I lived in coastal FL, SC and NC over the years too and been through many storms. I keep a go bag with a full camping set up in back pack form even in central Alabama. All ultra lite backpacking stuff, water filters, food, stove, tent, sleeping bags, battery powered fans etc. I can live fine with whats in my 80 liter back pack, make my own water from salt water if needed. I've had to leave at least three times here in Alabama for Tornadoes! When I lived in Daytona Beach, FL a few years ago I almost got flooded out with 14" of rain in 2 days. Enough to back my truck under the 5th wheel, I learned to keep the RV road ready and fueled up living on the coast. Its nice having an RV with a generator ready to roll. I don't play with the big hurricanes, over class 3 and I be rolling inland.
I've only dealt with one Cat 5. I left about 4 days before Andrew hit Homestead, FL. Instead of fighting the north bound traffic we cut across to the Naples area and stayed a couple days on the beach till the water turned ugly before heading to Alabama for a week. Best evacuation ever! Went smooth with no traffic heading up the west coast of FL. Wasn't much left after Andrew, it flattened Homestead. Most of the houses were tooth picks, thankfully we were only renting. Couldn't really tell where the houses went, no street signs left, everything looked the same. I don't think its worth it myself if you can move out of the path a few days. Cat 5 ain't worth playing chicken with. I spent 2 weeks without power and water in the summer heat, it sucks even with a generator. I miss having a big 5th wheel for storms, but I don't travel anymore so my go bag and diesel truck with a high rise shell gets me through storms now.
Lost the roof a couple times here in Alabama, one hurricane dropped a tree through the house and one nasty tornado tore the roof off. No matter where you live you have to deal with weather. I don't miss the blizzards at all either, I think the snow storms and severe cold were the most dangerous. Get snowed in and all is well till a roof caves in or someone gets hurt and you can't get out. I just try and prepare for the worst wherever I'm at, rather not be a burden on first responders.