Does it bother you...

[emsplace]

at all that Evacuees in areas where MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS were given don't leave!?!

Before I post fully let me say, I lived on the Coast of Central Florida for 11 years. I lived in the Tampa area for another two, and my family is from Houston and the Coast of Texas and I am very familiar with Hurricanes and evacuating... 

It bothers me that folks don't listen then cry fowl or need to be rescued  -- and get angry when the rescuers say "you chose to stay, you will have to ride this out"... I don't get it.  I know storms turn. I know people have money issues. I know the weather people get it wrong and sometimes it is not half as bad as they say it will be... I know people don't want to stay in shelters and may not have 2nd homes on dry land or relatives to go to who live on dry land... but especially if I had children and lived in those areas or elderly parents/grandparents... I'd get them out if I had to remove them against their wills. lol OK maybe not that... but it is seriously amazing and I don't understand the mindset.

If you live in an area where a Hurricane was bearing down on you, would you leave? If not - WHY?
I know it sounds like I am judging... but I am truly just frustrated. I have several family members who are first responders and a cousin who is a life flight nurse... what they see is INTENSE and part of my frustration is those of us who have family members who have to put themselves in harms way to go in after the fact and save folks who should be out anyway.... well, it is irritating.

Any thoughts!?

em

[Danielle]

I don't understand it either! Maybe they have no where else to go..BUT there are shelters set up everywhere and they do have somewhere to go.. If i was in the middle of a HUrricane, I would get the heck out of dodge!!!

[Dorseybell]

I think for some people, they are just stubborn.  Others may have been through far too many "near scares" and it has hence desensitized them.  My parents and old maid aunt stayed in Victoria through both Ike and Gustav.  And as it turned out they didn't even get a drop of rain from either.  They had their windows boarded up for Ike and most of the town had closed down and evacuated.  My folks chose to stay.  I also have family near and in Houston.  They chose to stay as well, and are for the most part, unharmed (a couple of downed trees in the yard, minor roof damage).  I offered up my home to all of these family members as a safe haven.  They all thanked me, and told me they were staying put.  They all had plenty of food, water, gas, etc... Now bear in mind my family said that if they had lived ON the coast, they would have gotten out with everyone else.  They've seen their fair share of bad storms and feel they have sort of a sixth sense as to judging how bad they're going to turn out.

Hope that gives SOME insight.

[emsplace]

Lots of my family stayed in Houston... but they were not in MANDATORY EVAC Areas hit hard.
I don't blame some for staying... but some - like the Galveston Island folks, etc... they had no business staying in my honest opinion.
But thanks for the insite.

[Happy Momma]

If I was given a mandatory evacuation order, I would definitely leave.  I was actually just talking to my hubby about this- if people don't leave, then there will be others who are risking their lives trying to help the people who should have just left to begin with.  That annoys me.

[Audrey]

When we had the fires here earlier this summer, no one stayed in the mandatory evacuation areas. Thankfully no homes were lost, but it would've been a shame if rescue workers had to try to rescue those who didn't leave. I guess it's fine to stay but it's not fair to cry fowl afterward.

[Nancy]

The mayor of Galveston, I believe, was just on the news and this very question was put to her.  She said that the people who stayed had such a bad experience with Katrina and Rita on the roads getting out of harms way, some stuck in their cars on the roads for 18-20 hours, that they felt staying in their homes would be better.

I am with you guys, they should have gotten out, now others are putting their lives in danger rescuing them.  It makes no sense.

And another thing, since some of you live down that way, why do people build their homes right on the coast on stilts (or whatever they are called).  Who pays for it when the house is washed out to sea?

[emsplace]

I don't know Nancy.
My family owned beach houses forever in Galveston, Surfside, etc... but sold them years ago because it got too costly to repair. Insurance only covers a %... and tax payers pay for the clean up!

It is a risk you take. But... wow... not worth it in some ways.

em

[Danielle]

As any of you already know, My better half works for State Farm, HE is in New Orleans right now... they are so busy with claims right now.... I don't think he is ever coming home... there is so much devastion there

[Audrey]

Danielle, ug that just breaks my heart