Cordless drills/drivers are priceless for the screw installs. They even make a "wing nut holder" for installing those also but finding one with a storm coming is a longshot. If he lives in a well populated neighborhood (not a snowbird, gone all summer type area) there will be plenty of guys installing shutters. Most neighbors pitch in pretty good.

Last storm we asked a neighbor if he wanted help.....50ish guy, in very good shape. He said nah, I got a guy coming for $150....(insane pricing for 33 windows/doors, 1/2 are 2nd floor). We finish 3 houses, day labor (2 guys $20 an hour, done in about 6 hours) but 3 homeowners helped also so it was 5 guys working for 6 hours. It is almost dark, light rain......his $150 guy shows up and says he is tired, probably can't do it (storm is like 100-150 miles away, there is no "do it tomorrow"). 11 oclock that night he is still installing shutters and oh yeah.......price is $700!

The roll down shutters are so much nicer. Last year installing those panels can suck.

Blame this guy:

Several friends are blowing the storm off (as of now.) Grocery stores already out of water and ice (due to normal stocking habits.) They'll restock this week.

We are making our plans to go to Atlanta once we get a better feel for where the storm is headed. Taking one or both boats with topped fuel tanks. Will act like personal utility trailers (for personal items) plus we can syphon fuel form the boats and avoid long fuel station lines.

Hopefully, we are planning for nothing, but this one could be devastating. Cannot wait for last minute.

Make sure you have extra 1/4-20 wing nuts. Home Depot and Loews are already sold out of everything 1/4-20 nuts, bolts, wignuts.... gone. Fortunately, I have impact windows but I tried to pick up a box for the neighborhood yesterday and everything was already gone.

As long as I don't flood I'm fine. Cool story about flood insurance, it takes 30 days to go active. Hooray for buying a home within the last 30 days!

185 mph winds at last report.......top of the FL keys are going to get annihilated!

Yep my ex wife works at Gulfshore insurance in Naples . She says they have been pummeled by people wanting to buy flood insurance since the hurricane hit Texas.

They are not happy when you tell them it will not go into affect for 30 days.

Ooops. Didn't read above. My bad.

I started praying for you guys down there. I can't tell you how many people I know from up here that have places down there.

I couldn't imagine the feeling.