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This is a crazy, scary storm season. As far as size, Hurricane Ike's (2008) system filled the entire Gulf. It was Cat 5 at sea but down to Cat 1 when it made landfall. Still, its storm surge wiped out 4,000 of the 6,000 structures on the Bolivar Peninsula of Galveston County.
Irma is likely to pick up a huge amount of moisture from the Gulf/Atlantic in additional to having a good sized surge, so Floridians, Georgians, and South Carolinians should prepare for flooding. Miami has had enough troubles with rising sea levels and subsidence. With all the new construction, Irma is likely to have a toll in the 10s of billions on that area if it's struck by the NE side of the storm, as currently predicted.
After a big hurricane, the people that survived trying to ride it out often say it's the stupidest thing they've done in their life. If you live in the storm's path, head for higher ground or seek out a storm shelter. Houses can be rebuilt and possessions can be replaced; lives can't.
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