What is your attitude when a hurricane approaches your area?

[HurryKane]

After my experiences witrh past hurricane landfalls in Puerto Rico my attitude is go away.

Dont forget to participate in the most important poll ,the forecast numbers poll starting on March 15.

Well, pre-Katrina, my attitude (since Betsy in '65) was "Bring it On". Even after Camille - which we personally did relatively well in - my viewpoint remained the same. I loved the challenge and excitement of the storm, and the impending landfall.

Now that I've been so significantly impacted by Katrina in terms of just about every aspect of life one can think of - physically, emotionally, financially, etc. - my attitude is quite different. After what me and my family have been through over the last 6 months and counting, I don't believe I would ever want to see another storm hit this coast for as long as I live - and beyond that for my kid's and grandkid's sake...

Yeah, Pre-K, things were surely different than they are now - including my feelings about tropical systems. No doubt... "The thrill is gone, The thrill is gone away".

Ditto.

Ditto ditto. And oh yeah, ditto.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I'd ride out a Cat. 1. If on the other hand it was going to hit the coast as either a high end Cat. 2, or of course a Cat. 3 (the worse that have hit my Costal areas in recorded history), even roughly 50 miles inland, I would go to a public shelter no doubt. That shelter would probably be the nearest public school, which is a large brick building, and should be safe no matter what.

[cajungal]

Well I would've voted for both ways if the option was there when I voted in the poll. And you do not know how boring the weather gets here.[/quote]

The weather is usually very boring over here as well. And when I rode out Andrew as a 16 year old kid, it was exciting as well as scary. But, try being in 98 degree heat with no air conditioning, not even a fan. Nothing. You take a bath in freezing cold water by flashlight. Only to come out and be full of sweat again. Luckily, we never sustained damage to our home and my street does not flood. We did have to replace our roof after Andrew due to shingles. When Katrina was due to hit here, I did feel a rush of excitement. I actually got mad at my dad trying to force me to evacuate. I wanted to ride it out and see how bad it would get. We never left for a storm before and I felt he was overreacting. Especially since I am 29 years old and can take care of myself. But, he would of yanked me by my hair in the car if he had to. I knew that we were leaving for nothing. I knew Katrina was going to come in just east of Grand Isle and not here. After Katrina actually hit, I felt depressed and guilty for weeks. Actually guilty that I had a home to go back to when so many did not.

[windycity]

i say GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scorpion]

My ideal situation is having a Cat 5 coming right at me, but then deviate north or south and have only TS or Cat 1 conditions. The pre-hurricane excitement is just so...exciting.

[windycity]

Huh? somehow wondering if i might die just doesnt do it for me.

[ROCK]

Well I would've voted for both ways if the option was there when I voted in the poll. And you do not know how boring the weather gets here.

The weather is usually very boring over here as well. And when I rode out Andrew as a 16 year old kid, it was exciting as well as scary. But, try being in 98 degree heat with no air conditioning, not even a fan. Nothing. You take a bath in freezing cold water by flashlight. Only to come out and be full of sweat again. Luckily, we never sustained damage to our home and my street does not flood. We did have to replace our roof after Andrew due to shingles. When Katrina was due to hit here, I did feel a rush of excitement. I actually got mad at my dad trying to force me to evacuate. I wanted to ride it out and see how bad it would get. We never left for a storm before and I felt he was overreacting. Especially since I am 29 years old and can take care of myself. But, he would of yanked me by my hair in the car if he had to. I knew that we were leaving for nothing. I knew Katrina was going to come in just east of Grand Isle and not here. After Katrina actually hit, I felt depressed and guilty for weeks. Actually guilty that I had a home to go back to when so many did not.[/quote]


The solution to the heat is to buy a $100 A/C window unit at the start of the season and a $800 generator to run it and the frig.

Personally, its a lot of money but its worth it. I voted both ways....

[jrod]

I say bring it on!

I have been through a few and only ran from one(Floyd) and only because my parents made me. I love the excitment of an approaching storm. Ive seen the heartbreak it can cause to someone from who it takes everything, I do believe that if a hurricane were to destroy my apartment and my parents house I am strong enough mentally and prepared financially that it would not be a total loss. Besides I much rather surender my house and belongings to mother nature than say an arsonist on the run.

I do think I know enough about my area and hurricanes to make the right call and go to higher ground when necessary the next time big one threatens Central Florida.

[Extremeweatherguy]

In my current location I would probably stay for any hurricane. I am far enough inland to avoid the surge, and it would have to be a worse than Allison rain storm to flood my house. The only thing I would be concerned about are a few tall pines around my house. They survived Rita's 60-65mph gusts, but after going through quite a number of hurricanes in Florida...I realize that any stronger can snap those things in two...they are like twigs. In the event of TRUE hurricane force winds in my area I would stay away from the areas at risk to the falling trees and in a safe room...but truthfully I would probably run out to my porch every now and then to take a look at what is happening. There is nothing like watching the power of a hurricane first hand. An example of this would be during Hurricane Charley (which I rode out in Orlando), I stood on my front porch most of the time (protected by the wind). It was amazing to watch the transformers blow, the trees bend and snap and especially the signs bend and wobble. Another crazy sight I can remember was it started "snowing" during the storm...the only problem is that it was not snow..but instead insulation from houses around the area being blown out and carried through the area. Crazy sight that was. I would also probably take some home footage of the storm as proof of the winds and damage, and also to look at years later and say "wow...I went through THAT!"

[jrod]

The irony fleeing a hurricane is you might get it worse where you are fleeing to. I've known many people whom evacuated only to get a tornado where they're at, or on a lesser scale loose power while beachside doesn't.

Evacuating is such a chore, traffic jams plus the majority of people mental state make for an ugly situation. Ideally I would want to leave before they give a manatory evacuation or at the last minute to a close reenforced structure that is safe from a giant surge.

[hookemfins]

The irony fleeing a hurricane is you might get it worse where you are fleeing to. I've known many people whom evacuated only to get a tornado where they're at, or on a lesser scale loose power while beachside doesn't.

Evacuating is such a chore, traffic jams plus the majority of people mental state make for an ugly situation. Ideally I would want to leave before they give a manatory evacuation or at the last minute to a close reenforced structure that is safe from a giant surge.

Agreed, look at those who left Tampa/St Pete for Orlando. Left an area that barely got touched to one that got hit with some pretty strong storms.

In my current condo I would stay. I felt fairly safe durring Andrew (fringe cat 3 winds). If I do move to a new townhome I'm not sure. Depends on when it was built and how stong it appears to be.

[Javlin]

I voted both ways there is still something there even after Katrina.I just do not wish to see anything possibily more than 100mph.It's the energy that is created before they come in that is so intense.You can cut the tension with a knife just the aftermath sucks.

[Jim Cantore]

well, being in NJ and getting only minor effects I've had the bring it in attitude

but one day a storm might throw a curve ball

[mike815]

all hurr demaind our respect i cant stand that bring it on attitude people have. These storms demaind our total respect. people die with attitudes like BRING IT ON .

[Dionne]

Whats with the "bring it on" replies? I rode out Katrina and have absolutely no plans to ever repeat that fools errand. You can look at all the pictures, watch all the videos and read all the stories..........and still not fully grasp what happened. It's been six months and it still feels like it happened yesterday. I really enjoy this region. It was a nice affordable place for early retirement. Not any longer.

[HurryKane]

Ive seen the heartbreak it can cause to someone from who it takes everything, I do believe that if a hurricane were to destroy my apartment and my parents house I am strong enough mentally and prepared financially that it would not be a total loss.

It's not just about your own home and belongings, though.

The hurricane can take everything you loved about your way of life: your job, your favorite restaurant, the scenery, your friends who pick up and leave, you name it.

In the long run after something like Katrina, you get weary of talking about the same insurance/contractors subjects over and over again. You get weary of seeing all the danged broken trees and broken homes. And you get weary of the fighting over how to rebuild. You get weary of the long lines for service in fewer businesses. You grow tired of price gouging. You get cranky when the two gas stations for miles continually run out of gas several months after the storm. You get weary that there are still people living in tents here when money is being thrown like Mardi Gras moonpies overseas. The aftermath is long, my friends, and far-reaching.

[aquaholic901]

I would say if I had any control over it to go away obviously. Part of me would love the excitement of seeing that side of nature but there are less costly ways to get a thrill than that. However, since I have no control over it and I'm choosing to live in FL where these things are a fact of life I kind of have the attitude of bring it on, lets get this over with. I just do what I can to minimize the risks, make preparations early and live with whatever comes along.

[cycloneye]

Very good poll so far here with the 3 options getting votes.Let's see if this poll gets more members voting.Also interesting the discussion here from the members.Keep it going.

[Ixolib]

Ive seen the heartbreak it can cause to someone from who it takes everything, I do believe that if a hurricane were to destroy my apartment and my parents house I am strong enough mentally and prepared financially that it would not be a total loss.

It's not just about your own home and belongings, though.

The hurricane can take everything you loved about your way of life: your job, your favorite restaurant, the scenery, your friends who pick up and leave, you name it.

In the long run after something like Katrina, you get weary of talking about the same insurance/contractors subjects over and over again. You get weary of seeing all the danged broken trees and broken homes. And you get weary of the fighting over how to rebuild. You get weary of the long lines for service in fewer businesses. You grow tired of price gouging. You get cranky when the two gas stations for miles continually run out of gas several months after the storm. You get weary that there are still people living in tents here when money is being thrown like Mardi Gras moonpies overseas. The aftermath is long, my friends, and far-reaching.

Amen to that :uarrow:

...and very well said. You hit on many issues that are absolutely impacting so many here on the coast...

Sad part is that unless (or until) folks experience something like this first hand and in person, hour by hour, day after day, week after week, and now month after month, there is no way they can truly grasp the situation. As I've said numerous times; in all my 49 years, this event goes far beyond anything I've ever endured before. So far, nothing in my life compares...

I would have to believe that the majority of those who say "bring it on" do not have to worry about their kids, do not have to worry about paying the mortgage, do not have to worry about maintaining home-owners insurance, do not have to worry about the intricate details of recovery, do not have to worry whether or not they are employed tomorrow, and do not have to worry about how they will recover - yet again - when the next storm blows into their coastline.

While I never had the attitude of "bring it on" in the past, I did none-the-less stay here at home for every storm except Elena. That "tradition" came to an abrupt and permanent halt at about 10:30am on 8/29/05...

[cajungal]

The solution to the heat is to buy a $100 A/C window unit at the start of the season and a $800 generator to run it and the frig.

Personally, its a lot of money but its worth it. I voted both ways....[/quote]

Well, we did not have a generator during Andrew. Nor did we have any AC window units. So, we sweated like crazy because we did not even have a fan to comfort us. The only thing we could do was open the windows. After almost a week without any power, we could not stand it any longer. So, we went to Sears to get a generator. We even took our yorkie Lacey for the ride, so she would not have to suffer any longer in a hot house as well. Well, the truck took a wrong turn coming from Houston on its way to the Sears store in Houma. My dad was not going to lose his place in line. So, we spent the night in Sears with the dog and everything. And many other families did too. They were nice enough to order pizza for us for supper. And provided us blankets to lie on the hard floor. But, at least we were cool. We came home with our generator and guess what? The power came back on! We never got to use our generator until almost 13 years to the day with Katrina. We had a few close calls and few hurricane brushes between that time frame. But, the power never went out for more than a few hours where we had to use the generator. So, yes, we have a generator and it kept our food from spoiling during Katrina. As soon as we got home from evacuating two days later, we went to Lowes to get an AC window unit. Lowes was the only store in town open and they were sold out expect for the display. They sold us the display. So, the AC window unit went in my parents bedroom. I basically camped out in my parents bedroom in a sleeping bag on the floor for 3 days until the power came back on.