What is your state of mind.....

[Houstonia]

My main concern would be my parents. I will most likely not be evac'ing for a category 5.

After Rita I learned when it's a good time to stay home. I truly understand the dangers of staying, but I also understand the dangers of leaving and crowding the roads making it impossible for the people who really NEED to leave to get out.

I live about 25 miles northwest of downtown Houston. According to wunderground.com that is 115 ft above sea level. There is no reason for me to leave for a cat 5 hurricane. The biggest problem would be wind damage and tornadoes. BAD TO BE SURE - but I would much rather leave the roads open for those in the flood-prone areas to get through.

My parents live in southwest Houston which is a bit lower (according to wunderground they are at or near 82 ft above sea level). Since they are in their 70's and have become VERY stubborn in recent years - I suspect that, like during Rita, I would wind up going to their house to ride it out with them.

We each have to make the best decision for us. Even realizing the dangers of staying - knowing that my parents would refuse to leave - the only decision I can make is to stay with them.

I became CERT certified this past winter - it makes me feel a little better and a little more prepared for disaster. My next step is to take some first aid courses, CPR, etc.

[Scorpion]

60% excited 40 % scared

[Dionne]

We will not ride out another hurricane under any circumstances. Anyone can rebuild. What happens that cannot be fixed is the emotional trauma of not knowing if your going to survive the next hour. Its been 7 months now....and I still cannot believe we chose not to evacuate. I've made some mistakes in my life. The decision to remain during Katrina is at the top of the list. I keep thinking over and over.....Who could have aniticipated an inland eyewall all the way into the pine barrens?

[gatorcane]

Dionne it seems that you hear what you are saying often - people underestimating the power of a major cane and not evacuating -

Honestly, I am like scorpion. A big part of me is scared because I have a strong feeling somebody will be getting hit hard this season.

[TexasStooge]

After seeing that Hurricane Rita was projected to go as far as the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, I was thinking "Even though a strong hurricane weakens when making landfall, get to higher ground". Of course, Rita had some other plans like striking Louisiana as if it wasn't battered enough. The North Texas area could've used some of the rain at that time.

[Audrey2Katrina]

I use to say I would leave for a cat 3 or higher. Now I know I cannot stay for even a cat 2.............

Hell, with our levees in the state they are right now, I'm gonna at least go north of the Lake if it's a Cat 1... until I can have some real assurance that those things are solid and secure with better word than what the politicians offer!.

A2K

I wouldn't want to live in N.O. with a strong summertime squall coming in off the lake. But I felt that way before Katrina.

No offense intended, but I just don't get the concept of living "BELOW" sea level. Especially when there are so many other places to live that are "ABOVE" sea level. Of course, I have family who lives in Uptown N.O. and we have these back-and-forth discussions all the time. Fortunately for them, their area is one of the highest in the whole city - but still, it's BELOW the level of the sea.

Actually, some of the area known as "Uptown" and the Garden District have areas (like the old city of Carrollton) that are built on the natural levee built by the river over eons of time and actually slightly ABOVE sea-level--albeit this is NOT the case for the vast majority of the city proper.

A2K

[Steve]

>>No offense intended, but I just don't get the concept of living "BELOW" sea level. Especially when there are so many other places to live that are "ABOVE" sea level. Of course, I have family who lives in Uptown N.O. and we have these back-and-forth discussions all the time. Fortunately for them, their area is one of the highest in the whole city - but still, it's BELOW the level of the sea.

Understood. But some of us are native and stubborn. Being below sea level never really mattered before the levees broke. FWIW, my lot is 0' 0" (= sea level). It still flooded 5' in it. Others may turn it around and say, "No offense, but I just don't get the concept of living right on the gulf/ocean/etc. when you could live further inland. But then again, you lose some of the ambiance.



Steve

[Bluefrog]

I agree about getting the "house ready" ... I won't waste my time on that either. You are much better off getting supplies you need for the aftermath (food, ice and beer) and getting away from the immediate warning area.

[Ixolib]

>>No offense intended, but I just don't get the concept of living "BELOW" sea level. Especially when there are so many other places to live that are "ABOVE" sea level. Of course, I have family who lives in Uptown N.O. and we have these back-and-forth discussions all the time. Fortunately for them, their area is one of the highest in the whole city - but still, it's BELOW the level of the sea.

Understood. But some of us are native and stubborn. Being below sea level never really mattered before the levees broke. FWIW, my lot is 0' 0" (= sea level). It still flooded 5' in it. Others may turn it around and say, "No offense, but I just don't get the concept of living right on the gulf/ocean/etc. when you could live further inland. But then again, you lose some of the ambiance.



Steve

Yeah, I hear what you're saying... But, at least in my case, I'm 19.5 feet ABOVE sea level. All I'm saying is that the concept of such a situation doesn't work for me. But, neither does the concept of living a mile above sea level as in places like Denver. Can you imagine how far I'd have to drive just to catch a red fish or a speck!!

And even for me at 19.5 feet, I STILL took two feet of Katrina's surge in the house... If my location here was equal to yours there, I'd have had 22 feet of water at my address. I guess that would be well over the peak of the roof...

[Stephanie]

I'm 50 miles inland from the New Jersey shore and maybe 15 miles of the Delaware River. The only thing that I would be really concerned about is a tree landing on my house - I won't have water surge, but then again, I do live in NJ so a Cat 5 is PROBABLY NOT going to hit this far north.

We are due for a big hit - NJ has had it's share of hurricanes, especially in the 1930's. We have been so lucky (even with Floyd and Gloria) that I can't even begin to imagine what the heck would happen to all of the shore towns and casinos. We may see a repeat of the video from Gulfport to Biloxi of the casinos just trashed.

[Jim Cantore]

I'm 50 miles inland from the New Jersey shore and maybe 15 miles of the Delaware River. The only thing that I would be really concerned about is a tree landing on my house - I won't have water surge, but then again, I do live in NJ so a Cat 5 is PROBABLY NOT going to hit this far north.

We are due for a big hit - NJ has had it's share of hurricanes, especially in the 1930's. We have been so lucky (even with Floyd and Gloria) that I can't even begin to imagine what the heck would happen to all of the shore towns and casinos. We may see a repeat of the video from Gulfport to Biloxi of the casinos just trashed.

Cape May would go under in a cat 1, those barrier islands also are very vunerible to surge

[CentralFlGal]

I was prepared to leave when Ivan was projected to ride the Florida peninsula a few days before the forecast path changed towards the panhandle.

I can barely handle cat 1's (let alone a cat 5) due to the falling trees (all the oaks around here had some type of disease a while ago and are mostly hollow inside), the possibility of spawned tornados and how poorly some people around here handled the storms' aftermath. Our 2004 season was fun...

[Jim Cantore]

I cant imagine watching my local forcast and hearing

"Tommorow Heavy rain and very windy, high 81, winds SE, at 155 to 165mph, chance of rain 100%, rainfall amounts likely over 6 inches.

Or something in that context

What did the local forcasts say on the 28th for places like Biloxi anyway?

[Jim Cantore]

I would hope something like

"You should not be watching this right now, GET OUT!"

[JPmia]

All South Floridians don't really have the pleasure of evacuating for a Cat. 5. I would not want to stay, but how do I get out? Let's see the Turnpike? I-95? Alligator Alley? US 27? That's about it for our major roadways out of SFL. When SFL's number is up, this problem will be a top story guarenteed. As far as evacuation routes, SFL is like one big barrier island. Best bet down here might be to just hunker down...and then get the hell out (if your car is still there).

[Ixolib]

I cant imagine watching my local forcast and hearing

"Tommorow Heavy rain and very windy, high 81, winds SE, at 155 to 165mph, chance of rain 100%, rainfall amounts likely over 6 inches.

Or something in that context

What did the local forcasts say on the 28th for places like Biloxi anyway?

As the day began, the forecast was close to what you posted. The mets at WLOX were all on duty, and taking turns with the updates. As the day progressed into evening, it was ominously evident that they knew exactly what was coming, and their mannerisims were of complete helplessness for those who did not leave the area. Mike Reader - the Chief Met - tried his best to stay focused and professional, but things were heading downhill fast. Then I lost power about 2am on the 29th and was having a very hard time getting the signal on the battery TV, so that made things even more ominous. Of course, once the surge came in the house around 9ish (I think ), everything went crazy and it's been crazy ever since!!

[Jagno]

My home was destroyed (almost finished rebuilding)during Rita, not by flood but very evident tornadoes. Even if you are not in a flood plain remember that hundreds of tornadoes form in these hurricanes and that's where major destruction comes from. I did not board up. All of my windows was/is in tacted but the seals in the double insulated ones cracked when the whole house was picked up and came back down. Boarding would not have prevented that.

When several firefighters, police and family called to tell me that my house was severely damaged they were shocked that I wasn't devastated. It's really simple folks...................lives are more important. Everything in this house is material and can be replaced. What really angered me beyond belief was those idiots who stayed for the sheer thrill. Are they so selfish that they cannot comprehend the living hell they put their loved ones through worrying sick over them? If you stay just make sure that no one related to you is living and that you have no friends. It's not fair to put them through that torture simply because you want attention or are just to selfish to care.

My husband and two oldest sons were on lockdown here during Rita(emergency personnel) and the only comfort I had was knowing that upon landfall and the intensity there were people on standby to airlift them out immediately.

On the other hand I had two brothers who stayed for the thrill. I sat up with my poor parents throughout the night and the following day watching the hell that these two old people had to endure because of two self-centered brothers who were ate up with the dumba$$ and stayed. The only positive things that came from it was they were both arrested for curfew violations on top of being horrified like never before while seeking refuge in an attic when it hit so now they both agreed that they will most definitely evacuate next time.