The Holdouts

What gets me is some bespectacled, runny nose, groin scratcher will present a thesis on why people dont evacuate. And invariably they will place the blame on the persons upbringing or the parents of the fool choosing to stay behind to "protect" their rundown dwelling. Today people are led to believe "its not their fault" which caues stupidity to the highest order. People need to know they need to take responsibility for their stupidity. Psychiatrists and psychologists, and therapists, and analysts are trained to tell people THEIR problem is outside of themselves making them think they bear no responsibility for their actions. It even occurs when people commit murder. Nothings ever their fault.

It should not take a rocket-scientist mentality to realize that even with a week's notice; Manny many people just don't have the money for gas, food, lodgeing assuming they have a vehicle
Have the court take my kids ! how about you take them with you...
FEMA be damned... we need to find workable answers to mass evacuations, regardless of wether they are natural or man made..
charjack

I live on Turks & Caicos Islands. Providenciales to be exact. Ike rolled through here as a Catagory 4 Hurricane, There is a huge difference between people that have to deal with this sort of thing on a regular basis, and those who do not. Islanders are much better equipped to handle hurricanes. I moved down here five years ago, and when a desaster strikes, the people all come together to help one another. Idiotic issues such as race, or social status have absolutely no meaning when it comes to digging out of a hurricane. Everybody helps out everybody else. The reason we stay and ride it out?? We have NO place to go. What else are we going to do? Look at Cuba. A comunist ruled government is probably the best equipped to handle hurricanes with reference to insuring the safety of the population. The media always uses Haiti as a basis for what they want americans to see. What they do not tell or show americans is that Haiti has absolutely NO natural resources, and the people there have no way of caring for themselves. Their homes are simple shacks. most without doors or windows. some are just huts. what do you think is going to happen when storm surge hits these dwellings? Funny that countries that are always the first to give help to lesser developed nations in time of desaster are not so eager to help Haiti. Why is that? because there is no profit in it? no natural resources mean no profit. What a shame. America could learn from these Islands, and the people of the US cold stand a big dose of humility instead of the usual selfishness that tends to continue even during the aftermath of a hurricane. Everybody looking to the government for help them. No one concerned about anyone but themselves. Ever heard of Neighbors helping each other?

You, Birdaub, have not been dealing with these storms for generations. Just yours. With population growth, things have changed. Go ahead and ride out the storms; I grant it is your right. And you are not stupid: you will understand when your call for help - as many have apparently done with Ike - goes unanswered. What you don't have a right to expect is that emergency responders will be available if you do stay.

If I made the choice to live in an area where these storms are prevalent, (or tornadoes, mudslides, earthquakes, wildfires, or any other type of natural disaster), I would prepare myself for disaster and make my own decision as to whether to stay or go in a mandatory evac situation. People who choose to live in these areas should know the risk. If they can't afford an evac, or to make their own repairs after a disaster, DON'T LIVE THERE.

I also think it is selfish to try to ride out a hurricane. Putting rescuers at danger when they should be focusing their attention of the smart people who evacuate. I think these people should be fined!! Why should my tax dollars pay for their rescue when they are aware of the potential danger of staying, and decide to ignore the agencies who order a mandatory evacuation. And I also believe parents who stay behind with children should be brought up on child endangerment charges. Your children expect and deserve you to keep them safe. I feel sorry for the children of these selfish parents

People who ignore evacuation are just stupid and/or lazy. Theres no "psychology" or "science" behind it..
Now.....the medical and psychological community can use this to rape millions of dollars from taxpayers to fund research. This country is sick.

It is very selfish and foolish to think they can ride it out, it just proves that no matter how prepared the government may be, it is ultimately up the people to make smart decisions and plan and get out. I agree people should be fined or something for endangering their children, even after being ORDERED by the government officials to evacuate. I feel sorry for them and pray for them, it is not even close to being over.

I just love it when "experts" at place like Columbia tell us about what to do in a hurricane. We have been dealing with these storms for generations. Contrary to popular belief, we are not stupid. This country is mired in the Post Katrina symdrome, where areas are forced to take drastic measures that are often overkill considering the intensity of the storms. Sure there will be damage and people will be at risk, but there are risks invoved in evacuations too. I believe that most of us here, with of course some unfortunate exceptions, know how to take care of ourselves, our families, and our property. Let us handle it and spare us the condescention.

If people with children refused to evacuate after a mandatory evacuation was called, and considering the NWS statement to the effect that folks were facing certain death, anyone with children who stayed behind should be brought up on child endangerment charges. Period.
Last minute evacuees and holdouts now calling for rescue are taking away resources from those who followed the mandatory evacuation orders, and putting rescue worker's lives at risk unnecessarily - charge them for their stupidity, and unless there are children who need rescuing from the ignorance of their parents the people who stayed would be lowest on my priority list of assisting now.
To "charjack" - sorry to hear about your diabetes - certainly there was no warning this was approaching and no time to plan ahead on your insulin. I live in Upstate NY and knew the storm track and warnings. As far as "how do we deal with kids needing to relieve themselves?" Seriously? Okay, worst case scenario: kid has to pee their pants OR my child might perish in a storm. What a no-brainer.

We use to live in Ft. Lauderdale and had no other option then to ride it out. We have pets. I know that there are some shelters that will except pets, but you have to have them registered well in advance. We didn't know this so when we went to the shelter they turned us away. We had no chose but to ride out the storm.

I evacuated for Gustav and it costs my family nearly $1500 for rooms and food. Some people may not be able to afford that.

The bottom line is that ther is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for ignoring evacuation orders. I say if someone ignores the order they are potentially putting first responders lives at risk and should be sent a bill for their rescue!!

I stay because my house is certainly strong enough to protect me...if we get winds that could blow my roof off, the roof is certainly not going to stay on a shelter...not the ones we have around here anyway. If there is slight damage done during the storm that I can possibly put a "band-aid" on to prevent further damage until the storm passes, then I am here for that also. By being here, I can prevent someone else from looting my abandoned house (though we live in a pretty good neighborhood). Last, but not least, sometimes when you evacuate, it's not always easy to get back to your home...

scroissant: Take away the children?! That's brilliant. That'll teach 'em!