RnRJack - 2016-10-04 11:14 PM

Well I'm on the east coast in the now direct path of impact unless things change. I'm taking horses to a friends house a couple towns over that have a concrete block barn with double hurricane straps. I will also be putting thr hurricane shutters down on the windows tomorrow and possibly riding out the storm. They have issued a mandatory evacuation for the barrier islands here which I'm a few mikes from.

I'm praying it moves more east or that the Bahamas slow it down a lot, 120mph winds are very scary.

Saying my prayers!!!

Supernel8 - 2016-10-04 2:35 PM

My son is on the USS George Washington, they just deployed the ship at noon today to head to Haiti for relief efforts. He wasn't sure how long they will be gone.  Prayers for everyone affected by this terrible hurricane.  
 

RnRJack - 2016-10-05 11:14 PM Well my horse is in what I pray is a secure place and we're headed inland in the morning about 45 miles in, we will still have 90+ mph winds away from the beach. I've been a stress case all day boarding up my grandmas house (who's choosing to stay on the coast) and prepping the yard etc. It's heart breaking to see some of my friends whom had to leave their horses behind post pictures of them spray painted and tagged with phone numbers and info. They couldn't find rides or safe places so I ask for your prayers for those whom have animals that are riding out the storm. Winds where I live are expected to be 120-130mph and I can't imagine them standing out in it, not to mention the flooding. I hope I can come home Saturday to find horses still at our boarding facility :(

Vickie - 2016-10-06 12:53 AM I am staying.  I have stayed through 61 years of hurricanes, but this one is kinda of scary.  Should be an interesting few days,  BTW I am also at ground zero on this one.

Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-06 10:52 AM Why are you staying? Are you on the east coast?  

Vickie - 2016-10-06 11:10 AM I am in Canaveral Groves, just west of Cocoa.  Been here since 82 and never flooded.  Plus I built the house and barn myself with help from my family.  I know every joint has hurricane clips.  The windows and roof are hurricane rated.  I may lose trees and once again an above ground pool but I feel pretty confident I will survive. 

Vickie - 2016-10-07 9:10 AM I am in Canaveral Groves, just west of Cocoa.  Been here since 82 and never flooded.  Plus I built the house and barn myself with help from my family.  I know every joint has hurricane clips.  The windows and roof are hurricane rated.  I may lose trees and once again an above ground pool but I feel pretty confident I will survive. 

sorrel horse ranch - 2016-10-07 10:22 AM I am praying for all that are being hit by Matthew.  I worry about Bilba, she is staying.  I hope eveyone can stay safe. 

RidenFly - 2016-10-06 3:35 PM She is?  Please pass along my prayers to her.  Dang, I just wouldn't mess with this one. 

3canstorun - 2016-10-06 2:59 PM No she isn't staying now.  She is packing to leave - about an hour ago -

Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-06 3:14 PM Oh thank goodness, this is going to a really really bad hurricane.. Prayers that all her horses will be ok.  

flyingcolors - 2016-10-06 11:15 AM I could not leave any of my animals behind.  If that was the case; I would not go! 

Vickie - 2016-10-06 12:53 AM

I am staying.  I have stayed through 61 years of hurricanes, but this one is kinda of scary.  Should be an interesting few days,  BTW I am also at ground zero on this one.

RnRJack - 2016-10-06 5:33 PM I just made it to my moms boyfriends vacation house in Largo, Fl (a little west of Tampa about 3 hours west of cocoa and my home). We left at 11am and got here around 4, took 5 hours as traffic was bumper to bumper for a lot of the drive. I'm sick to my stomach that I left my horse at my friends in a hurricane rated barn, it's all concrete with concrete poured in between and double hurricane straps. The windows have been boarded up, I'm Not sure how strong the roof is, but it's fairly new and well built. The other horses at our barn have been tagged and turned out. I just sold my big stock trailer and downgraded to a 2 horse so I couldn't take anymore. My step moms horse is a mustang so I'm hoping his wild instincts kick in (jk) I'm so worried about them, they're on 40 acres that are prone to flooding but don't have many trees or flying debris around. So many of my beachside friends have decided to stay and hunker down so please say a prayer for them and the animals only 10 miles from the beach and rivers like mine. I also work on merritt island one of the barrier islands so I hope I can go back to work after this as well! We have horses on the north end of the island as well that my friends are turning out so prayers to them as well! I'll be in contact with everyone as much as THEY can, hopefully cell towers stay up so we can check on them. God speed to everyone that this storm is effecting

RnRJack - 2016-10-07 9:26 PM

Checking in, post Matthew with pics.

First and foremost my prize possession survived without a scratch! Here's her in the barn with the windows boarded up, doors were boarded as well!



My trailer also unscathed, just a little flooded on the property, just really needs a bath now



This is pretty much what most of the county here looks like, lots of big uprooted trees and branches everywhere, this is my friends neighbors house



This is cocoa beach, the water up to the back of businesses



This is a parking lot beach access in cocoa beach



This is the cocoa beach pier where I grew up surfing, thank God it's still here. The waves are firing and people were actually already out surfing today!



This is Flagler beach just an hour north of us, a1a has been destroyed



A1a again different view



This was in Jacksonville I believe, a shark swimming among peoples porches!!!




So all in all just had structural damage and nothing to significant that can't be replaced or cleaned up thank God. My brothers condo roof did blow off in the middle of the night and he had to get in his car along with his girlfriend and drive inland during the storm so that was scary but they're safe. He stayed because they worry about looters which is common during these big storms when everyone leaves.

A house down the street from mine owned by an elderly couple did burn down, I believe it was electrical. A few other places caught on fire I heard as well. Most of the power has been turned back on but we have to boil water for now. Some parts of merritt island near my work still don't have power right now but they're working hard on it.

Praying for all the lives lost in Haiti and thankful the storm weakened and pulled away for us.