Why is Florida never prepared for hurricanes?

[Artandco]

Florida seems to be an area most prone to being in the path of hurricanes every hurricane season.

Yet every news story each September/ October seems to show panic buying of generators, water and batteries storage and cleared off the shelves and panic buying of food. Don't most people who live there think they should have a three day food and water supply, and a battery and torch before September?

I'm not talking mass prepping for the apocalypse here, and I know space can be limited, but just a small box with basics and some water surely would help the entire area every year?

[cozietoesie]

Like why do people continue to buy sea front property in Seattle? It's a mystery to me.

I guess they just assume either that nothing will happen to them or that THEY will deal with any problems.

[atticusclaw2]

I think most people who live there are very used to it and very prepared. but they have thousands of visitors coming into the area every single day. Those visitors are not prepared.

Disney warnings have just started to go out to visitors to be prepared to spend a couple of days indoors with food, water, etc and possibly no power. Most holidaymakers won't have packed for such situations. We go there a lot and I'm a regular on the prepping boards (under various names). I wouldn't have anything with me that could be vaguely useful other than a pack of top trumps to relieve the boredom.

[cozietoesie]

Fair points, atticus.

[Artandco]

Yes I acknowledge tourists, but there still seems a vast amount on interviews saying they are off to buy board to cover the windows for example, show you their huge house, and say they have lived there 40 years! Why race to buy board the day before a storms due when in those size homes they could buy in say April and keep stored safely until needed

Most tourists will also be in hotels in general, so the hotels will have provisions in. Those in holiday houses, surely the owner renting should also keep a 3 day emergency supply there for guests? So any guests happening to stay have at least a torch, some granola bars and clean water?

[cozietoesie]

It's actually a very topical thread. There's apparently an active evacuation decree in South Carolina covering an estimated 1.1 million people.

[SenecaFalls]

Most people are prepared, but we always need to top up supplies whenever there is a new one. Plus there are always new residents in Florida who have never experienced a hurricane.

This is my eighth, but the first of this magnitude. We are getting ready to evacuate. First time we have done that in years. Luckily we have family up in Georgia we can go to.

[cozietoesie]

The best of luck, Seneca.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

All the very best Seneca.

[SenecaFalls]

Thanks, y'all!

[BizzyFizzy]

Any given place will only the full brunt of a hurricane every 10 years or so. Florida is a big state.

[Artandco]

Yes it seems bigger than usual this year, I hope everyone stays safe wherever they are.

But again, I assume the other years smaller and not evacuation is more likely, so basic provisions seem essential.

[Titsywoo]

Oh dear my brother and his girlfriend are there at the moment and due to fly home Friday. Didn't realise it was going to hit Florida.

[cozietoesie]

Let us know how things go with you and yours, Seneca, if you can access the net.

[NotCitrus]

Fast growing population, lots of skint people. Do you spend your last $100 on repairing your car to get to work, or on some boards and a generator that you may not need in the next 10 years?

[atticusclaw2]

They might not be flying on Friday Titsy defending on the path the hurricane takes.

[BitOutOfPractice]

I was in the Keys four years ago as hurricane Isaac approached.

There was no panic or panic buying as far as I could see. People fell into two camps. Either people leaving or staying and partying hard. I fell into the latter.

[SenecaFalls]

We are heading back home tomorrow. Our area was spared the worst. Neighbors who are home already report that our house is fine and we have electricity.

Thanks for everyone's good wishes.

[Hulababy]

This hurricane was expected to be much worse in Florida then it actually was when it. Florida hasn't had a direct hit for a while - 11 years. They had one in 2005, and 4 in 2005 - 4 within a short space of time.

We were over there for Charley in 2004.

The theme parks have only closed 4 times before in Florida. This being the first time in over a decade. So, although it is hurricane season, it isn't actually that common occurrence.

[cozietoesie]

I'm glad you were OK, Seneca. I was thinking about you all.

[BitOutOfPractice]

What amazes me is that they built the launch site for their whole space programme in a hurricane area

[cozietoesie]

I have a feeling that there's a 'diminished risk' north of Miami. But Yes. I can only assume that they weighed all the various factors in - larded with a good dollop of 'It won't happen to us' - before they decided to develop the site.

[cozietoesie]

Sorry - and of course, there's the fact that it started life being a military site on flat land which, to my recall, just 'Grow'd like Topsy' with some interesting wrinkles in the ........relationships between all parties involved.

There seems to be some disinclination to believe that buildings or other human constructs might be affected by natural forces. I don't know what does it.