How jammed are the roads?
I just read a "real-time" update from someone who left South Florida yesterday, could only make it to Orlando last night because of traffic, and this evening was still 30 miles south of Atlanta and the Interstate there was three lanes packed solid, bumper to bumper, and averaging 30 mph.
To me, evac is like mountain climbing - you have make it both up and down the mountain. Same with evac - you gotta get to your evac point. Close doesn't count in my book. Worst scenario is being stuck out in the open, like in lake country north of Orlando via I-75. I used to work in the horse industry there, so there might be an empty stable if you need a spot to hunker-down up there.
Would you even consider taking I-95 even it's a few miles shorter than I-75? It's so close to the ocean, relatively, but it is sure to be jammed. Have the state troopers opened up the southbound lanes and reversed them northwards, yet? Even with six lanes northbound, I think it will be crammed and very slow.
Why are you considering evac? You're far enough inland to be safe from the storm surge, correct? At least five miles? Next issue is wind. You've got a safe room, correct? So, even if the roof blows and everyone's siding in the neighborhood is ripping apart and blowing around, you'll still be safe even if it's too noisy to sleep, no?
Plus, you've got your mom and sis, no? If it was MY mother and sister, I'd be staying put and passing around handfuls of Xanax and having them read from the bible. They go to church everyday - receive communion, too. They're more Catholic than the Pope..., well maybe not Pope Francis. But that last Pope, wasshisname? Benedict. Definitely more than him.
