[carolanna20]

Clearly you go inland -- but everyone is going in the same direction. It goes without saying that traffic would be insane. But honestly, where do you go if you don't have a relatively nearby destination with friends or family?

Do you just look for a hotel? Wouldn't every hotel be booked once you get there?

Just a confused yankee trying to figure out how you all do things down there!

[Big House]

Originally Posted by carolanna20

Clearly you go inland -- but everyone is going in the same direction. It goes without saying that traffic would be insane. But honestly, where do you go if you don't have a relatively nearby destination with friends or family?

Do you just look for a hotel? Wouldn't every hotel be booked once you get there?

Just a confused yankee trying to figure out how you all do things down there!

Well, Generally they give you pretty good notice about any hurricane that may be headed in you direction, depending on where in Florida you are - it is a pretty big state. The size of the storm also has an impact if it is a catagory one or so, I might not leave. If it looks like it is headed in our area (and I'd give it a wide chance of movement), and it is bigger, I'd leave timely, and head North to my house in Maryland. I'd stay there until I know it passed, then I'd head back. Everyone heads inland in different directions, and as far as a hotel, I would guess it would be first come first serve. There are a lot of things to do so you are prepared for a hurricane as well. I'm a pretty new resident, so I think I'd be a little cautious. I'm not all that worried about them though. I know it is not if you have one headed your way, is when and what size.

[Granny Sue]

I'm not one that can evacuate but will be happy to give you some pointers.
Make a hurricane supply box. Google that and you'll get a list of the basics.
Pay attention to the cone...like Big House said, you get LOTS of notice.
The strongest part of the storm is the top left side so avoid any direction that part goes.

The powers that be are very good at ordering evacuations.

Try to get a hotel but be prepared to be sent to a shelter.

After a few practice runs, it's all good.

[GloryB]

As Big House posted, you usually have a good amount of warning that you are at least in the path and then it starts getting more specific as the time gets nearer. Usually only people on the coastline evacuate in the masses. Inland people are more prone to take their chances and ride the storms.

When living in Jacksonville Beach, we would travel to central Florida and stay with my family. Most other people would go up into Georgia or towards Tallahassee. Sure, the interstates are going to be busy, but wise people have planned ahead with a gassed up car and extra snacks/drinks for the trip to avoid having to stop.

I am now 50 and have lived almost all of my life in Florida. Only one year did I evacuate enough times until I decided just to leave the car packed. The rest of the time, it is more of an annoyance than a big deal. I would probably rather evacuate occasionally than to have to shovel snow all winter.....every winter.

The trick is to be PREPARED during the whole hurricane season with a quick pack list, a destination plan and whatever finances may be needed.

[Nikki9947]

There are also hurricane shelters available in each city; however (for me) that's usually my last resort. We usually literally get notice as soon as a hurricane bounces off of Africa so that gives us at least 5-9 days to watch it (if it's even coming straight here) and decide if it's worth leaving and plan where to go to. Sometimes it's minor and you can sleep right through and only a chair blows over it but other times it can be a bit scary. Either way, it's USUALLY somewhat predictable. I must say that Florida has a great evacuation system (IMO). The toll lanes are free and if it's really bad they will open both lanes in a North direction (especially in the Keys) to let people leave. The getting gas and leaving process is not horrible, just annoying. If your lucky though you might even catch one of the hurricane parties around town!

[Lilybeans]

I can tell you that you need to be ready. I remember Jeanne was suposed to hit around Melbourne, and we went to bad knowing we were going to be okay. I got up in the morning, at 6am, and heard these words from the weatherman, and I've never forgotten them:

"There's been a change in the forecast and the news is grim. You must rush you preparations to completion."

Talk about getting the heart racing. About 6 hours later, Jeanne came ashore as a Cat 3, within a mile or so ofwhere Francis had come ashore three weeks earlier.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by carolanna20

Clearly you go inland -- but everyone is going in the same direction. It goes without saying that traffic would be insane. But honestly, where do you go if you don't have a relatively nearby destination with friends or family?

Do you just look for a hotel? Wouldn't every hotel be booked once you get there?

Just a confused yankee trying to figure out how you all do things down there!

We plan ahead. Hurricanes don't just pop into existence right off the coast. If it looks like you are going to get hit, don't wait - evacuate. Anywhere that is not near the water or in the path of the storm.

If you live in a hurricane-vulnerable area* you should always be prepared during hurricane season to leave on short notice.

The good news is that the State of Florida has a LOT of experience in handling hurricanes and we have a pretty good emergency management system in place. Just don't think you can ride out a Cat 3+ if you are near the water (and I might not ride out a Cat 2 depending on my location). On high ground...like where I live now, I might consider riding out a Cat 3 depending on how close it hit and what side was hitting me...but that is risky and not for the faint of heart.


*Believe it or not, some parts of central and north Florida have hills and are not quite so vulnerable to hurricanes, but these are not typically tourist or transplant areas.

[TANaples]

If they give you enough warning, I will hop on a plane back to NY. Bye, bye.

[imagardener]

What do we do? We ask where would we be safest, at home with hurricane shutters or driving away from it.
Cat 1 or 2 is easy, we stay home.
Cat 4 is easy, drive away from the projected path if we will not be caught in traffic (sometimes there is not enough warning if a hurricane is upgraded in strength).
Cat 3 is the toughest choice for "do we go or do we stay" because we live near the Gulf. Generally we would leave because of the danger of it turning into a Cat 4 at the last minute.
But I can tell you that 90% of our neighbors would stay for any hurricane. I married a northerner who isn't used to them :-)

Sometimes too much information can be a danger. I grew up on Florida's east coast and my parents put some duct tape on the plate glass window and that was that. Now the newscasters start getting us riled up when a storm starts forming off Africa.

Hurricanes are a way of life here. Learn to live with them or stay a snowbird.

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

Remember that category 3 or higher storms are very unusual and they can always hit other places in FL, LA, TX, Cuba etc. The forecast is usually very reliable, I would say within 50 mile range. But if we got something 3 or above directly hitting my area, I would just drive up north. I'm sure they will have evacuations like they did in New Orleans last year.

I was here during Andrew in 1991 and that was pretty scary. I wouldn't ride a storm like that again.