hurkemnl

We are immigrants from the UK to USA. My husband and I with our two young sons (ages 5 & 8) are thinking of moving to northern Florida. We are looking for low crime and low flood/hurricane risk areas with good schools north of Orlando (for weather reasons) but below Jacksonville. Which side? West or east? Jobwise looking for boating career or service (taxi driver or pool maintenance). Any advice gratefully accepted!

SagenOnion

I wasn't aware that there was anywhere in Florida that is low risk for hurricanes

meauxna

I'm curious why you only post questions but don't come back to answer questions/have a discussion. I live in your area, where you said you were having some trouble.
Now you want to move clear across to the other side of the country? Why?

Ray

Its warmer ..why else ..

meauxna

Well, it's Battleground for starters, so I really can't blame them...

Mallory

Jacksonville.

hurkemnl

I like to hear other people's perspectives/experiences on things but am happy to reply when there is something to say...

Various reasons why we are considering the other side, but mainly weather, people, job opportunities. Not convinced west coast is for us and want to keep options open!

Bob

got the greencard then?

worth reading the other florida threads as they have info on schools...

hurkemnl

Yep, greencards and social security numbers received, at long last!!! 11 years of waiting...now just have to decide where to live and bring up the family! Thx, will check out other Florida threads.

elfman

From FEMA:

Thydney

You aren't going to tick all the boxes. The further north you go the less boating jobs there will be. It gets a lot less developed the further up you go on the Gulf Coast at least I would say past Crystal River you won't see much for a long while. Pool/ service work requires a higher density of homes for it to be worthwhile so again you'd be stuck past C.Riv. Schools up that way are generally poor.

ladyofthelake

Good schools just below Jacksonville would be in St John's County (St Augustine area) where I am. It is widely accepted that St Johns has the best school system in the North East area. I live half way between St Augustine and Jacksonville, so get the best of both worlds.

Crime is bad in Jacksonville on the Northside and Westside. Southside is OK, and there is a huge sprawling suburbia spilling over into St Johns to the south. Connections into Jacksonville from the south are quick and easy on the I95.

The area is a good choice to reduce the risk of hurricanes because of the inwards dip of the coast there, but the risk isn't gone completely. The last time it took a hit was Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Plenty of pool maintenance companies around here, though being out in the heat all day wouldn't be my first choice.

Scouse Express

Yes there are places that are low-risk for Hurraicanes.......the bits that are at high-risk for Tornados!

Jim.

Mallory

Now that's true. A tornado is much more devasting than a hurricane. Trouble is, you don't get any warning.

SagenOnion

Its all relative really. A low-risk spot for hurricanes would be somewhere like Seattle but within Florida I guess Jacksonville would qualify.