How safe do you feel in Florida...

[LizzardInFlorida]

Now - and in the years to come?
This is a Tropics question IMO: I just moved to SW Florida in February and would like some insight please.

My entire life I've wanted to live here on a permanent basis - our family had a beautiful beach house in the panhandle, and I've wanted to regain that beauty and peace ever since I was 5 years old - I moved to the Tampa Bay area for employment reasons.

I told my family last year that I thought I might be too late - that the Hurricanes were getting too strong and too frequent for comfort and safety.

My sister told me that if it got very bad - I could always move again. I am beginning to think the time is right.

I just wanted to get others opinions on the matter. I am *very* prepared for storms BTW - I have evacuation plans, preps, storm shutters, etc.

Just wanting opinions from other people. Thanks in advance.

[chadtm80]

Lived in Florida my entire life and never felt unsafe

[CHRISTY]

honestly i live in homestead and i feel we have been very lucky actually ever since andrew there hasn't been a major hurricane in south florida so i really think its only a matter of time before its our turn !

[Ixolib]

What, you're not packed and driving south yet???!!! The opportunity to live permanetly in SW Florida would easily outweigh any possible fear that an occasional tropical system might bring your way. The time is here. If not now, when? Can I come be your pool boy!!??

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Houses are built nice and strong, and monster surge is very rare...
so i would say no major problems
a couple of minor things every now and then (like a weak tropical storm
or cat 1 hurricane at worst), but nothing major yet...

houses are built strong so even with a major all's not that bad.
Only huge problem is surge. But it's rare esp. at major levels.

So there is nothing major to worry about. Except very rarely.
I also live in St. Pete. Lived here for 11 years. Not bad at all.

[StormySouthFlorida]

Think about it--if you lived in other parts of the country, you could be affected by tornados, blizzards, or earthquakes. At least you have advance warning for a hurricane!

[ed]

Same here,I was born and raised on the east coast and now live in SW Fla.I feel very safe here.Living on the coast means living with hurricanes.I guess after 38 years, I am just used to it.

[Brent]

You could live in California where a monster earthquake could occur at any second with no warning.

At least you'll have plenty of warning for a hurricane.

[Ixolib]

You could live in California where a monster earthquake could occur at any second with no warning.

At least you'll have plenty of warning for a hurricane.

That would seriously bite!! I'll STILL take a hurricane anyday over the completely unknown and unannounced possibility of an earthquake. And I'll throw tornadoes into that mix as well.

[LizzardInFlorida]

Think about it--if you lived in other parts of the country, you could be affected by tornados, blizzards, or earthquakes. At least you have advance warning for a hurricane!

Well said!
Thanks everyone for your replies. I can't tell you enough how much I enjoy my new life in Florida - it's the best area I've ever lived in - the benefits are amazing.

Where else can you see dolphins swimming offshore, and go to a beautiful powder-white sand beach every weekend if you like.

It does get frightening this time of year...but it's something we get used to.

[Recurve]

Safer than I'll feel next June 1.

[Terrell]

Lived in Florida all my life, except for 6 yrs military service. Have lived in Jacksonville, Sunrise (near Ft. Lauderdale), Tallahassee, and Orlando, and until last year I never felt any threat from the tropics. After Charley, Frances, and Jeanne (less so with Ivan since he didn't strike Orlando) I am concerned about what goes on in the tropics but I don't feel worried enough to leave.

[SeaBrz_FL]

I'm part of the 4th of six generations of my family that has lived in Florida since the 1940's. The majority have all lived on the Central to South East Coast, and although we have some great storm stories to share, none of us have ever lost a roof, let alone a home.

[kevin]

Florida is where its at.

[wxmann_91]

You could live in California where a monster earthquake could occur at any second with no warning.

At least you'll have plenty of warning for a hurricane.

That would seriously bite!! I'll STILL take a hurricane anyday over the completely unknown and unannounced possibility of an earthquake. And I'll throw tornadoes into that mix as well.

Welcome to the world I live in.

But would I move out? Not unless I have to. Great place, great beaches, great scenery and everything.

[kometes]

Just be sure to include a big bottle of Maalox in your hurricane supplies when you stock up each season.

And don't forget to donate your unused supplies to a food bank for Thanksgiving each year.

Are there more weather related deaths from cold and snow or hurricanes and heat stroke each year?

[CharleySurvivor]

I'm seriously thinking of leaving. I love living in FL but it's getting nerve wrecking as we have to live with hurricane season every year. Having entered this phase of active seasons for the next 10-15 years doesn't make it easier.

To me, it doesn't make any difference how well insured someone is. Just the thought of maybe losing everything is enough to wonder if it's work living with, year after year.

We are very lucky we haven't been affected by strong storm surges so far in FL, and after seeing what Katrina and Rita did, it's all different. If another one hits FL, it will be it for me and moving West.

[Windtalker1]

It's just a matter of time before Fort Lauderdale is dystroyed.... I'm moving to "VEGAS BABY"

[inotherwords]

Last year and this year had me wondering if I want to stay here, or at least so close to the water. With all the red tide that never seems to go away, it's been hard to go to the beach for walks anyway. I am not sure if this will persist but if it does, it will ruin our beach business and appeal.

I can see moving inland a bit. Maybe on a lake, and making sure the house I buy is built with reinforced concrete, hurricane windows and a hip roof.

[Orlando_wx]

Been here all my life and even after all the hurricanes last year still staying.

John