Lived in St. Pete for 35 years and have evacuated twice: Charley and Irma. Both times we went to our friend’s house in Lakeland. Both times it missed St. Pete and went through Lakeland where we lost power. This time we did absolutely every last thing to evacuate other than pack the car with suitcases and stuff we staged in the garage. Once we saw the first shift to the south, and another, and then the third, we called it off. Again, the house in Lakeland just got power back last night, and it never flickered here in St. Pete.
But I’ll never get complacent. These things can wreak havoc, and did I mention my elevation is only 7 feet?