[MrEdd]

Whether your actual life is that threatened depends on a great many factors, not merely are you in the area.

How far from shore are you?
How is the building you are in constructed?
What is your elevation, and what is the elevation of the surrounding area?
Are there tall objects that are heavy enough to damage your builing if they fall?
Is there adequate labor to remove flammable debris fter the storm passes in a timely manner?

I have lived through a whole lot of hurricanes and typhoons.
Including being out of doors much of the time during one in my Marine Corps days.

Generally though if you are more than thirty five miles inland when they hit they are much reduced, and that is close enough that you commute to work if your employment is near the shore and you live on the mainland.

[Robert DeLong]

That's all true and all well & good, not to mention that many times the expectation exceeds the reality. However, removing oneself from immediate impact is usually the best course of action even if it turns out that you could have ridden the storm out. When Katrina hit, even though I was 90 miles from New Orleans, we had a giant Oak tree fall in out back yard. Byt the grace of God it fell in the only direction that afforded it room to fall without damaging anything. Had it fallen in another direction I would have lost the house.

So you never know what it is that is going to cause the real danger after the storm hits.

Always easier to come back & pick up the pieces than it is to sustain an injury or death.