Ted's and Wayne's comments brought out some interesting points. Although we think of the hurricane having winds from the South or East--on the Western side, the winds are from the North and West until well after the hurricane passes. I had a 35 Delta and 40 HT Danforth to the South, and a 37 Fortress and 35 Northill to the North--The vast majority of the wind came from the North. My anchors to the North took virtually all of the load. So consider which side of the storm you may be on. If you are in a narrow slot (as I am) you will have to set bow and stern anchors (and I had 6 lines to trees and pilings to the East and West). If you have room to swing, either use a three point off the bow--or another system allowing the boat to swing and take the load as the storm passes (for example in Ivan we had very high winds from all quadrants as the eye passed directly over our home.) I saw many boats which still had furled canvas aboard. We remove all canvas and all frames. Anthing to decrease windage! There are photos of sailboats which washed ashore with roller furling which had come unrolled! Any canvas, even with wraps around it, can come unwraped in 130 knot winds! I consider anchoring where other boats are to be a potential danger. In Bayou Chico where I used to live--and the boating center of Pensacola, the majority of damage to boats was caused by dragging boats. Many home owners have dolphins (groups of 3 pilings) on each side of their docks with chains between, to keep dragging boats off their docks. My estimate is that over 70% of the boats anchored in Bayou Chico drug anchor--Many of these were initiated by a poorly anchored boat which tripped the other boat's anchors. The holding there is difficult at best. Ted's comments on full power reverse are very important. Many boats at docks were hit by dragging boats, and their mooring lines broken or the boat severely damaged by these dragging boats. There is a $750,000 law suit involving one specific boat which caused damage which was video documented. There is also the issue of who will pay for damage caused by improper anchoring of a vessel. Another friend anchored just off the ICW during Opel in 1985. His anchor was tripped by another boat. His 43 foot boat was a total loss--and he was sued successfully by a home owner's association for the damage which his boat did to their docks! So--pick your place--and neighbors very carefully! We have only the neighborhood boats anchored in our bayou--and everyone knows how to properly secure their boat--we all check with each other--and make sure that no boats will be transiting the Bayou after we secure lines all of the way shore to shore. Anchoring in the ICW has some risks--and especially if there is traffic. I certianly don't condone the sport fishers wake--and many of those from Orange Beach/Gulf Shores go up the Perdido River--at full bore before and after the storms. However our area is open bay and not a problem--I suspect that that wake continues until their reach the oxbow where they will secure.