Would SoWal Be Prepared for a 4-5 Hurricane?
- Thread starter Paula
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Some thoughts and experience:
After Ivan or was it another storm, I get them mixed up, the only way to get information was SoWal. The county was useless.
Another thing don't wait for the county to tell you to evacuate. We always leave early and it has served us well, we go to Birmingham, have heard too many horror stories about spin off tornadoes in Dothan.
We were in Rayne, Louisiana, just west of Lafayette, after Katrina, the land lines there were out for a day or two, after that it was spotty, cell phones worked better. Strange thing is that from Rayne I could call Baton Rouge after a couple of days but could not call Hammond. My SIL in Baton Rouge could call my sister in Hammond, so we had a phone call relay.
Seems like water is generally the big issue with even the larger storms. With Katrina the wind had dissipated when it came ashore so it hit at a lesser number, don't remember exactly. But the storm surge had built up from a cat 5.
Specific areas affected by flooding will also depend on where the eye goes over. If the eye hits to the east flooding will be worse on the bay. If the eye moves ashore to the west the opposite will likely occur. However the beach will be impacted no matter where the storm hits. Remember Opal cut so many beach houses in half, even the concrete ones that had been there since the 50's.
My prediction is if we get a 4-5 storm surge in South Walton the biggest problem will be all the debris from the seawalls that people think will protect them.
Something I just remembered. My Mom was living in Old Metairie during Katrina, she had evacuated early thank God. But the only way to find out if she had been flooded was the Times Picayune message board and google earth. It was amazing how fast google earth had maps up. I imagine that social media will be the best source of information after a storm, its so much more sophisticated now.
After Ivan or was it another storm, I get them mixed up, the only way to get information was SoWal. The county was useless.
Another thing don't wait for the county to tell you to evacuate. We always leave early and it has served us well, we go to Birmingham, have heard too many horror stories about spin off tornadoes in Dothan.
We were in Rayne, Louisiana, just west of Lafayette, after Katrina, the land lines there were out for a day or two, after that it was spotty, cell phones worked better. Strange thing is that from Rayne I could call Baton Rouge after a couple of days but could not call Hammond. My SIL in Baton Rouge could call my sister in Hammond, so we had a phone call relay.
Seems like water is generally the big issue with even the larger storms. With Katrina the wind had dissipated when it came ashore so it hit at a lesser number, don't remember exactly. But the storm surge had built up from a cat 5.
Specific areas affected by flooding will also depend on where the eye goes over. If the eye hits to the east flooding will be worse on the bay. If the eye moves ashore to the west the opposite will likely occur. However the beach will be impacted no matter where the storm hits. Remember Opal cut so many beach houses in half, even the concrete ones that had been there since the 50's.
My prediction is if we get a 4-5 storm surge in South Walton the biggest problem will be all the debris from the seawalls that people think will protect them.
Something I just remembered. My Mom was living in Old Metairie during Katrina, she had evacuated early thank God. But the only way to find out if she had been flooded was the Times Picayune message board and google earth. It was amazing how fast google earth had maps up. I imagine that social media will be the best source of information after a storm, its so much more sophisticated now.
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My short answer - no!
I believe that due to lack of infrastructure investment and recent growth, it is now physically impossible to safely evacuate Sowal during tourist season.
I believe that due to lack of infrastructure investment and recent growth, it is now physically impossible to safely evacuate Sowal during tourist season.
Like some have mentioned, I think Ivan is the closest in terms of damage that one would see in this area. Google it and look at Navarre and Pensacola beach to see what stayed up and how far the damage went. Eloise was my first hurricane and I remember it well. My dad thought she would have been dulled by land by the time she got to us(45 minutes inland, straight line up 331n) but he got spooked and threw us in the car at the last minute. We got about five minute out and our car was picked up and set back down, perfectly, in the direction of home. We went back home and survived it, our 150 yo pecan orchard did not. Land lines worked after Ivan, but cells were out for us. And, y'all are always welcome to come inland and stay with us. 
We just bought flood insurance, 500 deductible and it's only 350 a year. Cheap.
Interesting that the meat of this thread was from the leading edge of the real estate bubble bursting. I think most of us know what to do to get ready for a storm...I have begun to wonder what the plan will be to deal with the blight if, God forbid, a Category 4 or 5 hits here and demolishes all the empty bubble era houses. What a mess!
A few tricks I learned from Katrina-
Cell phone texting seemed to work really well, even in and out of NOLA.
Solar powered garden or Christmas lights can be used for low level lighting and will not impact your battery supply.
Get cash out of the ATM way early, or withdraw an even larger amount from the lobby-Traveler's Cheques are not a bad idea if evacuating, but cash is king if electronic payment systems are disrupted (pay at the pump for gas, for example).
Best bet-leave! Better yet, leave early and for goodness sake, don't be a jerk and leave your pets behind with a big bowl of food set out for them and expect them to make it.
A few tricks I learned from Katrina-
Cell phone texting seemed to work really well, even in and out of NOLA.
Solar powered garden or Christmas lights can be used for low level lighting and will not impact your battery supply.
Get cash out of the ATM way early, or withdraw an even larger amount from the lobby-Traveler's Cheques are not a bad idea if evacuating, but cash is king if electronic payment systems are disrupted (pay at the pump for gas, for example).
Best bet-leave! Better yet, leave early and for goodness sake, don't be a jerk and leave your pets behind with a big bowl of food set out for them and expect them to make it.
I live next door to an abandoned, foreclosed, house that could be the poster boy for blight. Front porch roof is literally falling apart. I'd love to see it decimated by a Cat 4. Problem is, all the debris would be hitting my house at 160MPH. What's a poor boy to do?
AA, Walton County EOC has a county wide Hurricane drill every year that includes law enforcement, fire, ems and first responders. The EOC in the county would do a good job. Stating that, NO county is well prepared for a disaster that would result of a Cat4/5.
The "fortified" homes in Alys Beach may survive the winds, but the devastation and significant loss of life comes from the tidal surge. A Cat 4/5 could include surge of 25-30ft. Alys Beach lies low enough where that kind of surge would cause a lot of damage. Thinking that you would be safe is the same mindset that believed the Titanic was unsinkable. Bottom line...it would be prudent for everyone to vacate the area when a Cat 3 or greater is projected. AND leave early...
All excellent...I'll add one we learned from Ivan. Get a Solar Shower Bag (Bass Pro) if you want to keep taking those warm showers. side note...after it warms up from the sun, take it inside for a few hours or you will get scalding water...