What categorie # cane would you ride out?

[brunota2003]

since i rode out all of the hurricanes in the 2 years i would ride out a cat 3

Ah, ignorance.

I'd ride out a Cat 5, even though it is extremely unlikely even in a Category 5 eyewall that I would experience Cat 5 winds. I would simply get into my shower with a mattress or something over my head and hope for the best. Storm surge is not an issue since im 3 miles inland and the shelf runs really close to the shore.

Oh, please. Talk about stupidity. Havn't you learned ANYTHING about being thankful and about storms after this season?

I'm sorry for sounding insulting, and I apologize, but after Katrina and Wilma, I'm changed. I'm now a saint when it comes to storms. Every storm is different, but every storm causes destruction.

Ah, the ignorance of teenagers.

Yes, it would be frightening, but its something I wish to experience. I was not scared at all during Wilma, in fact I was outside in the eyewall. The building code is rated to 150 mph I believe, the only thing I have to worry about are the shutters failing or the roof going, and I am in an inside enclosed area with a mattress over my head. I would be quite safe.

Ok, I just have to comment, lol, it doesnt matter what the building codes are rated to, once one window brakes and the winds get into the building, well... the roof goes and then the walls come down on you and crush you so you either get lucky and die quick, or you slowly and painfully die. Getting to this, a low end 3 and that is it... the only thing i really have to watch for is airborne debris and trees...

[Scorpion]

The damage from Wilma was quite minor, I don't see any evidence of any damage here anymore. The devastation with Katrina was from the surge, which would not occur here.

QUITE MINOR??? Yeah, right! What are you trying to pull? What about the mobile homes destroyed by Wilma along Lake Okeechobee?

You are already making me sad...

Well in my area at least. Yea it was quite bad in the Okeechobee area due to shoddy construction. But overrall the damage was quite light.

[southerngale]

Yes, it would be frightening, but its something I wish to experience. I was not scared at all during Wilma, in fact I was outside in the eyewall. The building code is rated to 150 mph I believe, the only thing I have to worry about are the shutters failing or the roof going, and I am in an inside enclosed area with a mattress over my head. I would be quite safe.

What were the winds when you were outside during Wilma?

In Jasper during Rita (where I evacuated to), several HOURS after the strongest winds passed, I tried walking outside and couldn't stand up without getting blown down. I'd *guess* fairly mild to medium TS winds at that point. There was no way in hell I could have walked around while we were getting hurricane force winds. Roofs were flying off and trees were uprooting and snapping in two all over the place. You'd be crazy to try and ride out a cat.5 - we will be many years recovering from a cat.3 here and many businesses/homes in SE TX are just gone forever.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I have seen Cat. 1/2 force winds and I would stay for that, but a cat. 3 or higher on the coast I would leave, but inland I would probably stay for anything since I have a safe room (room surrounded by like 3 ft. thick concrete).

[MiamiensisWx]

Well in my area at least. Yea it was quite bad in the Okeechobee area due to shoddy construction. But overrall the damage was quite light.

When compared to Katrina, yes. However, damage in my area - as well as all over southern Florida - was far from "light" during Wilma. My area received Category One to Category Two sustained winds and damage in Palm Beach and Broward counties was still very widespread and still quite destructive. Maybe not in your area, but you need to look in other areas of Jupiter and all over other parts of southern Florida.

As for "shoddy construction", some might argue that even the latest building codes are still sloppy and poor construction.

[MiamiensisWx]

What were the winds when you were outside during Wilma?

In Jasper during Rita (where I evacuated to), several HOURS after the strongest winds passed, I tried walking outside and couldn't stand up without getting blown down. I'd *guess* fairly mild to medium TS winds at that point. There was no way in hell I could have walked around while we were getting hurricane force winds. Roofs were flying off and trees were uprooting and snapping in two all over the place. You'd be crazy to try and ride out a cat.5 - we will be many years recovering from a cat.3 here and many businesses/homes in SE TX are just gone forever.

I agree. I have no idea what Scorpion was talking about. For me, it was hard to stand even in 40MPH sustained winds. I got MUCH higher winds than that during Wilma. Scorpion is the most foolish person I have heard. He just wants to downplay Wilma.

[ROCK]

I have seen Cat. 1/2 force winds and I would stay for that, but a cat. 3 or higher on the coast I would leave, but inland I would probably stay for anything since I have a safe room (room surrounded by like 3 ft. thick concrete).

Your in Spring. Why would you leave? Unless you are worried about trees. Thats about 70-80 miles inland. Personally, I rode out Alicia with a direct hit from the eyewall in the Clear Lake area and thats about 30 miles inland. Not a big deal except it took 3 weeks for power to come back on.

Side note- alot of people evaced Houston that didn't need to during Rita. One of the reasons I went 25 miles in 18 hours and never got anywhere. IMO, people outside the mandatory evac zones should stay put or stay put long enough to let us closer to the coast get out.

[CajunMama]

The damage from Wilma was quite minor, I don't see any evidence of any damage here anymore. The devastation with Katrina was from the surge, which would not occur here.

Wow. My area really took a beating yesterday. My power went off around 8 AM or so and is still out. 90% of South Florida is without power, the most ever I believe. The first eyewall was nothing compared to the backside. Winds were sustained at least at 85-90 mph as I was outside and could not stand. There were occasional gusts above 100 that would tear down limbs and make shingles go flying. I was outside and narrowly avoided being hit by a storage-garage door that went flying. Trees are snapped, unlike Frances and Jeanne. The winds were nothing in them compared to this. I saw parts of a mobile home dangling on a power-pole, as well as a dumpster that apparently went flying and split in half on a tree. As I type it is quite cold out, in the low to mid 50's. Definitely refreshing. I am unsure about what happened elsewhere, but I can only assume even more damage.

Umm...I do believe this is what you said on Tuesday, October 25. And I guess you aren't a property owner...different scenerio when you pay the mortgage note.

[brunota2003]

Maybe him only going thru a 85-95 MPH Wilma is why he wants the death wish Cat 5 experience, and by his logic, he has only experieced maybe strong TS winds... so, the highest he has one thru is a Cat 1... that might be the reason...

[Scorpion]

What were the winds when you were outside during Wilma?

In Jasper during Rita (where I evacuated to), several HOURS after the strongest winds passed, I tried walking outside and couldn't stand up without getting blown down. I'd *guess* fairly mild to medium TS winds at that point. There was no way in hell I could have walked around while we were getting hurricane force winds. Roofs were flying off and trees were uprooting and snapping in two all over the place. You'd be crazy to try and ride out a cat.5 - we will be many years recovering from a cat.3 here and many businesses/homes in SE TX are just gone forever.

I agree. I have no idea what Scorpion was talking about. For me, it was hard to stand even in 40MPH sustained winds. I got MUCH higher winds than that during Wilma. Scorpion is the most foolish person I have heard. He just wants to downplay Wilma.

No, Wilma was pretty powerful but quite a bit less than I expected. As I said I was outside during most of the storm, but there were only a few minutes that I really couldn't stand up. And north county got some of the strongest winds with Wilma, with a 133 mph gust up in Stuart.

[MiamiensisWx]

Maybe him only going thru a 85-95 MPH Wilma is why he wants the death wish Cat 5 experience, and by his logic, he has only experieced maybe strong TS winds... so, the highest he has one thru is a Cat 1... that might be the reason...

Yeah, I agree. However, if he thinks like you say, serves him right. Just visit his funeral some day.

[MiamiensisWx]

No, Wilma was pretty powerful but quite a bit less than I expected. As I said I was outside during most of the storm, but there were only a few minutes that I really couldn't stand up. And north county got some of the strongest winds with Wilma, with a 133 mph gust up in Stuart.

Huh? Wilma was MUCH more powerful than anyone expected. You probably think like that just because you never have experienced a Category Four or Category Five. Serves you right.

[MGC]

My limit use to be Cat-3. But, after recosidering post Katrina I'm leaving now for a 3+.......MGC

[Scorpion]

No, Wilma was pretty powerful but quite a bit less than I expected. As I said I was outside during most of the storm, but there were only a few minutes that I really couldn't stand up. And north county got some of the strongest winds with Wilma, with a 133 mph gust up in Stuart.

Huh? Wilma was MUCH more powerful than anyone expected. You probably think like that just because you never have experienced a Category Four or Category Five. Serves you right.

I was expecting 100 mph sustained winds or higher, considering she was 125 at landfall. All in all I would say Wilma was fun, adreneline inducing hurricane, but nothing to be afraid of.

[MiamiensisWx]

My limit use to be Cat-3. But, after recosidering post Katrina I'm leaving now for a 3+.......MGC

Do you mean you would leave for a Category Three and greater?

[MiamiensisWx]

I was expecting 100 mph sustained winds or higher, considering she was 125 at landfall. All in all I would say Wilma was fun, adreneline inducing hurricane, but nothing to be afraid of.

Actually, I think Palm Beach and Broward counties did have many brief periods of sustained winds around 100MPH. However, I guess you now reveal your true colors. All you want is gore, death, destruction, and andrenaline. Serves you right. See you at your funeral... or not.

[brunota2003]

No, Wilma was pretty powerful but quite a bit less than I expected. As I said I was outside during most of the storm, but there were only a few minutes that I really couldn't stand up. And north county got some of the strongest winds with Wilma, with a 133 mph gust up in Stuart.

Huh? Wilma was MUCH more powerful than anyone expected. You probably think like that just because you never have experienced a Category Four or Category Five. Serves you right.

I was expecting 100 mph sustained winds or higher, considering she was 125 at landfall. All in all I would say Wilma was fun, adreneline inducing hurricane, but nothing to be afraid of.

Ok, when you go thru a Cat 4 or 5, please come tell us if it was scary or not...

[MiamiensisWx]

Ok, when you go thru a Cat 4 or 5, please come tell us if it was scary or not...

I agree. Even a Category One or Category Two is very destructive and is way too much for me.

[Scorpion]

I was expecting 100 mph sustained winds or higher, considering she was 125 at landfall. All in all I would say Wilma was fun, adreneline inducing hurricane, but nothing to be afraid of.

Actually, I think Palm Beach and Broward counties did have many brief periods of sustained winds around 100MPH. However, I guess you now reveal your true colors. All you want is gore, death, destruction, and andrenaline. Serves you right. See you at your funeral... or not.

No, I was just saying that Wilma was not scary. Just because you thought Wilma was doesn't mean everyone has to be fearful of Cat 1/Cat 2 hurricanes. I for one am not, and have yet to experience a hurricane that has gotten me afraid. I would not want a Cat 4 or 5 to visit the area, but I would stay if one should come.

[Jim Cantore]

anywhere from a strong 2 to a weak 4 depending where I'm at