The Sky isn't falling

[BrianL99]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

[Notsure]

Wonder when the cone will narrow up on Milton. It could come ashore anywhere from Crystal River to Fort Myers.

[BubblesandPat]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

Thank you !

[graciegirl]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

The pressure has just dropped below 900 Millibars which makes it one of the most powerful storms in History in this half of the world. It will not be as bad as Tampa, but I would not be surprised that the death toll from this hurricane may very well be in the thousands.

[ElDiabloJoe]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

...

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

Same goes with the constant threads and posts on climate change. I agree with you, it's weather. It's normal. It's cyclical. It happens. Prepare and deal with it like human kind has for millenia.

[fdpaq0580]

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

Then why read and react to it?
For many here, it [BIis[/B] their "first time on skates". No need to belittle folks with genuine concerns. With time and the grace of God, they may achieve your great knowledge and experience.

[fdpaq0580]

Same goes with the constant threads and posts on climate change. I agree with you, it's weather. It's normal. It's cyclical. It happens. Prepare and deal with it like human kind has for millenia.

Weather? Yes. Normal? No. Natural, but definitely not "normal".

[kansasr]

Considering the thousands of new residents we have in The Villages and for whom this is likely their first hurricane season, I'm glad their willing to ask their questions and raise their concerns to those of us who have been through this for many years.

Yes, it will be very rainy and very windy, but The Villages has been developed to mitigate flooding concerns and our houses built to the best hurricane standards in the country. And even during Irma, except for the historic district, lights mostly just flickered and power never went out for any period of time.

If I'm going to have to deal with hurricanes (I've lived in earthquake, tornado and blizzard sections of the country), this is probably the best place in the US to deal with them.

[Rainger99]

It looks bad!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezIqFyjAUP4

Can you resist 100 MPH hurricane wind? - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9mmkfhav09c)

[Flyers999]

Yes it is. Or soon will be.

[Bjeanj]

The pressure has just dropped below 900 Millibars which makes it one of the most powerful storms in History in this half of the world. It will not be as bad as Tampa, but I would not be surprised that the death toll from this hurricane may very well be in the thousands.

Gracie, I hope you’re wrong about the death toll, but some people can’t or won’t evacuate when they should.

[Stu from NYC]

Gracie, I hope you’re wrong about the death toll, but some people can’t or won’t evacuate when they should.

Or build homes in areas that are an accident waiting to happen

[Bill14564]

The pressure has just dropped below 900 Millibars which makes it one of the most powerful storms in History in this half of the world. It will not be as bad as Tampa, but I would not be surprised that the death toll from this hurricane may very well be in the thousands.

In the modern era of hurricane detection and warning and within the continental US it looks like there has been one hurricane that caused over 500 deaths in the US and maybe five, counting Helene, that caused over 100 deaths in the US. Given that, I would be very surprised if the death toll from this hurricane is in the thousands

But we shall see.

EDIT: In a USA Today article (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/04/list-of-deadliest-hurricanes-to-hit-mainland-us-includes-helene/75515723007/) from this month they count one over 500 and nine over 100 if Sandy is included.

[Jayhawk]

14 threads currently running about Milton.



I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

So why start a 15th?

[vintageogauge]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

There were quite a few very large oak trees uprooted when Irma came through along with trailer trucks flipped over, if this one is as mean as they are saying I would expect to see many more uprooted this time along with some of the "ornamental palm trees". The sky isn't falling but there are plenty of legitimate warnings about how bad this one could be. Tomorrow will tell the tale so just be prepared.

[asianthree]

The pressure has just dropped below 900 Millibars which makes it one of the most powerful storms in History in this half of the world. It will not be as bad as Tampa, but I would not be surprised that the death toll from this hurricane may very well be in the thousands.

I really don’t see thousands, as a death toll. I-75 north was a parking lot yesterday, and turnpike was moving at a slow pace as we drove to Disney. Looks like the normal get out of dodge traffic. It’s not like this is the first rodeo for Florida Costal residents. Plus with prior loss of homes, new buildings are at better code on the coast.

Parks are basically empty, and a very nice weather day. Disney Springs will be where the masses will land.
Many guests seem to be here just for a room. Value hotels seem very full from evacuations. Moderates busy, DVC not as busy.

[Bealman]

It looks like there has been one hurricane that caused over 500 deaths in the US and maybe five, counting Helene, that caused over 100 deaths in the US. Given that, I would be very surprised if the death toll from this hurricane is in the thousands.

But we shall see.

Six USA hurricanes with over 500 deaths. Yes, they were in the late 1800's and early 1900's, except Katrina and possibly Helene being number seven. 8000+ lost their lives in Galveston, TX alone. 19 hurricanes with less than 1000 and greater than 100 deaths. I get your point, but your statistics aren't correct.

[blueash]

Six USA hurricanes with over 500 deaths. Yes, they were in the late 1800's and early 1900's, except Katrina and possibly Helene being number seven. 8000+ lost their lives in Galveston, TX alone. 19 hurricanes with less than 1000 and greater than 100 deaths. I get your point, but your statistics aren't correct.

Thank you. I continue to be disappointed at how often posters make up stuff and present it as fact when a simple google search will get them accurate data.

https://Weather (http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/articles/deadliest-us-hurricanes) Underground gives data only for storms thru 2007 and matches your numbers.

But digging deeper since 2007 there have been many killer hurricanes not in that data set:
Helene 2024 214 and climbing
Ian 2022 156
Harvey 2017 103

There are also several just since 2007 in the high double digits:
Irma 2017 92
Ike 2008 85,
Ida 2021 87
Michael 2018 59
and Matthew 2016 52

Note that Sandy which struck NJ and NY hard is not included as it was not a hurricane when it hit, "just" a tropical storm. Deaths 159

Lastly " Bill14564 It looks like there has been one hurricane that caused over 500 deaths in the US " is taking a very narrow view of the US when he seems to mean mainland. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are part of the US, and both these have lost thousands to hurricanes.

[Bill14564]

Six USA hurricanes with over 500 deaths. Yes, they were in the late 1800's and early 1900's, except Katrina and possibly Helene being number seven. 8000+ lost their lives in Galveston, TX alone. 19 hurricanes with less than 1000 and greater than 100 deaths. I get your point, but your statistics aren't correct.

I will change that to say “in the modern era of hurricane detection and warning.”

Edit: … and “Continental US”

(the accusation that I just made stuff up is untrue and quite insulting! If I was writing a paper I may have been more clear about the era and the Continental US. I wasn’t writing a paper, I was questioning “thousands”)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Definitely not my first rodeo with hurricanes, I'm from Connecticut and lived in Boston for 7 years. HOWEVER -

In Connecticut, I lived in a house with a basement, the houses were constructed in the 1950's and 1960's, and weren't going anywhere. We had minor damage, and we were safe under the house in the basement. If the hurricane had blown the whole house away, we would've been fine. Wet and sad and annoyed, but fine. Just like most people who lived in houses INLAND in Connecticut who had basements.

In Boston, I lived next door to the fire department in a walk-up apartment over a store that was constructed in the 1930's. I sat the hurricane out snug as a bug in a rug in the fire department's truck bay, watching broken tree trunks and other debris blow by.

Here, we're in a manufactured home, with no basement. I think I'd be safer in a tent in the Ocala Forest than I am in my own house tomorrow night. But we'll see.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Most interesting FL Hurricane fact:

There were no hurricanes making landfall in FL between October 2005 and September 2016.

That’s 11 years. Weather be random and a trait of randomness is clusters, like galaxies / solar systems in the vast universe

[Topspinmo]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

I wouldn’t get too cocky yet, can always spin up tornado. If you’re under it don’t matter how big it is. :faint:

[RRGuyNJ]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.


Try selling that 50 miles inland crap to the folks in Asheville and surrounding areas. I'm 100 miles inland and had $28K worth of damage during Irene in 2011. The Villages is inland but also vulnerable. I hope you do well during the storm.

[ChrisTinaBruce]

Same goes with the constant threads and posts on climate change. I agree with you, it's weather. It's normal. It's cyclical. It happens. Prepare and deal with it like human kind has for millenia.
Oh, but there’s WAYYYY to much money 💰 involved in the climate cycling propaganda.

[Cuervo]

Enjoy life when your time comes there is not much you can do about it.
There is a new disaster every year, this is just mother nature's way of thinning out the heard.

[crash]

Gracie, I hope you’re wrong about the death toll, but some people can’t or won’t evacuate when they should.

Maybe because people tell them the sky isn’t falling but for some it very well may.

People who say it is weather it will pass get over it are doing people a dis service. I have been here since 2015 and this is the first hurricane that will have hurricane force winds as it goes over the Villages.

[mkjelenbaas]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.
That a lot of typing!

[Golfshopguy]

A good dose of common sense. Thanks!

[biker1]

The center of the circulation will not go over The Villages but the wind field is broad. The track of the center of the circulation will be well south of us. While we will see some gusts, the probability of sustained hurricane force winds is on the order of 5-10% according to the NHC.

Maybe because people tell them the sky isn’t falling but for some it very well may.

People who say it is weather it will pass get over it are doing people a dis service. I have been here since 2015 and this is the first hurricane that will have hurricane force winds as it goes over the Villages.

[BrianL99]

tedious? LOL it's more than that. It angers me now, but I'm sure you (as well as I) will get 'scolded' for our words as they aren't woke enough for the moderators of here nor FB.


I look at the empty shelves and just wonder the intelligence of these people. They drained everythiing that isn't practical. If you are going to do that then just evacuate and leave the stuff for those of us that know exactly what to do. Here's a hint..... Bread and peanut butter. That's all I'll give you.




The entire thing is ludicrous. These people are like "preppers", who think the world is going to end tomorrow.

The folks living in mobile homes in the "historic" part of The Villages, are at risk every time it rains, that's their choice.

The rest of The Villages is about as protected as one can be in Florida. The odds of folks living in TV being seriously hurt or having significant damage, is substantially lower than the odds of them dying in their car while evacuating.

[mikeycereal]

The center of the circulation will not go over The Villages but the wind field is broad. The track of the center of the circulation will be well south of us. While we will see some gusts, the probability of sustained hurricane force winds is on the order of 5-10% according to the NHC.

Checked Windy: Wind map & weather forecast (https://www.windy.com/-Hurricane-tracker/hurricanes/milton?27.688,-82.071,8) this morning and it shows the cone has moved south of the Villages. Orlando is still inside the cone but close to where we were yesterday. And instead of it going from a cat 3 to a 2 as it passes below us it has changed to 2-1. So if accurate we appear to be dodging another one, but I'd still keep looking at updates today. We have a river flood warning and my house is about half a mile from Lake Okahumpka so I'm concerned on how high that will get. Getting the Kayak ready.

Edit: corrected the word track to cone.

[flash4353]

Wanna bet?

[biker1]

The NHC track has been south of us for a few days. On Sunday, there were a few model results that had the center of the circulation in our vicinity but the cone of possibilities was quite wide. Sustained 30-35 mph winds for about 12 hours is certainly possibility.

Checked Windy: Wind map & weather forecast (https://www.windy.com/-Hurricane-tracker/hurricanes/milton?27.688,-82.071,8) this morning and it shows the track has moved south of the Villages. Orlando is still inside the track but close to where we were yesterday. And instead of it going from a cat 3 to a 2 as it passes below us it has changed to 2-1. So if accurate we appear to be dodging another one, but I'd still keep looking at updates today. We have a river flood warning and my house is about half a mile from Lake Okahumpka so I'm concerned on how high that will get. Getting the Kayak ready.

[Ptmcbriz]

Old cranky and jaded outlook. When a hurricane has a center measured below 900, you better be paying attention. Thank goodness it is forecasted a little farther south than ordinarily forecasted. Good for us, bad for others. Still gusts of 80mph here can take shingles off and caused many things you’ll have to fix. Pay attention and be ready for any changes. The key to emergencies is to expect the unexpected. Mother Nature like to out guess you.

[CybrSage]

There have been only 7 actual tornados at landfall that hit New England since 1908. Of those, the highest Category at al small was a 3.
In the last 24 years, there have been only 3 tornados that all were tropical storms by landfall.

Since 2004, Florida was hit with 1 Cat 5, 5 Cat 4, and 5 Cat 3 hurricanes at landfall. This does not include Milton.

The hurricanes that hit New England are little babies compared to those that hit Florida. No need to pretend otherwise, we all know this.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

There have been only 7 actual tornados at landfall that hit New England since 1908. Of those, the highest Category at al small was a 3.
In the last 24 years, there have been only 3 tornados that all were tropical storms by landfall.

Since 2004, Florida was hit with 1 Cat 5, 5 Cat 4, and 5 Cat 3 hurricanes at landfall. This does not include Milton.

The tornados that hit New England are little babies compared to those that hit Florida. No need to pretend otherwise, we all know this.
Tornados??
That being said, just one experience near the eyewall of a Cat3 will change minds.
(if you were to survive it)

[mikeycereal]

The NHC track has been south of us for a few days. On Sunday, there were a few model results that had the center of the circulation in our vicinity but the cone of possibilities was quite wide. Sustained 30-35 mph winds for about 12 hours is certainly possibility.

I corrected the word track to cone since I was referring to the upper edge of it which had moved south. I saw that the center was below us for the last few days. Don't want to confuse anyone.

[BrianL99]

Wanna bet?

The over/under is 10 .... if you don't count Lt. Dan in his 20' sailboat.

[Margefrog]

I read hoarders (but somehow couldn't repy there) and your comment here. The comment on "hoarders" is unnecessarily harsh. Using gas here isn't taking from those on I-75, etc. If it would, we whould have been told and would have complied. People gassed up in case of their need, and maybe to be able to drive to devasted sights with supplies, just as we prepped our properties re flying objects to protect ourselves and others.
Yes, most of us have been thru numerous weather challenges. That doesn't mean we should ignore this humongous storm, especially the elderly with physical challenges.
Lighten up guys.

[Velvet]

I read hoarders (but somehow couldn't repy there) and your comment here. The comment on "hoarders" is unnecessarily harsh. Using gas here isn't taking from those on I-75, etc. If it would, we whould have been told and would have complied. People gassed up in case of their need, and maybe to be able to drive to devasted sights with supplies, just as we prepped our properties re flying objects to protect ourselves and others.
Yes, most of us have been thru numerous weather challenges. That doesn't mean we should ignore this humongous storm, especially the elderly with physical challenges.
Lighten up guys.

Yes, I couldn’t reply either. I was challenged about the anti-siphon protection of modern car gas tanks and couldn’t mention that it is relatively easy to by-pass it and I have the pump but this is a public forum so perhaps I shouldn’t say more about it.

[Byte1]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

Tell that to the folks in Asheville. Yes, the Villages has done pretty well when it comes to bad weather.....BUT there is always that one time and if folks want to be prepared, go for it. I've had home owners insurance on every home I have owned and have never/NEVER made a claim. Why have insurance if you never need it? BECAUSE, there is always that one chance you WILL need it. If folks want to be prepared for emergencies, leave them be. Do we laugh at apocalypse preppers? I don't get the Flu shot, but I don't laugh at those that do get them.
You said there are 14 hurricane threads? You made it 15, right?

[BrianL99]

ocalypse preppers? I don't get the Flu shot, but I don't laugh at those that do get them.
You said there are 14 hurricane threads? You made it 15, right?

No.

There were 14 threads on Hurricane Milton.

This thread was specific to people over-reacting and acting like the sky was falling, in response to a fairly typical, overly hyped weather condition, predicted to occur in a distant part of the state.

[Byte1]

No.

There were 14 threads on Hurricane Milton.

This thread was specific to people over-reacting and acting like the sky was falling, in response to a fairly typical, overly hyped weather condition, predicted to occur in a distant part of the state.

Hmmm, this thread DOES sound like it is related to the hurricane. I didn't see anything about dog poop, EV cars burning up in salt water, or gate arms being taken down in preparation for rain. "Over-reacting?" Please define "over-reacting."

[BrianL99]

Please define "over-reacting."

Do you ever evacuate from The Villages with an approaching storm?

Milton options within The Villages

Driving to the TV after hurricane.

Milton will be a Hurricane

how much weight can 100 mph topple?

Is your EV part of your emergency plan

Newbie Hurricane question

Gas Buddy Reports

This might save your life!

Doomscrollers Surge Cam in Sarasota

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Roof Awareness - Hurricane Milton - SkyLight Roofing Villages💚

I hope all the hoarders are happy

Scary stuff

Most trusted meteorologist for The Villages specifically?

[jimjamuser]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.
You made a good point basically about people NOT panicking. The Villages is located on what looks like the BETTER side of Milton (the north side). If Milton comes in at Sarasota we will be in luck and probably just get some rain and some mild winds. What COULD BE a problem even a DEADLY problem is the possible TORNADOES that are forming around the state even now (Wed morning). So, I think that it is ONLY NATURAL for people here in TV Land to have some amount of ANXIETY.
.....Another point is that these 2 hurricanes are different from some past hurricanes because the Gulf is warmer (record warmer) which lets them develop faster and stronger than in the past. And the population of Florida has grown rapidly in the last 5 years. It looks like it may hit Sarasota and go through densely populated areas. The property damage costs could be record high and the loss of human life could be equally high.

[dewilson58]

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

No one is/was worried about the sky falling............it's the wind, rising water and flying debris.

With the current projected path(s)...........our neighbors are going to get hammered pretty good.
Thoughts are with all of them.

[jimjamuser]

Most interesting FL Hurricane fact:

There were no hurricanes making landfall in FL between October 2005 and September 2016.

That’s 11 years. Weather be random and a trait of randomness is clusters, like galaxies / solar systems in the vast universe
Since the whole Earth got WARMER in the last 5 years and the oceans rose significantly that puts us today and in the future in a completely different Climate situation. Strange that more people are COMING TO Florida at the same time that the threat of Hurricanes is getting greater.

[jimjamuser]

Considering the thousands of new residents we have in The Villages and for whom this is likely their first hurricane season, I'm glad their willing to ask their questions and raise their concerns to those of us who have been through this for many years.

Yes, it will be very rainy and very windy, but The Villages has been developed to mitigate flooding concerns and our houses built to the best hurricane standards in the country. And even during Irma, except for the historic district, lights mostly just flickered and power never went out for any period of time.

If I'm going to have to deal with hurricanes (I've lived in earthquake, tornado and blizzard sections of the country), this is probably the best place in the US to deal with them.
Not sure how "Florida could be a good place to deal with hurricanes". Hurricanes start in the tropics and travel to the NORTH making Florida an obvious target for hurricanes. The Gulf and the Atlantic have record warm water this year (and will continue that way into the future).The oceans are RISING at an INCREASING rate. From the air - Florida looks like lakes everywhere and Florida is flat with no mountain ranges to block hurricanes. In the past north central Florida has not had much hurricane damage, but if world populations keep increasing and the CO2 and methane from coal and oil burning keeps increasing, then likely, hurricane intensity will increase for the future.

[BrianL99]

No one is/was worried about the sky falling............it's the wind, rising water and flying debris.

With the current projected path(s)...........our neighbors are going to get hammered pretty good.
Thoughts are with all of them.

I just got off the phone with a friend in Lakewood Ranch. If you blow up the latest hurricane path map, the "line" goes exactly through his home. That said, Lakewood Ranch is about 10-12 miles inland.

If you're in the path of a hurricane, it pays to be inland, have a recently constructed home and quality drainage system. The Villages has all 3.

I wouldn't want to be living within a couple of miles of the coast, from Ft Myers all the way north to Tarpon Springs. Longboat Key to Clearwater would be very scary place to be this week.

[Joe C.]

My gas tanks are full. My furniture is off the lanai and inside the house. The potted plants are in the garage. I have bottled water, a gas stove, toilet paper, paper towels, food, and batteries and a radio. Now it's time to get a good book and sit down and have a good read. BTW, I notice that there are still lots of birds and ducks around the pond, so I don't expect this "terrible wind" that the television talking heads are espousing. Last Saturday, I told my wife that we wouldn't get a direct hit, because the eye would pass way south of us. So, I'm prepped, but have no worries. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.:wave:

[LianneMigiano]

Just bumped into an evacuating young couple, with a baby, from St. Petersburg that just spent 6.5 hours on the highway to get here. Bet they needed gasoline - and maybe a tranquilizer - when they arrived!

[Grinchie]

You are presuming their home is as well-built and as prepared for a hurricane, as is your home. The intensity of this storm is frightening. (I rode out Harvey comfortably, which was a cat 4, but was prepared & in a much stronger, larger, hurricane-prepped house.)

[mikeycereal]

Just checked again and the projected north edge of the cone has moved further south according to windy.com. Orlando is now near the north edge for the passing of Milton and at this rate they may end up out of the cone. Looking better for them than yesterday when they were projected to be well inside of it.

[Blueblaze]

You are presuming their home is as well-built and as prepared for a hurricane, as is your home. The intensity of this storm is frightening. (I rode out Harvey comfortably, which was a cat 4, but was prepared & in a much stronger, larger, hurricane-prepped house.)

I rode out Harvey (and three other cat-5 hurricanes) in a 20-year-old brick/frame home built to no hurricane standard whatsoever, the same distance from the ocean as The Villages. The eye of Rita went right over my house.

But it was a week before I could get out of my driveway from Harvey, and two weeks before we had power again (4 weeks w/Rita). The floodwaters never entered my house (barely), even though I measured 36" of rain over two days. Afterwards, I helped friends muck out the remains of their homes who were also not in any flood plain. Harvey was the worst storm I ever saw, and not because of the wind.

But you know what was different about the four hurricanes I lived through in Houston?

My insurance company never doubled my premiums in Cypress just because Galveston was flattened. And nobody ever threatened to cancel me because my roof was 10yrs old.

[eyc234]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

The truth is that no one knows. There are more scenarios and possibilities than can be documented.

[Normal]

Weather needs to be respected.

I don’t want to make light of any storm, it can be dangerous in many situations and circumstances. But things could be much worse. Hurricanes have reached an excess of 200 mph sustained. The worst ever recorded was back in 1780. The bark was actually stripped off many of the trees and more than 20,000 died. Most stone forts were destroyed and metal cannons were thrown more than 100 feet. Not some, but actually every home on the island of Barbados was destroyed.

With all things considered, we have it good. When another storm like that comes through, I hope to not be around. A true storm of the century.

A good read on the Great Hurricane

Great Hurricane of 1780 | encyclopedia article by TheFreeDictionary (https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Great+Hurricane+of+1780)

[Red Rose]

Don’t fill the Clothes Dryer with ice; fill the Clothes Washer with ice.

[DAVES]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

Boy scout motto a boy scout is always prepared.
I still have my coleman lanterns and stove. Also mantles and replacement parts. Last time I needed them we were living in NY and without power for like five days. It was an adventure.
No TV. Went back to the past. Neighbors got together. Unlike here we had a gas stove.
Amusing had to show wife you can light a gas stove with a match. Oh some neighbors did have matches. Ever try starting a fire rubbing sticks. I've tried but never succeeded.

[bowlingal]

would rather have a hurricane, than an earthquake or tornado or wildfire

[DAVES]

Weather needs to be respected.

I don’t want to make light of any storm, it can be dangerous in many situations and circumstances. But things could be much worse. Hurricanes have reached an excess of 200 mph sustained. The worst ever recorded was back in 1780. The bark was actually stripped off many of the trees and more than 20,000 died. Most stone forts were destroyed and metal cannons were thrown more than 100 feet. Not some, but actually every home on the island of Barbados was destroyed.

With all things considered, we have it good. When another storm like that comes through, I hope to not be around. A true storm of the century.

A good read on the Great Hurricane

Great Hurricane of 1780 | encyclopedia article by TheFreeDictionary (https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Great+Hurricane+of+1780)

HUM. If a cannon lands on my property. It can be traced to the owner-are they liable for damages. Can I keep it? Far as reads. I have a sort of hobby reading old books.
We tend to think about problems. There were always problems Posting, internet, telephone, perhaps have made complaining easier.

[CarlR33]

And that count does not include FB? Everyone is lonely? Maybe we need to have a live rolling Teams, Zoom or other call during the storm?

[Bwanajim]

I lived in Ft. Lauderdale since I was 7 & been thru plenty of hurricanes, including one that CHANGED DIRECTION from where everyone said it was heading. You never know. I personally have always had a 3 month supply of longterm food, water, water filters, first aid kit & plenty of bang bang to defend myself. I never went to a store before a hurricane.
I also always fill my gas tank when it gets to half.
Better to have it & not need it than need it & not have it….

[Rainger99]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.

It depends on where you live. Thousands of people in Florida are going to get hammered.

Damage estimates are $100 billion on the low end!

[Bill14564]

It depends on where you live. Thousands of people in Florida are going to get hammered.

Damage estimates are $100 billion on the low end!

Damage estimates before it is known where it will make landfall? Probably about as good as their lottery pick.

[BrianL99]

It depends on where you live. Thousands of people in Florida are going to get hammered.

Damage estimates are $100 billion on the low end!

Unrelated to The VIllages, other than the potential for increased insurance costs.

[Marmaduke]

Then why read and react to it?
For many here, it [BIis[/B] their "first time on skates". No need to belittle folks with genuine concerns. With time and the grace of God, they may achieve your great knowledge and experience.
Thank you. Well said.

[Normal]

Rain (over 3 inches so far)and wind in buckets south of 44. How are things up north?

[coffeebean]

Try selling that 50 miles inland crap to the folks in Asheville and surrounding areas. I'm 100 miles inland and had $28K worth of damage during Irene in 2011. The Villages is inland but also vulnerable. I hope you do well during the storm.

100 miles inland...did you have water damage or wind damage?

[Papa_lecki]

Rain (over 3 inches so far)and wind in buckets south of 44. How are things up north?

Between 44 and 466a
Between 4 and 5 inches

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The trailer park is holding steady.

We had a couple of power surges and I had to reboot my computer and fast forward the show I was streaming because it set it back to 0:00 both times. Got my tornado kit ready in the master bedroom closet.

According to the Lady Lake station for Weather Underground, we're getting 27mph winds with 40mph gusts. In an hour that'll start jacking up to 35mph with up to 60mph gusts for a few hours. By 7am it should be just a nice 15mph breeze.

Everyone in the neighborhood did a great job bringing in stuff from the lawn and lowering their flagpoles. It looks like we'll be seeing a lot of branches and palm fronds in the road, and possibly no power when we wake up in the morning.

[asianthree]

Have an oak tree in my birdcage across the pool resting on the lanai roof.

[Remembergoldenrule]

100 miles inland...did you have water damage or wind damage?

Looks like The Villages will not be damaged, but here is another perspective on to prepare or not prepare. In Greenville SC meteorologist said, “just bad thunderstorms possible tornadoes, we will be on outer edge.”
Been without electricity for over ten days and saying another two before have it back. Grocery stores still recovering because they had to throw all refrigerated food out. Took week to get road out of neighborhood unblocked. Those tall palm trees can do same as oak tree. Roads flooded from jammed sewer systems, rivers, low level lands. Houses uninhabitable do to water, wind, tree damage. People first three days desperate looking for ways to charge phones. Asst living and nursing Holmes no power for over week. Death toll rising and missing persons still. We are lucky. Asheville just 40 miles from us much worse.

Point meteorologist predict, but don’t know. Be prepared.

[KShowalter]

Considering the thousands of new residents we have in The Villages and for whom this is likely their first hurricane season, I'm glad their willing to ask their questions and raise their concerns to those of us who have been through this for many years.

Yes, it will be very rainy and very windy, but The Villages has been developed to mitigate flooding concerns and our houses built to the best hurricane standards in the country. And even during Irma, except for the historic district, lights mostly just flickered and power never went out for any period of time.

If I'm going to have to deal with hurricanes (I've lived in earthquake, tornado and blizzard sections of the country), this is probably the best place in the US to deal with them.

Thank you very much for your kind understanding that not EVERYONE has experienced a hurricane of the magnitude of Melvin. I am a newcomer who lives alone and prepared.ahead of time. My rain gauge holds 14" and was full to the top so I know I got more here in Marsh Bend. When the ran and wind were at there worst about 11:00 pm my dogs and I were scared as my windows shook. That being said I had faith in the engineering genius of TV in building a community that basically doesn't flood and the houses are as hurricane proof (including mine) as possible. That fact alone and knowing I had neighbors sheltering at home too, gave me a great deal of comfort and faith last night. I need a sticker that says "I survived Melvin!" Next time I can relax a little more.

[Velvet]

Thank you very much for your kind understanding that not EVERYONE has experienced a hurricane of the magnitude of Melvin. I am a newcomer who lives alone and prepared.ahead of time. My rain gauge holds 14" and was full to the top so I know I got more here in Marsh Bend. When the ran and wind were at there worst about 11:00 pm my dogs and I were scared as my windows shook. That being said I had faith in the engineering genius of TV in building a community that basically doesn't flood and the houses are as hurricane proof (including mine) as possible. That fact alone and knowing I had neighbors sheltering at home too, gave me a great deal of comfort and faith last night. I need a sticker that says "I survived Melvin!" Next time I can relax a little more.

Well done! I can just imagine how you felt.

[mikeycereal]

Thank you very much for your kind understanding that not EVERYONE has experienced a hurricane of the magnitude of Melvin. I am a newcomer who lives alone and prepared.ahead of time. My rain gauge holds 14" and was full to the top so I know I got more here in Marsh Bend. When the ran and wind were at there worst about 11:00 pm my dogs and I were scared as my windows shook. That being said I had faith in the engineering genius of TV in building a community that basically doesn't flood and the houses are as hurricane proof (including mine) as possible. That fact alone and knowing I had neighbors sheltering at home too, gave me a great deal of comfort and faith last night. I need a sticker that says "I survived Melvin!" Next time I can relax a little more.

Same here though I was also worried during Ian my first FL Hurricane rodeo. The sounds of the wind hitting the house can be scary even for someone like me who experienced the same in 2022. Stayed up until 2am with the wind and rain still furiously hitting the house. A period of calm and then it resumed. The low-pitched wind gusts rumbled like an avalanche. Finally just fell asleep. Luckily no damage to my house or the neighbors.

[Rich42]

A thousand deaths? That is ludicrous! Last count was 4 people died.

[Velvet]

Yes, we were lucky. The angle of the storm and relative quick passing - so many things - I confess I was praying.

[kp11364]

Looking at the SECO outage map, looks like solid planning and preparation paid off - there are scattered outages in TV, but all are estimated to be repaired by 1pm.

[BrianL99]

It will not be as bad as Tampa, but I would not be surprised that the death toll from this hurricane may very well be in the thousands.

Wanna bet?

The over/under is 10 .... if you don't count Lt. Dan in his 20' sailboat.

A thousand deaths? That is ludicrous! Last count was 4 people died.


I took the Under.

[Sandy and Ed]

14 threads currently running about Milton.

Get out of town. Board up the windows. Fill your bathtub with water. Fill your clothes dryer with ice. Hoard toilet paper.

As we say up north, "is this your first time on skates"?

Is this your first hurricane? Can't be, if you've lived in TV or Florida for more than a year or two. Where did you live before coming to Florida? Weather hasn't affected your life at some point?

New England has been hit with 71 Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, since I was born in 1953. One a year for me.

There have been 18 direct Hurricane hits in New England, since 1953. One every 4 years.

Close to 70 times in the last 70 years, Boston has been hit with a snow storm, dumping over 24" of snow in a 24 hour period. Worcester has been hit over 100 times in the last 70 years.

Doesn't the Midwest ever get bad weather?

Over the last 30 years, an average of 48 people per year, die from Hurricanes in the USA (136 if you include floods). Statistically, a non-event. (Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics (https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/))

The Villages is nearly 50 miles from the coast and probably has the most sophisticated drainage system in the USA.

Over-react much? Don't drive your golf cart through a flooded tunnel, you'll be fine. Friday is supposed to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

I know this isn't going to change anyone's mind or behavior, but this Chicken Little "the sky is falling" stuff is getting tedious.
Amen to that!! It doesn’t hurt to prepare for the worst but all this hoopla about simply being prepared, all this media attention and minute by minute updates is ridiculous. We are in the absolute best location in the state to survive a cat 5 hurricane an most of us are living in homes constructed to withstand a hurricane

[LeRoySmith]

With time and the grace of God, they may achieve your great knowledge and experience.

I don't think it's possible for us to live that long.

[DAVES]

Definitely not my first rodeo with hurricanes, I'm from Connecticut and lived in Boston for 7 years. HOWEVER -

In Connecticut, I lived in a house with a basement, the houses were constructed in the 1950's and 1960's, and weren't going anywhere. We had minor damage, and we were safe under the house in the basement. If the hurricane had blown the whole house away, we would've been fine. Wet and sad and annoyed, but fine. Just like most people who lived in houses INLAND in Connecticut who had basements.

In Boston, I lived next door to the fire department in a walk-up apartment over a store that was constructed in the 1930's. I sat the hurricane out snug as a bug in a rug in the fire department's truck bay, watching broken tree trunks and other debris blow by.

Here, we're in a manufactured home, with no basement. I think I'd be safer in a tent in the Ocala Forest than I am in my own house tomorrow night. But we'll see.

Hear in Florida, I miss my basement. I keep looking for the stairs.

[DAVES]

I rode out Harvey (and three other cat-5 hurricanes) in a 20-year-old brick/frame home built to no hurricane standard whatsoever, the same distance from the ocean as The Villages. The eye of Rita went right over my house.

But it was a week before I could get out of my driveway from Harvey, and two weeks before we had power again (4 weeks w/Rita). The floodwaters never entered my house (barely), even though I measured 36" of rain over two days. Afterwards, I helped friends muck out the remains of their homes who were also not in any flood plain. Harvey was the worst storm I ever saw, and not because of the wind.

But you know what was different about the four hurricanes I lived through in Houston?

My insurance company never doubled my premiums in Cypress just because Galveston was flattened. And nobody ever threatened to cancel me because my roof was 10yrs old.

People do not understand what insurance is. You pay a company to cover part of YOUR risk. They have calculations on what your risk is. You may discover that a different company thinks you risk is greater or less than the company you now use.
Another REALITY all companies will gladly sign you up. Companies are rated. Should you need to collect on damages,they are not all the same.
If, you have a mortgage the mortgage holder says you must be insured. Even that is not so. If, you have the money to cover the amount of the mortgage you can freeze the money and self insure. If, you have no mortgage, you can choose to self insure.

RE: Ten year old roof. I would check. I think it is thirteen years old.

[Tomcram]

A thousand deaths? That is ludicrous! Last count was 4 people died.
Last count I heard was 16 plus and that is 16 too many. There are quite a few homes destroyed by tornadoes - If I lost my house and belongings I would feel like the sky was falling and if I lost a friend or LOVED one I would feel incredibly sad. Perhaps the sky is falling would not be adequate to say if one lost their house, their history and if in addition a loved one or friend. There are no words! If you have never experienced total loss / one might be prudent to not ridicule or downplay HUMAN SUFFERING - which has NO positive or upside period!

[Tomcram]

Then why read and react to it?
For many here, it [BIis[/B] their "first time on skates". No need to belittle folks with genuine concerns. With time and the grace of God, they may achieve your great knowledge and experience.
Watching another suffer or lose property is quite different than one’s own suffering or property loss.

[MichiganKid]

I agree, been here 14 yrs and played pickleball on every hurricane day in the villages, these people are great for business though.. sad, cracks me up that they will wait in a long line at the gas pumps, why..