The one thing we have going for us is that winds speed drop quickly once a hurricane is over land do to surface friction. The energy of the wind goes as the square of the velocity so small decreases in wind speed represent large decreases in energy. For example, the energy of a 50 mph wind is only 25% of the energy of a 100 mph wind. Tornadoes, of course, can pop up almost anywhere as you mentioned but we are somewhat less vulnerable to straight line wind than coastal regions.
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Originally Posted by BarryRX
It's just not true that we are safe from coastal hurricanes. What we ARE safe from is the very dangerous tidal surge. But, because most of Florida is pretty flat and narrow, we are very vulnerable to the high winds, tornados, and torrential rains that come with big tornados. When you live in a state that is only about 150 miles wide, a huge storm that is 500 miles wide is going to get you.
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