Amen rkkwan.

We certainly did not live in fear and dread every hurricane season, despite my husband's hotel being in a most vulnerable, evacuation zone 1 location on the water in Tampa Bay. In 8.5 years we evacuated guests twice as the threat became too real and mandatory evacuations were called for. In neither case were we actually hit. One of those times, our guests were evacuated to Orlando, but 3 hours before the storm was to hit Tampa Bay, it turned, went inland at Punta Gorda, and ended up going right over Orlando. You just plain and simply do not let them rule your lives. The odds are SO slim of one hitting during your vacation, where YOU are!! Even if one does make a near miss, it's a day's event and no more than that. They are in and out quickly. They do not hang around for days! Normally the day following the storm is beautiful, and even the humidity drops, providing a delightful day with some impressive waves, always beautiful to see.

Beware; climbing on soapbox.

Hurricanes have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Hurricane Hazel took out my family's home on Pawleys Island in the 1950s and we rebuilt. When Hurricane Hugo came through in 1989, it dumped a house ontop of our home. The storm came ashore 60 miles south of Pawleys.

We patched up and moved on.

Since then, I can't tell you how many evacuations, warnings, and storms I've been through.

What people don't understand is that hurricanes and typhoons can happen almost everywhere in the world. Heading off to Hawaii doesn't get you out of a hurricane zone.

Neither does heading to New York.

Another big thing is that hurricanes do more damage inland than they do on the immediate coast. When I say inland, I'm referring to hundreds of miles ashore.

Hurricane Hugo was still a Category 1 hurricane when it hit Charlotte, North Carolina which is 200 miles inland from where it came ashore in McClellanville, South Carolina.

Also, a direct hit from a slow moving tropical storm will do more damage than a direct hit from a fast moving hurricane. I'd much rather have an hour of 75 mph wind than eight hours of 50 mph wind.

Climbing off soapbox.

Hurricanes can occur anywhere along the Eastern Seaboard. I've been through them in New Jersey, Cape Cod and Pennsylvania....never Florida!

LoveItaly, what did you mean by <I didn't worry about their being a hurricane>

I am sure LoveItaly can speak for herself but I just took that to mean that the chances of being in a hurricane are so slim, why worry about it?

Last year ,we were suppose to go to Florida for a "long weekend" in September. Friends cancelled about one week before we departed due to a hurricane threat. We went anyway, the "warning" was cancelled and we had beautiful weather. About four weeks later Wilma came along. We went down ten days later and the weather was gorgeous once again! The good news is that the airlines are helpful if you must cancel or leave ealry if there is a strong hurrican warning.

Hi Z, first of all I wish I would learn to spell lol, obviously I meant "there" not "their".

Sunshinesue interrupted my comment correctly. I did not worry about a hurricane. Living in N CA all of my life which is "earthquake country" taught me decades ago to not worry about every potential disaster.

As I believe I have already said my experience along the Gulf Shore of FL is that the weather isn't always pleasant in September.

BTW, during this last seasons hurricane a family members house on LongBoatKey did not receive any damamge but another family members house in St.Cloud did receive severe damamge.

I hope this coming hurricane season will be mild. I would sure hate to see people have to go through what they did last season. Best regards.

GoTravel: Re Hurricane Hazel 1954. It took out the dam in my hometown in CANADA.So we moved to FLORIDA!

LOL! My point exactly!

You cannot count on being safe from a hurricane anywhere.

dkb, we live in the hurricane Katrina affected area of Louisiana. We fly out of New Orleans this Sept for a vacation out west. Last year the New Orleans airport was closed the entire month of Sept. So, as you can see, we are taking the same risks as you with our travel plans. However, since hurricane Camille in 1969, Katrina was the only hurricane to substantially limit travel in/out of New Orleans. That's pretty good odds that our travel plans during hurricane season will not be affected.

BTW, we were in the San Francisco area the last week of Sept and the first week of Oct, 1989. You cannot let fear and the unknown keep you from taking fabulous vacations. Just plan the best you can and go from there.

OMG BayouGal, y'all were in San Francisco for the earthquake of 1989?

I agree with Bayougal. Just go for it. As my husband says a bad day on vacation beats a great day at work anytime!

No, GoT, we left about a week <i>before</i> the quake, but it was quite sobering, none-the-less. You just never know, huh?!