Hey South

What do I do when a hurricane hits?
Well, it’ll be aCat 1 when it hits so you’ll have minor-moderate bursts of wind sheer and heavy rain. Be stocked up in 48 hours of non-perishable foods, have batteries, clean/drinking water, and beer, and you’ll be fine. Outdoors, secure any at-risk wind items…umbrellas, tents, chimes, etc, button things down, have candles and matches and a radio and have fun. A cat 1 is an excuse for a party.
 
With a Cat 1 storm, your biggest worry (if you live on or very close to the coast) would be storm surge and that can be a bitch even with a "weak" hurricane. Hopefully, for you, you live in an elevated enough area to avoid that and/or the flash flooding from all the rain. Besides what @Toadman005 mentioned (although your local groceries shelves are probably bare as hell of bread, milk, water and stuff like that by now.....and maybe toilet paper too lol) have an idea of the best place in your house to be in case of tornadoes. Hurricanes bring tornadoes. If you have an emergency generator, that's a big plus but if you don't, good luck finding one now...... Just be ready for power outages (which you live in Cali, so that's not an uncommon thing anyway) and maybe make sure your propane or charcoal for the grill is enough to last you for a few days to a week or so. Get some ice and keep it in the freezer so you'll have it in case you lose power and have to use coolers. That's all I can think of right now.
 
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Sounds good. Maybe reinforce (if time allows) fats weak, otherwise I think you’re in solid shape.
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With a Cat 1 storm, your biggest worry (if you live on or very close to the coast) would be storm surge and that can be a bitch even with a "weak" hurricane. Hopefully, for you, you live in an elevated enough area to avoid that and/or the flash flooding from all the rain. Besides what @Toadman005 mentioned (although your local groceries shelves are probably bare as hell of bread, milk, water and stuff like that by now.....and maybe toilet paper too lol) have an idea of the best place in your house to be in case of tornadoes. Hurricanes bring tornadoes. If you have an emergency generator, that's a big plus but if you don't, good luck finding one now...... Just be ready for power outages (which you live in Cali, so that's not an uncommon thing anyway) and maybe make sure your propane or charcoal for the grill is enough to last you for a few days to a week or so. Get some ice and keep it in the freezer so you'll have it in case you lose power and have to use coolers. That's all I can think of right now.
You’re right, didn’t consider coastal living. Jesus, it’s hard to wrap my mind round a cali Cane, much less her tornado offspring. Thank you for providing what my dumb ass left out.
 
If you have an EV put it on fast charge, Now!! Lotsa rain coming, check for mudslide risk, either you, or anyone possibly uphill of you. Check for location of nearest emergency shelter, just in case.

The wind in AG's video is about right for Cat 1 (75mph +) be careful of flying debris (roofing, plywood, mailboxes, etc.). A couple of years ago a woman was fatally impaled by a beach umbrella with just oceanfront breezes.

Likely will have some flash flooding, rain falling faster than terrain can drain away. With a Cat 1, you shouldn't have to worry much about the wind if you're 30-50 miles away from the eye. If you're at some elevation it could be worse (without any terrain to slow the wind). If the eye is hitting you direct, you might want to tape any large panes of glass in case of flying debris.
 
Bottom line, please don’t be scared. Vigilant sure, prepared as best ya can, but, you’ll be okay - y’all fellow southern reds back me up here.

Feel awkward.
Yep, we worry about spawned tornados in the leading non-eye storms, and not the eye unless it's directly at you. With the mountains in it's path the eye will fall apart relatively quickly.
 
Yep, we worry about spawned tornados in the leading non-eye storms, and not the eye unless it's directly at you. With the mountains in it's path the eye will fall apart relatively quickly.
It’s interesting seeing differences. On a gulf coastal trajectory we fear storm surge but tornados never factor in.
 
Our storm surges are directly against the natural prevailing wind (from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach). And the coast ramps up fairly quickly in most places (but still flat overall). The ACE basin near Charleston is the only large area of lowlands inland from the coast.

The gulf coast I've seen (mainly Mobile to Texas) seems lower and flatter for further inland in comparison. SC and NC coast steadily rises to the Appalachian mountains. Our hurricanes typically hit the coast on their NW quadrant, as opposed to gulf coast hurricanes hitting typically half NW, half NE (worst quadrant).

The last head on mega hurricane was Hugo in 1989. Was Cat 4 until it dropped to Cat 3 at landfall above Charleston at 135mph but was massive. The eye hit Charlotte at 100mph winds.
 
Yep, we worry about spawned tornados in the leading non-eye storms, and not the eye unless it's directly at you. With the mountains in it's path the eye will fall apart relatively quickly.

Last pic I saw stamped at 6:30-ish PST, it looked like the eye was already falling apart. It's gonna be windy, but the rain seems to be the biggest issue they're gonna be facing.
 
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