Do you think that the media could possibly have perpetuated the fear that what happened in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina can happen in Florida at any time. I can't begin to imagine the number of people from inside and outside of Florida or even in other countries who have decided to steer clear of Florida because they equate Katrina as a daily possibility if you choose to live in Florida.
Let me try to clarify. If you live in a house made out of sticks, and your house is 15 feet below sea level, and you are surrounded by several large bodies of water on three sides, then you may have a big problem even with a minimal hurricane. If on the other hand, you live in a house made of concrete block and stucco, and your home is on land that is above sea level, and you are not nearly completely surrounded by water you've got a pretty good shot of coming out ok. Even better, if you live in a fairly new home built to the latest wind and elevation codes required by law in Florida, you've really increased your chances of surviving the worst that nature has to offer. Naturally as in any weather related emergency, you should get out when you are told to. The good news is that running away from a hurricane is like running away from a turtle, you will have plenty of time.
I know this because I live in Punta Gorda and I survived a direct hit from category 4 Hurricane Charley in 2004 (from the safety of my friend's home in Connecticut). It looked pretty bad when I got back home, but my 1989 home was still standing and what was broke could be fixed. It took some time but you should see us now. Punta Gorda Isles looks better than ever and my home is now even stronger than ever. I don't want to downplay the danger of hurricanes just put them into perspective. We all have our weather issues wherever we live. The goal is to survive whatever nature throws at you wherever you live. All too often some in the media sensationalize weather related events to the point that they create fear. Often the story is the only association with a place that people have and they make, or don't make, their decisions based on that fear. Sadly, some people who dream of one day living in the sunshine, blue skies, and warm weather that Florida has to offer almost year round will never realize that dream based on something that they read or saw on TV.
Hey, maybe I'm a bit guilty myself. I've just used New Orleans as an example based solely on what I've seen in the media. Hmmm! Actually, I've never even been to the place. Maybe I'll go visit...
Comments(2)