My wife and I left Amelia Island last Thursday, a day before the mandatory evacuation. Ended up on back roads through SC and GA, but made it finally to Knoxville, TN. Have now gotten back to Columbia SC (wife is mobility challenged, so we can usually only drive about 5-6 hours comfortably) and will return home tomorrow. Storm surge in JAX was pretty bad, but Amelia was pretty much OK. Friends who stayed said my house appears intact, but I won't know about the interior until tomorrow. One son rode it out near Orlando, lost his roof and scared the beJesus out of him and the dogs...he will never stay again, which is what about half of our friends who stayed have now said. If you can afford a week away in a motel or with friends, why not leave early and be safe...truly you cannot do anything to change the result by staying.