So what does Tampa area do when facing Hurricane? (Orlando: mobile home, neighborhood)

[GreenZ1K]

Hope not to jinx the area, but had to ask. Being in the middle of the state where do you go and what do you do if a hurricane is headed your way? Do you stay untill it is a definate that it will hit your area or do you get outta dodge if it is any where near the middle of the state? Do you keep supplies and gas ready all hurricane season long?

I take it you throw the dogs and family in the car, cross your fingers and go on a little spur of the moment road trip.

[MAniacTHW]

We laugh because we know that hurricanes really aren't that big of a deal.

[Mike1306]

Well first off you need to realize Tampa is on the coast not the middle of the state.
Besides that I don't know what to say because after18 years here I haven't had much to do with hurricanes.

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

We laugh because we know that hurricanes really aren't that big of a deal.

Then you've never been in one. Once you've been exposed to 100+ MPH winds and driving rain where parts of your home are torn away, you'll never forget the name of that storm. You won't be laughing then.

[GreenZ1K]

Sorry, I meant middle of the state as far as north to south go, not west to east. Was wondering which way you turn in the face of a hurricane. North, South or just stay put?

[TampaKaren]

Florida at its widest part (in the panhandle) is only 361 miles across. Tampa (Gulf of Mexico) to Vero Beach (Atlantic Ocean) is around 150 miles. Many hurricanes exceed these distances across. So, jumping in the car does very little towards your protection; it's actually the opposite. It's not whether we get hit by the storm, it's at what intensity. Those living along the coast line will/should evacuate inland to avoid the storm surge. It's usually the wind that does the most damage. We watch the weather reports and prepare the best we can.

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by On-da-Beach

Then you've never been in one. Once you've been exposed to 100+ MPH winds and driving rain where parts of your home are torn away, you'll never forget the name of that storm. You won't be laughing then.

22 years, mostly in a mobile home, and facing those five hurricanes in one year... Sound like I've not been exposed to the "hundred mile an hour" wings and "driving rain" where parts of our crappy trailer (which is still standing, undamaged) are "torn away."

[CrowGirl]

Originally Posted by GreenZ1K

Sorry, I meant middle of the state as far as north to south go, not west to east. Was wondering which way you turn in the face of a hurricane. North, South or just stay put?

I've been through three hurricanes on the East Coast and as a previous poster said I definitely take them seriously, especially after having the amount of damage I experienced. What you do depends on a number of factors. The most important being whether you are in an evacuation zone and what type of structure you live in (concrete, frame, mobile home, etc.). I am in a concrete house outside an evacuation zone and have hurricane shutters. So I will probably stay put for a 1, 2 or 3. For a 4 or 5 I would probably evacuate to a friend's house either in Orlando or on the East Coast. Evacuation is not as easy as it sounds because the roads get clogged and gas stations are all out of gas. So you have to be a little strategic about it. I have an extra gas can that I fill up when I fill up the car when a hurricane is approaching.

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

22 years, mostly in a mobile home, and facing those five hurricanes in one year... Sound like I've not been exposed to the "hundred mile an hour" wings and "driving rain" where parts of our crappy trailer (which is still standing, undamaged) are "torn away."

Yes, that's exactly what it sounds like. Surely you've seen the devastation they can cause. Stand in the middle of a smashed neighborhood and point out the funny part.

Name those 5 hurricanes and your location during the storms.

[craigm1841]

throw a hurricane party.