This is a sad read.

It is a story of those who drowned during Hurricane Helene by sticking it out in the same region.

Most lived on barrier islands.

https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-florida-storm-surge-0284042dade78e04e453ad821e6e15c3

The photos are heart breaking. Two sons are cleaning out the home of their teacher Mom who drowned. Another is a caregiver who is cleaning out the home of her client who drowned. The client refused to evacuate with the caregiver.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The government doesn't go door to door and force people onto busses to evacuate.

The order to evacuate means, don't call us when you start drowning in your living room, because we will be sheltering in safety and not venturing out to do emergency response until the worst of the hurricane winds have passed - it's too dangerous for rescue units to drive in the midst of a Cat 3 or 4 or 5 hurricane.

The government order also means that they won't get much sympathy in the aftermath, especially if they had the means to leave and chose not to. They'll still be eligible for local and FEMA aid, but they won't be getting much sympathy.

That’s SUCH a scumbag republican thing to say.

Gawd I hate you people sooooooo much it makes my head hurt.

PP could have said it better but that's exactly what not evacuating means. We're not coming to get you in the middle of the storm. That's the risk you take by staying. I have no problem with that and I have no problem with people not evacuating as long as they know what risks they're assuming.

I am a liberal democrat, and I wholeheartedly agree with the PP.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The government doesn't go door to door and force people onto busses to evacuate.

The order to evacuate means, don't call us when you start drowning in your living room, because we will be sheltering in safety and not venturing out to do emergency response until the worst of the hurricane winds have passed - it's too dangerous for rescue units to drive in the midst of a Cat 3 or 4 or 5 hurricane.

The government order also means that they won't get much sympathy in the aftermath, especially if they had the means to leave and chose not to. They'll still be eligible for local and FEMA aid, but they won't be getting much sympathy.

They should still be eligible for aid - it's not like they can evacuate their houses - but rescue agencies shouldn't worry about getting them food, water and medical assistance in the aftermath when they find they need it. Easier said than done, I know.

I really wish the government would scour social media and take into account those who have complained about "socialism" and "the welfare state" and the like when doling out aid (and I'm guessing that's a fairly significant percentage of the "I'll stick it out" crowd). That is both unrealistic and mean-spirited, though, so I'll just say it here anonymously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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 😩)

I hope they write all essential information about their identities and next of kin in permanent marker on their limbs.

This isn’t quite the scare tactic you think it is. You’ve posted this many times. You’re free to go now.

That's true. It's unnecessary. The folks from the Helene article all died in their houses, typically drowned by the front door. Wasn't an issue for their neighbors and kin finding them to know who they were.

Anonymous wrote:Ya'll don't remember the dead bodies floating around New Orleans after Katrina?

I don't know why those in an evacuation area don't drive 7 miles inland to a school shelter or drive 2 hours over to Orlando. In Orlando you can at least sit in an air conditioned hotel lobby if no rooms are available.

My good friends in Tampa zone 2 (or B) finally agreed to leave but they’re only going to Lakeland but something is better than nothing.

I sat next to a man from Gulfport 2 weeks after Katrina hit at a work dinner in Chicago who had only stayed because his MIL refused to leave, so his wife refused to leave her mother and the man refused to leave his wife. He said the only way they survived was by going into the attic where there was a freestanding chimney column (meaning it wasn’t attached to the wall, you could walk all the way around the column) and they formed a circle among the three of them around the column, hugging it and holding each other’s arms while tying themselves to one another with belts. I will never forget this conversation. He said “if you ever find yourself being told to evacuate, remember my story. I have no idea how we made it.

I’m not making this up. Katrina was a category 3 when it went over Gulfport before New Orleans. He said the house flooded and roof was practically torn off.

if they somehow survive the storm surge, winds, rain and flooding, the gators will still be lurking and looking for prey.

Anonymous wrote:Here's Helene and how they died.

https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2024/10/05/time-ran-out-pinellas-residents-who-didnt-evacuate-helene/

Good news: the dog survived.

Holy moly that's a sobering read. Thanks PP

Anonymous wrote:I wish the news media would stop giving attention to people staying behind.

They are irresponsible role models, who should not be lionized.

Nobody thinks they are role models. They usually die! They are cautionary tales.

I wish the news media would stop giving attention to people staying behind.

They are irresponsible role models, who should not be lionized.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a liberal democrat who lives on a barrier island in a hurricane-prone area and I've never evacuated during "mandatory" evacuations. It's personal choice and has nothing to do with being MAGA or not and trusting the government or not.

I believe in climate change, I believe in science. Still staying put.

Well, your gut is not smarter than well educated hydrologists and meteorologists.

You just have mixed up values (ie, equating your life’s worth with any amount of inconvenience/property loss. Not to mention what you are putting your loved ones through.)

You are selfish and misguided, mixed in with an impotent version of machismo, which impresses no one.

Anonymous wrote: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 😩)

Those that went around govt barriers in Maui lived

Anonymous wrote:I'm a liberal democrat who lives on a barrier island in a hurricane-prone area and I've never evacuated during "mandatory" evacuations. It's personal choice and has nothing to do with being MAGA or not and trusting the government or not.

I believe in climate change, I believe in science. Still staying put.

That's your choice. As long as you're not expecting to be rescued in the middle of a hurricane, I don't care what people do. I hope you stay safe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The government doesn't go door to door and force people onto busses to evacuate.

The order to evacuate means, don't call us when you start drowning in your living room, because we will be sheltering in safety and not venturing out to do emergency response until the worst of the hurricane winds have passed - it's too dangerous for rescue units to drive in the midst of a Cat 3 or 4 or 5 hurricane.

The government order also means that they won't get much sympathy in the aftermath, especially if they had the means to leave and chose not to. They'll still be eligible for local and FEMA aid, but they won't be getting much sympathy.

That’s SUCH a scumbag republican thing to say.

Gawd I hate you people sooooooo much it makes my head hurt.

I'm not a Republican and while it sounds harsh, I agree with it. I understand evacuating is difficult for many people, but the reality is, if you don't evacuate, your life is at risk and first responders aren't going to be able to save you until the storm has passed. This is why they impose a mandatory evacuation. They don't want anyone staying behind and putting their lives at risk. GTFO.

Floridian here. It is not a republican thing to say. Conditions will be bad enough that there will be hours in which rescue workers cannot rescue without risking their life.

The reality is that even if your structure remains after the hurricane electrical may be out for many weeks after the hurricane and municipal water may be shut off rendering staying behind a really poor decision.

I live in the center of the state of Florida and we've had hurricanes knock out power such that it took 4 weeks to restore in some areas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a liberal democrat who lives on a barrier island in a hurricane-prone area and I've never evacuated during "mandatory" evacuations. It's personal choice and has nothing to do with being MAGA or not and trusting the government or not.

I believe in climate change, I believe in science. Still staying put.

A “personal” choice that burdens rescuers and puts their lives at risk.

No, none of us who stay expect any help except from each other. It's entertaining how you all are trying so hard to be insulting when I was simply trying to offer a different perspective. As usual though, the posters of DCUM who don't live in the affected areas and don't go through hurricane scares annually are experts on what it's like and what the characteristics of the people who live there are.

But we do see the people stranded on their roof to escape the flood waters, awaiting rescue.

And PP isn’t going to turn away the help when it arrives. This is not a normal hurricane.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The government doesn't go door to door and force people onto busses to evacuate.

The order to evacuate means, don't call us when you start drowning in your living room, because we will be sheltering in safety and not venturing out to do emergency response until the worst of the hurricane winds have passed - it's too dangerous for rescue units to drive in the midst of a Cat 3 or 4 or 5 hurricane.

The government order also means that they won't get much sympathy in the aftermath, especially if they had the means to leave and chose not to. They'll still be eligible for local and FEMA aid, but they won't be getting much sympathy.

That’s SUCH a scumbag republican thing to say.

Gawd I hate you people sooooooo much it makes my head hurt.

I'm not a Republican and while it sounds harsh, I agree with it. I understand evacuating is difficult for many people, but the reality is, if you don't evacuate, your life is at risk and first responders aren't going to be able to save you until the storm has passed. This is why they impose a mandatory evacuation. They don't want anyone staying behind and putting their lives at risk. GTFO.