Hurricane Season (Atlanta, Savannah, Statesboro: insurance, hotel, house)

[julierob29]

What does everyone do when there's a hurricane coming?

I know to have stocked up on batteries, bottled water, peanut butter & crackers, toilet paper, cash, etc.

But what about work? Do people still go to work in torrential rain and flooding? Does your boss ever call and tell you to stay home? Is it like a "snow day" up North where the town closes up for the day except for the bars and gas stations?

When do you know it's time to leave? How far North do you go?

Is it even a big deal? Does Savannah even get damage from a hurricane or tropical storm?

I've lived through monsoons, earthquakes, sand storms, wild fires, flash flooding and a tornado but hurricanes and tripical storms are going to be new for me. (OMG I just read that - what natural disaster do I have left?!)

[ellie]

Usually there are days of build up on the news if a hurricane even forms in the Atlantic. If one gets close you can buy some groceries and basic supplies. The news people will tell you what kind of junk you'll need.

There will be many, many more false alarms and unnecessary evacuations than there will be actual storms. In fact, there hasn't been a real hurricane here since the 1970's.

Soooooo, take it all with a grain of salt. It's not a bad idea to have the basic stuff in case you want to take a camping trip in the fall. One of these days there will be a real hurricane and everyone will probably be caught in traffic in highway and be horribly inconvenienced.

Best plan is to be sure you have adequate insurance, including flood insurance if you're in any kind of flood zone. It's cheap if you're on high ground. You can evacuate or not. The emergency people would prefer it if you did, but a lot of people don't anymore. Ask anyone who's been here awhile about the hurricane Floyd fiasco and you'll know why most people are sick of the whole drill.

Personally, I think it's better to be staying at a relative's house in Atlanta with electricity and running water than it is staying in Savannah and playing refugee.

Oh, and if you do evacuate, call early and make reservations someplace nice where you'd like to spend a couple of days. It might take you 12 hours to go 200 miles but at least you'll have a room. Sleeping in a high school gymnasium is dreadful, I hear.

You really don't need to go farther inland than maybe Statesboro unless the storm is headed directly there.

Work? Depends on the weather.

[go falcons]

Having lived on the Georgia coast several years ago, the only advice I would add to the previous poster's response is to know alternative routes to take you out of the city other than I 16 and 95. I will never forget I 16 looking like a parking lot when the city was evacuated in the late 90's by a storm prediction.

[tigafan]

Throw a hurricane party Seriously, look up priceline.com and find a hotel room, load up the pictures, pets, kids, computers, cell phones and gas up and drive. My husband has to stay here and work

[AuburnAL]

I plan to leave. This place is too hot with AC. I've no desire to stick around with the power out and no AC.

[julierob29]

My brother lives in Atlanta, so if worse comes to worse we could go there. I asked him to help us moved but he said that they do as little as possible in August. He whined about it being hot. Whatever!!!!

[Padgett2]

,

[bgnzsavnh]

In the event that all of Chatham County is evacuated on a mandatory basis, Interstate 16 will be converted to one-way (westbound) travel

Evacuation could turn I-16 one way | savannahnow.com