What are the hurricane standards for new homes built in the Tampa Bay area today?
Florida code requires that buildings must be designed to withstand pressure differentials that occur when windows and doors are pierced by a storm or wind-blown debris, or that all exterior glass windows and doors be made of shatter-resistant glass or be protected by shutters. In all of Pinellas County, in extreme southeastern Pasco and all the way up the remaining coast of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, the standard is 120 mph and above. In the eastern half of Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus, the standard is 110 mph and above, and in the western halves of those counties, it is 100 mph and above. State officials say buildings that met these standards fared well in Hurricane Charley.
If we have to evacuate, what will the interstates be like in construction zones?
The Florida Department of Transportation is opening all available lanes on interstates in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties in preparation for Hurricane Ivan. The one exception: on southbound Interstate 275 in Pinellas, where the right lane in the Roosevelt Boulevard area must remain closed because of construction.
What is the statistical probability of three hurricanes hitting Florida in the same year?
Mark Johnson, a professor of statistics at the University of Central Florida, says it's about one-in-50. Since 1900, it has happened twice, in 1926 and 1964. One of the storms in 1926 didn't make landfall in Florida, but it hit the state with hurricane-force winds.
Are the airports jammed with people trying to flee Florida?
Area airports were slow on Friday. JetBlue added one flight to New York . Cayman Airways flew two flights to the islands on Friday to make up for a canceled flight. AirTran added one flight to Cleveland today. Gulfstream is canceling all flights to Key West as of noon today. The extra flights were not so much to help people trying to escape the storm as an effort by airlines to move people already scheduled to travel in case operations were suspended early next week, said Louis Miller, executive director of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.
What should people do who planned to travel this weekend and early next week?
Check with their airlines before going to the airport.
Is there any place in a house or apartment that's safer than others for valuables?
Oddly enough, the dishwasher is a good place if you don't have a personal safe. Dishwashers are anchored to cabinets and plumbing, they are waterproof and they have doors that lock.
Is it safe to drive over a downed power line?
Avoid them at all costs. If a live line falls across your car, the rubber tires will insulate you. Get past the line as quickly as possible, but if you are trapped, stay in the vehicle. If any part of your vehicle is touching a power line and you try to get out, you will be electrocuted the instant your foot touches the ground if any part of your body is still touching the vehicle. If you try to jump out you may be leaping into a puddle with the live power line lying in it.
A lot of trees went down during Hurricane Frances. How much worse can it get with Ivan?
Potentially, lots worse. Trees went down in Frances because the ground was already saturated and the roots couldn't grab hold of the soil well enough to survive the wind. The ground is still saturated, and Ivan's winds could be much higher.
If the stores are out of plywood, will it do any good to cover my windows with particle board or even wood paneling?
Particle board will get soft if it gets wet and will provide little protection, if any. Wood paneling generally isn't as thick as experts recommend for good protection but would be effective against smaller debris. The best material is 5/8-inch thick.
How much wind can the dome at Tropicana Field take?
It is said to be able to withstand winds up to 120 miles an hour.
We had Hurricane Frances, and now we've got Hurricane Ivan. What happened to the G and H storms?
Tropical Storm Gaston soaked the Carolinas and Virginia, dumping so much rain on Richmond that a square mile of the historic downtown washed away. Tropical Storm Hermine fizzled out in the Atlantic.
How long is bottled water good for?
That depends on who bottled it. If you refilled a water bottle from the office cooler or the home tap, it is best consumed within two weeks if refrigerated or within a day if it has been standing at room temperature. If it was bottled commercially, it is good indefinitely, even if there is an expiration date on the bottle. Some states require expiration dates on all packaged foods, so some water bottlers put them on all their bottles, even those shipped to states that don't require them.
How do you deal with children and elderly people who are over-stressed by this situation?
When the important time comes, kids jump right in line, said Daniel Armstrong, a psychologist at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Children look to adults to be in charge and give direction. If children become agitated, or elderly parents become stubborn, share your plan to remain safe with them.
How much longer will this hurricane season last?
Eighty-one more days. It ends Nov. 30.
Compiled by Times staff writer Jean Heller with material from Judy Stark, Anita Kumar, Ron Thompson, Mike Konrad, Neville Green, Susan Aschoff and Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler.
Projected path