An angry giant has been spotted 300 miles from your city. The greatest military force in the world cannot stop him, the best negotiators cannot persuade him to turn around, and your home is no match for his strength. Once he arrives, everything you and your neighbors own will be reduced to rubble. Utilities such as electrical power and phone service will be shut off for days or possibly weeks. The giant will contaminate the local water supply as he leaves. Your friends and relatives in other cities may not even know if you are alive and safe.
There is a chance the giant will lose some of his strength as he travels. He may suddenly decide to destroy another city instead. The giant might not be quite as angry when he finally reaches your city, sparing your life and property. But there's no way to know for sure. You could stay and protect yourself against the giant, or you may join your neighbors in a massive evacuation to a shelter further away. Make the wrong decision and you may find yourself at the mercy of a very angry and destructive giant.
This is what it's like to be in the path of a major hurricane. Meteorologists can pinpoint the location of a growing tropical storm and estimate its time of arrival on shore, but they cannot guarantee the precise path a hurricane will take. Residents of every city in the path of a hurricane must make life-altering decisions in a matter of a few days. Some choose to remain in their homes, especially if the hurricane is not expected to strengthen above a category 2. Others make plans to evacuate inland or spend several nights in an approved storm shelter in their hometown. In the case of a major hurricane such as Ivan in 1994, millions of people may be ordered to evacuate. Those who remain must sign release forms and the names of their next-of-kin.
The first day of a hurricane warning usually means taking inventory of your property and deciding if you should stay in your home or evacuate. Those who choose to stay often visit the local building supply store for plywood, batteries, electrical generators and flashlights. Plywood is used to board windows, which prevents dangerous debris from smashing into the building and broken glass from becoming missiles. Since power may be off for several days, residents may use temporary gas-powered generators to keep perishable food cold and essential appliances operational. Gas stations may lose power as well, so residents who choose to stay will top off their gas tanks and fill storage canisters for the generators.
If a resident chooses to evacuate, the first day may involve packing extra clothing and personal items. Windows may be boarded up and animals taken to protective shelters. Since hotels and other private housing options fill up quickly during hurricane warnings, residents may have to make many phone calls and internet searches to find available rooms inland. It is not unusual to drive several hundred miles before finding suitable housing out of the path of a major hurricane. Public shelters may also open up for evacuees. These shelters may only provide basic cots for sleeping and a dormitory atmosphere, but they are usually operated by respected rescue organization or local military units.
The day before the estimated arrival of a hurricane can mean hours spent listening to the latest weather forecasts. A favorable report such as a sudden change in direction or strength may cause some residents to change their minds about evacuation. A forecast involving a surge in the hurricane's intensity, however, can cause others to change their minds about staying home. Supplies can still be stored in the basement or storm shelter and windows can remain boarded, but evacuation may become a necessity, not a choice.
For those who decide to evacuate, getting out of town may be more difficult than anticipated. Traffic on the main arteries may be backed up for many miles. Sometimes the local government may turn inbound traffic lanes into one-way outbound evacuation routes. It is never easy to force thousands of residents to move out of a city, so evacuees must plan on delays and heightened emotions among fellow travelers.
Those who decide to stay may find themselves in a ghost town with little to no services available. Some restaurants and hotels may stay open to accommodate the reporters and producers who have been assigned to cover the impending hurricane. Police may keep a skeleton crew available for emergencies, but curfews may be issued to reduce the risk of looting abandoned stores and homes. The few hours before a hurricane's arrival can be nerve-wracking as media reports of earlier damage begin to air. Residents who remain in their homes during a hurricane may begin to hear the sounds of rising winds and pelting rain.
A hurricane's force almost defies description. The winds shear off huge sections of shingles and other loosened building materials. Rain falls in sheets, which are often blown sideways and feel like tiny needles attacking your exposed skin. The noise level is unbelievably high. Unlike a tornado, a hurricane does not come and go in a few minutes. The wind and rain continue for several hours without ceasing. The streets are completely flooded and entire neighborhoods are flattened. Only after hours of uncertainty is it even safe to consider coming out of hiding. Now comes the difficult time of cleanup and salvage.
For those who managed to evacuate, returning home after the storm may not be an option. Local law enforcement may turn residents away before they can even enter the city limits. Calling a neighbor who stayed during the storm is often impossible- cell phone towers and landline phone services may be out for days. Even if the city does allow residents to return, the area may be flooded or filled with dangerous debris. A major hurricane may continue to cause damage inland until it has completely run out of energy. As residents of one city are salvaging their property and evaluating the damage, another city still in the path of the hurricane may be bracing for impact.
Hurricanes have been known to regenerate over water and cause even more damage to the areas they first hit. Being in the path of a hurricane means preparing for anything, including a second round of evacuations or another hurricane following the same path as the first one. Sometimes the areas assigned for evacuees become the next targets themselves. Residents in Florida in 1994 were advised to relocate in the Orlando area for safety, but the hurricane took a sudden turn towards Central Florida, including Orlando. There are never any guarantees when it comes to being in the path of a major hurricane.
