We are back at our second floor condo in St Pete Beach. No power but the weather is gorgeous - low 70s and dry. You'd never know Milton came roaring through a bit more than 24 hours ago. We just made a drive around looking for coffee which was almost as rare as gasoline: we found one gas station open and with gas out of perhaps 100 that we drove past, and it was shutting down pumps as we topped off. At least 90% of Pinellas/St Petersburg is dark.
We had already begun planning to move inland a few miles to escape storm risk. Just waiting for the right place to come up for sale. Our timing was almost right. We're fine as we have options and have done a lot of remodel work over the years so this isn't an unknown, but still it will delay our return to Weebles and cruising by several months.
For those who eschew Florida entirely due to storm risk, I understand but in my opinion you're tossing the baby with the bathwater. The postcard parts of Florida with beach scenes are definitely red zones, but there is much more here. We also have a cabin in Colorado that has been close to a couple major fires over the years. We moved to Florida from San Francisco where there is earthquake risk. It turns out the places we enjoy being have some sort of major downside to them. I guess Minnesota or Rochester NY are predictable but cold as hell for much of the year. I find the grey days and early sunsets depressing. Death of a thousand papercuts to my tastes, but some folks like winter. As an added bonus. Florida real estate has contributed mightily to our nest egg (though right now, it has reversed course a bit).
So live a safe life free of winter sunshine with shorts and flip-flops stored for six months knowing you will not have to endure the ravages of mother nature's periodic fury (Pinellas County was last clobbered in 1921, though there's nothing saying it couldn't happen again next week......just as Milton followed Helene). Live a safe life without risk. Die knowing you stayed far from harms way.
Now.....where's my next cup of coffee????
Peter