Why Not To Worry About Hurricanes in Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte Florida
After nearly 17 years in southwest Florida I have experienced some of the worst storms ever recorded in history. The biggest named hurricane was Charlie and Charlie was the real deal. A category 4 with wind gusts exceeding a five.
Prior to this event, there is nothing in history to compare this storm to in southwest Florida. The general thinking prior to August 13, 2005 is that our geographic location does not lend itself to hurricanes and that the line of barrier islands in the gulf would shield us if one actually came our way and at least reduce the impact. Storms normally come from the south and go north. This is still sound logic in my book to this day and my belief is that we in southwest Florida are in one of the safest places for hurricanes.
Hurricane Charlie was devastating but of course, not nearly as bad as television conveyed. The typical modular home parks you see knocked down anywhere there is a tornedo or hurricane was largely what was depicted. The great many of us waterfront home owners suffered minimal to moderate damage or nearly none at all. Most block homes on the waterfront faired very well and even the frame built homes held up better than I expected.
To cut to the chase as my head line of why not to worry: First, hurricanes have become the media sensation around the U.S. and the spaghetti models should you where it is likely to land. These are reasonably accurate. With that in mind, when you are watching on the television and a hurricane appears to be eminent somewhere in the state you can do the following to make the event relatively stress free. First step: Secure reservations online to 3 hotels where you think the hurricane is least likely to hit. If it turns out, the storm is headed towards our area than you probably have plenty of time to get your travel plans in order and head that way. Cancel the other reservations, go to the hotel and enjoy best you can a mini-vacation. The odds of your home getting destroyed are really very small despite the TV hype. Of course, you will watching the TV during the event. BTW, hotels will allow you to bring your pets if you are running from a storm. A very comforting thought for us pet owners!
The second step: Be sure your house is secure, locked up and stuff removed from the outside. If you have hurricane shutters you can put them up. An interesting side note from my experience with Hurricane Charlie: This hurricane made an unusual right hand turn into Charlotte Harbor, something hurricanes never do (never say never, right?!). My neighborhood was named on CNN news as taking a direct hit with a 20 foot surge of water. As in all other hurricanes in the state, the media hypes things out of proportion but none-the-less bad news. In 2004 MOST homes did not have hurricane shutters……….thats most homes! Of course, things are different now and maybe 60% have hurricane protection. So, my home of course had no protection and with the hurricane coming our way I had to get creative. I pulled off the cheap luan hollow doors from all the bedrooms and baths inside (I bought an old fixer upper) and screwed and nailed them across the southern facing lanai sliders. The wind was coming in from the south. Amazingly, I saved my windows and doors and no water or wind entered the house through the sliders! Imagine cheap hollow doors protected my house but they did disappear never to be found!
The final position I take with the possibility of a hurricane is that I have insurance. Both flood and homeowners. If you decide to leave your house, take the things that are irreplaceable like photos and the like and head up the road to the hotel and make the best of it. There is never any reason to stay if the storm is getting close.
Hurricane Irma was an interesting event that spared most of Florida but certainly south of us took a beating in selective locations. Again, a little advance planning getting some hotel reservations, making sure your insurance is up to date, your vehicle is gassed up and leave with the likelihood that your home will not likely have any major damage. This is my take on hurricanes and we all have our own tolerance but what I learned in Hurricane Charlie tempered my angst.
