The Holdouts

I think lack of monetary means to travel and get a hotel is a big factor. So is sleeping within inches of someone else and waiting in long lines to get out and go somewhere where else when and if you can get through to a phone line in order to help be evacuated. Regardless, people spend thousands of dollars evacuating. Most of us don't have thousands behind us to do this one time, let alone many times. The reality is, it's more than just a mindset. Sometimes it's a "what else can we do?" syndrome.

I would not evacuate under any circumstances if I could not take my cat with me to wherever I was heading. I also don't blame other pet guardians who refuse to evacuate when faced with leaving their companion animals behind.

wildlifeusa - go hump a tree you freak....

lets see how fast the government helps texas as opposed to new orleans. catch my drift??

I read this article with amusement. I've lived in Louisiana and Florida, and evacuate anything over a Cat 2, personally....I don't own anything worth my family or my life. My daughter lives in Louisiana; she and her roomates evacuated for Gustav; cost them a few hundred dollars that none of them have to spare. FEMA was supposedly going to reimburse evacuees (sp) $104, which would at least fill up their gas tank. Considering that some people only get paid for work performed and these kids had no work (their employers were of course, closed) the evacuation wiped them clean and of course, FEMA failed yet again to make good on their promises - just ask the residents of NO, who are still awaiting aid. So, they ride out the storm huddled in an apartment next to several other families, all who have the problem. The avg income there is $30-35k; barely enough to house and feed a family of 3. There is no extra money for evacuation. There is barely enough to put gas in the car to go to a minimum wage job. So, one reason for staying put? They have no choice.

Another basic reason? Seems that some who don't leave like to help themselves to the possessions of those who do leave. Low life thrive on disasters such as this. So, people don't leave because they figure, what the storm didn't take, the looters will.

Yet another category is the huge number of illegal mexicans who are afraid that if they leave their abodes without documentation, they'll be deported.

I live in the state of Florida where hurricanes are the norm. I do not choose to evacuate because I have found the shelters to be inadequate for the amount of people that are supposed to be there; that is, if everyone who was supposed to evacuate did so, there would not be sufficient space, supplies, food, etc. Additionally, we are supposed to "register" ahead of time at one of the very few shelters that permit you to take your pet(s). If the shelter has met it's quota, you're out of luck. Most pet owners woudn't leave their pets at home, and often choose to stay at home with them.

If those foolish reporters can stand out there and get blew all around on camera it would make you think it's not that dangerous.

when you stay do not call for heip. save yourself

Mandatory Evacuation to a sane person with the type of warnings we have had with Ike should not have been a choice. Protecting your home from looters and doing quick repairs is well and good, but in the coastal areas the chance of not having a home left, of the type of deadly floods predicted should have sent everyone running. When I think of all the children whose parents thought this would be some kind of adventure who are now stranded, I get physically sick to my stomache. I do not assume you are idiots who live in the bottom of a lake, or that you are ignorant and tie yourselves to your trailerhomes, but I do know that you are idiots who live next to huge bodies of water that are about to be shoved up your hard heads, and that have tied themselves to whatever types of homes they have to die where they have lived their whole lives. And maybe take rescue workers with them.

Mandatory Evacuation to a sane person with the type of warnings we have had with Ike should not have been a choice. Protecting your home from looters and doing quick repairs is well and good, but in the coastal areas the chance of not having a home left, of the type of deadly floods predicted should have sent everyone running. When I think of all the children whose parents thought this would be some kind of adventure who are now stranded, I get physically sick to my stomache. I do not assume you are idiots who live in the bottom of a lake, or that you are ignorant and tie yourselves to your trailerhomes, but I do know that you are idiots who live next to huge bodies of water that are about to be shoved up your hard heads, and that have tied themselves to whatever types of homes they have to die where they have lived their whole lives. And maybe take rescue workers with them.

To carla sue: So very well said. These whining media/govt nannies are not just tiresome - they are ushering in the new era of victim-hood. How very, very sad.

Some of us stay because we are prepared. We purposedly built our homes with hurricanes in mind. We stay to make quick repairs to our property to avoid further damage. We are the people who don't whine about living for weeks without power. We don't expect to be rescued or bailed out by FEMA. We also don't expect a handout from the government when our property sustains damage. We stay because the criminals and deliquents stay - we work too hard for what we have to give it up all up to them. We are the relatives of the elderly people who say "I'm too old to leave". Some stay because they have jobs that require them to check for damage immediately after a storm - understand that people who leave can't get back in for days and sometimes weeks. We stay because we've lived here all our lives - long before the rest of the country had more than a vague concept about hurricanes. We know the details of exactly what happens if it hits a certain area. Don't assume that everyone who stays are the ignorant who tie themselves to their trailer/mobile home (apparently the only people who reporters interview). Don't assume we're all the idiots who live in the bottom of a lake where the water is held back by poor infrastructure (New Orleans). Why do the Okies leave in Tornado Alley? Why do California's live where there are earthquakes? I understand it's an interesting subject to some shrink that probably doesn't even do their own yardwork, but don't believe that WE STAY because we want to be tough; it's a reality of living on the coast and you just deal with it.

On 3 May, 1999 in Oklahoma City, we had little more than an hour's warning about an F6 tornado; 316 mph winds--thanks to Gary England, most survived. ANY warning should be heeded. If you know days ahead that a possible catastrophic storm is coming (shades of Katrina) get out of Dodge. End of lesson. God Bless them and keep them, but they were warned.

On May 3 1999 in OKC we had maybe an hour's warning about an F6 heading our way. We took shelter and suffered much less loss due to Gary England. If you KNOW a huge hurricane is barrelling your way, you get out. Efforts are in place to help people that cannot afford to get out of the way of this storm (Ike); if you hear the term "potentially deadly" what more do you need? Gas gouging notwithstanding, there has been plenty of warning of this storm; could be of epic measure--but everyone was warned. Those who choose to stay are on their own.

I find it sad when a tragedy like a hurricane happens...and the gas prices are already high and we have already been being bilked...then you have a mandatory evacuation...they raised the gas by 2.00 a gallon in some places...some people can't afford to leave...if anything I think the gas prices should of came down for these people...

I find it quite sad that we are already being bilked on gas prices...then a tragedy like the hurricanes happen and you are told you have to get out...and they hike the gas prices sky high...some people can't afford to leave...

New construction along coastal areas should take such flooding into account and I salute the administration for managing evacation on such a huge scale.

I think people who chose to stay under mandatory evacuation should have to fend for themselves. In addition they should have to pay for rescue services and financially penalized for their disregard for their safety and the safety of others who have to risk their lives for their ignorance.

People who have chosen to stay even under a mandatory evacuation should not receive any services or rescues as I had seen today on the news. They foolishly risk their lives and the lives of others who have more important jobs to do. They should be penalized financially or be forced to pay for rescue services. Especially the persons who came riding in on jet ski's and their comment was the waves were great after they had called 911 to be rescued in a mandatory evacuation area.