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Dr. K's avatar

Stephanie, Interesting thinking. I rode Milton out on the beachfront on Longboat Key. The description of what happened is correct, whether or not "she" is using it to promote real estate. Maximum measured wind speed (with local anemometer) was 78MPH, and that for just short periods. The press went looking everywhere to find "big damage" and could only find the fabric roof (a tarp really) that covers the Trop. Sure it was a hurricane -- felt like a Cat 1 but compared to the usual "the world is ending -- this is the big one" nonsense one always hears was a relative nothingburger. Yes, lots of power lines down, but that happens in Florida with every windstorm. They will be back up shortly.

So the real question is how the shtick relates to the real weather incident. One person's interpretation is as good as the next, I suppose. But given these facts, do you have any additional thoughts?

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Stephanie Brail - AI Coach's avatar

Not a nothingburger, how much wind you got depended on where you were. I watched the streams all day yesterday and massive wedge tornadoes that you never see in Florida barreled through on the East Coast of Florida and wiped out a retirement community, killing multiple people (death toll 7-10 so far total that I've heard). And that was *before* landfall.

After landfall, the manufactured home community we used to have a house in (Colony Cove in Ellenton) was decimated...that house was in our family for 40 years and only had an awning blow off once decades ago. I'm wondering if it's still standing today, so I'm going through photos on Facebook to see if it shows up. Here are just a few photos from one of the Colony Cove Facebook group - many houses were destroyed. This does not include the Manatee River side that is prone to flooding.

If these people had not been under mandatory evacuation from manufactured homes in Manatee County, then the death toll probably would have been a lot higher.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/462712119_507707582045987_3868981202745968308_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=kB9vJf8ok1cQ7kNvgGZCDXf&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Ar-mBmLLJ9gS2ilQe7KtEat&oh=00_AYA2mh8RZC8LobinAlNbOxg5-NTRyyH6qO62xK_rbJz9Aw&oe=670DF73B

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/462712119_507707582045987_3868981202745968308_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=kB9vJf8ok1cQ7kNvgGZCDXf&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Ar-mBmLLJ9gS2ilQe7KtEat&oh=00_AYA2mh8RZC8LobinAlNbOxg5-NTRyyH6qO62xK_rbJz9Aw&oe=670DF73B

https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/462595802_507685422048203_3571091331461381048_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=XhJ2jk2qz_wQ7kNvgHZ-ZZ4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AZ391mx4QffNQ6_LRyXu_ds&oh=00_AYDoxvhLx2Cp_CcU8MVRsRYcVy33XTEVDQEwxU4JeJ3JeA&oe=670E035D

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/462754795_507685395381539_616715235382443475_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=fjfeWISDSosQ7kNvgHezLLI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=ACWg29yl4YyK9wUqV0Z9543&oh=00_AYBFIZTJugtapnYmMm2i_Aoiq-kWiCbNDY2psC0Mg7aDzg&oe=670E115A

You must be in a sturdy structure. We were in Ellenton a few years ago when tornadoes were rolling through and the wind got really bad - it's very different to be in a tin can home vs. concrete. Very scary.

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Dr. K's avatar

Stephanie, Was not meaning to make light of the storm. As with all strong windstorms, mobile structures are at enormous risk and should be evacuated. Similarly, homes not constructed for the knowable weather are in the same boat. I am in a solidly built concrete structure (the kind that should be on the beach on barrier islands) that has withstood every hurricane damage free for 50 years. It has many sister properties.

There was virtually no storm surge with Milton -- there was (for the first time in decades) a noticeable surge with Helene. That does make a difference as well.

But my point was that "the storm of the decade/century/millennium" as this was listed is almost always just bogus. The SJs of the world think that everyone should be evacuated for everything just in case. I am just not there. But I would always evacuate the less weather-proof homes as you suggest. (It is not clear why you would be allowed to live in a home not up to the local weather, but not my decision.) But forcing EVERYONE to evacuate (some of us just refuse to go) because there are some manufactured homes that should evacuate is what galls me.

Having said all the above, tornadoes are in a class all their own. Having been through those in various parts of the country they are scary. They are also very unpredictable (unlike the hurricane) so much more of a crapshoot there.

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