Hurricanes (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa: homeowners insurance, how much, mobile home)

[ptrues1]

I am from the Midwest and am looking to move to sunny FL. I would like to go to southern FL, and my wife prefers northern FL. She only likes Northern FL because of the hurricanes in southern FL. Has anyone been through a hurricane in southern FL? Do they evacuate the Cities? What do you do with your family, yourself, and your belongings if they do evacuate? Is it like War of the Worlds where the interstate is a parking lot? In the Midwest we just went through floods, and it is really overhyped in my opinion. You pretty much know where it is going to flood, and as long as you don't buy a house in a flood zone, your absolutely fine. Is this similar to southern FL hurricanes? As long as your house isn't on the beach, you can just stay indoors for a day? Please be as negative/positive as you like, as I am looking for honesty.

[CLTKing]

ALL of FL is hurricane territory. Don't think that So.Fl. is safer during hurricane season. During hurricanes most cities are not evacuated unless you reside EAST of US1 (at least in Miami). Key West is usually evacuated before any hurricanes comes ashore. If you evacuate, you either "TRY" to drive North, or move to a shelter. No animals are allowed. All your belongings stay behind and you hope for the best. No major hurricane has hit Miami-Dade Co. since Andrew in 1992. I can tell you that from experience, most people stay behind and rather than getting stuck on I-95 Northbound, they usually board up their houses and brave the storm at home.

The problem with most hurricanes is not flooding, at least in mainland FL. The main concern are the winds. If we get a Cat.4 or Cat.5 hurricane, Miami will be doomed. Most houses were built to withstand such strong winds, (Let's remember that Andrew, a Cat.5, didn't hit Miami directly, it went South to Homestead).

[rogerbacon]

Originally Posted by CLTKing

ALL of FL is hurricane territory. (Let's remember that Andrew, a Cat.5, didn't hit Miami directly, it went South to Homestead).

And I was there. Not fun. Two months without power. Well, we got a small generator after the first month but still no AC.

As CLTKing said, all of Florida is a target. So, hurricanes should not be a factor of WHERE you move to in Florida only IF you move to Florida. I wouldn't let hurricanes keep me away. I would be much more worried about tornados in the midwest.

There are lots of other reasons to move to North Florida though: Nicer people, more diversity, actual change of season, somewhat lower cost of living. If your job does not dictate which part of Florida you move to, move to the northern part.

[JulianM09]

I have never had to evacuate, unless you live really close to the coast there really isn't a need to do so. This isn't New Orleans where the whole city floods. Some people in trailers and older homes go to shelters at local schools, there are a couple in both Dade and Broward that take in animals BTW. Other than that you buy a couple of supplies and your stocked for the rest of the year and you hardly ever really need to do anything with them.
If you move to North Florida you will have to go through much of the same things, just be prepared. South Florida has the large cities, more diversity, more tropical seasons, and this might make some people crazy but, the people are great down here.

[sjones123]

What cities are considered close to the coast?

[CLTKing]

Originally Posted by sjones123

What cities are considered close to the coast?

It doesn't really matter. FL is so flat and narrow that all cities are under threat when a hurricane comes. Anyways, to answer your question, cities like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Naples, Jacksonville and Pensacola are on the coast. The only major cities not close to the coast are Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by ptrues1

Has anyone been through a hurricane in southern FL?

Yes many, Hurricane Andrew Cat 5 being the worst, the eye of the storm came right over us.

Originally Posted by ptrues1

Do they evacuate the Cities?

Parts of the city is evacuated. People east of the highway (us1), on Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and people in trailors/mobile homes/manufactured homes, and one small pocket out in west Miami-Dade have to evacuate during a Cat 1 storm.

Originally Posted by ptrues1

What do you do with your family, yourself, and your belongings if they do evacuate?

We usually don't evacuate as its hard to get back in if its bad like Katrina, Charley, Andrew, etc. And looting is an issue, so we like to stay with the house to protect it basically. As for the belongings, you take a video and pictures before the storm. Pack important documents in zip lock bags. Bring in everything from outside. Prepare food, water, gas, etc. enough for a week. Board up and just hope nothing happens.

Originally Posted by ptrues1

Is it like War of the Worlds where the interstate is a parking lot?

Not sure as we haven't evacuated.

Originally Posted by ptrues1

In the Midwest we just went through floods, and it is really overhyped in my opinion. You pretty much know where it is going to flood, and as long as you don't buy a house in a flood zone, your absolutely fine. Is this similar to southern FL hurricanes?

No its not like that. With hurricanes there is the wind, flood, and tornados. They basically know where its going to flood, but how much it will flood no one knows, just like the Mid west no one knows how high it can get. With Hurricanes you never know if a tornado will also hit your house and take out your roof. Tornados can happen anyplace if a hurricane hits here. The wind in West Miami-Dade will be just as bad as on Miami-Beach as its not that far really.

Originally Posted by ptrues1

As long as your house isn't on the beach, you can just stay indoors for a day?

For the most part hurricane last for less than 24hrs. Before you spend time prepping for the storm, and afterwards it really depends on the storm and what happens to your house. You will be outside either picking up the yard or just staying outside because its to hot to be inside. When Andrew hit we didn't get power back for like 3 months.

[ConeyIsBabe]

I was living in Coral Gables when Hurricane Andrew came to visit on Aug. 23, 1992. It blew over my community and the eye landed about 45 miles south, around Cutler Ridge, Florida City and Homestead which was devastated. My 70 year-old-CBS home withstood the storm but it was very scary; we hunkered down in a hallway all night, hearing the noises .

Even if your property is not destroyed or damaged.... the AFTERMATH of a hurricane can last months and years. There is no electricity. There may be no water. Most stores are closed. Roads are impassable from fallen trees. Heat/humidity/mosquitoes add to the discomfort. Then the scammer handymen swoop down on the area to offer their services and often take money and disappear .

My advice to anyone wanting to live anywhere in Florida is to live in a well-built CBS home, with hurricane shutters, strong roof; have adequate homeowners insurance, and hope for the best!