[geos]

Are hurricanes are less destructive as they get inland to places like Winter Haven, Orlando, Mt Dora, etc. Are homeowner insurance rates lower inland?

[annerk]

Yes and no. Hurricanes generally lose steam as they come inland, but not always. There has been significant damage in the greater Orlando area in recent years. Charley, Jeanne, Francis, and Faye all caused massive wind damage and/or flooding to many areas.

As far as insurance, there are a lot of factors, including the type of roof, type of construction, age of home, flood zones, etc.

[Mugatu]

In Orlando, Charley uprooted a large tree in my yard and placed it into my neighbor's den. Jeanne lifted up my carport tearing the wrought iron supports out of their foundation resulting in $1300 of repairs.

They do lose steam as they go inland, but can still wreak havoc. Charley still had 105mph wind gusts as it passed over Orlando. If a CAT 5 storm ever came through Orlando directly from the east around Cocoa Beach, it would be catastrophic.

[Granny Sue]

Yes...insurance rates are lower inland.

And sorry there is no was to determine the hurricane damage question.
It depend on what side of the storm your on. The NE corner of the storm is the strongest thus creating the most damage.

Hurricanes on average are strongest at landfall and weaken over land....but when you only 100mph winds as opposed to 115mph...it doesn't make much difference. The damage is still bad.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Kali's Grandma

but when you only 100mph winds as opposed to 115mph...it doesn't make much difference. The damage is still bad.

Very well put.

The big damage from being inland is that you generally don't have to deal with storm surge related flooding like coastal areas do. Don't get me wrong, there can still be flooding, but it generally won't be to even close to the level that it is in coastal areas.

[beachmouse]

On the other hand, tornadoes from hurricanes are more common a little big inland than they are right on the coast.

[NatureCoastFL]

The national hurricane center has a simulated wind map that is based on storm strength and storm speed. It shows what kind of winds you could expect given say a cat 3 hitting melbourne from the east moving at 5 MPH. It has all the maps for the state with storm paths hitting the state from east and west. It gives you a rough idea of the expected winds that you could receive.

Remember, that florida is not very wide so it a good cat 3 or higher hits one side of the coast, there is a good chance that you will feel it on the other side of the coast, especially if the storm is moving > 10 mph. I cant seem to find the link to the maps, maybe someone else might have it.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by annerk

Very well put.

The big damage from being inland is that you generally don't have to deal with storm surge related flooding like coastal areas do. Don't get me wrong, there can still be flooding, but it generally won't be to even close to the level that it is in coastal areas.

Coastal storm surge can be immediately devastating, but in low lying areas inland, there can still be intense flooding from the storm that does not receed like the storm surge but becomes a stagnent sitting mess....

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

Coastal storm surge can be immediately devastating, but in low lying areas inland, there can still be intense flooding from the storm that does not receed like the storm surge but becomes a stagnent sitting mess....

It also depends on where you live. Some parts of the Orlando area flood with a heavy afternoon storm.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by annerk

It also depends on where you live. Some parts of the Orlando area flood with a heavy afternoon storm.

Exactly. We've had more surge flooding on AMI with regular rain storms than some of the hurricane surge waters.