I can tell you from personal experience - we took a direct hit with Hurricane Charlie at my house.  Power poles were down all over, no power for days, highway signs were gone.  Yet 1 mile north of where I lived it was like absolutely NOTHING happened.  They never lost power, no damage. it was surreal.  I had no power for 3 days, but was out of work for over a week because my office had no power.  It was like someone drew a line across the state and said - only affect those on this side of the line.  It can be that close and be that much of a different affect.