New to Florida
 

I've seen tornados here so far. Have any hurricanes came inland this far?

You've seen tornadoes here? I've been here for over three years and haven't seen one.

One did hit The Villages about seven or eight years ago. Then there was one about fifty years before that.

Hurricanes and tornadoes can and do happen in Florida, but they are extremely rare in this part of the state.

In fact we had a tornado in my home town of Revere Massachusetts last year and another one that ripped through central Mass a year or so before that.

It seems that there is more of a chance of getting caught in a tornado in Massachusetts than there is here.

In 2004 central Florida was hit with Frances, Charlie and Ivan. It did some damage to central Florida but nothing like the extreme damage on the coast or from Sandy in the north.

Lightning strikes are a real menace here. Do not play golf when you hear thunder. We live in the lightning capital of the U.S. here in Central Florida.

Five homes have burnt to the ground due to direct lightning strikes in the last seven years. It is wise to get a REPUTABLE person to install lightning rods on your home...and it isn't cheap.

A Tornado hit TV on Groundhog Day 2007. https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...uestion-40179/

Do I mention sinkholes or not???

The odds of your house sustaining damage from lightning is not great- about 1 in 55,000 each year. Lightning rods may not be a guarantee of no damage. I find it interesting that most of The Villages properties where I am (rec centers, mail boxes, buildings at pools) do not have lightning rods. I recommend encouraging your neighbors to install a tall palm tree ;-)

Better yet - have your neighbor install a lightning rod - I would chip in if I could

Go to Lake Sumter Landing and you will notice lightning rods on the pavilion as well as most buildings. If they were not a good idea, the Developer would not have them installed.

Like Gracie said, use a reputable dealer and installer.

There are none on the southside, that I have seen. This includes Eisenhower Rec Center, the Fire Station across from Eisenhower, Brownwood, the smaller rec centers such as Manatee, and the neighborhood pools.

Hush you mouf. I was just thinking...a lot of rain after an extended dry spell and we will have to hear how the Morses didn't explore the subterra enough.

Oh cringe.

I bet the Morses will build us all an Ark.

The wind associated with hurricanes generally drops once landfall is reached due to increased surface drag and other factors. The energy of the wind goes as the square of the wind speed so relatively small decreases in wind speed are significant. In other words, a 50 mph wind has one quarter the energy of a 100 mph wind. Being inland means we are at less risk from wind damage than coastal regions. We will also not experience storm surges. This does not mean you shouldn't be prepared as widespread damage is still possible. Tornadoes are sometimes spawned from hurricanes.

If you are looking for an informed speaker on the subject of Lightning, contact a TOTV poster who calls himself Lightning.

He doesn't sell lightning rods and doesn't promote anyone who does. He and his speaking partner have their information from the University of Florida at Gainesville and educated themselves because they were concerned about the real danger of direct lightning strikes or lateral ones...there is a third kind too.

There are many myths about lightning and lightning protection and some of you have just voiced a couple of them.

He is good and a worthwhile speaker.

The Snowbirds.