Floridians - will you relocate?

[Sanibel]

I'll relocate only if it is further into the tropics into a more hurricane-prone area...

There's a small rock outcrop south of the Cayman's in the Caribbean I'd love to fill with rock and make an island right in the middle of the Carribean alley...

[hibiscushouse]

Been in this area 41 of my 42 years. All of my immediate family is here, as well as MIL in Naples, and BIL in Delray. None of us are going anywhere. This is home and always has been.
Might get that 2nd home in Colorado one day though......I here it's lovely there in September/October.

[jlauderdal]

I'm curious how many of us are considering permanent relocation. I like the Pensacola area, but will look into relocating if I can't get hurricane coverage for next year. I've currently got around $30,000 worth of damage and couldn't afford that kind of loss if I can't get insured next season.

no i am not relocating

[Sanibel]

Don't forget March and April in Florida...

[iluvseashore]

NO WAY!!!!!!!! I'll never leave Florida.

[catzmeow]

I was looking at a map of Florida recently that charted all the paths of every hurricane and tropical storm since the 1850s, and noticed that only two hurricanes have EVER made landfall (in recorded history) over Leon County (Tallahassee). We have our fair share of tropical storms, but there seems to be something about this section of the big bend that makes us less prone to major hurricanes.

OF course, there are no guarantees. But, no, we're not going anywhere.

Catz

[stpeteweathergal]

Native for 39 years. Will never leave. Considering retiring on Sanibel and building a bunker to ride out the rest of my years!

[ladygatorslayer]

No way!

Love the weather, beaches, and even better, the islands. Can't even think of another place in the world I would rather live.

[drudd1]

Spent all my life here, plan on spending the rest too.

[deadcities]

I have a rather archaic loyalty to my state, as in I view myself as being a Floridian first, an American second.
No way a little weather is going to turn me into a refugee.

[Persepone]

What ticks me off is people who did not protect their own property. Well we will let insurance pay for it attiutude. I hope my premimums dont skyrocket.

This ticks me off also. And again, everywhere--not just Florida (I'm not in Florida). Of course there are hazards you can't really prepare for (tornados come to mind), but you actually can do quite a bit to secure your home and possessions against quite a few hazards--as you can see from all the preparation tips on this board.

The problem is, for many people, that it costs a bunch of money and takes a lot of time to take some of the preventative steps--and if there is no imminent threat (the best time to take many of the steps) it seems like "wasted money, wasted effort.) However, I think a lot more people would take these steps if there were a benefit to doing so on an insurance "credit" of some sort and also I'd like to see something punitive for people who really do nothing and just assume that "insurance will take care of it." Note that the insurance credits would have to be for some of the small stuff/hidden stuff (installing garage braces, retrofit roof clips, etc.) as well as for the big stuff (e.g., hurricane shutters). Also, I'm guessing that ins. cos. could figure out some punitive punishments for people who build new houses (especially McMansions--they seem to be the worst offenders) that are "unsuitable for the climate/local weather hazards." It looks/sounds as if hip roofs hold up best in hurricanes, so perhaps new construction should get better insurance rates if the house has a hip roof and an insurance punishment if it has one of those soaring gable roofs with a huge overhang (like a Chalet). There has been a lot of research on this type of stuff. Ironically, the people who can afford the McMansions are those most able to afford the damage mitigation stuff, but are probably also those most likely to not take the steps to secure their property, etc. well. Up here (experience in Connecticut), they are the ones whose patio furniture blows around and damages other people's property...

If I were from Florida, I do not think I would leave Florida, but I'd probably buy/build/rebuild with a strong eye to hurricane safety/survivability.

There are hazards everywhere, as many point out. I personally would be terrified to live with the fire danger of parts of California (and if I had to live there, I'd live in a concrete house with a concrete roof, insulated shutters, etc. and no vegetation near the house, I guess...) I'm guessing that those who might leave Florida are those who were not there long enough to become "Floridians." If it's "home," then its probably where you belong, hurricanes and all.

For native Floridians, I'm guessing you would not be happy at all here in New England. He**, most people here use "Florida" as a sort of "shorthand" for an earthly paradise. All winter long, you hear everyone say, "when I win the lottery, I'm off to Florida" or "when I retire, I'm off to Florida." If you poll for our most favored "ideal" vacation, it's Florida... And to tell the truth, you can't beat that feeling of getting off a plane in Miami or Tampa or Orlando--when you got on the plane in 15 degree weather...

However, that said, I feel terrible for all those who lost their homes, suffered such terrible damage, and even for those whose damage was minimal, but who huddled with terrified children, lived with no water, no power, etc. for such long times.

[FlaCrabhead]

No way! Native Floridian for 37yrs, first in Daytona, now living in Jax/St. Aug. (We seem to be a bit safer up here on the curve.)

Every state has some kind of weather problem/disaster. I'll take my palms trees, beach sand and cool breezes over the blizzards, floods, earthquakes and tornados ANYDAY!

[tronbunny]

Earthquakes....
Geeze, those that live in the city with a Lack of Air, can have 'em.
I'll take schwamps, 'possum, snakes, gators, skeeters, humidity, thunder/lightning and hurricanes any day over that nonsense!
Been in sunny FLA for 24 of my 40 years.
Was a snotty, stuck-up yankee, kid when I got here.
Now I'm a smug Floridian that says "yeah, you really should think of going somewhere 'better'" When someone tells me they're thinking of leaving.

[SFLgirl]

Even though I have personally been hit hard twice this season I would NEVER leave FL. It's my home and after 36 years here I could never live anywhere else.

[crazycajuncane]

That is really cool that almost everyone on these boards are going to stay.

I heard a lot of people talking about leaving. Is there a correlation between you storm watchers and the non storm watchers?

[Lebowsky]

Not a chance. I love that dirty water .... Florida you're my home!!!

[feederband]

Is there a safe place ???? I wonder is there a stat out there that of a place that doesn't see natural disaters?

[kevin]

I'll come back to Florida even after I move away. Hopefully Florida doesn't sink into the sea from all the retirees before I can get back.

[lp8391]

staying...Born & Raised, but did 10 yr stint in Michigan....NEVER again. Way too cold. Only left the house 1 time the last winter I was there.

[Josephine96]

Staying right here