We’ve only had our Florida condo for 8 months so far and are already facing a big hurricane … Milton.
Big Milton is currently a massive Category 5 and moving across the gulf toward Tampa. From there, the 500-mile wide storm is expected to sweep across the state, losing strength as it goes, but staying a hurricane. Its current ‘cone’ takes it right across our new place in Celebration FL, in the Orlando metro area.
Since it is inland, Orlando has a significant buffer against the worst of these storms compared to coastal areas. Only 12 named hurricanes have passed through Orlando since 1851, according to the NWS. It looks most of these had subsided to category 1 before reaching Orlando – with Charley (the first of 3 hurricanes in 2004) being the strongest, according to locals.
Our condo building is rated for a Category 2 hurricane and is in the process of being strengthened to withstand a Category 3. Our unit is on the North East corner of the complex, which should be good for Milton’s track – but our windows are flimsy single-pane glass.
Folks that were around for Charley are saying that Celebration fared much better than the rest of Orlando – since our buildings are newer, power lines are underground, and we are surrounded by swamps that can suck up the rain. Some locals say Celebration is a good town to evacuate to.
Still, although the risk isn’t what it is on the coast, I’ll be nervous to see what happens. We’re heading down there in a couple weeks, but maybe we’ll need to go down earlier? Our friends on the gulf coast are really nervous. Particularly those who just got hit with the “dirty side” of Hurricane Helene.
It seems that every area of the country has some wicked weather calamity. In our home state of MN, it’s bitter winter weather and tornadoes. Still, being on a hurricane watch is going to take some getting used to.
What is your local weather / disaster risk?
Image: NBC
MrFireStation 
Interesting that having power lines underground protects from hurricane damage. The church my wife and I were married in burned down due to power lines touching trees in Malibu. In March 1976, many areas of Wisconsin were without power for three days (including the Dells) because of ice on power lines and trees. Wisconsin soon after starting putting as many of the power lines as possible underground.
I had a fire move through the Santa Monica Mountains in 1993 and was stopped from getting back to my house (before I learned the Dukes of Hazard roads to avoid roadblocks). I wasn’t sure if my house survived, but when I called my home, my old school answering machine answered. This let me know my house was okay.
I bet you are checking your online devices in the condo to see if they are still responding. Our family wishes to the best in this bad situation.
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Our neighborhood in MN also has buried lines. That’s the way to do it. In Celebration, folks that have lived their for 30 years are reporting that they’ve only lost power a couple of times in all of those years. And, not during storms – just 5 minute outages on a few sunny days over he decades.
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I was thinking about you guys and your condo when I read the news. Will be eager to read the aftermath update.
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I think we’ll be alright. The latest analysis of the storm that I am seeing has it going a bit more South. Additionally, I’ve learned that our town has virtually no risk of flooding – the entire town was built 10 feet above the watershed/swamp that drains into Lake Okochobee / Everglades. Our biggest issue will probably be wind damage.
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