the event the villa sustained damage to the point we needed to go elsewhere we would need the car.

[jarre]

Originally Posted by sam7

When we were staying in a villa during a hurricane we put the car in the garage. DH's reasoning was that it would be safer, and in the event the villa sustained damage to the point we needed to go elsewhere we would need the car.

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We did this too during Hurricane Ian.

[Stitch & Smudge]

Looking at Fox35 Milton report and it’s a bit more promising. Storm growing larger, but not as powerful as before. Sounds a bit daft but less compact so packs less of a punch. Cat 3 at landfall and 2 by the time it reaches Orlando. The weather girl said that gusts of up to 70mph would be the maximum so I’m a bit more optimistic than I was yesterday. Still devastating for those on the coast though.

[ju123321]

Here on holiday from the UK and staying in a villa. We have petrol and food for 3 days but will obviously head north if we are evacuated. Otherwise we will stay put.
Sorry for the basic question but in a 2floor villa would we be better off sleeping downstairs or upstairs?
Also, if we loose power and water - how do we know when storm has passed? And will a government warning to my phone still come through?

[RC22]

Originally Posted by ju123321

Here on holiday from the UK and staying in a villa. We have petrol and food for 3 days but will obviously head north if we are evacuated. Otherwise we will stay put.
Sorry for the basic question but in a 2floor villa would we be better off sleeping downstairs or upstairs?
Also, if we loose power and water - how do we know when storm has passed? And will a government warning to my phone still come through?

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Our experience from hurricane Irma a few years ago.

We stocked up on food and water just in case.


On the day the hurricane hit it gets a bit eerie. Many places will close. Wafflehouse was open (it’s rare for them to close!) - there was a Q but it was a last chance at eating out for a couple of days.

We hunkered down in our villa. We slept upstairs as no bedrooms downstairs and we had a large pond out back (it ended up being inches from flooding us.) We put the kids in the large walk in closets, sleeping on cushions in case windows broke.

I stayed up all night whilst wife and kids slept. News reports very informative and you can track the hurricane inch by inch.

Irma came right over us in the end, hurricanes are loud! Not just wind but a constant droning wind.

It went quiet and calm for a while. This is not the hurricane leaving so don’t go out! That’s the calm eye of the storm passing over. Not long afterwards the wind began again.

It will die down eventually as the hurricane moves on. There will likely be a curfew. You aren’t supposed to driving about until the curfew officially lifts. But we saw loads of people ignoring this. It is not safe though as live power lines may be on the ground, standing water etc.

The power will likely go out, fully charge phones, batteries etc. Remember that wifi will be gone with the power so perhaps get an eSim if you have not already. Also it will be hot and humid without the aircon. Freeze some bottled water etc so you have something cold. Fill the tub with water in case you need to flush the loo. Throw plastic patio furniture into the pool so it doesn’t get blown away and fly into a window/person.


Be prepared for restaurants/parks to be closed for a day or two at least. Again have food stored including stuff you don’t need to cook or keep cold (so canned goods are good).
Power was off for about 20 hrs iirc but this can vary by area and damage. The linesmen are worth their weight in gold!

It’s frightening at the time, but in a couple of days you’ll be able to say you’ve been through a hurricane!

Hopefully there isn’t too much damage. It should die down a little by the time it hits Orlando area. Looks like the West coast will get another beating though.

[-AJC-]

Originally Posted by RC22

Our experience from hurricane Irma a few years ago.

We stocked up on food and water just in case.


On the day the hurricane hit it gets a bit eerie. Many places will close. Wafflehouse was open (it’s rare for them to close!) - there was a Q but it was a last chance at eating out for a couple of days.

We hunkered down in our villa. We slept upstairs as no bedrooms downstairs and we had a large pond out back (it ended up being inches from flooding us.) We put the kids in the large walk in closets, sleeping on cushions in case windows broke.

I stayed up all night whilst wife and kids slept. News reports very informative and you can track the hurricane inch by inch.

Irma came right over us in the end, hurricanes are loud! Not just wind but a constant droning wind.

It went quiet and calm for a while. This is not the hurricane leaving so don’t go out! That’s the calm eye of the storm passing over. Not long afterwards the wind began again.

It will die down eventually as the hurricane moves on. There will likely be a curfew. You aren’t supposed to driving about until the curfew officially lifts. But we saw loads of people ignoring this. It is not safe though as live power lines may be on the ground, standing water etc.

The power will likely go out, fully charge phones, batteries etc. Remember that wifi will be gone with the power so perhaps get an eSim if you have not already. Also it will be hot and humid without the aircon. Freeze some bottled water etc so you have something cold. Fill the tub with water in case you need to flush the loo. Throw plastic patio furniture into the pool so it doesn’t get blown away and fly into a window/person.


Be prepared for restaurants/parks to be closed for a day or two at least. Again have food stored including stuff you don’t need to cook or keep cold (so canned goods are good).
Power was off for about 20 hrs iirc but this can vary by area and damage. The linesmen are worth their weight in gold!

It’s frightening at the time, but in a couple of days you’ll be able to say you’ve been through a hurricane!

Hopefully there isn’t too much damage. It should die down a little by the time it hits Orlando area. Looks like the West coast will get another beating though.

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Was this when you were staying at Emerald Island? Interested to know how that area faired as due there on Sunday. Thanks

[Mr Andy]

I actually slept through Irma when she hit Orlando !

[Clarky1]

Hello, we are staying at Champions Gate in a 2 story Villa. It’s up a slight hill so hopefully we avoid flooding.

Wife and kids are pretty frightened and want to go home 😔

Would checking in to a Disney Hotel be a good idea for a couple of days or are we best to ride it out in the villa?
Not heard anything from resort or travel agent so trying to work out what is best for the family! Appreciate nobody can know for sure!

[scooby99]

Originally Posted by Clarky1

Hello, we are staying at Champions Gate in a 2 story Villa. It’s up a slight hill so hopefully we avoid flooding.

Wife and kids are pretty frightened and want to go home 😔

Would checking in to a Disney Hotel be a good idea for a couple of days or are we best to ride it out in the villa?
Not heard anything from resort or travel agent so trying to work out what is best for the family! Appreciate nobody can know for sure!

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I believe, based on a comment on here a couple of days ago, that Disney were no longer accepting new bookings from that point.
The reason; so they can extend current guests stays in the event that they can’t leave due to flight cancellations, stay in place orders etc.
Good luck.