Will a “Grey Hurricane” Strike Tampa in the Near Future?

Darren Driscoll • Sep 29, 2015

Grey HurricaneHere on the Rain Control Gutters blog we’ve talked about hurricanes a great deal. So when The Weather Channel mentioned the possibility that a so-called “grey” hurricane could strike in the future the article immediately piqued our interest.

What is a “Grey” Hurricane?

It’s a funny term for a kind of super hurricane. It’s called a “grey” hurricane as a reference to the “grey swan” theory–the idea that the world can hold extreme outliers which deliver a massive impact.

In other words, sooner or later there’s going to be a storm which is far stronger than the norm, and which causes massive devastation.

Why Tampa?

Tampa isn’t the only city which is a candidate for catching this so-called grey hurricane, but it is one of the best candidates.

“The Tampa Bay Area was No. 1 on our list of America’s most vulnerable hurricane cities because of the threat there today, let alone when sea level is higher later this century,” said Bryan Norcross, hurricane specialist for The Weather Channel referring to sea-level rise predictions from climate change. “Tampa Bay is like a catcher’s mitt for storm surge. It’s easy to imagine a north- to northeast-moving hurricane pushing Gulf water into the bay, submerging thousands of homes and businesses in surging water. It doesn’t matter if the storm surge at the top of Tampa Bay is 15 feet, as it was in the great hurricane of 1848, or 25 feet in some giant storm in the future. For people caught in it, it will be unsurvivable.”

Weather.com

With such a fearsome storm looking so statistically likely, what can Tampa residents do to protect themselves?

Stay on top of news coverage.

You should at least be checking in with your local news and weather teams once a day during hurricane season. You can’t afford to be caught off guard or unawares.

Set up alerts on your cell phone so you get severe weather notices and evacuation orders, too.

Be ready to evacuate.

Make sure your car is in good working order. Make a plan for where you will go — a hotel, or relative’s house, or wherever. If you have pets, scout pet-friendly shelter options.

Create an evacuation fund so you’ll always have money set aside for food, gas, and shelter. Know where some of your closest hurricane shelters are, just in case. There are a group of city pages on our service area web page. They all list shelter information for the various suburbs of the Tampa Bay Area.

During hurricane season, make sure your gas tank is never less than 3/4ths full. Pack a “go bag” for you and your family members. Store it in the car, not in your house.

Look out for your neighbors if you have a little bit of extra space in the car. For example, you might know an elderly person who doesn’t have access to a car. Consider making this disadvantaged neighbor part of your plans.

Finally, make sure you know how you’ll gather all your family members if an evacuation order comes in while everyone is at work or at school. Make sure smaller children carry an index card with them which lists vital information like your name, phone number, and third party emergency contacts. This can be safety pinned to a backpack.

Check your insurance coverage.

How much will your insurance coverage help you in the event of a major storm? Chances are if you bought a policy with an eye towards paying the lowest possible deductible every month you won’t actually have enough coverage to take care of yourself after this kind of a storm hits.

Now might be a good time to call your insurance agency to increase your coverage. Make sure you have flood insurance, too.

These are all just precautions.

Obviously there isn’t any grey hurricane heading our way right this second. The Weather Channel is simply making the point that a hurricane like this is highly likely at some point in our future. That could be a month for now or it could be 8 years from now. We just don’t know.

However, it’s always good to be aware and prepared. Even if there is no super storm this year we still live in hurricane country, and we’re still right in the middle of hurricane season. Taking these precautions could save your life or the lives of loved ones. It may feel all feel a little silly while nothing’s happening, but on the day something does happen you’ll be ready.

At Rain Control Gutters we install seamless aluminum gutters around Ocala, Land o’Lakes and the rest of the Tampa Bay metro area. We also offer gutter cleaning and repair services. We’re concerned about the home and property of all of our Tampa area neighbors, which is why we offer this kind of information on a regular basis. We also offer free estimates, so contact us today!

By Darren Driscoll 17 Feb, 2020
Everybody wants to save money on home maintenance costs. We get it. Even if you realize the full extent of everything your gutters do to protect your home from water damage, you probably don’t want to spend an arm and a leg making it happen. So if you’re considering DIY gutter installation, hey, we can hardly blame you. After all, we know, and you know, that you could go grab a 6″ x 10″ aluminum K-style gutter in 10″ lengths for about $15 at your local Home Depot. So how do you know whether you should do that, or whether you [...] Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 03 Feb, 2020
If you’re hoping to find a gutter that can literally last a lifetime then galvalume gutters might appeal to you. These types of gutters can easily last 100 years or more if maintained properly. They’re also less expensive than copper gutters, which is another type of gutter that can last 100 years. Despite their longevity, it’s rare to see galvalume gutters on homes in our service area. In fact, in the 40+ years we’ve been in business we’ve never been asked to put galvalume gutters on a home. They aren’t as aesthetically appealing as copper or even seamless aluminum gutters that [...] What are Galvalume Gutters? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What are Galvalume Gutters? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 20 Jan, 2020
They gleam in the sunlight and are reminiscent of stately homes and churches from another era. There’s no denying that copper gutters are gorgeous. There are even people who will tell you they’re more eco-friendly than their aluminum counterparts. They’re also the most expensive type of gutter you can buy, so you will want to think carefully before deciding they’re right for you. What are the biggest benefits of copper gutters? There’s no denying copper gutters offer some impressive benefits. They don’t rust. They are algae-proof and fungi-proof. They’re structurally stable and sound. They’re durable and do a good job of standing up to our climate here [...] Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 03 Jan, 2020
Here in the Tampa metro area we get 54″ of torrential rain every year. That means most homeowners need strong, durable gutters capable of holding up to so much water. K-style gutters, also known as “ogee” gutters, are a great solution which allows homeowners to do just that. They hold more water than rounded gutters. They’re also tougher, doing a better job of standing up to water pressure, winds, and other stresses without bending or protruding. Finally, they blend in nicely with any style home so they always look great. It’s for these reasons why we only install K-Style gutters. K-Style Gutters: [...] What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 04 Oct, 2019
Todd Dudkewic has retired after over 40 years of owning and managing Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. He’s sold the business to us, the Driscolls. We’ve always wanted to own a family business, so this is an exciting opportunity for us! We’re Darren and Gwen Driscoll, and we’re excited to step into Todd’s tradition of providing excellent, ethical rain gutter service to the residents of Central Florida. Darren worked with Todd for over a decade before taking this step. Darren comes from a management role at a very successful Master Elite Residential Roofing Company (Sharpe Professional Roofing, LLC). [...] Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters is from Rain Control Gutters The post Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 29 Jun, 2019
When you’re gearing up to sell your home you usually don’t want to put too much money into it. After all, you won’t be around to enjoy it. But putting money into things that can make your home sell for a lot more is a smart investment. And while most people think about kitchens and bathrooms first, gutter guards are a right choice if you position them correctly (and if you buy the right ones). How Gutter Guards Can Help You Sell Think about it. What’s the number one commodity most people are hurting for? What’s the number one thing that brings people [...] Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home is from Rain Control Gutters The post Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 01 Jun, 2019
You might wonder why on earth a seamless gutter company would publish a list of their competitors, but at Rain Control Gutters, we believe in putting the customer first! Installing seamless aluminum gutters is a major investment in your home, and we know you’ll want to do your research to make sure you’re getting the best service and value. We started a similar list of the best gutter installers in Tampa a few years ago. We got such positive feedback for putting such a list together we thought we’d do it for other cities starting with Odessa, FL. Here are five seamless gutter [...] 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 28 May, 2019
On our blog we’ve done a lot of talking about hurricanes. It’s only natural. We help people manage the way weather effects their home. And hurricanes are not only a whole lot of weather, they’re almost a fixture in the Tampa metro area.   This year NOAA predicts a normal hurricane season, with 9 to 15 named storms. 4 to 8 of those could become hurricanes. And they predict at least 2 to 4 major hurricanes.   We’ve gathered a few resources to help people in our service area make it through hurricane season, safe and sound. Some of these resources are elsewhere [...] Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 30 Apr, 2019
Nobody spends a lot of time taking Pinterest photos of their gutters or talking about them on HGTV. But they’re one of the most important parts of your house.   Especially in the Tampa metro area! Our torrential rains are no joke.   Your gutters protect your home. Which means your gutter contractor had best be someone good at his or her job.   But how can you know?   You’ve got to do a little research. Here are some things to look for. 1. A ton of positive reviews. Look, customers aren’t exactly unaware of Google+, Yelp, and Facebook recommendations.   If a gutter company can’t get great reviews, something’s [...] 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
By Darren Driscoll 30 Mar, 2019
Water damage is brutal. It can ruin both your home and your belongings. It can leave behind mold, an even more destructive force. And if you’re not mitigating your water damage risk because you think insurance will cover everything, you may be in for a rude awakening. Insurance is for emergencies. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers things like tree limbs falling and tearing a hole in your roof, or tornadoes ripping the shingles away. It doesn’t cover basic maintenance failures, or even, always, the results of those maintenance failures. “If the damage is not sudden or accidental, but instead is the result of a [...] What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
More Posts
Share by: