Pigeon Forge, Tenn. — It's highly unlikely a hurricane will ever make it to East Tennessee.
But there is one place in Pigeon Forge that can help put the experience in perspective.
I tried it out, and here's what happens.
The simulator is inside WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge.
It's the closest many people in East Tennessee may ever get to a hurricane.
Called the Hurricane Shack, this attraction simulates a Category 1 hurricane.
That puts you up against 74 mile per hour wind
Standing in the simulator, I definitely felt the power of the wind on impact. There are poles inside for you to grab onto when the wind from a large fan picks up fast.
That burst of fast win pushed me back and sent my hair flying.
And that was only for 15 seconds. In sustained winds during a hurricane, things are different.
Wind that strong - 74 mph - could knock a few shingles off a house, and maybe bend some trees.
So imagine what it's like when the winds get stronger.
That damage is minimal compared to a higher category storm like Hurricane Florence, which is packing maximum wind speeds nearly 40 miles per hour higher than the simulator.
Even Category 2 wind strength can uproot certain trees and cause serious damage to people and property.
"Whether you thought it would be stronger or weaker, it at least gives you an idea what a minimum hurricane wind would feel like," said Ed Shaffer, General Manager of WonderWorks.
He said the hurricane shack is popular in the summers during hurricane season.
"Although it's not sustained like the winds are in a hurricane it at least gives you the feeling and lets somebody kind of get an idea of what they're talking about on TV."
The Hurricane Shack is a controlled indoor simulator.
If you or your family ever witness a storm of any magnitude, it's important to follow any preparation or evacuation recommendations.