Help me smile: I have only lived in Florida for a little over a year and

[greekspeak]

I am really upset with all these hurricanes coming and coming and coming. Although these storms have missed me so far, the stress of wondering if I am going to be blown away gets to me. Also, I find myself feeling horrid for the people who keep getting hit and hit. How do Florida natives stand up to this stress? I have lived through ice storms, snow storms, tornados, microbursts...but this hurricane business makes them pale in comparison.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I have left there.... and I truly feel terrible for those I left behind

but I find it interesting that in some areas you see homes wiped and a couple doors down... little or nothing to speak of.

This isn't much consolation.. but you may want to check it out anyway... I find it extremely interesting and potentially valuable for the future of rebuilding some of the high risk areas which may be "all of them".

http://www.monolithic.com/plan_design/FEMA/
Back-to-back hurricanes in Florida catch the media's attention and shine a light on the benefits of the Monolithic Dome

[burythehatchet]

2. since you ask......

what sort of help are you seeking?

In general, I have always questioned the wisdom of building in Florida.

Think about it...
you take a huge piece of swampland, and upon it you pack in millions of homes and millions of people...and the swampland happens to be located in the path of the most notorious hurricane path on the planet.

Just doesn't make sense.

[Blue-Jay]

3. Stay there and vote.

Then get the fuck out.

/hates storms

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. republicans come here because we don't have a state income

tax; they build the big houses (like Limbaugh) and they can leave and go to their homes in New York City when a hurricane hits and they probaly still somehow make money off of it.

[Not Me]

5. Hurricanes are nothing compared to blizzards, ice storms etc.

I lived in upstate NY for a long time, and when you get socked with a killer snowstorm that takes out the power...you freeze your nuts off.
At least here, with no power, the temp is bearable.

It's all relative.

[teryang]

6. Looks like IVAN will miss the east coast of FL

Thank you very much.

Two hurricanes in such a short period has had consequences that I couldn't even anticipate.

We took out most of the sandbangs two days ago. The windows are still boarded up. By some miracle the river of sewage contaminated flood water didn't get in my house and my old roof held together while those of my neighbors were damaged substantially. Some of my neighbors have had roof damage and water damage from Charley that wasn't even inspected or fixed when Frances struck. Their damages were compounded by that state of affairs.

The new fence blew down and my old shed blew up or was just ripped apart. The big trees in the back yard have had just about every limb and leaf ripped off of them. Those beautiful trees are now sad looking scarecrows.

Charley 85 mph gusts, 72 mph sustained here. Lasted a few hours. Lost electricity for 48 hours.

Frances over 70 sustained at times. Lasted 26 hours. A rip roaring shreiking howling wind that made your hair stand up and gave you goosebumps of fear. Something I don't want to go through ever again. Lost electricity for 48 hours and plumbing for 36 hours. That forced us to evacuate.

I will stay in the state simply because I don't have a viable career plan for leaving. I would like to buy a similar home on higher ground. But I can't really afford the extra 30k it would cost or the increased taxes that go with it. Florida tax law penalizes home buyers.