joannakat said:@bloominholes2fill, what? No credit cards? Oh my, I hope they'll be okay.
@tx_flower_child, a very good friend's mother is staying put too--she's almost 90 and just very, well, strong willed. But she's also not in an evacuation zone, lives in a newer place, and has a story or two above her condo. Is your cousin in Naples in an evacuation zone?
I don't really understand the zoning thing. I read something that says that it's based on storm surge levels. So that's got to do with likelihood of flooding. But what about the winds? Won't people who aren't in possible flood areas be in danger of damage or injury due to high winds?
Maybe you have to be a Floridian to understand. 
The Evacuation Zones are based on storm strength and direction of the approaching storm that produces the storm surge. Storm surge is based on water pushed on normally dry land. Here in the Bay Area they have asked everyone to evacuate Zone A and all mobile homes. My home is not within any zone that is prone to any storm surge. The south west part of my 300 + home development is in the worst case storm surge zone.
My home has Hurricane straps in the roof trusses and is built of concreate. The windows have storm shutters. I have no large trees to be tossed on the house to cause damage. Yes, some damage can still occur to shingles.
I feel safe and will ride it out this time (my fist in a strong Hurricane). Power will more likely be out for days or even weeks.
I took a long walk thru the garden this afternoon. I wanted to take the last look of 20 years of my work, as it may be changed forever in the next couple of days. But that's Life.
Best of luck to all in the path of Irma.
Area surge zone map...
