I'd prepare my home as well as I could to withstand the storm and get the he$$ out of dodge, myself.

If my family was at risk, I'd leave for drier ground. But, I don't live in an area (La Jolla) where any significant natural disaster happens annually, so it's hard for me to say.

We deal with mudslides, wildfires and earthquakes, but they're hard to prep for in my area since they (thank God) do not occur annually of disaster magnitude. But, when they do, they are significant life changers and if forewarned I'd likely vacate for my family's sake.

I would get pets and leave. Let the husband stay and deal whatever comes.

CAT 5 with 185 MPH winds-could be biggest hurricane ever...no brainer, go. Be safe. you can always get new stuff.

schedule marriage counseling when you return after the storm.

I'd go along with Nina Hollander's suggestion... because it's the wise thing to do.  

      My wife will insist on going into town and staying on the lower level of a friend's two-story house.  

      I'll remain here at Shell Point, wearing a life jacket.  I'll have a canteen of water strapped on, and the necessary weapons at hand to ward off looters.  

If you want to leave, then do so, with or without your spouse. Should you decide to stay, be prepared. 

It's a great time to take a short vacation and get away from things.

Prepare your home and take a road trip. This one could be bad! Don't wait for the last minute when the roads are jammed!

Mike & Eve Alexander gave you some sound advice, as did Greg Cremia! My instinct says leave but, allow cooler heads to prevail!

Just BE SAFE!! 

Cat 5 has a 20 foot storm surge. 

How long can you hold your breath?

My experience regarding leaving, unless you go to Wyoming, more often puts you in the path of the storms changed direction.

Fill containers with tap water, fill the gas tank, stock up on Spam and Goya Black Bean soup, put the lawn furniture in the 2/3 filled pool and hunker down for the experience of a lifetime.

If you have somewhere to go that's safe, get out of Dodge. This one sounds really bad. There are no Boy Scout badges for staying.

We didn't really evacuate during Harvey. We called it a vacation when Harvey was just supposed to be a "rain event". Even though it was the most stressful vacation of all time I'm really glad I wasn't here. We had done no preparation because it wasn't expected to be a dangerous storm. Thanks to Vivint security cameras at my house, our neighborhood FB page and a healthy dose of alcohol and sugar, we made it through and back. Irma sounds ferocious. I would leave.

Photo of after Harvey, please show him this.  And come on up to Michigan it is nice here. 

Time to go - has your husband ever been through a Hurricane? I have and it's scary as anything I've experienced

Is leaving the state still an option????    I wish that was the case.

Make sure your home is insured, pack up the moving truck and I will help you find a nice home up North.

I'd hit him in the head with a frying pan and drag his knocked out butt to the car and go.

Just remember:  Happy Husband, Happy Life.

This gives new meaning to the old saying "misery loves company".  I doubt that I would leave my spouse, but maybe you can convince him that this is great time for a getaway.  Come to Arizona we have room.

You can always get more stuff.

I would not want to be separated from my spouse. Decide on which one, and do it together. Common sense tells me this: You can always come back if the threat was overblown. You may not be able to get out if it wasn't.

What Nina Hollander said.  I'd take my pets with me as well. Hubby can stay behind.

I would leave for a few days in Atlanta.

I would leave and I would demand he go with you. LOVE is eternal, "stuff" is just stuff! Tell him "time to go"!

Safe travels Karen Jones Lewis, MBA, Realtor.

I'm not in a position to answer.  Maybe you should ask Al Roker.  Or maybe Dr Phil.  

 It is a good time to vacation in Maryland and Virginia.

Pack up the sentimental things that can't be replaced and leave!

Karen,

We agree on every major issue, and I agree with Nina Hollander .  Our friends and clients have secured their homes prior to leaving a couple of months ago.  A

Considering the intensity of the storm right now I think we'd prepare the house and beat feet.

Depends on the location and condition of the house etc. As far as whether husband and wife agree, this is a good chance to have that discussion on all

If you have places to go you leave. A lady who got tired of 114 deg F hot spell she took off for Ireland. She is just a cashier at food store.

I would stay.

I defer to my buddies The Clash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM

Get out of the way!

If your house is built to hurricane standards and is elevated like mine is, i would stay. If this storms comes up the coast and hits us i will stay. If i leave, i might not be allowed back in for way too long to mitigate any damage. These storms are "ALWAYS" hyped way beyond reality.

Wish him luck, pack my bags and get the H--L out. 

I have been through Andrew in south florida...and all the hurricane scares, that never happen.

I would wait a couple of more days to see where Irma is really going.  If it is S. Florida, I would leave.

Eve

board up, sand bag and put things in plastic trash backs on top of counters then get the dogs and photographs in the car. 

"Last chance sweetheart-- the front seat's open." 

Then cry a little in hopes he gets in feeling guilt about your worry

Get out of Dodge fast.

Karen Jones Lewis, MBA, Realtor - why would you want to stay? (Ask Hubby...)

I agree with Nina Hollander   

Heavily insure your husband today and then get the heck outta there! This Hurricane would be a class SIX if they HAD a class SIX!  Longest and highest sustained winds in history, 185MPH! 

Leave or divorce.

winds at 180 I would get the 'H' out

With the magnitude of the storm being reported as the worst disaster in history, I would not hesitate to get the heck out of there... I saw on the news today they are already starting to evacuate some residents.

I think i would stay to guard my home but also glad i dont have to make that decision. It would have been nice to see it go out to sea.

Do what makes you comfortable. We are staying here in Central Fl.

Leave , take a vacation,  business will be slow for 2 weeks.

My husband wanted to leave and I wanted to stay. SO, we are staying,  

Do like my mother did when Dennis or Irene hit NC in 1999, leave him there to do whatever he wants. Get to safety and save yourself.

Depending where you are, the safer thing to do probably is to lock up and leave.

I'd hate to leave my spouse, but it seems to me that in a situation like that, the one staying behind is at the mercy of the storm. Staying won't keep the roof on, the trees from falling on it, the water from coming in. Prepare the home as best you can, and then get out. What's the point of staying? For the experience? If that's your bag, ok.

Karen, I feel for you and your hubby.  You both need to evacuate if told to do so. It's natural for hubby to want to protect the homestead. Tell him that you'll evacuate when told and you need him to be with you for protection. Nothing is worth more than your lives. Everything else can be replaced. 

Do of us all a favor. If you leave, please find a way to keep connected and give us some updates about how you are doing. OK?

We'll be thinking about you and hubby.

if he's staying, you should stay and help survive the storm.... two are stronger than one.... 

It depends where you are ?

If you are in the path, I would leave, why take a chance?

I suppose it depends a bit on where I lived, how sturdy my house was, what my emergency prep kit at home looked like and if I was very scared of storms or not... etc. etc. etc.

But in the end if I couldn't convince her to leave I would stay with her... and then if the ceiling fell in I'd get to say "See I told you so!" lol

Seriously though I would stay with her I'm pretty "old school" and I would want to be there to keep her safe if I could.

Too many variable factors unknown to make a good decision.

Remember...you can't talk to stupid! Did that answer your question? Take care and stay safe.

It appears that it may be very difficult to travel the roads and get gas at present.