And the "perfect storm" that destroys a city is a statistical improbability. We did lose Galveston a century ago and we could lose most of it again despite the construction of the famous seawall. Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, Houston, and Corpus Christi could all be disasters, but only if the storm is abnormally big and approaches from the angle which forces vast amounts of water inland.
What I don't get is why people own mobile homes within 20 miles of the Gulf. They're just asking for it because they don't require major hurricane status to become deathtraps.
My family and I rode out the north eye wall of Andrew here in Dade County. It's not truly known what the winds were, but a retired airline pilot on the block recorded over 200 mph before his anemometer blew off the roof. I think the thing was not accurate at those kinds of speeds, but my point is that being in your house while they are going on is scary and dangerous. No way do I want to be in another. But the truth is, in So Fl, with limited roads out, you either leave before you're sure the storm is coming, or you stay and ride it out.