Dear San Carlos Owners & Guests,
We are keeping a very close eye on Tropical Storm Laura which will affect the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands with rain and gusty winds into this weekend. Laura may then head toward Florida and the Gulf of Mexico early next week, possibly as a hurricane. Please know that at this juncture, all forecasts addressing intensity and tracking are highly uncertain. The National Hurricane Center forecast shows Laura approaching Florida and the Gulf of Mexico as either a strong tropical storm or hurricane early next week. Warm ocean temperatures and low to moderate wind shear are factors that favor the steady strengthening of this system through the weekend. One major hindrance that could batter this system is possible land interaction with the higher terrain of Hispaniola and/or Cuba. There is also the possibility that dry air could be pulled into this system, which would be another hindrance to strengthening.
Here are some, but not all, of the scenarios being depicted in various computer model forecasts:
1. This system approaches Florida, then moves into the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm or hurricane;
2. Dry air and/or land interaction cause this system to dissipate prior to reaching Florida or the Gulf of Mexico;
3. The system remains weak or even dissipates over the next several days, but then reorganizes and strengthens as it approaches Florida or the Gulf of Mexico.
Another possibility is that Tropical Storm Laura could possibly interact with Tropical Depression Fourteen, which is currently located in the western Caribbean (forecast to track into the Gulf of Mexico). The bottom line at this point in time is that it is too early to know what, if any, impacts this system might bring to Gulf Shores.
Owners, please adhere to the following to assure preparedness:
1) If you rent your unit, please contact your management company to discuss procedure for removing all furniture and items off of your balcony (especially end units due to the fact that items will need to be removed even if the system doesn’t reach hurricane status);
2) San Carlos staff is always here to assist with moving your furniture and balcony items into your unit (cost of $25 and does not include moving items back out onto the balcony);
3) If this system advances into hurricane status, I will provide as much notice as possible toward locking the building down, erecting our hurricane shutter system, raising all elevators, and essentially making absolutely certain we are adhering to every aspect of our hurricane preparedness procedure in an effort to protect this building and each of your units.
I will continue to monitor both systems and keep everyone updated as more information becomes available. Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns (251.747.4111).
Sincerely,
-Dan
