New Floridian and Hurricanes (Clearwater, Largo: apartments, rent, insurance)

[DrToothAche]

Hi so I'm looking for apartments around Bay pines/ Seminole. There's really almost none with garages...maybe i'll rent a house.

When a hurricane glances etc, at what level does everyone evacuate? How far do you go? How much street flooding is there? How far does it extend?

Thanks everyone!

[spbbound]

That can vary quite a bit from one neighborhood to the next if we're talking immediate coast. Any specifics?

If you're several miles inland, typically it's a non issue unless something massive came up the gulf and hit just right, causing a large storm surge. You can find what flood zone you're in on FEMA's website, and Google Earth will generally give you an approximate elevation of your proposed address accurate to within 3/4 of a foot. So, for example, if your FEMA 100 year flood elevation is A15 and your actual elevation is 15, chances are you have nothing to worry about. Hell even if you're a few feet lower still probably nothing to worry about since we're talking 100 year liklihood. If you're not in an A, or V (beachfront) of course, you don't really have to worry at all since driveways, parking lots, etc. are typically a foot or two above the street so even if the street floods you're okay as long as you don't have to go out immediately.

[MortonR]

It's all based on location. You can go to the Hillsborough County web site and see the evacuation map. Evacuation is only mandatory in certain areas, so it's not always the case that you are forced to leave.

Hillsborough County, FL - Official Website - Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT)

If you have an evacuation plan, it's often suggested that you evacuate well outside of the area, possibly out of state in severe instances.

I have lived here since the mid 90s and never had to evacuate, nor felt the need to. Where you live is going to determine this.

RM

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by DrToothAche

Hi so I'm looking for apartments around Bay pines/ Seminole. There's really almost none with garages...maybe i'll rent a house.

When a hurricane glances etc, at what level does everyone evacuate? How far do you go? How much street flooding is there? How far does it extend?

Thanks everyone!

Most of Seminole is non-evacuation and fairly high in elevation considering it's a coastal area. Bay Pines is surrounded by water at a lower elevation and is pretty much the opposite. Other areas nearby that fit the non-evacuation/no-flooding criteria are along the west side of Pinellas....the far west side of Largo as well as Belleair, Belleair Bluffs and SW Clearwater (Nursery Road corridor).

[DrToothAche]

thanks guys so much! I looked up some flood maps of pinellas county, and I feel a lot better haha. Thanks because I was looking at some places that were evacuation category A!
Thanks again!

some good websites:
daftlogic.com
floodmap.net

[CrowGirl]

Whether or not you evacuate will also depend on the type of home in which you live. I am inland in a concrete house with hurricane shutters so I plan to stay for a Cat 3 or lower. Cat 4 or above I think I would evacuate. Most experts advise evacuation at any level if you are in a mobile home.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Whether or not you evacuate will also depend on the type of home in which you live. I am inland in a concrete house with hurricane shutters so I plan to stay for a Cat 3 or lower. Cat 4 or above I think I would evacuate. Most experts advise evacuation at any level if you are in a mobile home.

It's not so much about the type of building involved and wind speed, along the coast the concern is more so regarding floodwater potential with flood surge heights over several feet high in some places, much like what happened with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans where so many drowned. FEMA has varying evacuation zones based on storm surge threat, ranging from minimal (Zone A) all the way to highest (Zone E). Mandatory Evacuations can also be issued for certain zones depending upon forecasted storm surge heights.

[ChuteTheMall]

Originally Posted by MortonR

It's all based on location. You can go to the Hillsborough County web site and see the evacuation map. Evacuation is only mandatory in certain areas, so it's not always the case that you are forced to leave.

Hillsborough County, FL - Official Website - Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT)

If you have an evacuation plan, it's often suggested that you evacuate well outside of the area, possibly out of state in severe instances.

I have lived here since the mid 90s and never had to evacuate, nor felt the need to. Where you live is going to determine this.

RM

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Whether or not you evacuate will also depend on the type of home in which you live. I am inland in a concrete house with hurricane shutters so I plan to stay for a Cat 3 or lower. Cat 4 or above I think I would evacuate. Most experts advise evacuation at any level if you are in a mobile home.

According to the HEAT tool mentioned above, if anybody in Hillsborough is under mandatory evacuation, all mobile homes and RVs are included, regardless of exact location.

[The Villages Guy]

What about zone X?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by PriusH8r

What about zone X?

According to FEMA Zones B and X (shaded on flood map) as well as Zones C and X (unshaded on flood map) are areas of moderate or minimal hazard are studied based upon the principal source of flood in the area. However, buildings in these zones could be flooded by severe, concentrated rainfall coupled with inadequate local drainage systems. Local stormwater drainage systems are not normally considered in a community’s flood insurance study. The failure of a local drainage system can create areas of high flood risk within these zones. Flood insurance is available in participating communities, but is not required by regulation in these zones. Nearly 25-percent of all flood claims filed are for structures located within these zones.