Are all Florida cities susceptible to hurricanes, even Central Florida?

Question

were you affected by one and what city in FL do you live in? i am contemplating a move there

Answer 1

I live in Kissimmee, near Disney World, in Central Florida. Three of the 2004 hurricanes criss-crossed practically in my backyard, and we were sideswiped by Wilma in 2005. We also get tropical storms, such as Ernesto last year.

I recommend you live in a place with concrete walls, built sometime after 1994 (new building codes went into effect then after Hurricane Andrew destroyed Homestead, FL), prepare yourself with window protection of some kind, and just be ready in case a storm comes. They don't come THAT often; last year we had nothing more than a tropical storm, which is a rough ride but nothing to worry too much about if you're prepared. I'm from Jersey originally, and I'll take hurricane season over WINTER weather any day. The worst months of hurricane season are late August through early October, although the season actually runs from June 1 to Nov 30.

Answer 2

I'm not a meteorologist, however, I do know that hurricanes develop over water and when they hit land, they begin to lose strength. The futhther away they travel from the ocean, the weaker and weaker they get.

However, what you are asking would depend on how much strength of the particular hurricane in question. Just like a car and a semi traveling at the same rate of speed on the freeway, if they both lost their brakes at the same time, if there was nothing in their way, the semi would keep rolling along much further than the car, simply because it is heavier and had built up more momentum than the smaller car.

Same with a hurricane. A big one that has had time to build up a lot of strength before hitting any coastal area in Florida could have the potential to hit anywhere in Florida, as no part of the state is really all that far, relatively from the Ocean (I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale). so, yes I would say that all Florida cities are at least susceptible to hurricanes. But, the farther you are ie: Central Florida, away from the ocean, the less likely the city would have of being hit if the hurricane had not built up enough strength to continue to move through the state.

Make some kind of sense?

Besides, the weather has been wierd lately, tornados where they don't normally go, hurricanes where they don't normally go, there was an earthquake in Oklahoma recently, but no tornados for the last couple of years. I would count on anything if I were you.

Answer 3

I have lived in Florida for over 18 years and during that time I was always told that since we lived in Central Florida, we were so far inland for any hurricane damage and we were lucky to not see the damages of a hurricane. The year 2004 changed that for me. My home was hit and damaged by all three hurricanes. Since 2004, we have not had any furthur hurricane come through but only time can tell. Most of Florida is surrounded by sometype of body of water so really no city is protected from a hurricane. But is any town ever protected from the elements of mother nature.

Answer 4

Yes, all cities are susceptible to hurricanes, since we are surrounded on three sides by water, and the peninsula (land mass) is narrow. It takes about 3-4 hours for a hurricane to traverse across Florida.
Work in Emergency Management at a VA hospital in Florida, so if there is anything out in the water within 5 days, yes, I am affected.
Live in St. Petersburg area.

Answer 5

Well . . . .yes and especially Central Florida. Yes affected by one, I live in Orlando and no do not move here stay where ever you are go someplace else, I finally have a great job but it took 3 1/2 yrs to find it. The locals are rude, I'm from NYC, and the locals thought that they would be rude with me and I was suppose to take it (because here people generally accept that, they are very complacent) when I didn't they said I was rude. You explain how they were rude and they say that I was suppose to accept that. BULLSH!T, I'm from the land of DON'T START NONE WON'T BE NONE! But seriously real estate is extremely high like a house that is really worth only 180k they are trying to sell for 300k and it will need at 75k in renovations. They don't pay well, don't give benefits. This place is awful and the school system, don't even get me started. . . .

Answer 6

Well I'm not a meteorologist,but most of us know that the hurricanes come towards the east coast of our country from the Atlantic Ocean,and all coastal states that are located there are at risk. Added to the fact that Florida is an east coast state,and in addition is almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic ocean,save the most northern part of Florida,like Jacksonville Fla,and in addition, nearly the whole state is sticking right out into the ocean,like saying here come and get me. So yes I would think just by it's geographical location in the line of storms heading in from the Atlantic ocean,that most of Florida,would be susceptible to hurricanes. Severity would depend upon the strength of the storm when it hits the coast.

Answer 7

The hurricanes that actually hit here are rarely destuctive. I'm 22 and was born here in Daytona Beach, FL. The worst hurricane I saw here was Charley that hit 8/13/04. We had a tree crack and some shingles flew off. As long as you board your windows and don't have old dying trees over your house and be prepared and you'll be fine. And again, rarely do we get major hurricanes thats why Charly took such a toll on everyone because no one was actually prepared.

Answer 8

First of all, if you are thinking about moving here, I have one word for you...DON'T !
I moved here to the Orlando area in 2004, and was greeted by (4), count'em...four hurricanes, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

So, even though central Florida doesn't receive the full brunt of the storms, I know of a colleague who suffered $15,000 worth of hurricane damage to his house in 2004, and he lives about 20 miles from Orlando.

More recently, Dec. 25, 2006, to be exact, the Daytona Beach area was struck by an F2 tornado.

Answer 9

my family lives in Florida, they live in bartow it is between Orlando, and Tampa,,,, the three from 2004 crossed there front yard,, they had all three of the eyes cross over the house, every part of Florida, or state that has a coast line is susceptible to a hurricane, even some in land states are depending upon the strength and direction of the storm.

Answer 10

Since Fl is surrounded by water on both sides, any part of the state is likely to be affected by any major hurricane.