I talk to a weatherman everyday on my radio show...he always
stresses that the predictions of the hurricane's strength is never
as accurate as the path...which is certainly not certain.
Still, in a Cat 1, if you live in a decent structure, your main
threat is how much rain fall you get, and the threat of falling limbs.
Flooding and electrocution are the biggest threats.
Cat 3 and above, you better be gone.
That's why the evacuations are given so often. Monitor the
storm and be prepared...but you already knew that.
I still think the water temps in the Gulf won't let this explode,
but better safe than sorry.