I live on the water just north of Clearwater, FL. I believe the St. Petersburg times made that headline to reassure the tourist dollars keep coming in. The local media are not that confident. "Most" people here are not ignorant when it comes to the potential threat of a hurricane coming their way. For example. while shopping at a local grocery store yesterday, I noticed that all the D size batteries were entirely sold out. In addition, the water inventories were starting to get low. Until someone states that the eye of the storm is over their head, we all need to pay close attention and who knows with this storm, that may not be conclusive...

Izzy seems to have been around along time. Anyone have any statistical information on the longest lasting hurricane?