Kangaroo Kronicles 23 – Hurricane Irene

By

“Uncle Zally” / Stu Silver

__________________________________

Last week I wrote about Ruby. This week I am going to write about another crazy lady, Irene … the Hurricane, that is.

When it comes to hurricanes, people “flip out” over the idea of living in a mobile home, and I thought I would set the record straight with some rational explanations. I do not mean to stop people from flipping out. It is everyone’s right to flip out when they want to, but hopefully some can choose other more irrational topics to flip out over, like terrorism or war, after reading this.

First, my family has lived in Florida for 25 years, and we experienced hundreds of named storms that threatened us, perhaps a hundred of which became hurricanes. A storm is named when it reaches tropical storm strength with winds of 39 mph, and it becomes a hurricane when its wind speed reaches 74 mph, the beginning threshold of a category 1.

My son says all the mobile homes in Florida are field tested to a category 1 Hurricane. How is this possible? Because they were driven down the highway at speeds of 75 mph or greater when they were delivered.

Let me give you the categories of hurricanes briefly:

Category 1- Winds 74-95 mph, storm surge 4-5 ft above normal.

Category 2- Winds 96-110 mph, storm surge 6-8 ft above normal.

Category 3-Winds 111-130 mph, storm surge 9-12 ft above normal

Category 4-Winds 131-155 mph, storm surge 13-18 ft above normal

Category 5-Winds greater 155 mph, storm surge > 18 ft above normal

I personally experienced a category 4 storm, Hurricane Charlie, in 2004. Charlie was a powerful, quick little runt. I never saw a Hurricane go so fast from a category 2, to a 3, to a 4 in so short a time, probably within a few hours, and change direction with hard 90 degree turns during the same short time span, where it went from going due north away from us, to heading due west and clobbering us, to heading due north again, and sparing us (but clobbering Port Charlotte.)

I also witnessed a category 3 the following year, Hurricane Wilma, which was a slow, huge monster, and did much more damage, though lower in category.

That’s when I learned it isn’t just wind speed that matters, but how fast the hurricane is traveling along the earth from city to city, and how wide its reach is – unless the eye of the storm is bearing down right on top of you. Then you are going to experience the worst of whatever can happen.

What about mobile homes and hurricanes? Basically, any mobile home built after 1993 is built to a wind zone 2 standard, which means it is able to take a category 2 hurricane with winds up to 110 mph, provided it is tied down correctly. Before 1993, a mobile home was only built to wind zone 1 standard, to withstand a category 1 hurricane, with winds up to 95 mph.

In 1993, an additional standard, wind zone 3, was added for mobile homes that were placed in coastal areas prone to hurricanes. This means the home will withstand a category 3 hurricane with winds up to 130 mph. Also in 1993, the state of Florida changed the standard for ALL new homes – they had to withstand a category 3 hurricane. So in the state of Florida, the Hurricane Playground of the World (and also the Lightning Capital, by the way, because we get God’s most powerful ideas) a wind zone 3 mobile home offers the same safety as any new home built after 1993.

Yeah, I know, you’re wondering what if you live in a regular home built before 1993, or a mobile home built before 1993, and a category 3 storm is heading your way? Answer – get out of Dodge!

But what if a category 2 storm is heading your way, and you’re living in mobile home or a regular home that may only be a wind zone 1? It’s a judgment call, or even a roll of the dice. However, in my opinion, after personally experiencing Cat 2’s, Cat 3’s, and Cat 4’s, it’s best to get the hell out of there, and head for safer ground, if you can. In fact, last year, part of the reason I bought a mobile home park in Ocala, Florida was so my family would have a safe place to hang out, since we live in Fort Myers, which is close to the Gulf of Mexico, with muchos Hurricanos. (Those reading my blog can come and be our guests in one of our cabins or RV spaces, should the need arise. Just show this blog at the door.)

Now those of you that live in the Midwest and Texas, don’t get to feelin’ all cozy and warm when you look at our hurricanes. You get tornados, and they are a real thrill.

I think I would rather live in a hurricane prone area than a tornado prone area, because the tracking and early warning systems for a tornado are gut wrenching and in some cases, a matter of minutes. At least we get lots of warning, along with lots of sunshine, here in Florida.

 

And if you live in an area where tornados and hurricanes won’t get you, then earthquakes and tsunamis will.

And if you still are feeling safe and secure, ask the folks in Japan and Russia about nuclear power plant accidents, that were supposed to be impossible.

A really good question to ask is: Is there any place safe from Mother Nature’s wrath, or God just wanting to flex His muscles and show off some of His skills? Probably not.

 

I think the best quote about handling these life questions was given by Ernest Hemingway, when he said:

“Living well is the best revenge.”

Cheers, mate!

** Dedicated to T.F., D.F., and Y.F. with love

 

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