As someone who was born and raised in the hurricane magnet of then U.S., I happen to know a thing or two about surviving hurricanes. Most people that have lived in the state for a few years have a basic guide to surviving these storms. Stick to this guide and you should make it through just fine.
Get supplies early.
If you live in Florida, you should always have an emergency stash of water, batteries, and canned goods somewhere in the house. It's basically a move-in present from all the neighbors. If you don't happen to have one, go out and stock up before the panic sets in. I promise you that water, gas and bread will be swept off the shelves in a matter of hours once people start freaking out. It's best to get ahead of the fear. This should also include anything to entertain you when the power goes out.
Stay updated on the storm's path.
Hurricanes are very unpredictable and their paths will change often. Make sure you check the path daily to see if you are in it's way. Investing in a weather radio will help with this, as it will alert you in case any flood, tornado, tropical storm, or hurricane warnings and watches head your way.
Listen to local law enforcement.
If you are being told that it's a good idea to get out, GET OUT! Riding out the storm may seem like fun, and it can be, but if your local law enforcement is issuing evacuations there's a good chance it's going to get much worse than you think it will. Don't ride it out, get to safety. Your life is more important than a hurricane party.
Category 3 and higher is the real deal.
Don't get me wrong, anything under a category 3 is dangerous and can cause damage. However, category 3s and higher are when panic starts to set in. These winds will rip shingles off your roof, blow trees down and send debris flying in any and every direction. During a 3 or higher STAY INSIDE.
Freak out when the Floridian's freak out... or Disney closes.
As previously mentioned, Floridians tend to know what they're doing when it comes to hurricanes. We've been through quite a few and tend to throw parties rather than freak out. However, if a Floridian starts to boards up their windows and get sandbags, you better do the same. When things get bad we take the storm seriously. If that doesn't make you nervous, maybe the fact that Disney is closed will be enough to freak you out. Especially since Disney has only closed five times, ever.
