I have a serious question for Floridians

[GingerSnaps]

How can you live in a state where you have to live in fear that your house and belongings might get wiped out at any moment?

I am not asking this question to be mean I am curious.

I would only have to go through a hurricane once and the next time that I heard that it was going to hit again I would move.

You live in one of the most beautiful States in the US but I don't know how you can take it. I would have a breakdown by now.

My Mother's aunt lived in Daytona Beach for 60 years and she loved it. She is no longer around so I can't ask her the same question.

How do you do it?

[kixot]

1. "at any moment"? Oh, please!!!!

It's not like its an unannounced disaster like earthquakes or something. It's just a REALLY bad thunderstorm. If you live in areas of evacuation you go to a shelter. If not, board up and weather the storm. That's it. It's not a hysterical proposition, it's just one of the problems with living so close to the Caribbean.

[guitar man]

2. I wish

we had the advance notice time for Tornados that you get for a hurricane. Here in Oklahoma, you cant find yourself in a heap of trouble in a hurry, especially in the springtime.

[Pithlet]

8. I was thinking the same thing

An area of the country much larger than Florida is at a higher than normal risk for them. You get no warning, but fortunately the areas of damage are usually much smaller, so the odds you'll be affected during any one outbreak are smaller.

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. Agreed.

I live in Chicago and this is tornado country, though nowhere near as bad as Oklahoma. Twisters arrive with damn little warning. Same with earthquakes.

At least with a hurricane -- as capricious as they can be -- you usually have time to evacuate.

[guitar man]

13. they grow like weeds down here

I can remember seeing 3 at the same time when I was a kid. I'll never forget May 3, 1999 when the Monster of Monsters tore through the state.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Cali Has A Pretty Fragile Environment And It's Three Times As Populous As

Florida...


btw... I lived in Daytona Beach... I am about fifty miles southwest of Daytona Beach now....

[GingerSnaps]

5. How long ago?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. From 79-81

I have lived in Cen Fl since 1970 (little kid)...


I have moved several times but all within Central Florida...

[Misunderestimator]

4. To answer that, I'd first have to know where you live...

How does anyone live anywhere where there is ever any danger? How do people live in the Northeast, or any cold climate where weather conditions can be deadly, and even if you're a great driver, someone can slide fatally out of control and into your car in the snow? How do people live in areas that are prone to earthquakes? How do people live near waste facilities, or near industrial farms, or near nuclear power plants. Where are people supposed to live? I'll take living in an area that has experienced only one hurricane in 75 years over many other places. Especially when living in a home that was built to withstand the wind and rain damage (like most here are), unlike most of those whose homes were destroyed by Charley.

Where again do you live?

[GingerSnaps]

6. I am thinking about moving to Florida

That's why I am asking the question.

[Misunderestimator]

7. In that case, depending on where you move...

Florida can be a great place, but very close-minded. Some exceptions are Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the Keys and some of St. Petersburg. I know there are other more progressive places (I've heard Gainesville is and Orlando somewhat). The cost of living is cheap here and you can get a huge house for a relatively low price.

I'm not the right one to ask, because I can't wait to move out of Florida, but if all you are worried about is hurricanes, that is something that shouldn't stop you.

[trumad]

18. I heard there are a lot of Lesbians on the West Coast...is that true...

If so, I'm thinking about moving there...

[FloridaPat]

10. Beats earthquakes. No income tax either. Cheap

heating bills in the winter. And how many people are without electricity during the winter with those big snow and sleet storms that hit most of the country. And we do get a fair amount of warning.

And maybe this is God's warning to not vote republican this time around!

[caledesi]

12. I have been here in Tampa for 17 years after moving from New England

and we had MORE hurricanes in NE than here. Since I have been here, we have had 2 evacuations and the hurricane never touched us. Not the same in New England...we got hit. You take your chances.

[Mizmoon]

14. Been in NY all my life - no destructive hurricanes

We've been 'hit' by hurricanes about three times in 34 years. All they were, really, were big windy rainstorms. What Hurricane are you talking about that hit the NE hard?

[caledesi]

15. I didn't say "hard" although we didn't have electricity for one week.

I can't remember the name.....I believe it was Gloria in August 1985

[fishnfla]

16. Hurricanes become a fact of life

but honestly a really bad hurricane only happens what, once a decade, and when it does it only affects a portion of the state, not the whole . Its a hit or miss thing,(mostly miss), unless you live in the keys, and most folks down there are a different breed( Conch Republic). Except for charley, it has been 30 years(or more?) since a hurricane made a direct hit on daytona, so you could almost say its been a generation, same for jacksonville, tampa,and most of the coastal cities

today there is alot of hysteria b/c it is a large storm and the weather goons are scaring people crapless, which is not a bad thing, unless you are stuck running for the hills right now on I-95 almost on empty and they STILL dont know exactly where the storm is heading

but you learn to adapt, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. you become a junior meteorologist, watching radars and waiting for the 3 hour updates, when it is your turn, you flip into survival mode. a strong, safe building away from the coast is your friend. if your house and belongings get wiped out, but you are alive, you count your blessings, its only stuff that you can rebuild or replace.

there are many new residents here from elsewhere, and the weather goons really get them frightened. there are alot of mobile home residents, they should be frightened

[Jokerman]

17. Earthquakes, tornado's, floods, ice storms, blizzards...

What part of the country is immune from some sort of deadly disaster?

Personally I'd rather deal with a hurricane that can be tracked for days compared to a tornado warning minutes (or seconds) before one strikes.