Hurricanes and Bradenton, FL (Tampa, Orlando: live, dangerous, stats)

[Infinite911]

Hey guys, I'm new here and researching information on Bradenton, FL, which I will be moving to later this year with my girlfriend. While I have been to Bradenton many times and love the area, I've never been there during a Hurricane or heard much about the area being affected by them. I try and also pay attention during Hurricane season because I always knew I would be moving to FL at some point. Is the Bradenton Area effected by many Hurricanes? When was the last one or the biggest one?

Thanks for any information.

[bbronston]

I've been here since late '86 and I have yet to see one. It could be just a matter of time, of course. We have had years where the "cone of death" aka hurricane tracking map projected a path right thru the area but they always seem to go in another direction. All you can do is learn how to be prepared and hope for the best.

[SoFLGal]

I was born in Bradenton and have lived in the area my whole life. I have never evacuated due to a hurricane, not to say that I wouldn't. There was a fairly big one the year I was born in 72'. Here's a pic of my dad's car after the storm :


Here's a map that shows hurricane probabilities:


The best thing to do is watch the weather, keep stocked up on supplies and be ready to evacuate, if need be.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

I was born in Bradenton and have lived in the area my whole life. I have never evacuated due to a hurricane, not to say that I wouldn't. There was a fairly big one the year I was born in 72'. Here's a pic of my dad's car after the storm :


Here's a map that shows hurricane probabilities:


The best thing to do is watch the weather, keep stocked up on supplies and be ready to evacuate, if need be.

That's interesting that it's 1 in 11 for FT MYERS, and 1 in 25 for TAMPA BAY.

I wonder if that's from going across the Everglades....or if they'd be coming up through the Gulf of Mexico?

[photoman_6]

back when i was researching my move to sarasota i found a hurricane tracking website ( I think it was by the NOAA) that showed the tracks of hurricane and tropical storms across florida by year, and it does seem to indicate that the tampa/sarasota area is less likely to be hit directly than to the north or south of here.

[Babyyyblue61]

Summer 1985 Hurricane Elena came through Bradenton. We evacuated to a VFW Hall for 2-3 days. It was NO fun at all! The Braden River flooded a family members home. So.....

[Oobie119]

Funny thing, My husband and I honeymooned and lived through Charlie. Had to evacuate up in Sand Key, headed to Orlando to see him follow us. All in all, a hurricane is just a rain storm with a load of water and wind. Sure they can be dangerous and unpredictable, but from what I have seen, not too much of a threat unless it's a bigger cat.

[bbronston]

Originally Posted by Oobie119

Funny thing, My husband and I honeymooned and lived through Charlie. Had to evacuate up in Sand Key, headed to Orlando to see him follow us. All in all, a hurricane is just a rain storm with a load of water and wind. Sure they can be dangerous and unpredictable, but from what I have seen, not too much of a threat unless it's a bigger cat.

Oobie119...I know what you mean and have to admit that I tend to think the same way, too, but this can be a dangerous way of looking at these storms and I hope you'll change your mind on the subject. It is true that you don't have to be too far from the center of circulation before the hurricane becomes more of a very nasty storm and less of a "hurricane" but the damage near the center is pretty awesome and, by all accounts, is not something you should ever take for granted. Plus, even when you are not near the center, the risk from tornados, debris, electricution, and even injury during the cleanup is pretty significant. Call me a boy scout but I'd hate to see you make the classic error of taking these things for granted.

[sware2cod]

Originally Posted by Oobie119

Funny thing, My husband and I honeymooned and lived through Charlie. Had to evacuate up in Sand Key, headed to Orlando to see him follow us. All in all, a hurricane is just a rain storm with a load of water and wind. Sure they can be dangerous and unpredictable, but from what I have seen, not too much of a threat unless it's a bigger cat.

If you evacuated from Charlie, you didn't experience the strenght of the hurricane. You just got to experience evacuation.

[Avalon08]

Dude, you're moving to FLORIDA! Ha ha, just kidding, but Bradenton is no more likely to get hit than anywhere else. Actually, the closest hurricane I remember while my Mom lived there (since 1997) is Charley, which hit Punta Gorda. I thought Ivan caused a lot of problems that same year, but it doesn't look like it made landfall anywhere near Bradenton.

I found a couple websites that show hurricane landfalls from the 1800s. Doesn't look like Bradenton/Sarasota have been a direct hit at all, but that's not to say they wouldn't be in the future. You just never know, but if you've committed to Florida, that's just part of life there.