When a hurricane hits the storm itself lasts anywhere from a few hours (Iris) to a few days -( Mitch / Keith). The effects last far longer - several days in advance of a storm everybody is worried, doing prep, evacuating. Then comes the storm. Then the damage assessments, lack of supplies, curfews, return home --- even when there is no direct hit (if it comes just close by) you will find that mainland flooding and murky churned up water along the coast can make it difficult to have a dream vacation.

Correcting one sad stat on Keith - four dead that I know if - two stafers from a boat charter company and two verteran sailors on a friend's boat. No joke - stay off boats in a storm.