I am looking at getting a house in the surrounding suburbs of Tampa Bay,
Florida.

What are the downsides of this place?

1. would be a massive hurricane is coming in 2008 Aug. So big that the
Republican Convention to be held there in 2008 was changed to some other
city.

But houses there are built to withstand 350 mile winds.. Cat 6.

Any comments or other downsides? How far off the coast or Tampa Bay is
safe from Wind? From ensuing Floods? Etc...

Any help appreciated.