Hurricane season begins on Sunday, but one Port Orange resident, Daniel Gillis, doesn't let it worry him too much.

He says he rode out the 2004 hurricanes inside his home, about one mile away from the coast.

When asked by News 13 if he would evacuate if a hurricane was headed for the Central Florida coastline, Gillis responded simply, "No I would not."

And he's not alone.

According by a study released by Triple A, one out of five Floridians would rather hunker down and ride out the storm rather than leave their homes.

Gillis says his next door neighbors on both sides, as well as several houses down would also stay.

"I would not leave because you know, because I have so valuable stuff here for it, family values, family items that I would not wanna loose." added Gillis.

Gillis says even though neither he nor his neighbors would evacuate if a hurricane slammed into the coast, he is making preparations just in case he has to hunker down.

"I've made some battery purchases. I got a couple of flashlights that's about it. I'm glad they marked the batteries no taxes on those cause it helps out a lot." said Gillis.

Gillis and other Floridians are taking advantage of the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday which is going on now until June 8th.

And although numbers are not available just yet, this Lowes is seeing a positive response.

"We are definitely seeing people picking up batteries and stuff you need to be prepared for the storm." said Lowe's assistant manager Jay Popet.

Those are items people need in case they want to ride out a hurricane like Gillis, or after the storm has moved on leaving homeowners to deal with limited resources in its wake.

Colorado State University predicts a below-average hurricane season with nine named storms, three hurricanes, and one major hurricane this year.

In 2004, four big storms slammed the state of Florida. Ten years later, residents are not too worried.

According to a recent AAA survey, if a hurricane moved toward Florida, nearly one in five Floridians would not leave their homes.

“I think I’d wait to see how it developed before I made a decision on how bad it really was,” said Steven Roman, who lives at the Two Rivers Mobile Home Park in Bradenton.

A majority of people in the study said they’d only evacuate for a category three hurricane or greater.

“I’d be gone before I heard 4 or 5,” said Jim Gilroy, who also lives at the Two Rivers Mobile Home Park. “I really would. If it gets around 3, I’m really going to consider hitting the road and going to visit some of my friends.”

“Residents should stay vigilant and be prepared for a major weather event,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Part of that preparation includes having a storm kit, evacuation plan, and flood insurance. Every home is in a flood zone, whether you live near the coast or not.”

AAA also offers these hurricane preparation tips:

  • Secure Your Home – Inspect your home for minor repairs needed to roof, windows, down spouts, etc. Trim trees or bushes that could cause damage to your home in case of high winds.
  • Make a Plan – Develop a Family Emergency Plan to include ways to contact each other, alternative meeting locations, and an out-of-town contact person. Identify a safe room or safest areas in your home. Research your evacuation route. Be sure and include plans for your pets.
    Take Inventory – Update your Home Inventory quickly by walking through your home with a video camera or smart phone. Keep a record of large purchases including the cost of the item, when purchased and model and serial numbers as available.
  • Stock Emergency Supplies – Plan for a week’s worth of non-perishable food and water. Be sure and have flashlights, extra batteries, battery-powered radio, medications, first aid kit, blankets, toiletries, diapers, etc. You may also want to prepare a portable kit and keep in your car should you evacuate.
  • Protect Your Property – Review your homeowners insurance with your insurance agent to determine if you have adequate protection. Discuss your deductibles. Be aware that flood insurance in not typically covered under your homeowner’s policy. Flooding to your automobile is available under the Physical Damage coverage.