The Sandspur

Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: News

BLOWING BY: Meterologists projected Tropical Storm Ernesto to dump heavy rain on Central Florida, in the end it was downgraded to just a few showers and light winds

As we enter the height of Hurricane Season Rollins had its first experience with the then Tropical Depression Ernesto. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) was calling for winds gusting over 50 miles per hour on Wednesday August 30, 2006. Rollins College along with other local schools shut down in preparation for this storm. This came to a surprise to most students since last year school was held during Hurricane Wilma - a much more violent storm.

When it was announced that school was canceled the most common thing heard on campus was, "Dude, let's party." A few hours after school was canceled, it wasn't surprising that the campus announced that it was a dry campus as of five o'clock that day. Dry campus meaning that alcohol would not be permitted.

As Ernesto neared the Florida Keys, it weakened to a Tropical Depression. With maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, Ernesto rolled through Rollins. By one o'clock the first rain bands had dried up and the sun was shining. When the majority of the storm hit that evening, it was nothing more than a rainstorm. There were storm cells stronger than Ernesto in the Midwest.

Tropical Depression Six formed Monday September 4, 2006 and nears Tropical Storm strength. By the time this is published Tropical Depression Six may possibly be known as Hurricane Florence. The storm will be here some time during the week of September 18, 2006.

There are three scenarios for this storm as of now. The first has the storm hitting Cuba and just grazing Florida. The second has the storm hitting the southern half of Florida and the third (and more probable) has the storm hitting the Carolina's. And, as always, the storm may loop around and go back out to sea.

As stated in last weeks issue, there are many necessities in going through a hurricane. Winter Park is far enough inland where a major storm would reach us in such a state that it would not be too threatening. There are a few items that you would not expect to be very helpful should the worst-case scenario happen.

If plumbing is unavailable the best thing to use as a shower is baby wipes. Storm chasers swear by these. Another thing to do in the dorm is to make sure all important documents and papers are as far away from windows as possible. It has been said that McKean leaks, so it would be smart to cover things with towels or take them with you to Bush, should that time come.

For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit the NHC online at www.nhc.noaa.gov. Also, to stay informed on Florida's emergency plans please visit www.floridadisaster.org.

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