Okay geezz NOW what should I do? (condo, house)

[GotBackHome]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

hurricanes are nothing... at least with hurricanes I get well in advance warnings.. I've never lost a home in a hurricane or had any damages to really speak of.

You're lucky. My sister and her family used to live in Naples, ran a landscaping/nursery place. She was so sick and tired of all the hurricanes that were causing trouble in Naples a couple of years ago... they are now quite happy returned to Maine where they started (sure, they loved Naples, and they love Maine).

Personally, too much sun gives me a headache, I prefer woods to the beach any day, and the heat and humidity of a very long stretch of time in FL would make me mold! I'm very glad you're happy there. - it's not for me

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

She was so sick and tired of all the hurricanes that were causing trouble in Naples a couple of years ago... they are now quite happy returned to Maine where they started (sure, they loved Naples, and they love Maine).

We got hit with 2 hurricanes in the past 10 years or so.. One didn't hit us it skirted us that was Charley and Wilma hit and that was the last one to hit us directly in 05.. Before that I believe it was Donna in 1960 something... We are at such an angle that the hurricanes have to come down , then around the state then literally make a tight right turn to hit us directly.. Its almost impossible but happens every couple decades. The east coast gets pounded way more than we do. We just get wind and rain from them. Some people though just don't like worrying about whats coming next I suppose. A lot of people always talk about oh the big one is coming etc etc.. But IMO there is something big always coming somwhere, Cali's gonna get the big earth quake or Mid west will get the big blizzard... no biggie just be prepared is all

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

I lived in St. Louis for almost 5 years, and to the locals, the tornado siren going off several times every week wasn't a big deal either... I, OTOH, would get the kids to the basement where we had a large table set up with blankets, pillows, water and snacks, etc. "just in case". Our first year there there was a twister in the next subdivision, we lost portions of our fence and roof, and the neighbors were like "no big deal"... TO ME it was a HUGE deal to be shoveling 5" of almost golf-ball size hail off of my deck after the storm passed. To the natives, it was a normal spring day...

All in what you're used to... and I suppose all the folks in Florida who lost homes, etc. due to Wilma, Andrew, etc would agree that they are nothing? I dunno bout that, but mebbe...

The thing is we just move on.. we all accept that we could loose our homes tomorrow to a hurricane.. just like people up north expect snow every year we expect hurricanes.. If you're a local who's lived here a long time or native its really no big deal. Its a bit of a rush really, we used to have hurricane block parties.. What the weather channel when a hurricane is coming, you'll see the locals on the beach walking it or surfing.. Hurricanes always wash up the best shells right before and right after the storm. You take it as it comes..

I was way more afraid of drivin in the snow, and loosing power in the winter up there than I ever was of hurricanes down here. I've lost power for weeks, had no gas in town, all the food stores shut down , been on cerfew and had the national guard in town after hurricanes, or near misses and I dunno its just part of life here. Like you said its all what you're used to..

People in New Orleans who lost their houses in Katrina and go back are looked at like their crazy sometimes cause people say how can they do that they're just gonna loose it again one day but eh, if you like the area enough you'll stay

[GotBackHome]

We are at such an angle that the hurricanes have to come down , then around the state then literally make a tight right turn to hit us directly.. Its almost impossible

yeah, that's what my sister kept saying: Naples is too protected on the Gulf for much to happen. Until a couple of years ago when they did start coming in from the Gulf and being a problem. She got mighty sick of them (and the damage they kept causing the stock).

people say how can they do that they're just gonna loose it again one day but eh, if you like the area enough you'll stay

sure, fine. but if you KNOW it's a regular problem with a lot of damage, and you keep going back to the floodplain... then stop asking for my tax dollars to fund your crazy attachment to the area! (no, I don't mean you personally, Tara).

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

yeah, that's what my sister kept saying: Naples is too protected on the Gulf for much to happen. Until a couple of years ago when they did start coming in from the Gulf and being a problem. She got mighty sick of them (and the damage they kept causing the stock).

We had one year a couple years ago where we got a lot of storms develop but didn't hit us, I think they got through the alphabet and into the greek alphabet but that was the first time I'd ever seen that happen and 98% of the storms hit Texas, Miami, Northern/ Central Fla or go out to sea. We never recieved damage from any storms, just wilma and only cause it was a direct hit, Cat 3 (120mph winds I think) does't warrent evacuation IMO.. I stayed in my house during that one and it was a close call, and a lot of people got roof damage but no home collapses thank goodness. I live 4 blocks from the beach and we have palmtrees in the yard but those thing are made for hurricanes they don't budge.. I guess it depend in what area. If you're around more tree's you're probably lookin at more things happening.


sure, fine. but if you KNOW it's a regular problem with a lot of damage, and you keep going back to the floodplain... then stop asking for my tax dollars to fund your crazy attachment to the area! (no, I don't mean you personally, Tara).

See to me, its crazy for people who live in the NE and dealing with that snow.. Its like WHY deal with possible roof collapse, and shoveling, and sliding and heating. To me thats more of a hassle than just tracking a hurricane. See I can go 10 years without having to deal with a hurricane hitting at all.. Up north you deal with that every single year at some point or another. Thats 10x's the hassle.

[Rexicana]

I grew up on the NE coast where we would get walloped by hurricanes (houses in the middle of the streets, flooding, etc) AND snow. It was all OK because it was what we were used to, although Tara might think we were 100x crazy!! Neither crazy snow nor hurricanes was an annual happening though.

It's all what you are used to. I was reminding my kids of the Cali dangers when we visited this year - mudslides, earthquakes, rattlers, black widows - and their eyes got really wide. Really, it wasn't a big deal when you are there. And I figure it teaches them to be able to live anywhere and be OK.

[Ken E]

In the eight years i've lived here my homeowmers insurance for hurricane coverage has almost tripled. I havent filed a claim for damage. Full coverage for my house down here $3800.00 per year .Full coverage for my log cabin in Ossipee $437.00 per year. Never had my insurance increase from to much snow.

[GotBackHome]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

Its like WHY deal with possible roof collapse, and shoveling, and sliding and heating.

it's a funny thing: I read all about everyone raking their roofs (or having someone do it), and while it certainly makes sense to get that weight off, I asked my parents about it - because I don't remember either of them every dealing with such a thing my whole 18 + years there. They never did. never had any problems. My mom said the main thing is to design your roof properly! don't put on a roof that doesn't have the right pitch to it (or by one with a bad roof). The only problem my parents encountered was that in one house that my dad designed - he insisted on gutters which did cause some trouble with ice dams. But... no one ever shoveled/raked our roofs and they never collapsed.

[notdancingqueen]

Yes, hurricanes and tornadoes are no big deal...until the one time they ARE a big deal. I'm not a fan of the 24-hour hurricane coverage on TWC and CNN because I find it tends to be full of unnecessary drama and scare tactics - since when was weather coverage a reality show? But taking reasonable precautions and having a healthy respect for mother nature doesn't have to mean getting all freaked out and twirly. But to say major storm warnings are no big deal...I hope you aren't in the path of the next Hugo, Andrew, Rita, or Katrina.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by notdancingqueen

I hope you aren't in the path of the next Hugo, Andrew, Rita, or Katrina.

Its NOT a big deal most of the time.. I was hit by Katrina, head on. It came directly across the east coast of florida and smack dab over Naples we had no power for a week. I was cooking all my meals on the sidewalk in a turkey pan cause my bbq got blown away. I also had damage from Rita and esp Andrew. We are exactly parallel to Homestead and Miami on the west coast and and can remember huddling in a closet in my boarded up house listening to the winds roar on andrew. Like you said they create so much drama with the hurricanes and get people not only here but all around the country hyped up like its the end of the world is barreling down on you. I'll stay through a high Cat 3, my husband will state even if a Katrina hit because he's in a secure building. Its just scary I guess if you've never rode out a hurricane..