We had the same run-ins... or close.

The first one... we got its tail and it was plenty: Trees down, power out, water out, road hazards, flooding -- stray cat stranded in the dilly tree above the lake that was our yard. During the storm, dad went for a walk to "check the neighborhood". I got scared for him, and tried to go call to him, got 10 steps from the house before a gust picked me up and hurled me against the shed. I retreated indoors, fearing for my dad's life but also rather keen to hang onto my own. I don't know how he came back alive honestly. I didn't weigh much less than him. He retunred unperturbed. Perhaps I inherited something from him? But even then, with all my fascination for the weather, I thought he was insane/idiotic to go out in it... and wa a little angry with him. (By that time I was still fascinated but tamer, too. When I was little I'd get ridiculously excited. Perhaps it's not so strange... I supposee reactions to different things can vary.)

That one was a really close call for us... as in we were completely boarded up for that one. I was little, and I was over the moooon with excitement! It veered, fortunately, considering that we lived in a house that shook when the cats ran about. I remember being disappointed and my mother trying to persuade me that it was a good thing.

Funny being on an island would be a reason for being scared. I was in fact on an island. Parents though. Hmmm. My parents did not grow up anywhere near hurricanes. Now my mother was riotously wound up whenever one of those things got close. I don't remember my dad's overall state. I don't remember him freaking. He might have been all don't worry be happy -- it's a frequent mode of his so it might not have stood out for me to remember it, but given he saw fit to go for walkies in a cat 5, perhaps he had curiosity that showed in other ways, and perhaps it rubbed off on me when I was small and engendered that intense fascination.

Perhaps that intense feelings can morph, but I'd think something has to influence how they morph. I don't know either.

Hurricanes mostly overlapped with vacation for me... so a storm would not have disrupted school.

Your usee of the present suggests to me you feel the same way about them as you always did. I ... don't. I mean... I acquired the typical seense of "oh no" as an adult that was simply absent as a child, even though I was aware and respectful of the dangers. I don't think I have actual fear though, even now. Not with an "ordinary" storm and safe construction.

Yikes, yeah that can do damage. I guess I'm a bit confused why the windows weren't protected... unless it changed course suddenly....