I've lived on a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico for fifty-four years. I've experienced so many hurricanes ... [View all]

…that I have actually lost count. Most were near misses, two were direct hits.

The first one hit us with its NE quadrant and imbedded tornadoes. A house or condo on this side of the street was completely destroyed while the one across the street was undamaged. As part of an after event survey, we estimated 45% of structures in town suffered major damage, all from wind and very little water damage.

The second one went just north of us. We still got 120 mph winds. But the counter clockwise rotation gave us west winds, blowing the water out of the bay to our west and over our island. It was a 12’ surge which meant a lot (A Lot) of homes had 3’ of saltwater in them.

Our Island is only accessible by a ferry in the north and a causeway bridge to the south. The ferries can’t operate when the water level gets 3’ higher and they have to leave in time to protect the crews and seek safe harbor. Population growth causes congestion on the lone highway to the south. If you wait too long to evacuate, you can’t.

Before, we really didn’t know where the storms were going and evacuated many times, relieved to see the storm turn and miss us. But we always evacuated because you can’t get out if you wait too long and conditions will be unlivable if it’s a direct hit. It’s hot and humid, with no power, no water, no sewer, no ice, and no screens in your windows, but plenty of mosquitoes hatching from all the rain.

We are fortunate that we can afford a hotel inland, sometimes way inland as the closer ones are full. But if it’s forecast to be close, we always evacuate. Even if our house survives the storm, as it did in that second one because we’re on high ground, there will be no electricity and you will be miserable.

Friends who’ve stayed usually do so out of machismo. They can tell people they rode one out. But after that second one, when they were in the dark and in waist deep water inside their house and it’s still rising and the howling wind gives you the worst headache you’ve ever had , you’ll have second thoughts. Those tough guys that rode out that second one said they’d never do it again.

Just my thoughts.

Good luck to the people suffering from Helene and to those in the path of Milton.

Peace