Florida

[Anonymous]

I have a dear friend who is in the evacuation zone. She and her husband have decided to stay put. Knowing them, I have a sense that he is driving “their” decision.

I also think they are being influenced by neighbors who have said they would likely be impeded from returning to their home in a timely manner. I fear that many of them also ascribe to not trusting “elites “ or “ the government. My friend is not in that camp.

But it is almost like some badge of initiation for them to “ride it out.”

I know they are adults, and I must accept their decision…but it is hard because they are so dear to me. (And just so you know, they have ample resources to shelter elsewhere in comfort 😩)

[Anonymous]

They will probably be fine, but uncomfortable for a while.

[Anonymous]

Evacuation doesn't always need to mean fleeing the state. For Tampa it mostly means being 20+ feet above sea level and preparing for high winds. Even driving 30 minutes inland could be a good idea for some people. I'm sure they have a friend somewhere further east that could take them for 2 nights.

If they are in an evacuation area, they should leave or know where the closest shelter is. Otherwise they need to be prepared for a very uncomfortable few days post-storm.

[Anonymous]

Kiss your friends goodbye.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it's really frustrating when people do the "stand by my man" thing or are afraid to go against the grain because of peer pressure.

[Anonymous]

We have family also refusing to evacuate even though they are in an evacuation zone. And we have family 2 hrs from them who have offered up their house so it's not even like they have nowhere to go. In this case, both of them are stubborn. They will likely be ok flood wise because of where they are unless the lagoons get real bad (which they have before). My concern is that they will be completely cut off if the rest of the area gets hit bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have family also refusing to evacuate even though they are in an evacuation zone. And we have family 2 hrs from them who have offered up their house so it's not even like they have nowhere to go. In this case, both of them are stubborn. They will likely be ok flood wise because of where they are unless the lagoons get real bad (which they have before). My concern is that they will be completely cut off if the rest of the area gets hit bad.

They can’t just refuse. It’s a government order to evacuate.

[Anonymous]

It’s not your problem to deal with. She chooses to stand by her man. As you said, she is a grown adult. Let them be.

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry op, that is frustrating and upsetting.

Unfortunately, I think they are taking a real risk, but it partly depends on what type of building structure they will be riding it out in.
If they live in an above ground condo with hurricane-rated windows and shutters, they will likely be alive when it is over.
They are taking the risk of not having access to supplies or unexpected medical needs.
I hope they survive and that their decisions does not put first-responders in unnecessary danger.

Time will tell...

You have my empathy again, tough to watch people we love make decisions that we think are bad for their well-being.

[Anonymous]

My friends ended up changing plans and going south after sitting in traffic for 6 hours and only traveling ~30 miles. They are staying with some of their friends in Miami.

It took my niece in Tampa 3 hours to go 45 minutes away to her boyfriend's parent's house in Lakeland. She said there were lots of people running out of gas and there was zero gas at every station they passed.

[Anonymous]

I will never understand this attitude. You evacuate. Best case, nothing happens or a minor event and you still have your fam and your car and whatever you packed in it, still have mobility and go back after. Worst case, devastation, house flooded, car not useable, no power for weeks, limited communication and now no way to get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have family also refusing to evacuate even though they are in an evacuation zone. And we have family 2 hrs from them who have offered up their house so it's not even like they have nowhere to go. In this case, both of them are stubborn. They will likely be ok flood wise because of where they are unless the lagoons get real bad (which they have before). My concern is that they will be completely cut off if the rest of the area gets hit bad.

They can’t just refuse. It’s a government order to evacuate.

What the evacuation order does in fact is alert people that if you run into trouble no one is coming for you to assist. They can't make you evacuate but they won't be there to help when s$it goes south.

[Anonymous]

I’d be worried, too! My heart goes out first to kids whose parents refuse to evacuate, those are innocent victims. But partners who feel unable to advocate for themselves, that’s sad and worrying. I think this one looks nasty. Please keep us updated. I hope she gets in a flight out of there tonight!

[Anonymous]

Do they have an axe ready incase they have to use it to climb out on the roof due to flooding?

[Anonymous]

The state of Florida is providing free uber and lyft rides to shelters. Here's a link but she can google it for the code.

Just as a back up plan.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/weather/hurricane/2024/10/08/hurricane-milton-floridia-free-uber-rides-shelters/75567254007/