Dune Allen and Blue Mountain also had areas that lost the beach side of the house due to being slab on grade structures and the beach washing out from underneath them. Geowickey if you are back 600 feet, that should not be a problem for you.
Questions about Hurricanes for Long Time SoWal Residents
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Dune Allen and Blue Mountain also had areas that lost the beach side of the house due to being slab on grade structures and the beach washing out from underneath them. Geowickey if you are back 600 feet, that should not be a problem for you.
I don't know if I would agree with this. We don't shoot at rescuers. I have been here through Opal, Erin, Dennis, Ivan and all inbetween. The community here has always banded together and taken care of each other. I would definitely plan to have 3-4 days of supplies on hand, but even after Opal, I didn't see people unable to get additional supplies any longer than that.
In my area, about 1200 feet from the beach in Destin. During Opal, 10 days wtih no utilities. (That was the worse). Erin, no power outtage, Ivan power outtage for 1 day everything else was up and running. Hurricane Dennis, no power for 3 days, no water for 1.
Of course, the closer you are to the eye, the worse it is going to get. I stayed during Hurricane Dennis, and it was frightening, but not as frightening as the evacuation drive.!
Eloise in 1975 basically marched up Hwy 331. I was a pre-teen; it made a believer out of me.
The primary danger is storm surge. Second danger is waterspouts and twisters. You should be okay, but as close to the beach as you are, I would not stay for a Cat 3 or higher. Just the sounds would be enough to scare me to death.
I know several hurricane "veterans" that stayed in inland areas of Pensacola for Ivan, and they ALL report that it was the scariest thing they have ever experienced. Ivan's forward speed was so slow that what would normally be an hour or maybe two during landfall turned into 12 - 15 hours of intense hurricane.
The primary danger is storm surge. Second danger is waterspouts and twisters. You should be okay, but as close to the beach as you are, I would not stay for a Cat 3 or higher. Just the sounds would be enough to scare me to death.
I know several hurricane "veterans" that stayed in inland areas of Pensacola for Ivan, and they ALL report that it was the scariest thing they have ever experienced. Ivan's forward speed was so slow that what would normally be an hour or maybe two during landfall turned into 12 - 15 hours of intense hurricane.
So what I've learned...
1. Hurricanes=scary, noisy and hard to predict.
2. A boat would be helpful in the event of storm surge.
3. Since power will be out, invest in a generator (keep it in the boat).
4. Stock up, don't forget the alcohol.
5. No standing on the dune screaming at the sky, "Bring it ON!"
last but not least...
6. Pack it up (including the contents of your fridge) and come stay with me for a few days, bring the dog.
1. Hurricanes=scary, noisy and hard to predict.
2. A boat would be helpful in the event of storm surge.
3. Since power will be out, invest in a generator (keep it in the boat).
4. Stock up, don't forget the alcohol.
5. No standing on the dune screaming at the sky, "Bring it ON!"
last but not least...
6. Pack it up (including the contents of your fridge) and come stay with me for a few days, bring the dog.
7. An electric chainsaw is useless. If you need to use it, there's a 95% chance that the power is going to be out at the time.
I remember that one.
Hunkered down in the hallway, one mattress behind us, one over the top...just in case
AAAHHHH Memories
We came over the 331 bridge the day (evening) after Ivan and there was a sailboat on the left side of the road before you start over the bridge southbound but it was not blocked. We had no power at our house in Seagrove on 30-A that evening when we rolled in, however One Seagrove Place was lit up like a Christmas tree and we spent the night in one of our condo's there. Talk about eerie, the guard, Sweetie, FFF and I were about the only ones in that big ole high rise. The following morning we went to our house in Seagrove started checking it out and the power came on, so we had power about two days later. I will post pics later, they are not on this computer.
One thing that stands out in my mind is that next day we passed Criolla's and there was a big sign out there for free food that evening. It made me well up and start crying. The fellowship we have in SoWal is incredible.
I remember I found SoWal after Dennis and some guy named Smiling JOe kept going out and checking on people's houses/property for them and giving them reports.
Actually, I stayed through the storm, and water level was too high to get out from my house for 3 days. That was the excuse I heard about the boat, why they wouldn't let people in sooner.
I was on the north side of the bay for Ivan and what we kept hearing from EOC was that the bridge needed to be checked for structural safety. Meanwhile, on Friday, I had all of my inlaws I could stand, and Squirt, I and the cats came home via 79. Got home, no phone, no electricity. No cell phone. House OK, went to Tom Thumb @ 331/98 to use pay phone to call Fuzz. Found that bridge had been opened while I was going around the long way. Went back home, sponge bath, noted that FSU had a home game the next day, grabbed game tickets and headed for Tallahassee, electricity, a warm shower, and air conditioning. 
Came back Sunday. Something to add to the list above (#8? #9?): if you are lacking a generator, and you have perishables that have already been without power for two days but they aren't too stinky yet, go ahead and suck it up, and get rid of them. Do NOT put it off for two more days.
Came back Sunday. Something to add to the list above (#8? #9?): if you are lacking a generator, and you have perishables that have already been without power for two days but they aren't too stinky yet, go ahead and suck it up, and get rid of them. Do NOT put it off for two more days.
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I'm only a 3-year SoWaller, but I've already learned this:
1-Any time there's even a remote threat of a hurricane (i.e. starting about this Thursday if Dean tracks poorly), I only accumulate 50 miles on a full tank of gas before filling up again. If there's an evacuation, gas will sell out in a heartbeat not only in SoWal, but also in an extended radius. I want a full tank to get me to either where I'm staying or filling up on my way to the old homestead in Memphis.
2-Confirm that your generator will start and run properly. During the "Great Memphis Ice Storm" of 1994, my generator wouldn't start. Our power was out for a week and I had to endure 3 days without lights (at least warm, thanks to our antique gas boiler/radiator system) while the Honda place fixed the generator.
1-Any time there's even a remote threat of a hurricane (i.e. starting about this Thursday if Dean tracks poorly), I only accumulate 50 miles on a full tank of gas before filling up again. If there's an evacuation, gas will sell out in a heartbeat not only in SoWal, but also in an extended radius. I want a full tank to get me to either where I'm staying or filling up on my way to the old homestead in Memphis.
2-Confirm that your generator will start and run properly. During the "Great Memphis Ice Storm" of 1994, my generator wouldn't start. Our power was out for a week and I had to endure 3 days without lights (at least warm, thanks to our antique gas boiler/radiator system) while the Honda place fixed the generator.
You buy your four days, and if I have some extra stores of food, I'll share. I don't believe SoWal lost its bridges in any of these storms, but if we do, I might be sharing some meals with people who didn't properly prepare. Really, what is the cost of buying an additional 5 days supply of cheap, canned food, when it could save your life, or the life of someone who lost their supply of food because their house got wiped out? You cannot plan for the perfect storm. You must prepare for the worst and hope for the best.