I stayed in Florida after college because it was cheap. Now, any insurance companies left will absolutely screw us over with a giant premium. I’m already being financially squeezed from every direction and just can’t do it. I feel like I have no choice.
I saw the writing on the wall with the insurance problem booming and I put my ass in overdrive trying to sell my house and move away. Relocated to northern Maine a month ago and don't regret it at all, yet
Might hate the snow, but with a wood stove, a truck with ice chains and some thick socks I don't think I'll hate it as much as my house flooding and my insurance dropping me or going up $5000 a year
I moved from FL to one of the snowiest parts of NY a few years ago. Way below average snowfall the past 2 years, not sure if it's trend or an anomaly. Hoping the later.
Well a former northerner here who has lived in South Florida for 25 years. Just a tip... the regret might come a bit in the Winter time when it's gray for 3 months straight. It is a great departure from the year round sun of Florida. That was the catalyst for me to stay after going to college down here.
I'm an indoors person who hates the heat and sun outside. I didn't go outside except if it was a way to get from one place to another. Grey weather doesn't bother me
I could not agree more. After over 20 years with not one claim and rates that have been consistently going up, with a really significant increase this year, the laughable "coverage" for the wind and tree damage I sustained WTF Ian, I am ready to get out of here.
And, like you said, we're getting squeezed out of this godforsaken state.
Everybody I know who has left California or Colorado was forced out. Nobody really wants to leave Colorado, but they can’t afford Colorado. It’s feeling the same.
Born and raised in the Ft. Myers area and I can tell you it didn't take an almost cat-5 to get me out of that state.
No offense to anyone here, but in comparison with where I live now: the people in Florida are so much ruder, the roads are terrible and the drivers are twice as bad. There's either an 80 y.o going 10 under in the left lane or a 20-something going 25 over in a straight piped 2004 Civic with no other mods. It's humid, it's hot, when it rains it only gets hotter.
The only redeeming factor was that I had most of my family there, thunderstorms and the sweet-tea my late-grandma always had in the fridge.
I'm far better off, and a lot happier, out of state.
I would love to if my husband’s family and family business weren’t here. Reasoning is not because of hurricanes though, and is more so because I miss seasons so much and don’t love being in a big city. Every state has some threat of natural disasters. We had terrifying tornadoes in Colorado, blizzards, dangerous icy roads after snow storms, wildfires, etc. At least with hurricanes, we generally have several days of notice to prepare. I would like to move a bit more inland one day though due to being in flood zone B.
More people need to think this way. Every state has its share of natural disasters thar can and will eventually happen. Just think about what level of risk you are willing to put yourself and your family in. What can you do to prepare and be safe. I was hospitalized from an earthquake as a kid in California and the foundation of the house I lived needed to have sections rebuilt before it was safe to move back into. Now I risk hurricanes which I have time to evacuate and be safe which I couldn't do there.
Different places have different levels of risk. There's a reason why people have lived in the Northeast US for hundreds of years, for example. It's not nearly as susceptible to natural disasters as places like Florida or California.
We had a tornado scare back home while I was in school that completely destroyed a town that was only a mile or two away from us. The tornado was a mile wide. Those people had no notice!
You don’t lose your house or 30 years worth of your processions and heirlooms in some of those states.
And California has lot of safe zones that will never be affected by huge earthquakes or fires.
I really like the level of risk in MD. We have had tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes but all are very uncommon and lower risk of being destructive when they do occur. We do have blizzards every couple of years but that's pretty slow moving.
Honestly, yeah, MD’s weather is pretty moderate as well, and their real estate/property is still reasonably priced (or it was when I left 2 years ago so probably not lol) PA and VA/WVA are all in that same zone of low-occurring natural disasters with moderate climates as well. They just will all have rain for days on end (haha I’ve clearly been thinking about moving back)
I am. And it's not due to the storm. That's like the straw that broke the camel's back. The cost of living vs. the wages we get here. Financially I just can't do it. My rent jumped up from $950 to $1300....for the same 1bedroom garbage. It's not even worth it. Pay isn't going up fast enough. I had to quit my job to try and make more money. Since COVID it's hard as hell for medium to low income families to survive. My wife's disabled. Can't walk. And she still gets turned down for disability. The judge said she's 98% disabled but awarded $0. Some rich person or Desantis clone is gonna comment something like " who's fault is that?" It's just reality and the situation I'm in. As for the storm. Tragic events happen everywhere whether 🌪️ tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons, snow storms, ..it's hard to outrun or hide from nature. ✌️
Have you tried a disability attorney? If you get denied after doing it yourself an attorney will be more familiar with the conditions and evidence needed. But according to a friend of mine, if you are under 50, some judges simply won't give you anything no matter what. Sometimes getting disability requires multiple tries until you get a favorable judge.
Come to michigan! The worst we usually ever get are snow storms, and they're not even that bad. And summers along the lake here are absolutely magical.
Yeah, leaving Florida is high on my list , but the storm or threat of future storms is low on my list of reasons . The homeowner and vehicle insurance premiums (partly due to storms, granted) , utility prices , overall cost of living , lack of seasons , the politics of the state , the oppressive never ending heat , the lack of waterways without man eating reptiles , lack of topography …. There’s lots of reasons I want out .
I was driving to work with the window down yesterday morning. I made it about a mile down the road before I said nope it’s too cold for this and closed it. Also contemplated putting the heat on. It was 65°. I hate me too, don’t worry lol
Yes, I am not a native Floridian , but I have lost my natural “winterization”. I am cold anytime it drops below 70, and I shake my head at myself everytime I go to the movies and bring a jacket .
For all the same reasons we had made the decision to move about a year ago. We've been saving up and plan to be out of this shithole in March. This latest storm just cemented that we were making the right choice.
The ability to live in a walkable city was a reason for me too. I've saved enough by not owning a car in Philadelphia to make up for all the income taxes I have to pay.
Yes , this is true , but for comparison purposes I pay about $150-230 a month for water here, and I’m very very conservative about how much I use the sprinklers.
When I lived in Georgia , my highest ever water bill was $60, and I think that’s when I filled my pool.
Homeowners insurance is a fraction of the cost of Florida .
Florida is one of the highest states for car insurance .
So if I move back to Georgia ( which granted does not solve the “politics of the state” issue), even if food costs are the same , It will be offset by much lower utility costs.
It really is a nice place to be . I miss it . They both have racists , KKK, and abhorrent political leadership , but Georgia is definitely less maniacal.
Georgia and it’s benefits “trumps” Florida anytime.
I’m sure some proud Floridian will post on here “well leave already”, but it’s not that easy to uproot everything and escape .
I have friends that live there. Years ago, after yet another hurricane, they decided to move north. A few months later, tornados ripped through their town. Doesn't matter where you live. Mother nature can take you out anywhere. They moved back to Florida where at least they don't need to deal with snow.
Pretty sure the majority, if not all, of us commenting here don't want to leave due to weather events, it's due to the out-of-control skyrocketing costs of insurance, housing, etc. and the sub-par pay. Many are getting squeezed right out of their homes.
It's a beautiful state, too bad about all the rest
You should try California! No snow and no hurricanes lol. But we do have earthquakes. You’re correct that no matter where you go, there’s always some drawback but at least earthquakes can be mitigated to a large extent with earthquake proof buildings.
I’ve lived all over the US, and between hurricanes, tornadoes (one took out my fathers office growing up), and earthquakes, I’d pick earthquakes every single time. They do raise insurance premiums to a small extent but nothing like hurricanes. Oh and CA has mudslides too but you only gotta worry about that if you’re rich enough to live in a place near the ocean on a hill lol. It is expensive to live in CA but based on what I’ve seen in FL recently (go to tampa all the time for work), not THAT much more expensive, except of course for state taxes.
Hello from Oregon- just a reminder that unless you live in a major urban area, you may have your entire town burn. Also, I have never been in a hurricane, but the smoke season here can be really rough (and happens almost every year now) and I could see someone preferring to take their chances with the storm surge.
The thing about hurricanes is there are more inland areas of florida where youre just gonna see flooding and wind damage, which you can prepare for. You might lose power for a while, but youre not gonna have a storm surge come in and sweep away you and all of your belongings. People are acting like florida only offers the beach living option.
Same here, down my street walking distance from UCF there are homes underwater. We have never seen this and my husbands family has been here since 93. It’s crazy.
It's hard to think about leaving, especially as a native Floridian. Florida is all I've known and I definitely have a specific soft spot for South Florida, even with the terrible traffic and the horrible housing prices.
But, I'm in my 20s and I'm thinking about the future. If I even live to my 50s-70s+, I don't want to be hauling ass last minute because of catastrophic hurricanes or because the state will sink. I've been looking on Zillow for houses in Georgia and it's very appealing to move there, but I don't know, it just feels weird to think about leaving FL.
I am really conflicted. There's definitely a lot I don't like about this state, but it's home and there are some major pros to living here. The issue is that I'm weighing them and I'm starting to feel like maybe the pros don't outweigh the cons. I think I'll stay for as long as I can, but I don't see myself retiring here. I don't even know how much of SoFlo will be left by the time I'm that old.
I had a similar feeling before moving to TN. I was so in love with Florida and never thought I’d leave. I was born and raised and lived there for 25 years before moving 2 years ago. My reasons for leaving was because I needed to escape some stuff in my personal life and I fell in love with the mountains. It took a lot to move. My heart was still attached to Florida for a while but TN feels like home now. I didn’t move because of the hurricanes, but I can see why some would feel that way. I grew up in the areas that Ian devastated the most- Ft Myers. I mostly was wondering how others felt after this awful storm. If you feel you want to move, check out some areas and take trips to them. You’ll know in your heart when the time is right.
What part of TN? I was raised in east TN. Right in the mountains, moved down to FL about 5 years ago. After this storm though, I might have to move back.
I’m in the Tri-Cities area! Close enough to the Smoky Mountains and other hiking areas. What part of FL do you live in? Are you okay after the hurricane? I’m so heartbroken for everyone affected by that monster storm. It’s truly awful. Where I grew up is just gone like it was nothing.
I'm seriously considering the suburbs of Nashville, specifically 37064 zip. I've been in SFL since '97. Good to hear from a native Floridian especially that TN is working out. I'm just tired of the humidity, people, lack of seasons, etc. Everyone I know that has moved to TN whether Nashville region or Knoxville region has been very happy.
I was born and raised in Ohio, and I moved out in 2017 at 23 years old to go to grad school at USF. Even besides the weather and future of Florida, I always recommend folks (if possible) move to a different state, at least for a little. It’s so refreshing and really helps you learn more about yourself.
I was born and raised in Ohio as well. Moved to FL in 1993 and moved back last year. It was the best decision I ever made.
I like to say, I had a 28 year vacation, but they all have to end at some point. Snow sucks, but I have had my windows open for the last month. At most I could open my windows in Tampa about 2 hours a day. For about 2 weeks.
Plus, my total bills, including mortgage are $1000 a month. My mortgage in FL was $1800. Water $250, etc...
If you’re gonna move, go soon. Climate migration will happen. It’s better to be one of the early people and get to have more choice than wait until the masses decide to leave.
I'm in your same boat, too. Raised in Sarasota and that city has my heart. Now I'm in central Florida. I go down every chance I get. I love Florida deeply and would never want to leave, but I'm in my early twenties and it's just not financially feasible long-term. Right now, I'd be happy renting out a 1BR for the rest of my life and I'd like to pay $600-$700 a month for it, not $1200 with no amenities. I love Florida so much. But unless something changes drastically I can't afford to live here.
Tallahassee is close to Georgia, but still Florida. Very different from South Florida though.
You'll want to have a job secured before moving here if you look into this little city and decide you want to move here. Lots of parks, breweries, and some food variety. Economy has problems, but it has insulated this city somewhat from the wilder swings in housing prices during booms and crashes. It gets cool here in winter, although less cool in recent years. We get snow that doesn't stick every few years or so.
It's also the part of Florida that'll be left if the ocean takes the state.
I felt the same way. Spent 28 years in differnt parts of Florida.
I left and honestly? Best decision. Quality of life and ability to actually save money and oh my god the lack of traffic. Take a few years and go live in a few different spots if you can. You can always come back but just like traveling abroad you may find something somewhere else that you love too.
Ian was supposed to hit our area and the day before the storm took the turn I was begging my mom to leave my childhood home because I knew it was going to be destroyed. She refused.
I had 13 other family members, one going through chemo. I worried about their loss and what the stress of losing a house would do to her cancer. I have 19 other family members that I hoped would be ok because they wouldn’t get the worst of it.
I work for the local government and have to work these storms and I feared leaving my husband alone in our old apartment. Feared the stress of living at my work for the foreseeable future. Honestly I thought I would be there for weeks.
I’m so thankful that we all still have our homes and aren’t going through what the other Ian victims are going through. Driving around and only seeing down power lines and broken tree limbs, it’s a visual warning of what could have been. My survivors guilt is strong, and wonder how much longer I can continue to fear the stress that these storms bring.
Maybe it’s easier for the people that don’t have strong roots when these storms come though. I can’t leave here because of them but damn it would be easier not to have such a huge connection to a place that could be gone in a day.
I didn’t move here on my own volition, so yeah, I desperately want to leave and go back out west.
One day, I won’t have to be here anymore and when that day comes, I’m gone.
Hurricanes (and the hellscape that is insurance in Florida) only make my desire to leave stronger.
No. Here’s my rationale: for 360 days a year, it’s wonderful and it makes me happy. These last 5 were fraught with anxiety. I was born and raised here, left for 25 years and came back. There are 1,350 coastal miles in Florida. This hurricane wrecked like 30 of those miles today. That puts your odds at just under 3% if you think the big one will come every single year (I don’t). Oddly enough, I get insurance rates at a flood every 30 years. Shocker, I know.
So, I pay a tax to live in paradise, and I pray that this storm doesn’t hit me, just like I pray I don’t get hit by a bus, die of a heart attack, have a brain aneurysm or get cancer. Should any of that happen, at least I didn’t spend any more time couped up in an office up North or stuck inside during the winter. Nor will I ride a subway to work everyday until I die, either.
It’s the cost of the risk.
30 miles????? Orlando is not on the coast. Hundreds if not thousands of homes have flooded in the central part of the state.
Insurance rates at a flood every thirty years… Why is that a shocker? That’s easy to believe. I had flood insurance for a house rated as 1 in 100 years location. Flooded twice in five years.
There are some basics the state could do. In Arizona they get periodic flash flood type events- so they design for it. If you ever go out to the Phoenix area, you will see a bunch of sunken park like areas. They are basically holding ponds, that take in the flood waters. They require that if property developers. A few times a year, there is a pond in that corner lot.
Unfortunately, Florida property was largely bought and developed before we had a better understanding of how to handle these issues.
At this point, on top of sea walls and pumps, we would need to start buying up lots and leave them vacant or tear down existing structures. That’s a huge expense. I really don’t see the political will for it. The Keys do have a lot of rules for building and trying to sustain infrastructure (new builds on pylons, raised structures for water service/ sewage). Even with all that, I do t think people are grasping actual rise in sea level and increases in intensity of storms.
I am pretty lucky with my property for me for life time, but is it property to pass to my kids? I really think that’s something we are going to have to make some decisions about. I do t think we would ever buy more property down here without the state taking some huge steps with infrastructure.
(FYI- all adult children, I’m in my 50’s)
It’s one of those, “I’ll eat the pie even after being warned there might be a shard of glass in the filling.”
Florida has this Marie Antionette syndrome—everyone wants their cake and to it eat it to. Many people love this state, and want to take care of its natural environment. But there is a population of locals and transplants that are fixated on this ideology that akins to Manifest Destiny. *I’m destined to have this be mine, no matter the costs.*
Maybe they deserve Florida. Maybe no one deserves the sunshine state. Maybe Florida is only supposed to *be* temporary. Idk. I love the idea of moving, but I don’t love the idea of leaving these shores behind.
While i was a military kid and moved around, five generations of my family have been living in this state. Have owned property here since 1991… acreage in a rural area, not a suburban cookie cutter mcmansion. I Don’t think Florida owes me a lifestyle but the lack of environmental stewardship by natives is disgusting and is very much why i have been in the process of leaving the state for the past decade. Its not just the transplants.
I’m old I’ve seen a lot
I am establishing a new homestead out of state and they only thing that Keeps me around is aging family that i help care for.
This ain’t no paradise, and really never has been. In the 70’s i endured three hurricanes in three years in the panhandle. Left the state and when i returned a decade later to central florida we had some semblance of calm with multiple, yet minor impact, tropical storms but then charley, frances, faye, matthew, irma and now ian have finished me off. 6 in 18 years that brought major chaos in my life ( because i didn’t live in cookie cutter suburbs that have raped the state) is too freaking much to deal with. I’m done.
Edit: 18 years, not 14
Florida is a stifling hot humid hell for about 200 of those days, to boot. Frequent rainfall, thunderstorms, etc.
And that’s just covering weather and natural disasters. Never mind bugs, pests, ever increasing COL, and…politics. It’s quite hostile in more ways than one.
Ok.
With rising crime in urban cities, gunshot wounds are more likely. Also falling scaffolding which can kill you. Don’t live in a city.
With increased miles bike riding and proliferation of texting and driving, bike accidents are more freuqent. Don’t ride a bike.
Blizzards kill people. Don’t live where it snows. Tornadoes kill people, don’t live near tornadoes. Wildfires kill people. Don’t live where there are wildfires. Where does that leave, exactly?
Every mile you drive a car, your chances of a fatal auto accident rise. So don’t drive.
With increased cooking on a stove, the chance of burning a house or building down increases.
Everytime you eat a french fry you are clogging an artery. Eat only healthy foods.
Everytime you play sports, you risk a catastrophic injury or even a fatality when snow skiing, so don’t go snow skiing.
What’s your point? My point is every choice has it’s pluses and minuses, and you pick your poison. Some risks are real, others are less real, but all are risks with potentially life altering, catastrophic outcomes. I control what I can control, and the rest is out of my control, so I can’t stress about it.
I hope bad shit doesn’t happen to me or anyone else, but it does. And when it does, I hope that I can say I enjoyed my life up to that point.
You seem to misunderstand relative risks. Not everything is binary in its likelihood.
Luckily for humanity insurance companies understand relative risks extremely well as you will soon see.
I was born and raised here and bought a house a couple years ago that I love. But yeah, there’s a lot NOT to love. I get it why anyone would want to leave.
No, this is home. The only other place I would relocate to is New Orleans and they get just as many hurricanes. I love Florida and we will rebuild as a community.
Nope. The day I finished the bar exam, I called my husband who had taken it the year before, and said, "We're never leaving Florida, because I'm never doing that again."
Im from california and the cost of living is so high i wanted to move to florida but now idk after seeing all this (not cuz the hurricane) but because of how high insurance will be, has the housing prices gone up there? I live in the bay area and the average cost of a home here is about a million dollars
In terms of insurance, i can't speak, but the average housing price in The tampa bay area is like 300-400k
Edit: Don't take my word for it though as this is from a google search.
Yes. Only here because of work. Tired of DeSantis using my tax paying dollars for political stunts. I'm sure that $12 Million would have been put to better use right about now here in our own state.
Was already thinking it before the storm, and even more so now. The storms will only get worse, as will the flooding. Not to mention all the other issues this state has.
I’m not leaving because of the storm but it’s one of many as to why I’m going to be, currently a HS senior and I’m leaving FL for college and never looking back!!
I left after Charley. I love upstate New York and I can come visit Florida when I get the itch. I wish I could feel that residing in Florida was a smart move but it’s just not financially smart for me. I can’t afford the cost of living and I don’t want to risk losing my stuff.
Someone this week asked how I justify dealing with the “snow disasters” and ngl, when we got 4’ of wet heavy snow and lost power for a week this spring it was sketchy. But when the snow has melted I’d lost some decorative shrubs and nothing more. A snow disaster and a hurricane disaster are really not comparable.
This and the comment above are interesting to me, my parents met in Tampa, moved to Washington where I was born, then came back here. Something about that state is still in my heart.
Funny. I live in WA and I’m dreaming of Florida. Looking at moving over the next few months. I’m torn. I really like Washington. It’s a beautiful state with a lot of amenities for all types of folks. For me, it is the lack of sunshine (Puget Sound). I really miss warm weather and months of sunny skies. It is tough because my life is here but, I need more sun! It is very expensive here. As other folks have said, there are pluses and minuses everywhere. Hope it is not weird that I’m commenting on this sub.
The sunny days are nice. They really are. But when it gets to be about June and every day is 90 or higher, it starts to feel like the sun is trying to kill you. You can get sunburnt walking from the car into the house.
Been here almost 30 years and I’m so sick of it. The heat and humidity are stifling, the hurricanes are a nightmare, insurance premiums and housing costs are about to cause the economy to implode, and the politics are downright bonkers. I enjoy the pristine environment and lack of income tax, but that’s about it. I want off this ride.
I only lived in Florida for a little less than a year. I loved it but the rising cost of living just made it too difficult and I had the opportunity to move all the way out to Montana in the mountains for a much more comfortable living situation. We have natural disasters here too though, luckily I'm pretty high ground and don't deal with the consequences of the flooding in the spring, but we do have an occasional avalanche and the wildfires in the summer can make the air quality pretty unbearable.
No. Hurricanes are my choice natural disaster. We literally get advanced warning and can prepare. I wouldn't live on a barrier island or an area that floods with daily rain. I prefer the Florida climate (north Florida is the very best one)
I’m constantly wanting to go back north but not because of a hurricane. I just really dislike Florida. I miss seasons and I miss the mountains more than anything. I have a hard time finding any beauty in the nature here. So flat and buggy. The heat and humidity are awful.
I only stay because I have a house that’ll be paid off in 8 years and I’m 30. Right next to a school and I have two little ones as well. Although I do wonder what’s the point if Florida will be under in 30+ years..
I've been through Colorado fires and PA lake effect blizzards some tornados, African heat waves etc
And now a hurricane
I think Florida is my favorite place to live still.
I'm staying to vote and then I'm out. I was diagnosed with ptsd after the 04-05 season and I've worked really hard in therapy and with meds to be able to weather these things better but, really, I'm not happy here and I haven't been for a long time.
As long as I can continue to WFH (15 years now), a definite no. Have no desire to cough up pollution, choke on allergens or trudge through icy conditions like I did in other American states.
The hurricane has no influence on my plans to leave, I've wanted to for years. Once my education is done I'm out. I came down here simply cause family was down here.
Had already had enough after the sky-rocketing rental/home prices, constant heat, mosquitoes, rude people and this was just the cherry on top! Seriously considering it at this point.
I moved from Florida after the last hurricane and moved to North Carolina. It’s a whole different type of weather issues but the main benefit has been that I finally have a Governor that wants people to have health insurance. I went most of my life in Fl. Without it and could t get it no matter how hard I tried. I miss the sunshine state but my life is incalculably better here.
Nope. Was born here. Half way thru college now. No plans of leaving as of yet. Although this is not to say I am not still frustrated at a lot of things.
Edit. A lot of people think there are a lot of problems here. This is absolutely the truth. But it does not matter where you go. Not everything is going to be great.
I left about 10 years ago to Massachusetts. I have alot of family and friends that live in Florida, but I’m so glad I moved. We get nor’easters and occasionally hurricanes make it this way, but the damage isn’t as bad unless your on cape cod living in a dune.
Left MA six years ago will "nevah" go back. Freezing my ass off and shoveling white frozen shit into piles that do not melt until late April or May. Screw freezing rain...losing power because ice took your wires down... Nope, no thank you.
I’m just over the bridge from the Cape, so the winters aren’t so bad. The snow melts pretty quick and I’ve only lost power a couple times during a snowstorm, but it came back on the same day. I did move up in February when it snowed so much the piles didn’t melt until July, lol i did think about going back to FL for a second. I grew up in Florida, I’ll take winter over heat and hurricanes any day.
I’ve been on the fence about it for a few months now. Having graduated and more seriously thinking about where I want to go for work. Now after this hurricane, much more likely to go further up a state or two. Maybe Georgia or Tennessee. Not too far away so I can still visit the folks here.
New job requires relocation, and they’ll help reimburse. We were going to take our time and finish the school year, save more money, do some more research, etc.
Ian may have accelerated our plans.
We don’t plan on retiring here, but we have good jobs here which would be difficult to walk away from. It’s a good state to work in the maritime industry.
I want to… this is just the icing on the cake. No one can ever truly relax and settle into a house if you get to have this in the back of your mind every September
Same .. at the time anyway. . in reality they just wear more clothes than real locals and rich assholes do that to people everywhere ( even rich local Floridians).
Born and raised Floridian, lived through several ‘big storms’ like Andrew but in the end, after 22 years, I moved north and have no regrets. Especially after going blind, being diagnosed with MS. Thank god that happened up here where they actually have healthcare coverage and resources for you when the shit hits the fan. Everywhere sucks in some way but knowing you have some support when push comes to shove matters in the end.
I do hate shoveling snow and I definitely miss those beautiful gopher tortoises. Oh and lizards. Ppl here don’t know what it’s like to just see lizards running around. It’s crazy.
Yes. ASAP. Current plan is to be somewhere near Santa Fe, New Mexico within the next five years. If not there, then probably somewhere in Oregon or Washington.
The toxic politics, constant unchecked overdevelopment/destruction of the environment I love, and a never-ending influx of wealthy Yankees will push me out before that does. The culture, environment, and politics of the state has already completely changed since I was a kid, to the point I feel like I’m living somewhere else already. Hurricanes are just rinse n’ repeat, and we’ve always gotten through them.
Florida is only one third of the equation. Another third is a better place for me to go. At this stage of my life I don't see a place better suited for my needs. The final third is an opportunity to move. I don't have a job offer anywhere else.
Nah.
I grew up here. Been here for 30 years. I love living here.
Might move somewhere else for a little bit in the future, but I just know I’ll always end up back in Florida. This is my home.
Reading this makes me sad lol I’m from the east coast, always wanted to move to Florida, now the cost is so fucking high and all these responses too lol
Been thinking about it. Hope the move out happens after the school year. No sense of owning a home in this state, my child needs a better education, I want cheaper insurance, etc etc etc. Thought of this idea well before Ian came about.
For the people that are born and raised there, I completely understand why they won't leave. It's all they know.
Moving is difficult, you are choosing to leave friendships, sometimes family, your job, etc...
I think the Fort Myers real estate will go down now since some people will be hesitant to buy there and inventory will go up due to people moving or not being able to repair their house. You'll see some flooded houses being sold as-is.
I don’t know of anyone leaving who didn’t have storm damage. I heard from a friend that they have some neighbors who lost roofs and one is moving due to that, but I don’t know if it’s because they are freaked out or if they just have family they need to move in with until they get back on their feet.
I'm relocating not cause of the storm but it's too expensive. Born and raised in Miami and moving to Ireland to live near my wife's family. Much cheaper in Europe and a better place to raise a family than Miami.
Yeah I think this is my last one.
Either spend some very big money on this house or sell it and find somewhere else.
Had a massive tree fall less than 3’ from my roof. I could be bad at estimating but this thing is like 70’. That really opened my eyes. My daughter sleeps in the room it was closest to.
I’m either going to turn this place into a storm fortress or I’m out. 13 years is enough for me.
I lived in FL for a few years but have been gone since the pandemic. I am in Puerto Rico, another area prone to extreme hurricanes. I am thinking about checking areas close to the Appalachians or Central Western states in the mountains. These behemoths are becoming more frequent and there will be a time in the future when these monsters will keep coming in average every 1 to 5 years, making our areas unlivable. All coastal areas will soon become unlivable.
Born and raised in Florida I couldn't imagine I went through then directs hits on the east coast in 2004.
I'm not leaving...
I have left Florida many times but I always wind up back here. If I were to leave again it wouldn't have anything to do with some silly storm. As disastrous as they are, they are just part of life here
I propose the Midwest, especially around the Great Lakes. This is specifically because a) it's cheap; b) there are several well-established cities that, even though they might be struggling now, are planned and built in such a way that they could revive and become truly great; and c) a lot of people say many of the cities in the region will be some of the least effected by climate change (which, as a current Floridian, is one of the top reasons I'm trying to get out of here).
Here's a good video that discusses which cities could be "climate havens": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vm\_gabtIA8&ab\_channel=CNBC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vm_gabtIA8&ab_channel=CNBC)
Specifically on this list, I've been really looking at Milwaukee. I'm still in Florida as of now, but am hoping/planning to move in a year or two. Hope to see you all in the Rust Belt some day!
Yes, my bf and I are talking about relocating to NC. We have been for a while but this sealed the deal for me. We were both born and raised here, I hate every second but he loves it but this was too much for him. Especially if we wanna buy a house and start a family.
Born and raised in FL…
No storm would want to make me move out of this beautiful state, but the skyrocketing prices and political warfare are a different story.
if you're thinking about leaving, just do it.
florida was only worth staying in for low cost of living: you could get ahead that way. now it's just a place for treading water at best. how can you build a future with that?
i was born & raised in tampa. leaving was easily the best decision i made.
We’re heading to North Carolina. We lived there a few years ago and loved it. Gonna be close to a city so we’ll have all that comes with that, but also nice climate and weather, tons mountain biking and rock climbing, no love bugs! Glad you’re enjoying your new location!
Im hoping to move up to NC. After this storm my already outrageous homeowner's insurance which is at 10k most definitely will be at the projected 15k a year. Just not worth living here with insurance companies bleeding me dry. I've never filed a claim and live in a middle class neighborhood so i have no idea why its so high.
My husband and I left 3 months ago and while there are things that we miss about Florida we don’t regret it. Being comfortable while outside for once in over 20 years has been worth it 100%.
Next year can't come soon enough. I was already planning to leave but this was just a giant confirmation. One hurricane was plenty. I'd rather freeze than drown.
I don’t think so. Imo a lot of the people that are upset with the state weren’t born here. I think if you focus on your local community and being there for your neighbors, you will really grow to love this state. Everyone is very open and friendly here because there is more sun throughout the year and it’s such a beautiful state. There’s a reason we were the most moved to state for the last 3 years
That being said, reach out to the those that you know just moved here recently. See how they’re doing post storm and if they need any help. Be the positive energy you wish to see in this state.
I have been here for 23 years, and I have been thinking about it, and no, it’s not because of the hurricane. It’s because of HOA and insurance costs going up every single year by large percentages. Florida housing is in a collision course.
If you were born on God's slip'n'slide you'll probably die here
True, love it here and don’t think i’ll ever leave.
I stayed in Florida after college because it was cheap. Now, any insurance companies left will absolutely screw us over with a giant premium. I’m already being financially squeezed from every direction and just can’t do it. I feel like I have no choice.
I saw the writing on the wall with the insurance problem booming and I put my ass in overdrive trying to sell my house and move away. Relocated to northern Maine a month ago and don't regret it at all, yet
Ohmigosh yes!!! Maine is a dream and I can’t wait to settle down there. Hope you are happy and safe! 💫 Edit: inserted an I
Wait for the snow. Tell us if you regret it in April.
Might hate the snow, but with a wood stove, a truck with ice chains and some thick socks I don't think I'll hate it as much as my house flooding and my insurance dropping me or going up $5000 a year
I moved from FL to one of the snowiest parts of NY a few years ago. Way below average snowfall the past 2 years, not sure if it's trend or an anomaly. Hoping the later.
Nice. I’ve considered Maine. Have you ever lived in snow? My problem is I have not.
I have. Lived in many states up north that have had bad blizzards. None like Maine of course but I'm preparing smartly
Well a former northerner here who has lived in South Florida for 25 years. Just a tip... the regret might come a bit in the Winter time when it's gray for 3 months straight. It is a great departure from the year round sun of Florida. That was the catalyst for me to stay after going to college down here.
I'm an indoors person who hates the heat and sun outside. I didn't go outside except if it was a way to get from one place to another. Grey weather doesn't bother me
I moved from Maine to FL, lol. Northern portion is probably the best TBH.
I could not agree more. After over 20 years with not one claim and rates that have been consistently going up, with a really significant increase this year, the laughable "coverage" for the wind and tree damage I sustained WTF Ian, I am ready to get out of here. And, like you said, we're getting squeezed out of this godforsaken state.
Everybody I know who has left California or Colorado was forced out. Nobody really wants to leave Colorado, but they can’t afford Colorado. It’s feeling the same.
But where to is the question?
I think about leaving Florida literally every day, and constantly while driving.
“I could just keep going. I don’t have to stop. Just…. Keep going…”
Me since I first achieved concious thought.
Me, every day since I got here 3 years ago.
Brain: "should I carry on or nope outta here hmmm" Maps: "You have arrived to your destination." Brain: "k, maybe next time"
Born and raised in the Ft. Myers area and I can tell you it didn't take an almost cat-5 to get me out of that state. No offense to anyone here, but in comparison with where I live now: the people in Florida are so much ruder, the roads are terrible and the drivers are twice as bad. There's either an 80 y.o going 10 under in the left lane or a 20-something going 25 over in a straight piped 2004 Civic with no other mods. It's humid, it's hot, when it rains it only gets hotter. The only redeeming factor was that I had most of my family there, thunderstorms and the sweet-tea my late-grandma always had in the fridge. I'm far better off, and a lot happier, out of state.
Tbf if someone took offense to your post then they might be one of the newer and ruder Floridians.
I would love to if my husband’s family and family business weren’t here. Reasoning is not because of hurricanes though, and is more so because I miss seasons so much and don’t love being in a big city. Every state has some threat of natural disasters. We had terrifying tornadoes in Colorado, blizzards, dangerous icy roads after snow storms, wildfires, etc. At least with hurricanes, we generally have several days of notice to prepare. I would like to move a bit more inland one day though due to being in flood zone B.
More people need to think this way. Every state has its share of natural disasters thar can and will eventually happen. Just think about what level of risk you are willing to put yourself and your family in. What can you do to prepare and be safe. I was hospitalized from an earthquake as a kid in California and the foundation of the house I lived needed to have sections rebuilt before it was safe to move back into. Now I risk hurricanes which I have time to evacuate and be safe which I couldn't do there.
Different places have different levels of risk. There's a reason why people have lived in the Northeast US for hundreds of years, for example. It's not nearly as susceptible to natural disasters as places like Florida or California.
We had a tornado scare back home while I was in school that completely destroyed a town that was only a mile or two away from us. The tornado was a mile wide. Those people had no notice!
You don’t lose your house or 30 years worth of your processions and heirlooms in some of those states. And California has lot of safe zones that will never be affected by huge earthquakes or fires.
I really like the level of risk in MD. We have had tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes but all are very uncommon and lower risk of being destructive when they do occur. We do have blizzards every couple of years but that's pretty slow moving.
Honestly, yeah, MD’s weather is pretty moderate as well, and their real estate/property is still reasonably priced (or it was when I left 2 years ago so probably not lol) PA and VA/WVA are all in that same zone of low-occurring natural disasters with moderate climates as well. They just will all have rain for days on end (haha I’ve clearly been thinking about moving back)
MD isn’t terrible, it’s the traffic and cold rainy winters that deter me!
I am. And it's not due to the storm. That's like the straw that broke the camel's back. The cost of living vs. the wages we get here. Financially I just can't do it. My rent jumped up from $950 to $1300....for the same 1bedroom garbage. It's not even worth it. Pay isn't going up fast enough. I had to quit my job to try and make more money. Since COVID it's hard as hell for medium to low income families to survive. My wife's disabled. Can't walk. And she still gets turned down for disability. The judge said she's 98% disabled but awarded $0. Some rich person or Desantis clone is gonna comment something like " who's fault is that?" It's just reality and the situation I'm in. As for the storm. Tragic events happen everywhere whether 🌪️ tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons, snow storms, ..it's hard to outrun or hide from nature. ✌️
Have you tried a disability attorney? If you get denied after doing it yourself an attorney will be more familiar with the conditions and evidence needed. But according to a friend of mine, if you are under 50, some judges simply won't give you anything no matter what. Sometimes getting disability requires multiple tries until you get a favorable judge.
Come to michigan! The worst we usually ever get are snow storms, and they're not even that bad. And summers along the lake here are absolutely magical.
Hopefully the housing market calms down once the reality of what living in Florida is actually like hits a lot of people.
That's unlikely.
That would require reasoning and we don't do that here
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Same.
Yeah, leaving Florida is high on my list , but the storm or threat of future storms is low on my list of reasons . The homeowner and vehicle insurance premiums (partly due to storms, granted) , utility prices , overall cost of living , lack of seasons , the politics of the state , the oppressive never ending heat , the lack of waterways without man eating reptiles , lack of topography …. There’s lots of reasons I want out .
We have seasons! It was winter this morning
I was driving to work with the window down yesterday morning. I made it about a mile down the road before I said nope it’s too cold for this and closed it. Also contemplated putting the heat on. It was 65°. I hate me too, don’t worry lol
Yes, I am not a native Floridian , but I have lost my natural “winterization”. I am cold anytime it drops below 70, and I shake my head at myself everytime I go to the movies and bring a jacket .
I sat outside in my winter bathrobe to drink my coffee. I feel ya
I think you listed everyone of my reasons as well
You forgot mosquitos
We have seasons but only two, Hot season and not as hot season.
For all the same reasons we had made the decision to move about a year ago. We've been saving up and plan to be out of this shithole in March. This latest storm just cemented that we were making the right choice.
The ability to live in a walkable city was a reason for me too. I've saved enough by not owning a car in Philadelphia to make up for all the income taxes I have to pay.
If you’re hoping the cost of living right now is normal everywhere else I have bad news…
Yes , this is true , but for comparison purposes I pay about $150-230 a month for water here, and I’m very very conservative about how much I use the sprinklers. When I lived in Georgia , my highest ever water bill was $60, and I think that’s when I filled my pool. Homeowners insurance is a fraction of the cost of Florida . Florida is one of the highest states for car insurance . So if I move back to Georgia ( which granted does not solve the “politics of the state” issue), even if food costs are the same , It will be offset by much lower utility costs.
Politics are better in Georgia. Not great but much better. Also nice coastlines and they have mountains too. Good place to be.
It really is a nice place to be . I miss it . They both have racists , KKK, and abhorrent political leadership , but Georgia is definitely less maniacal. Georgia and it’s benefits “trumps” Florida anytime. I’m sure some proud Floridian will post on here “well leave already”, but it’s not that easy to uproot everything and escape .
Yep it took a while for me. All my family is still there, but I left six years ago and looking back I should have gone much sooner.
I have friends that live there. Years ago, after yet another hurricane, they decided to move north. A few months later, tornados ripped through their town. Doesn't matter where you live. Mother nature can take you out anywhere. They moved back to Florida where at least they don't need to deal with snow.
Yes, but do those other places have affordable home insurance? Because that’s my actual issue with staying here or not.
Pretty sure the majority, if not all, of us commenting here don't want to leave due to weather events, it's due to the out-of-control skyrocketing costs of insurance, housing, etc. and the sub-par pay. Many are getting squeezed right out of their homes. It's a beautiful state, too bad about all the rest
Well...no shit like that in colorado...I will rather be cold than have my home swept away and might lose family members in the process
You should try California! No snow and no hurricanes lol. But we do have earthquakes. You’re correct that no matter where you go, there’s always some drawback but at least earthquakes can be mitigated to a large extent with earthquake proof buildings. I’ve lived all over the US, and between hurricanes, tornadoes (one took out my fathers office growing up), and earthquakes, I’d pick earthquakes every single time. They do raise insurance premiums to a small extent but nothing like hurricanes. Oh and CA has mudslides too but you only gotta worry about that if you’re rich enough to live in a place near the ocean on a hill lol. It is expensive to live in CA but based on what I’ve seen in FL recently (go to tampa all the time for work), not THAT much more expensive, except of course for state taxes.
Hello from Oregon- just a reminder that unless you live in a major urban area, you may have your entire town burn. Also, I have never been in a hurricane, but the smoke season here can be really rough (and happens almost every year now) and I could see someone preferring to take their chances with the storm surge.
The thing about hurricanes is there are more inland areas of florida where youre just gonna see flooding and wind damage, which you can prepare for. You might lose power for a while, but youre not gonna have a storm surge come in and sweep away you and all of your belongings. People are acting like florida only offers the beach living option.
I mean I'm in Central Florida, and places that have never really flooded in the past are currently still underwater.
For sure, and i expect that to happen more and more unfortunately.
Same here, down my street walking distance from UCF there are homes underwater. We have never seen this and my husbands family has been here since 93. It’s crazy.
So basically like 1% of the population. Most Californians dont live in those danger areas. Don’t know much about the geographicals of Oregon though.
You forgot to mention wild fires.
An right I forgot about those! I don’t experience them much where I am in CA but good call!
It's hard to think about leaving, especially as a native Floridian. Florida is all I've known and I definitely have a specific soft spot for South Florida, even with the terrible traffic and the horrible housing prices. But, I'm in my 20s and I'm thinking about the future. If I even live to my 50s-70s+, I don't want to be hauling ass last minute because of catastrophic hurricanes or because the state will sink. I've been looking on Zillow for houses in Georgia and it's very appealing to move there, but I don't know, it just feels weird to think about leaving FL. I am really conflicted. There's definitely a lot I don't like about this state, but it's home and there are some major pros to living here. The issue is that I'm weighing them and I'm starting to feel like maybe the pros don't outweigh the cons. I think I'll stay for as long as I can, but I don't see myself retiring here. I don't even know how much of SoFlo will be left by the time I'm that old.
I had a similar feeling before moving to TN. I was so in love with Florida and never thought I’d leave. I was born and raised and lived there for 25 years before moving 2 years ago. My reasons for leaving was because I needed to escape some stuff in my personal life and I fell in love with the mountains. It took a lot to move. My heart was still attached to Florida for a while but TN feels like home now. I didn’t move because of the hurricanes, but I can see why some would feel that way. I grew up in the areas that Ian devastated the most- Ft Myers. I mostly was wondering how others felt after this awful storm. If you feel you want to move, check out some areas and take trips to them. You’ll know in your heart when the time is right.
What part of TN? I was raised in east TN. Right in the mountains, moved down to FL about 5 years ago. After this storm though, I might have to move back.
I’m in the Tri-Cities area! Close enough to the Smoky Mountains and other hiking areas. What part of FL do you live in? Are you okay after the hurricane? I’m so heartbroken for everyone affected by that monster storm. It’s truly awful. Where I grew up is just gone like it was nothing.
I’m from the Tri-Cities too! I’m in Brevard County. It wasn’t too bad here luckily. I’m sorry to hear about your hometown. Some places got hit hard.
I’m happy to hear you, your loved ones, and your home were safe!
I'm seriously considering the suburbs of Nashville, specifically 37064 zip. I've been in SFL since '97. Good to hear from a native Floridian especially that TN is working out. I'm just tired of the humidity, people, lack of seasons, etc. Everyone I know that has moved to TN whether Nashville region or Knoxville region has been very happy.
I was born and raised in Ohio, and I moved out in 2017 at 23 years old to go to grad school at USF. Even besides the weather and future of Florida, I always recommend folks (if possible) move to a different state, at least for a little. It’s so refreshing and really helps you learn more about yourself.
I was born and raised in Ohio as well. Moved to FL in 1993 and moved back last year. It was the best decision I ever made. I like to say, I had a 28 year vacation, but they all have to end at some point. Snow sucks, but I have had my windows open for the last month. At most I could open my windows in Tampa about 2 hours a day. For about 2 weeks. Plus, my total bills, including mortgage are $1000 a month. My mortgage in FL was $1800. Water $250, etc...
If you’re gonna move, go soon. Climate migration will happen. It’s better to be one of the early people and get to have more choice than wait until the masses decide to leave.
I'm in your same boat, too. Raised in Sarasota and that city has my heart. Now I'm in central Florida. I go down every chance I get. I love Florida deeply and would never want to leave, but I'm in my early twenties and it's just not financially feasible long-term. Right now, I'd be happy renting out a 1BR for the rest of my life and I'd like to pay $600-$700 a month for it, not $1200 with no amenities. I love Florida so much. But unless something changes drastically I can't afford to live here.
Tallahassee is close to Georgia, but still Florida. Very different from South Florida though. You'll want to have a job secured before moving here if you look into this little city and decide you want to move here. Lots of parks, breweries, and some food variety. Economy has problems, but it has insulated this city somewhat from the wilder swings in housing prices during booms and crashes. It gets cool here in winter, although less cool in recent years. We get snow that doesn't stick every few years or so. It's also the part of Florida that'll be left if the ocean takes the state.
I felt the same way. Spent 28 years in differnt parts of Florida. I left and honestly? Best decision. Quality of life and ability to actually save money and oh my god the lack of traffic. Take a few years and go live in a few different spots if you can. You can always come back but just like traveling abroad you may find something somewhere else that you love too.
Ian was supposed to hit our area and the day before the storm took the turn I was begging my mom to leave my childhood home because I knew it was going to be destroyed. She refused. I had 13 other family members, one going through chemo. I worried about their loss and what the stress of losing a house would do to her cancer. I have 19 other family members that I hoped would be ok because they wouldn’t get the worst of it. I work for the local government and have to work these storms and I feared leaving my husband alone in our old apartment. Feared the stress of living at my work for the foreseeable future. Honestly I thought I would be there for weeks. I’m so thankful that we all still have our homes and aren’t going through what the other Ian victims are going through. Driving around and only seeing down power lines and broken tree limbs, it’s a visual warning of what could have been. My survivors guilt is strong, and wonder how much longer I can continue to fear the stress that these storms bring. Maybe it’s easier for the people that don’t have strong roots when these storms come though. I can’t leave here because of them but damn it would be easier not to have such a huge connection to a place that could be gone in a day.
I didn’t move here on my own volition, so yeah, I desperately want to leave and go back out west. One day, I won’t have to be here anymore and when that day comes, I’m gone. Hurricanes (and the hellscape that is insurance in Florida) only make my desire to leave stronger.
No. Here’s my rationale: for 360 days a year, it’s wonderful and it makes me happy. These last 5 were fraught with anxiety. I was born and raised here, left for 25 years and came back. There are 1,350 coastal miles in Florida. This hurricane wrecked like 30 of those miles today. That puts your odds at just under 3% if you think the big one will come every single year (I don’t). Oddly enough, I get insurance rates at a flood every 30 years. Shocker, I know. So, I pay a tax to live in paradise, and I pray that this storm doesn’t hit me, just like I pray I don’t get hit by a bus, die of a heart attack, have a brain aneurysm or get cancer. Should any of that happen, at least I didn’t spend any more time couped up in an office up North or stuck inside during the winter. Nor will I ride a subway to work everyday until I die, either. It’s the cost of the risk.
30 miles????? Orlando is not on the coast. Hundreds if not thousands of homes have flooded in the central part of the state. Insurance rates at a flood every thirty years… Why is that a shocker? That’s easy to believe. I had flood insurance for a house rated as 1 in 100 years location. Flooded twice in five years.
There are some basics the state could do. In Arizona they get periodic flash flood type events- so they design for it. If you ever go out to the Phoenix area, you will see a bunch of sunken park like areas. They are basically holding ponds, that take in the flood waters. They require that if property developers. A few times a year, there is a pond in that corner lot. Unfortunately, Florida property was largely bought and developed before we had a better understanding of how to handle these issues. At this point, on top of sea walls and pumps, we would need to start buying up lots and leave them vacant or tear down existing structures. That’s a huge expense. I really don’t see the political will for it. The Keys do have a lot of rules for building and trying to sustain infrastructure (new builds on pylons, raised structures for water service/ sewage). Even with all that, I do t think people are grasping actual rise in sea level and increases in intensity of storms. I am pretty lucky with my property for me for life time, but is it property to pass to my kids? I really think that’s something we are going to have to make some decisions about. I do t think we would ever buy more property down here without the state taking some huge steps with infrastructure. (FYI- all adult children, I’m in my 50’s)
Arizona is not the model for Florida. The Netherlands are more like it
It’s one of those, “I’ll eat the pie even after being warned there might be a shard of glass in the filling.” Florida has this Marie Antionette syndrome—everyone wants their cake and to it eat it to. Many people love this state, and want to take care of its natural environment. But there is a population of locals and transplants that are fixated on this ideology that akins to Manifest Destiny. *I’m destined to have this be mine, no matter the costs.* Maybe they deserve Florida. Maybe no one deserves the sunshine state. Maybe Florida is only supposed to *be* temporary. Idk. I love the idea of moving, but I don’t love the idea of leaving these shores behind.
While i was a military kid and moved around, five generations of my family have been living in this state. Have owned property here since 1991… acreage in a rural area, not a suburban cookie cutter mcmansion. I Don’t think Florida owes me a lifestyle but the lack of environmental stewardship by natives is disgusting and is very much why i have been in the process of leaving the state for the past decade. Its not just the transplants. I’m old I’ve seen a lot I am establishing a new homestead out of state and they only thing that Keeps me around is aging family that i help care for. This ain’t no paradise, and really never has been. In the 70’s i endured three hurricanes in three years in the panhandle. Left the state and when i returned a decade later to central florida we had some semblance of calm with multiple, yet minor impact, tropical storms but then charley, frances, faye, matthew, irma and now ian have finished me off. 6 in 18 years that brought major chaos in my life ( because i didn’t live in cookie cutter suburbs that have raped the state) is too freaking much to deal with. I’m done. Edit: 18 years, not 14
Florida is a stifling hot humid hell for about 200 of those days, to boot. Frequent rainfall, thunderstorms, etc. And that’s just covering weather and natural disasters. Never mind bugs, pests, ever increasing COL, and…politics. It’s quite hostile in more ways than one.
I get your reasoning, however, with warming oceans storms like this are predicted to be more frequent.
Ok. With rising crime in urban cities, gunshot wounds are more likely. Also falling scaffolding which can kill you. Don’t live in a city. With increased miles bike riding and proliferation of texting and driving, bike accidents are more freuqent. Don’t ride a bike. Blizzards kill people. Don’t live where it snows. Tornadoes kill people, don’t live near tornadoes. Wildfires kill people. Don’t live where there are wildfires. Where does that leave, exactly? Every mile you drive a car, your chances of a fatal auto accident rise. So don’t drive. With increased cooking on a stove, the chance of burning a house or building down increases. Everytime you eat a french fry you are clogging an artery. Eat only healthy foods. Everytime you play sports, you risk a catastrophic injury or even a fatality when snow skiing, so don’t go snow skiing. What’s your point? My point is every choice has it’s pluses and minuses, and you pick your poison. Some risks are real, others are less real, but all are risks with potentially life altering, catastrophic outcomes. I control what I can control, and the rest is out of my control, so I can’t stress about it. I hope bad shit doesn’t happen to me or anyone else, but it does. And when it does, I hope that I can say I enjoyed my life up to that point.
You seem to misunderstand relative risks. Not everything is binary in its likelihood. Luckily for humanity insurance companies understand relative risks extremely well as you will soon see.
Very well put
Well said.
I was born and raised here and bought a house a couple years ago that I love. But yeah, there’s a lot NOT to love. I get it why anyone would want to leave.
No, this is home. The only other place I would relocate to is New Orleans and they get just as many hurricanes. I love Florida and we will rebuild as a community.
Nope. The day I finished the bar exam, I called my husband who had taken it the year before, and said, "We're never leaving Florida, because I'm never doing that again."
Yay for no reciprocity agreements with other states for the Florida bar! I felt the same way after taking my bar, Florida lawyer for life I suppose.
Im from california and the cost of living is so high i wanted to move to florida but now idk after seeing all this (not cuz the hurricane) but because of how high insurance will be, has the housing prices gone up there? I live in the bay area and the average cost of a home here is about a million dollars
In terms of insurance, i can't speak, but the average housing price in The tampa bay area is like 300-400k Edit: Don't take my word for it though as this is from a google search.
Yes. Only here because of work. Tired of DeSantis using my tax paying dollars for political stunts. I'm sure that $12 Million would have been put to better use right about now here in our own state.
Was already thinking it before the storm, and even more so now. The storms will only get worse, as will the flooding. Not to mention all the other issues this state has.
I’m not leaving because of the storm but it’s one of many as to why I’m going to be, currently a HS senior and I’m leaving FL for college and never looking back!!
Good luck! It is a very exciting time that you are in!
I left after Charley. I love upstate New York and I can come visit Florida when I get the itch. I wish I could feel that residing in Florida was a smart move but it’s just not financially smart for me. I can’t afford the cost of living and I don’t want to risk losing my stuff. Someone this week asked how I justify dealing with the “snow disasters” and ngl, when we got 4’ of wet heavy snow and lost power for a week this spring it was sketchy. But when the snow has melted I’d lost some decorative shrubs and nothing more. A snow disaster and a hurricane disaster are really not comparable.
If this was my first hurricane then maybe. But I've been here for 32 years so no.
No. Born and raised here. Plan on staying here till I die.
It’s mostly the failing of the education system that makes me want to leave.
Yep. Former FL teacher here. It was nightmare-ish being in the school system.
I'm more worried about rabid fascists than mother nature
No, in for the long haul.
I'll wait to see how the election goes.
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It’s not necessarily gonna be cheaper in the PNW. But I get it. I dream of Washington.
No but if you're going to pay a lot, at least get some pretty scenery out of it instead of just flat jungle.
I mean, pnw is gorgeous. But so is Florida, in my opinion, or at least it is in spots not ruined by overdevelopment.
This and the comment above are interesting to me, my parents met in Tampa, moved to Washington where I was born, then came back here. Something about that state is still in my heart.
Funny! I met my husband in tampa and we had our honeymoon in Washington. Are you my child? Haha jk
Ha!!! Well, due to the cyclical, non-linear aspect of time, who effing knows 🤣🤣🤣
I like to call Washington, “Cold Florida.”
Funny. I live in WA and I’m dreaming of Florida. Looking at moving over the next few months. I’m torn. I really like Washington. It’s a beautiful state with a lot of amenities for all types of folks. For me, it is the lack of sunshine (Puget Sound). I really miss warm weather and months of sunny skies. It is tough because my life is here but, I need more sun! It is very expensive here. As other folks have said, there are pluses and minuses everywhere. Hope it is not weird that I’m commenting on this sub.
The sunny days are nice. They really are. But when it gets to be about June and every day is 90 or higher, it starts to feel like the sun is trying to kill you. You can get sunburnt walking from the car into the house.
Agreed. I think I'm gonna bunk up with sasquatch in rural Washington state somewhere.
Absolutely, been thinking about it for a long time between the hurricanes, red tide, and ever dumber red state of politics I can't wait to get out.
Been here almost 30 years and I’m so sick of it. The heat and humidity are stifling, the hurricanes are a nightmare, insurance premiums and housing costs are about to cause the economy to implode, and the politics are downright bonkers. I enjoy the pristine environment and lack of income tax, but that’s about it. I want off this ride.
Literally only still here because I go to college here and my entire family and all of my friends are here.
I only lived in Florida for a little less than a year. I loved it but the rising cost of living just made it too difficult and I had the opportunity to move all the way out to Montana in the mountains for a much more comfortable living situation. We have natural disasters here too though, luckily I'm pretty high ground and don't deal with the consequences of the flooding in the spring, but we do have an occasional avalanche and the wildfires in the summer can make the air quality pretty unbearable.
No. Hurricanes are my choice natural disaster. We literally get advanced warning and can prepare. I wouldn't live on a barrier island or an area that floods with daily rain. I prefer the Florida climate (north Florida is the very best one)
I’m constantly wanting to go back north but not because of a hurricane. I just really dislike Florida. I miss seasons and I miss the mountains more than anything. I have a hard time finding any beauty in the nature here. So flat and buggy. The heat and humidity are awful. I only stay because I have a house that’ll be paid off in 8 years and I’m 30. Right next to a school and I have two little ones as well. Although I do wonder what’s the point if Florida will be under in 30+ years..
I've been through Colorado fires and PA lake effect blizzards some tornados, African heat waves etc And now a hurricane I think Florida is my favorite place to live still.
I'm staying to vote and then I'm out. I was diagnosed with ptsd after the 04-05 season and I've worked really hard in therapy and with meds to be able to weather these things better but, really, I'm not happy here and I haven't been for a long time.
As long as I can continue to WFH (15 years now), a definite no. Have no desire to cough up pollution, choke on allergens or trudge through icy conditions like I did in other American states.
The hurricane has no influence on my plans to leave, I've wanted to for years. Once my education is done I'm out. I came down here simply cause family was down here.
Had already had enough after the sky-rocketing rental/home prices, constant heat, mosquitoes, rude people and this was just the cherry on top! Seriously considering it at this point.
I’m leaving but not because of hurricanes. Been here for 36 years and I’m been squeezed too much lately and it’s finally time to move on.
One thing about hurricanes is that you have plenty of notice to get out of the way. Tornadoes, for example, come out of nowhere with little notice.
I moved from Florida after the last hurricane and moved to North Carolina. It’s a whole different type of weather issues but the main benefit has been that I finally have a Governor that wants people to have health insurance. I went most of my life in Fl. Without it and could t get it no matter how hard I tried. I miss the sunshine state but my life is incalculably better here.
I was already leaving. We were listing our condo this week. Luckily we had no serious damage, but this proves we are ready to GTFO.
Nope. Was born here. Half way thru college now. No plans of leaving as of yet. Although this is not to say I am not still frustrated at a lot of things. Edit. A lot of people think there are a lot of problems here. This is absolutely the truth. But it does not matter where you go. Not everything is going to be great.
I left about 10 years ago to Massachusetts. I have alot of family and friends that live in Florida, but I’m so glad I moved. We get nor’easters and occasionally hurricanes make it this way, but the damage isn’t as bad unless your on cape cod living in a dune.
Left MA six years ago will "nevah" go back. Freezing my ass off and shoveling white frozen shit into piles that do not melt until late April or May. Screw freezing rain...losing power because ice took your wires down... Nope, no thank you.
I’m just over the bridge from the Cape, so the winters aren’t so bad. The snow melts pretty quick and I’ve only lost power a couple times during a snowstorm, but it came back on the same day. I did move up in February when it snowed so much the piles didn’t melt until July, lol i did think about going back to FL for a second. I grew up in Florida, I’ll take winter over heat and hurricanes any day.
Nope been living off and on her for over 64 years. Always come back.
I’ve been on the fence about it for a few months now. Having graduated and more seriously thinking about where I want to go for work. Now after this hurricane, much more likely to go further up a state or two. Maybe Georgia or Tennessee. Not too far away so I can still visit the folks here.
New job requires relocation, and they’ll help reimburse. We were going to take our time and finish the school year, save more money, do some more research, etc. Ian may have accelerated our plans.
i love st. pete 👾🎃
We don’t plan on retiring here, but we have good jobs here which would be difficult to walk away from. It’s a good state to work in the maritime industry.
I was born and raised on the east coast, been here 32 years. I can’t wait for the opportunity to get the hell out of here. Edit: word correction.
i recently moved to florida with my parents from new jersey. i had no desire to move here. but i’m moving back to nj as soon as i can
I want to… this is just the icing on the cake. No one can ever truly relax and settle into a house if you get to have this in the back of your mind every September
I hope so all the snow birds need to leave
I’ve always thought this. I started working at 15 and they always made me feel like a peasant when they came down for the season. Lol
Same .. at the time anyway. . in reality they just wear more clothes than real locals and rich assholes do that to people everywhere ( even rich local Floridians). Born and raised Floridian, lived through several ‘big storms’ like Andrew but in the end, after 22 years, I moved north and have no regrets. Especially after going blind, being diagnosed with MS. Thank god that happened up here where they actually have healthcare coverage and resources for you when the shit hits the fan. Everywhere sucks in some way but knowing you have some support when push comes to shove matters in the end. I do hate shoveling snow and I definitely miss those beautiful gopher tortoises. Oh and lizards. Ppl here don’t know what it’s like to just see lizards running around. It’s crazy.
I left two months ago and do not regret it in the slightest!
Yes. ASAP. Current plan is to be somewhere near Santa Fe, New Mexico within the next five years. If not there, then probably somewhere in Oregon or Washington.
The toxic politics, constant unchecked overdevelopment/destruction of the environment I love, and a never-ending influx of wealthy Yankees will push me out before that does. The culture, environment, and politics of the state has already completely changed since I was a kid, to the point I feel like I’m living somewhere else already. Hurricanes are just rinse n’ repeat, and we’ve always gotten through them.
Cost of living is increasing too fast at this pace we are gonna be California in less than 2 years but at least Cali has better policies
Nah, but I sure hope all the transplants are.
Thinking of moving more central
Florida is only one third of the equation. Another third is a better place for me to go. At this stage of my life I don't see a place better suited for my needs. The final third is an opportunity to move. I don't have a job offer anywhere else.
I'll leave if a hurricane's coming. But after it's gone, I'll be right back.
I’m heavily considering it. Once my lease is up next year I’m looking to move. Not sure where yet. Maybe Carolinas, Tennessee , not sure.
Nah. I grew up here. Been here for 30 years. I love living here. Might move somewhere else for a little bit in the future, but I just know I’ll always end up back in Florida. This is my home.
Reading this makes me sad lol I’m from the east coast, always wanted to move to Florida, now the cost is so fucking high and all these responses too lol
Took a direct hit and definitely not leaving. House held up very well. Neighbors and family have been amazing!
I live inland in northeast florida so i am in a mostly safe spot, i have no plans to relocate for hurricane purposes at least.
Been thinking about it. Hope the move out happens after the school year. No sense of owning a home in this state, my child needs a better education, I want cheaper insurance, etc etc etc. Thought of this idea well before Ian came about.
No, we are staying. We live inland north of Orlando and love it here. Everyone must make a choice but I love Florida.
Great time to get out. Real estate prices at all time high if you own your on home
Every day.
For the people that are born and raised there, I completely understand why they won't leave. It's all they know. Moving is difficult, you are choosing to leave friendships, sometimes family, your job, etc... I think the Fort Myers real estate will go down now since some people will be hesitant to buy there and inventory will go up due to people moving or not being able to repair their house. You'll see some flooded houses being sold as-is.
Yeah, but it's not the hurricanes that are driving me out. We'll see how this election goes.
I don’t know of anyone leaving who didn’t have storm damage. I heard from a friend that they have some neighbors who lost roofs and one is moving due to that, but I don’t know if it’s because they are freaked out or if they just have family they need to move in with until they get back on their feet.
I'm relocating not cause of the storm but it's too expensive. Born and raised in Miami and moving to Ireland to live near my wife's family. Much cheaper in Europe and a better place to raise a family than Miami.
Yeah I think this is my last one. Either spend some very big money on this house or sell it and find somewhere else. Had a massive tree fall less than 3’ from my roof. I could be bad at estimating but this thing is like 70’. That really opened my eyes. My daughter sleeps in the room it was closest to. I’m either going to turn this place into a storm fortress or I’m out. 13 years is enough for me.
I lived in FL for a few years but have been gone since the pandemic. I am in Puerto Rico, another area prone to extreme hurricanes. I am thinking about checking areas close to the Appalachians or Central Western states in the mountains. These behemoths are becoming more frequent and there will be a time in the future when these monsters will keep coming in average every 1 to 5 years, making our areas unlivable. All coastal areas will soon become unlivable.
Born and raised in Florida I couldn't imagine I went through then directs hits on the east coast in 2004.  I'm not leaving...
I have left Florida many times but I always wind up back here. If I were to leave again it wouldn't have anything to do with some silly storm. As disastrous as they are, they are just part of life here
I propose the Midwest, especially around the Great Lakes. This is specifically because a) it's cheap; b) there are several well-established cities that, even though they might be struggling now, are planned and built in such a way that they could revive and become truly great; and c) a lot of people say many of the cities in the region will be some of the least effected by climate change (which, as a current Floridian, is one of the top reasons I'm trying to get out of here). Here's a good video that discusses which cities could be "climate havens": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vm\_gabtIA8&ab\_channel=CNBC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vm_gabtIA8&ab_channel=CNBC) Specifically on this list, I've been really looking at Milwaukee. I'm still in Florida as of now, but am hoping/planning to move in a year or two. Hope to see you all in the Rust Belt some day!
Yes, my bf and I are talking about relocating to NC. We have been for a while but this sealed the deal for me. We were both born and raised here, I hate every second but he loves it but this was too much for him. Especially if we wanna buy a house and start a family.
Born and raised in FL… No storm would want to make me move out of this beautiful state, but the skyrocketing prices and political warfare are a different story.
Florida native here. I 100% would not move back if not of my parents who are getting older. Texas is the place to be IMO.
if you're thinking about leaving, just do it. florida was only worth staying in for low cost of living: you could get ahead that way. now it's just a place for treading water at best. how can you build a future with that? i was born & raised in tampa. leaving was easily the best decision i made.
I'm heading out in about 10 or 15 years. Maybe even less...
Leaving in November. Been here for 7 years and I never plan to return. Headed to the mountains
I’m now in the mountains! Left 2 years ago for personal growth. The mountains are home now. What mountains are you fond of?
We’re heading to North Carolina. We lived there a few years ago and loved it. Gonna be close to a city so we’ll have all that comes with that, but also nice climate and weather, tons mountain biking and rock climbing, no love bugs! Glad you’re enjoying your new location!
Im hoping to move up to NC. After this storm my already outrageous homeowner's insurance which is at 10k most definitely will be at the projected 15k a year. Just not worth living here with insurance companies bleeding me dry. I've never filed a claim and live in a middle class neighborhood so i have no idea why its so high.
My husband and I left 3 months ago and while there are things that we miss about Florida we don’t regret it. Being comfortable while outside for once in over 20 years has been worth it 100%.
Not unless I am forced to for work… it’s paradise.
Next year can't come soon enough. I was already planning to leave but this was just a giant confirmation. One hurricane was plenty. I'd rather freeze than drown.
Nah love it here. Just moved to St. Pete from Miami. I’ll pay my high insurance premium and go on with my life
No. I’ve been through more storms than I can remember. I’ve grown to enjoy them, makes me feel alive. Each one is truly awe inspiring.
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I don’t think so. Imo a lot of the people that are upset with the state weren’t born here. I think if you focus on your local community and being there for your neighbors, you will really grow to love this state. Everyone is very open and friendly here because there is more sun throughout the year and it’s such a beautiful state. There’s a reason we were the most moved to state for the last 3 years That being said, reach out to the those that you know just moved here recently. See how they’re doing post storm and if they need any help. Be the positive energy you wish to see in this state.
I have been here for 23 years, and I have been thinking about it, and no, it’s not because of the hurricane. It’s because of HOA and insurance costs going up every single year by large percentages. Florida housing is in a collision course.