In reply to:

The weather prognositicators in this area declare that Florida is out of danger. Do you...who study the weather, and don't have anything to prove to anyone...believe they're right?

I believe this storm would make a liar out of anyone who stated 'definitely yes', but it is indeed much less likely that the Central Florida area will be pounded. However, having said this, it is almost impossible to believe that at some point it won't turn north or north east and impact the US. It *could* happen otherwise but the odds are in favor of eventual impact in the Central to E GOM area. Hopefully not as a major storm...If and when it gets north of your latitude, you can start breathing much more easily, but even that is no guarantee...