What # hurricane would you ride out?

[Scorpion]

I would have absolutely no problems riding out a Cat 5

[Typhoon Hunter]

Definitely a cat 5, however only in a place like Okinawa where their building codes are so strict high schools look like re-inforced bomb shelters!

[skysummit]

Like some of the others here, I'm also forced to ride out anything. Working for the government's official wireless carrier, that's part of the job. I would stay in my apartment to a Cat 3, but ride it out in my office for a 4 or 5.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

After riding out Andrew in South Florida and Bob 1991 closer to home. I wouldn't, at least in my own area, ride out anything higher than a weak cat 1 hurricane. Our building codes are no where near what they are further south, and seeing how I live not all that far inland I would not feel safe. I might go to the local high school for a storm that bad, 'cause it is a large brick building that I think could withstand a cat 2 or even cat 3 (max we could get here).

[jdray]

Far enough inland to not worry about any surge. (over 40 miles inland)

Main concern is winds and localized flooding and the potential tornadoes.

I had one spawn over me during Frances, that was fun!


I would safely ride out a Cat 2 in my house, any higher and I would stay with my inlaws in their 1950s concrete block house up till about a high Cat 3. Then its time to send the family to relatives houses.

[dwg71]

Cat 5, after the debacle that was the Houston Rita Evacuation I think many more people would do the same. I live far enough inland 45 miles or so to ride it out.

[HURAKAN]

Katrina was a shock because I wasn't expecting such a powerful experience from a Cat. 1 cyclone. Nevertheless, I experienced Cat. 1 conditions during Wilma and I was able to enjoy them. One difference is that Katrina came at night and Wilma during the morning hours. I would be comfortable with a Cat. 1 or 2, anything higher I would like to be in something protected but still have a reinforced window to look outside!!!

[x-y-no]

I just moved to Hallandale Beach this winter, several blocks east of Federal. The place is probably far enough inland to avoid significant surge, but I wouldn't be willing to chance it in a major. On the principle that you always assume one category higher than is forecast, that means I'll head a little inland for any storm forecast to be a 2 or higher at landfall.

I'd probably go to my parents' house in South Miami, mainly to be of use to them in the aftermath. That house withstood borderline cat 3 / cat 4 conditions in Andrew, so I'm fairly comfortable relying on it.

[m_ru]

I'll stay for every single one of them. (Well north of Houston.) If I end up moving to Gautier this summer it would depend on where I was at. I would most likely stay with my grandparents and they go to my Uncle's in Hattiesburg for anything worse than a Cat. 2. If I have my own place and I feel confident that I wouldn't have problems with surge I'll stay regardless of strength.

[Derek Ortt]

would you expect your homes to survive an EF3 or EF4 tornado

One must remember that if another Andrew does occur, the SUSTAINED winds are EF3-EF4 and the gusts are EF5. Normally, one should not evacuate due to wind, but if you know that there is a good chance of an EF5 tornado, I would not be sticking around myself, unless it was required for job purposes

[micktooth]

I honestly wouldn't stick around for a direct hit of any strength. If you have really been through a hurricane, you probably won't want to go through another one. Tropical Storm/Hurricane Cindy was bad enough for me in New Orleans. I left for Katrina and now I'm in Denver, safe and sound

[Lindaloo]

You guys and gals that would ride out a CAT5... please have a lifejacket or a raft available. I am not trying to be funny either. I am serious. I know that we have daredevils here (I used to be one) and what I experienced with Katrina is you really need to add those two items to your hurricane preparedness kit.

[LaBreeze]

I'm with Lindaloo on this one. I'm not staying for any of them. It was difficult with the house damage for Hurricane Lili, but it was devastating to lose the entire house and to start over from scratch from Hurricane Rita (not to mention all of the others I've been in since the mid-1950s and Hurricane Iniki while on vacation in Kauai). I love it here in SW Louisiana, but I've learned to respect nature and get out of it's way.

[Lindaloo]

I'm with Lindaloo on this one. I'm not staying for any of them. It was difficult with the house damage for Hurricane Lili, but it was devastating to lose the entire house and to start over from scratch from Hurricane Rita (not to mention all of the others I've been in since the mid-1950s and Hurricane Iniki while on vacation in Kauai). I love it here in SW Louisiana, but I've learned to respect nature and get out of it's way.

Oh my gosh, you were in Iniki?? I would love to hear about your experience!


I am with you too though. I guess the daredevil has left your building too. lol.

[CrazyC83]

Depends on where I am situated; maybe Cat 1, after that I am gone...

[kevin]

In the middle of Florida I'll ride out anything. Not because I want to but because the costs of fleeing and the time involved do not lend themselves to me leaving. I would be scared if a category 4 came in moving at more than 10mph NE anywhere around Tampa. Marion County isn't that far from the sea, and my fear is that one day we'll be in the NE Quad of a category 4+ coming in from the gulf.

[JonathanBelles]

In the middle of Florida I'll ride out anything. Not because I want to but because the costs of fleeing and the time involved do not lend themselves to me leaving. I would be scared if a category 4 came in moving at more than 10mph NE anywhere around Tampa. Marion County isn't that far from the sea, and my fear is that one day we'll be in the NE Quad of a category 4+ coming in from the gulf.

my worst fear is similar. My worst fear is that a strong hurricane comes in near tarpon springs or holiday. I would be in the eyewall most likely and then I would go south if that happened.

[SCUBAdude]

I live on the Fort Morgan peninsula in Gulf Shores Al and my house fared well with Ivan and the eye came in right on top of us. I know that the winds were not really as bad as some say but it was pretty tuff. So to answer the question, I'll stay through a Cat 2 or a cat 3 that looks ragged or is forecast to weaken.
SD

[Orlando_wx]

I'm with you kevin all of us were talking about that if one came in from the west coast tampa area not a good solution for orlando area and as for not worrying about being in the middle of the state a lot of people learned from charley that a storm like that came in from the south and still reaked havoc here in orlando. and to answer the question any more than a cat 2 im out.

John

[JtSmarts]

If I lived on the coast, the highest I would ride out would probably be a one, or a two that was supposed to be weakening at landfall. If a 1 was coming and conditions were extremely ripe for strengthening I would probably leave just in case of rapid intensification.