Just in case anyone is not familiar with what hurricanes are capable of; moving inland, but failing to move to higher ground could be a mistake. Along some parts of the gulf coast, in order to avoid dangerous storm surge flooding, you might need to move more than 30 miles inland,depending upon the expected height of the storm surge and your exact location. Along other sections of the Gulf coast moving inland only 5 miles might be all that is needed to escape the surge, unless of course, you move that far inland, but seek safety in a river flood plain. Needless to say, don't do that !
Finally, those of you out there who have never experienced a hurricane; if it so happens that you are near the coast, but situated at an elevation that is say 50 or more feet above sea level, and are in a well constructed building, depending upon the strength of the incoming storm, you might be wise to consider just hunkering down and sheltering in place. That said, if you have a cat 4 or 5 storm heading in your direction, and you are 10 miles or less from the coast, even if you are well above any known storm surge zone, and even if you are in a well constructed shelter, DO NOT stay put and attempt to ride such a storm out ! If you do,even if you come through the storm unscathed, you are likely to find yourself living in what is very similar to a war zone, or more accurately a blast zone, within a war zone, within a third world country ! Your predicament will not improve in just a few days either, and in fact, it might be a week or more before recovery for an area hit by a cat 4 or 5 storm even begins.
Stay safe folks. |