I'm from Panama City originally, moved away, but moved back when I was 8 in 1995. Hurricane Opal was the first hurricane I'd ever been in, and for some reason I was so completely fascinated with it. I would stand outside for an hour under an awning and just watch the clouds speed by. Even to this day I still try to go outside for a little bit and just watch all the action.
The last hurricane I remember to actually freak me out was Hurricane Ivan back in 2004. That one spawned tornadoes a few blocks from my house and knocked the power out for about 3 days. "Thirty-two more deaths in the United States were indirectly attributed to Ivan. Tornadoes spawned by Ivan struck communities along concentric arcs on the leading edge of the storm.
[18] In Florida,
Blountstown,
Marianna, and
Panama City Beach suffered three of the most devastating tornadoes. A Panama City Beach news station was nearly hit by an
F2 tornado during the storm." It also wiped the I-10 bridge out in Pensacola. I am terrified of tornadoes. I was at lunch at Kappa today and I was amazed at how the girls from up north and out west were absolutely terrified of hurricanes, but don't bat an eyelash at tornadoes. I mean, I can swim great; flying...not so much.
Fay really did a number on the Tallahassee area. Many places were completely flooded and trees were down all over the place. I don't think this area could handle ANY more rain, especially from Gustav. I'm going home this weekend so hopefully Gustav doesn't change his path and stays far, far away!!