There is something that I just don't understand...Wilma related

[momof3disneyholics]

I was reading the news a little while ago and it stated that Gov Bush took full responsibility for the delay in food and water getting to the people in southern Florida, but they should have been better prepared. He said that they had plenty of time to prepare for this and that gathering 72 hours worth of food and water isn't that hard. I have to agree with him on this. Why didn't these people prepare? That hurricane was slow and we knew about it last Wednesday. Why didn't the people of southern Florida prepare for this storm? Were they expecting the government to take care of them or did they really think it wasn't going to be that bad? I live in Orlando and I still bought some things "just in case". I read somewhere else that people were standing in line yesterday for nine hours for water and ice, and Fox News quoted this woman saying that after all this time in line, this was all she got. I just don't feel sorry for these people. Were they just blind to the hurricanes of this year and last year? Someone jump in on this and explain it to me.

 

[luvwinnie]

Oh, you hit my sore spot today! DH can't get in touch with his brother down there and he is the type to not be at all prepared, now DH feels he has to drive to FL from NJ to check on him.

 

[Virgo10]

I'm with you on this. I'm still melting ice cubes that I started making last week!

I guess it's the "It can't happen to me" logic. Granted I don't think that anyone thought it would be as bad as it was but to have nothing in place, just in case, seems really dumb.

On the other hand, why it took the state so long to get things to these people is also a mystery. When I saw those lines yesterday, I wanted to hop in the car and bring my ice cubes down.

 

[Plannergirl]

My sister lives in Naples (Thank GOD we got her to go to my dads in Daytona right before the storm) she say the local news there kept telling folks it was going to be a minor 1 maybe a 2 when it hit, no big deal etc.

Course she also thinks she is going to drive back down there today to a normal life-HELLO no water, no phone, no power and no food

she is 24 so young and green but come on folks they had PLENTY of warning this was on its way.

 

[bsnyder]

Bush accepted responsibility for not having distribution centers running smoothly within 24 hours, and promised to try to speed up distribution.

 

[nhpooh]

My sister lives in Naples (Thank GOD we got her to go to my dads in Daytona right before the storm) she say the local news there kept telling folks it was going to be a minor 1 maybe a 2 when it hit, no big deal etc.

Course she also thinks she is going to drive back down there today to a normal life-HELLO no water, no phone, no power and no food

she is 24 so young and green but come on folks they had PLENTY of warning this was on its way.

I have some cousins that live in Naples and they said they are fine. Also, just a lot of trees down. Yes no power but most have back up power now. Tell her to be careful and good luck.

 

[Plannergirl]

Do they have water? Its the no potable water thing, and not enough pressure to flush that worries me.

 

[minkydog]

You know, I'm with you on this. All those "poor tourists" in Cozumel--they had almost a week to leave, but they chose to stay. Then the hurricane's gonna hit Florida. We all know that a hurricane is unpredictable. Just because the weather service says it's gonna be a Cat 1-2, doesn't mean they KNOW. My Father's GF lives near West Palm Beach--she didn't even buy ice! Didn't prepare at all--no extra water, no canned food. What was she thinking?

Here in Atlanta we get terrible ice storms in the winter. If they say SNOW, I don't wait to see it actually falling; I prepare. I wouldn't think of not having firewood, batteries, blankets, and extra water in the winter.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I live in Orlando and I still bought some things "just in case".

I live in RI, and have things ready "just in case"!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The intensity was not correctly forecast, in addition the eyewall EXPLODED once Wilma made landfall spreading the hurricane strength winds further than anticipated. Everyone expected a Cat 2 at landfall, it was an intensifying 3 (some may argue a 4 based on some readings). I know the intesification forecast is probably harder to predict than even the path, but since so many people are veterans now, we hear the Category and plan accordingly, maybe one Cat up, in this case the result may have been 2 Categories up.

 

[froglady]

We got "brushed" by hurricanes last year, and I was without power for two weeks. I believe it (Jeanne or Charley, or Ivan) was only a Cat 1 or 2 by the time it got here. The others just knocked power out for a few hours.

Yes, the smaller storms don't cause the extensive damage of the stronger storms, but power can still be out for a while. So I assume that power will be out if ANY hurricane is approaching. I've also lost power due to a tornado, and due to an ice storm. Those were much more inconvenient, as I had NO warning.

 

[SamRoc]

My inlaws in Ft Myers were very prepared for this but some in their neighborhood werent. They said there were alot of trees down and no power, which was to be expected in Ft. Myers. My inlaws have plenty of food and water and actually ate a gallon of ice cream for dinner last night. There is no one to blame here, there was plenty of time to be ready for this.

 

[Zandy595]

Our local news (West Palm Beach) kept telling us, up until the last minute that it was going to be a category 1 when it got to us. I fought with DH for 2 days to put up our hurricane shutters. He finally did it just to shut me up. And I made sure we had enough water and canned food. If I would have listened to the news and my DH we'd be in a lot of trouble right now.

 

[nhpooh]

Do they have water? Its the no potable water thing, and not enough pressure to flush that worries me.

Sorry not sure, she was useing the lap top to talk to us. She didn't say anything about that. There cell phones not working now and the lap top's not either .

 

[SGB13]

Should you prepare for a hurricaine? Yes. Could they maybe be burnt out on preparing for hurricaines? I've lived near the coast of NC for 10 years. Seen lots of hurricaines. We make extra ice, but don't go buy any. We always have water bottles and canned food on hand, but don't buy any extra. We do fill up both bath tubs with water when the storm starts to get strong. So far our power has never been out for more than 12 hours. I know we've been lucky. But when they forcast a cat 1 or 2, you don't think about it alot. The pharmacy I work at often wouldn't even close. It's hard to think about stocking up on bags of ice and bottles of water when you are going to work in a hurricaine.

 

[C.Ann]

Hard to know what to do when a hurricane is approaching and every few hours the path shifts in a different direction.. If people go ahead and prepare and/or evacuate "just in case" they're considered foolish - if they don't prepare (or prepare "well enough") and the storm does hit their area, they're considered foolish anyhow.. Seems like a no-win situation to me..

If I were in Florida I would have prepared and/or evacuated - but that's just me.. I was raised by the motto, "An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.." Still - the government (local and otherwise) has assumed the responsibility of getting supplies to these areas in a timely fashion and when they fail to do so, I don't think they should try to place the blame back onto the victims..

 

[MizBlu]

Whether these people were prepared or not doesn't excuse for one blessed second the slow response or lack of available supplies.

And having been through Charley, my attitude is "there but for the grace of God go I".

 

[chyam]

I really don't feel sorry for them at all........they start in June telling people in FL to get a hurricane kit together, along with personal supplies, canned goods etc. Living in a hurricane area people should be prepared regardless if it is cat 1,2,3,4 or 5. Mother Nature is very fickle. Again these people had DAYS to get their act together. Although many did there are always those few that think the government will be their savior! Although I am no Bush backer Jeb has always been on his toes about these storms and preparations had been made well in advance, it's time for people to take credit for their own actions and quit blaming everyone else. I was at WDW and had seen the influx of people already heading to the hotels there on Fri. so many did take action and get to a safe area. Although I live in a "relatively" safe area I always have water on hand etc.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

If people go ahead and prepare and/or evacuate "just in case" they're considered foolish

Who would consider them foolish???

 

[C.Ann]

Who would consider them foolish???

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You didn't hear all the complaints about the people who evacuated for Rita that "didn't really have to" and "clogged up the highways"???????