What side of Florida is safer to live in ? (earthquake, flood, storm)

[pinetreecity]

If you want to move to Florida, and want to protect yourself from hurricanes as much as possible, then consider the following.

• Live at least 20 miles from the coast
• Buy a solid concrete home with a hip roof. A hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Make sure the roof is actually attached to the walls. Believe it or not, some builders down here did not always attach the roofs to the walls securely, so make sure the house inspector checks. They are required to now. A hip roof may lower your insurance rates.
• Make sure you don't live in a flood prone area.
• Make sure there aren't any big trees that are close enough to fall on the house. Some trees are stronger than others. Native trees seem to handle the storms best. If you want trees, make sure to take care of them, and keep the canapy thinned out to allow the wind to go through.
• Buy yourself a generator if your not willing to live without electricity for a couple of weeks. I've lived without electricity for a while. It's not so bad, it's just an annoyance.

[Slglar]

I have lived in Florida 46 years we live in Central Florida 50 miles from the Gulf side. We have had damage from a hurricane years ago that came a shore in Miami and came straight up the state. We had damage in 2004 from 2 hurricanes that came a shore on the east coast and we were without power here for 6 days from Francis and 5 days with Jean so it doesn't matter what part of Florida you live in or visit if its in the bulls eye your going to experience something from a hurricane. Most of the time we get the heavy rains 2004 was an exception. Other than the hurricanes its a nice place to live we rarely feel spring/summer/fall/winter its always winter/summer. Right now we have had a very long spell of windy days when the wind stops it will be very hot until Oct.

[genter]

with all the foreclosed homes at crazy prices, buying is tempting. Can you GET HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE EASILY WITH STATE FARM, NATIONWIDE, AND OTHERS NOT WRITING IN THE STATE?

[Blondie621]

I would say North/Central Florida is the safest. At least 25 miles in from the beach. I also would feel safe right in the middle of South Beach! The last hurricane to hit there was Hurricane David in 1979....at the time I had to evacuate my apt. on one of the canals there and take my 3 year old and cat to do an overnight at the Fountaine Bleu Hilton. It was scary, I saw the rough ocean at night from my hotel room and the over 80 mph winds leveling the palm trees in the street from the big lobby window at like 2 in the morning! What really scares me in Central Florida is the Tornadoes...last season my weather radio went off many times at 3 am or so with tornado warnings!

[TFloy]

The northern part of fl is a lot more wether friendly and crime friendly.Moderator cut: edit: real estate advertising

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by genter

with all the foreclosed homes at crazy prices, buying is tempting. Can you GET HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE EASILY WITH STATE FARM, NATIONWIDE, AND OTHERS NOT WRITING IN THE STATE?

Depending on the area, yes it can be hard, Citizens (state run insurance) might be the only one writing new policies. I would not go with State Farm anyways as they are always increasing or dropping people. They just put a request in to raise rates up to 60% on individuals.

[Love2LiveNCities]

best area is the jacksonville area. last hurricane that ever came close was in 1964 and the eye crossed over augustine. other than that, there has been no major hurricane or major storm that has crossed paths with jacksonville in the past century.

[NedESU21]

I'm gonna go with Jax being the safest area for hurricanes. Statistics show it has been hit about once in 100 years. That doesn't mean the big one won't hit the day after you move in though. South FL regardless of the side gets hit.....It's a thin state..if it comes onshore on the east ..u will know its there on the west. Panhandle gets nailed often too.......come to think of it....just move to Georgia lol

[lokahi]

Hurricanes are probably a lot like the blizzards you get up north - prepare, prepare, prepare. It's funny, b/c when people ask me questions like "why do you live in FL with all the hurricanes?", I think "Why do you live in California, Kansas, Utah with all the earthquakes, tornados and blizzards?". It's the same thing, really. Natural disasters aren't fun and definitely aren't easy to predict. Have a plan with your family, carry cash, and gas up the cars. Leave very, very early if you plan to evacuate. Don't go to a shelter unless it's your last resort. Take pictures of everything you own, and take them with you when you evacuate. Say goodbye to your worldly possessions and head north up 95 or 65, whichever way you choose!

[Starlady01]

I'm from Florida and live in Central Florida. My whole family live in Central Florida. Before Charley and the other two Hurricanes Central Florida hadn't been hit since my mother was a teenager. I would have to go with Central Florida or upper Florida would be the best places to live during a hurricane.

But I have to stress when my mom was a teenager they were hit hard and when we all recently went thu Charley even Central florida was hit heavy but not as bad as the coast.

That is my personal opinion.

I'm 47 years old and after Charley I was thinkin of moving myself but as stated before my whole famliy lives here a few generations back. I have installed hurricane shutters and am in the proccess of making sure I have bracing on my roof which is a hip roof and it is attached to the house itself.