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Florida native here. They must not remember Andrew. It was not fun and games. The media plays these storms up, yes, but they really are nothing to joke about.

Florida native here. They must not remember Andrew. It was not fun and games. The media plays these storms up, yes, but they really are nothing to joke about. Even inland, as much rain as they produce, it only takes that one gust to push over a 200 year old oak and it can destroy a house. People should take these storms seriously. First responders' lives are put into jeopardy because of foolishness like that. Not trying to be all up on my soapbox here. I've just seen some stuff is all.

jsight 9y ago
The overemphasis on coastal areas is a real problem, actually. I have known people that evacuated away from the storm, only to get kicked out of the hotel as it started to flood (~100 miles inland). The whole, "everything on the coast is about to be destroyed" trope that gets blasted all over the nation doesn't help with proper risk assessment and planning.
fma 9y ago
Florida native here, too. What op is probably referring to are those who haven't been decimated yet. I've lived in Ft.lauderdale a for a while and went through Andrew. We evacuated inland. The place we evacuated to lost power, where our house didn't. Ironic, isn't it. Ft.lauderdale wasn't near the eye. It was Miami/Homestead. Anyone who has lived in Ft.lauderdale has probably not faced a damaging hurricane. Andrew was 25 years ago. I do not recall any hurricane after that that caused as much alarm. Just a few days off school.
- importantbrian 9y ago
  ^ This I live in Ft. Lauderdale and most of my friends live in Broward. In our age group even if they lived here for Andrew they probably don't remember it. I would have been 6 when it happened.
- lsaferite 9y ago
  We haven't had a major hurricane make landfall in FL in 12 years. People begin to forget the fear and seriousness in that time.
  - swasheck 9y ago
    I grew up in Orlando and my high school gym was a shelter for those displaced by Andrew. That stretches back quite a bit farther than 12 years, I know, but the image of folks living in the gym has been seared into my brain. It's part of the reason why I asked the original question.
importantbrian 9y ago
Yeah, the problem is I live in Ft. Lauderdale, so there hasn't been a truly devastating storm during the lifetime of most of the people I know. Most of my friends are around my age and I would have been 6 when Andrew came through, so even if they lived in Miami-Dade where the worst effects were they probably don't remember it.

jsight 9y ago

The overemphasis on coastal areas is a real problem, actually. I have known people that evacuated away from the storm, only to get kicked out of the hotel as it started to flood (~100 miles inland). The whole, "everything on the coast is about to be destroyed" trope that gets blasted all over the nation doesn't help with proper risk assessment and planning.

fma 9y ago

Florida native here, too. What op is probably referring to are those who haven't been decimated yet. I've lived in Ft.lauderdale a for a while and went through Andrew. We evacuated inland. The place we evacuated to lost power, where our house didn't. Ironic, isn't it. Ft.lauderdale wasn't near the eye. It was Miami/Homestead. Anyone who has lived in Ft.lauderdale has probably not faced a damaging hurricane. Andrew was 25 years ago. I do not recall any hurricane after that that caused as much alarm. Just a few days off school.

importantbrian 9y ago
^ This I live in Ft. Lauderdale and most of my friends live in Broward. In our age group even if they lived here for Andrew they probably don't remember it. I would have been 6 when it happened.
lsaferite 9y ago
We haven't had a major hurricane make landfall in FL in 12 years. People begin to forget the fear and seriousness in that time.
- swasheck 9y ago
  I grew up in Orlando and my high school gym was a shelter for those displaced by Andrew. That stretches back quite a bit farther than 12 years, I know, but the image of folks living in the gym has been seared into my brain. It's part of the reason why I asked the original question.

importantbrian 9y ago

Yeah, the problem is I live in Ft. Lauderdale, so there hasn't been a truly devastating storm during the lifetime of most of the people I know. Most of my friends are around my age and I would have been 6 when Andrew came through, so even if they lived in Miami-Dade where the worst effects were they probably don't remember it.