Questions about Hurricanes for Long Time SoWal Residents

[Geo]

Hi All:

When was the last time a hurricane hit (or near missed) SoWal? How bad was the damage?

We've lived in Santa Rosa Beach (near Spooky Lane beach access) since February. I think we are about 600 feet from the beach and about 30+ feet above sea level...

Some folks we've met say that after living here for the last 20 years that the most they've had from storms is a torn soffit. And I've heard that the new building code is such that homes built after 2004 would do well if/when something comes through...

I took some comfort in this but got quite freaked out after a drive through Pensacola Beach last weekend. It was like a ghost town, roads are still being rebuilt (or not- they're closed) and I got the impression that everything there is/was rebuilt recently- is it because it was recently wiped out???

Of all the buildings near my house, I would love to know which ones have been through a storm and what the outcome was. Can't tell the age of most of them...

Would love to hear some personal experiences from folks in the area who have experienced it- I guess the good, bad and ugly just so I know realistically what to expect...

Been worried a lot lately. Don't know if I should be as much as I am or if I have been seeing too many weather channel segments.


I know the same thing happened to me after watching Shark Week recently!



Cheers, GW

 

[savvytangerine]

Well - I've lived here my entire life and been really lucky. So far the only things lost have been trees, part of a fence, and torn bit of siding.

Having said that, know that the main damage from most storms is storm surge/water damage.

I remember having a teacher one year freaking out because a leavel one/tropical storm was coming our way. Meanwhile I was like, "It's only a ONE!"

 

[Beachbummette]

Well - I've lived here my entire life and been really lucky. So far the only things lost have been trees, part of a fence, and torn bit of siding.

Having said that, know that the main damage from most storms is storm surge/water damage.

I remember having a teacher one year freaking out because a leavel one/tropical storm was coming our way. Meanwhile I was like, "It's only a ONE!"

yeah they are not so bad, i have stayed in our house through two tropical storms, just lots of wind and rain. heck, fff and i think it's a great time to go out and look at property, you will know what property floods! just ask bobby j!

 

[jodiFL]

These were taken during Dennis. I think it was the last one that reached a 2 (maybe?) We had absolutely no damage (off Bay Dr.) but the beach got eroded really bad.The walkover in the first pic is where the water is rushing out of Western Lake in the second. The first one was taken at landfall and the second about 2-3 hours later.

 

[jodiFL]

Found a few more.... First pic is at my house off Bay drive during the height of Dennis and the second is at Grayton the day after.

 

[florida girl]

I've been through quite a few, Eloise was probably the worst, we got a direct hit. Huge trees down everywhere. Opal was miserable, they called in the Miami riot police who were harassing everyone as though we didn't have enough to do. Hwy 98 from Destin East Pass bridge was gone for quite a distance. Ivan was bad, a sailboat got stranded in the middle of 331 causeway and caused a blockage for 3 days. No one could get through. Water stayed up for 3 days. We didn't have power for about 5 days with Eloise, 3 days for Ivan. During Ivan, we were surrounded by water fro 3 days, had to use a boat to get out.

By the way, the photo on the right is the Officer's Club on the Island after Ivan.

 

[sandflea]

Im a lifelong local and my bro used to work for NOAA...so I hope I can convey this as well as my bro did. I also preface this to say that I am somewhat of a thrill seeker so take this as you will.

I took my dad out of here (Destin proper) or Opal and we swore we wouldnt do it again. My mother (FWB) stayed. She's at 35' and we were at 30' above sea level. Getting back into town was hell but we did it and checked on our homes.

Ivan was like a horror movie-you're cooped up somewhere, boarded up, can't see anything and hearing AAAALLLLL kinds of noises outside....whats that...whats that....whats THAT!!! I live in a townhouse neighborhood. We were fine but spent the day after pulling valuables out of my neighbors homes across the parking lot. We had 2 twisters comes thru. Good community spirit tho- everyone pooled their perishables and we had community cookouts. Slept on our balconies (no AC). The untouched shared their showers.

Dennis was more hype- I actually had family members calling crying and saying 'goodbye'. Actually, lots of wind and rain- other than that- we were fine. I will admit- I went to bed the night before and it was a Cat 1, got up the next AM and it was a Cat4...I actually puked from the fear. We had my dad's screen door open the whole time...no worries.

There is no doubt that ANY storm will wreak havoc on the beach- as far as structures...I think it all depends on how you prepare for it. If you are in a low lying area, get out.

However, a lot of ppl here have been thru so many, incurred so much debt leaving town and so afraid of looting that they've decided to stay.

In the end- I guess it's all in what you are prepared to bear. I've got a ton of pix...but too lazy to post, right now anyway

DISCLAIMER - Be prepared to sustain yourself for 4(FOUR) days before help can arrive. This was always the case even BEFORE Katrina)

 

[Smiling JOe]

DISCLAIMER - Be prepared to sustain yourself for 4(FOUR) days before help can arrive. This was always the case even BEFORE Katrina)

Considering how slow they were at getting people out of NOLA after Katrina, I'd plan for more days to get out of SoWal. Help might get here in four days, but they may not be able to assist everyone in need at that time.

 

[sandflea]

NOLA Floods weren't actually caused by the hurricane- had the levees held, they'd have been ok-A LOT of ppl would have been ok. My cousins were caught up in that whole thing.

Actually- govt aid (food and water) was here for us (Destin)within 2 days...if that. It certainly depends on the conditions for them trying to get back in

The thing is- you're warned to get out(via TV, radio,etc) - if you don't you are taking your life in your own hands after that.

 

[sandflea]

Additionally...the slow response to the ppl in NOLA was caused by the shooting at help officers in the area...does everyone forget THAT