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

[PrincessKitty]

There it is: if you need help, you're a leech.

And that is the real bottom line to this entire discussion.

Not so. The people who are able-bodied and had the time and money to prepare (the vast majority of the people in Florida) have no excuse for not preparing. The government needs to help those who are too elderly, ill, or poverty stricken to prepare for the hurricane or to evacuate. The government should not be put in the position of having to help people who just couldn't be bothered preparing, "didn't think it would be that bad, " etc.

Basically, the "couldn't be bothered" people are stealing the goods and services from the people who truly need them. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the "couldn't be bothered" people. With all the hurricanes we've been getting in the last 2 years, how could anybody in their right mind not have 3 days of food and water set aside?

As for not having much notice of where of how hard the hurricane would hit, realistically the weather service DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE until about the last 24 hours before it hits. Florida knew the hurricane was coming for days, but the "couldn't be bothered" folks didn't bother to prepare--instead, they apparently thought they could just keep their fingers crossed and hope it wouldn't hit their area.

 

[pooh6890]

I live in Miami and went through Hurricane Andrew. Not as prepared as we could have been because I had never been through such a devastating storm. Lost my home, all my belongings, my children lost all of their belongings and toys, also my hurricane supplies....lost everything! That really prepares you for the next one. For this one, I did laundry for 2 days, stocked up on supplies, got water, made ice for 3 days, turned the refrigerator up to 5 the night before and took a shower. Late Sunday early Monday the winds were so bad we were very scared. Had hurricane shutters up but still the winds were so strong we thought our door was going to blast open at any time. Memories of Andrew. Monday a.m. at 7:00 the power went out. Finally around 8:30 to 9:00 the winds stopped. Lots of trees down, a little water in one of the bedrooms and some under the sliding glass doors. BUT, we were safe and secure in our home. I learned a big lesson from this one too.......get a battery operated TV to keep the boredom down. We also had a cold spell come in and the weather went to about 60 degrees unlike Andrew in hot August at 100 degrees. That helps with the stress and tempers from flaring up on most people. Now, the very next morning, lines started forming for supplies. I live across the street from Metro Zoo and stood on 152nd Street to watch the show. It was amazing to watch the people in line yelling, cutting, complaining, swearing, get arrested, getting into fights and so on. What were these people thinking? It wasn't even 24 hours and they were standing in line for 6 to 7 hours to get 2 bags of ice and 2 gallons of water. We weren't even under a "boil water" order so tap water was readily available. Then they started telling people that hot food was available and it got even worse. They lined up at 6:00 in the a.m. every morning to receive free supplies given out at 2:00 one day and 12:00 the next. You would have thought they were giving out free diamonds. It was disgusting! So, when Gov. Bush said we should have all been prepared, yes we should have. He should bear no responsibility for people not listening and not being prepared. We were warned as far back as Wednesday to expect a Cat 1 then 2 as it got closer to the East Coast. People are just ignorant and don't think it will be "that bad". I even contemplated not putting up our shutters due to a Cat 1 or 2. Then, thinking back to Katrina and how the wind was howling and scared to death our windows were doing to blow, decided on Sat to put them up. Thank God we did. So even after power going out on Monday, we still had ice in our freezer until Wed a.m. I had a full tank of gas but we know that goes fast. That was my only worry, but we had no power at the office so there was really no place to go. People out wasting gas on the roads looking at the areas that were devestated and taking pictures. So, being prepared is a personal responsibility and I also feel no pity for the ones in lines, yelling and screaming, waiting for free supplies they should have had in the first place. When will people learn? I totally understand if your home was blown away or had damage. But, in our area, this was not the case. We were out of power from Monday a.m. at 7:00 until Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. At least the power returned soon for us. Most of the areas are still out and don't expect to return at full capacity until Nov. 8th. I am very very lucky and am extremely grateful to be back to semi-normal around here. Katrina victims are the ones who I feel sorry for....they couldn't do much about the devestation there. But, us here in Miami, sorry folks, you got what you deserved for not being prepared. You live in a Hurricane state for goodness sakes......what are you thinking? There, that feels better....

 

[ducklite]

Well said pooh6890!

Anne

 

[MizBlu]

Not so. The people who are able-bodied and had the time and money to prepare (the vast majority of the people in Florida) have no excuse for not preparing. The government needs to help those who are too elderly, ill, or poverty stricken to prepare for the hurricane or to evacuate. The government should not be put in the position of having to help people who just couldn't be bothered preparing, "didn't think it would be that bad, " etc.

Basically, the "couldn't be bothered" people are stealing the goods and services from the people who truly need them. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the "couldn't be bothered" people. With all the hurricanes we've been getting in the last 2 years, how could anybody in their right mind not have 3 days of food and water set aside?

As for not having much notice of where of how hard the hurricane would hit, realistically the weather service DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE until about the last 24 hours before it hits. Florida knew the hurricane was coming for days, but the "couldn't be bothered" folks didn't bother to prepare--instead, they apparently thought they could just keep their fingers crossed and hope it wouldn't hit their area.

Pure speculation as to how many of those people on line were prepared or not.

People on this board made a judgement call based on their own perceptions that nothing bad happens to those who "prepare", "take responsibility", etc. Having been through Charley, all I can say is baloney.

Fact is, you have idea why someone is waiting on line for the basics of food and water and to pretend otherwise is ludicrous.

 

[AdventurerKat]

You live in a Hurricane state for goodness sakes......what are you thinking? There, that feels better....

pooh6890, I am glad things are starting to get back to normal for you. Thank you for posting to this thread.

 

[floridafam]

I haven't read all the posts.

We prepared. I purchased water, ice, tons of diapers, baby formula, baby food, canned goods, etc.

We also did all laundry, made ice, put important documents in a waterproof container and filled our tanks with gas.

I don't understand the people on the news who say they are out of gas because they have been driving around looking at damage.

They interviewed 2 seniors from Boca Raton on the news. You could tell they had money-hair done, gucci bags, etc. They were complaining that everyone in Florida forgot about the seniors. They didn't prepare and were waiting for food from the government. WTH?

We planned on loading the cars and heading out somewhere if there was no power but we didn't have to do that.

I know that a lot of people can't stock up on everything but I just can't feel sorry for everyone. We prepared and it wasn't that difficult or expensive.

 

[ducklite]

I have a friend who lives in Boca. He's a starving college professor, truly--he's young and only has one or two classes to teach, so he's making pennies. He still was able to get together a few days worth of water, food, and a flashlight and batteries.

I just don't understand why people would think that anyone other than themselves needs to take care of them. I understand if people's homes are demolished. But by all accounts, these are people who didn't take the time to prepare. Face it, if your home is wrecked you are in a shelter being served food by the Red Cross, not standing in line for ice.

Anne

 

[lyeag]

Pure speculation as to how many of those people on line were prepared or not.

People on this board made a judgement call based on their own perceptions that nothing bad happens to those who "prepare", "take responsibility", etc. Having been through Charley, all I can say is baloney.

Fact is, you have idea why someone is waiting on line for the basics of food and water and to pretend otherwise is ludicrous.

Boy you got that liberalism thing bad, don't ya ? Pure speculation that all of those people who were in line were devastated and had nothing left too, wouldn't you say? I know for a fact in Stuart, some stores were open, yet there were lines and lines of people (some my aunt knew) who were capable of buying items in stores. Instead, they waited for free MREs.

 

[bsnyder]

Or maybe the people who are blaming the government just like to bash the other side regardless of what they do

In the case of MizBlu, you hit the nail on the head.

 

[chyam]

Yeah if that's all you got out of it sure For those who read they saw I said those WHO COULD HAVE PREPARED BUT DIDN'T are the leeches. I stand by my statement.

And I will stand by your statement too............I am all for helping those who truely need the help but I also believe we have ourselves to depend on too, we can't always being looking to the next guy to lend a hand, their hands maybe full too! I still say that if you prepare and you are able you use what you have and let the others who are truely in need rely on the handouts.The ones who have no homes left or are very poor, I have no sympathy for the ones that were to lazy to fill their tubs, empty milk jugs etc. with water or to have on hand some peanut butter and crackers etc. I know our government has it's faults but we as smart humans should have a hand in our own survival also.

 

[chyam]

In the case of MizBlu, you hit the nail on the head.

AMEN............

 

[MizBlu]

In the case of MizBlu, you hit the nail on the head.

Hey, Bet, it was supposed to be you last year with Charley, not me.

Remember this: There but for the grace of God go you or I.

And, if God forbid your house ends up looking like matchsticks during one of the hurricane seasons, rest assured I won't the one saying you should've used bricks.

 

[LisaR]

Pure speculation as to how many of those people on line were prepared or not.

People on this board made a judgement call based on their own perceptions that nothing bad happens to those who "prepare", "take responsibility", etc. Having been through Charley, all I can say is baloney.

Fact is, you have idea why someone is waiting on line for the basics of food and water and to pretend otherwise is ludicrous.

I challenge you to show me one single poster that said NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO THOSE THAT PREPARE. Nobody said that. You are making that up. Bad things happen to people who are prepared. It is sad but it is reality. However, I can not believe you are naive enough to honestly believe that all of those people on the east coast are truly in need. I have not seen one single person standing in line that has stated that they have lost their home. Every person I saw interviewed simply didn't have any supplies. That is NOT the governments fault.

I am glad you are an optimist. We truly need more optimists in this world. However, REALTY needs to overshadow optimism. Those people DID NOT LOSE THEIR HOMES, period. They lost power. Maybe a few shingles and some debris in their yards. Their cities are not flooded out. Have you seen the lines of people? There are tons of them. Why aren't we seeing their flattened or flooded homes? Why aren't they crying to the cameras that they have lost everything? Because they didn't.

Lisa

 

[chyam]

Hey, Bet, it was supposed to be you last year with Charley, not me.

Remember this: There but for the grace of God go you or I.

And, if God forbid your house ends up looking like matchsticks during one of the hurricane seasons, rest assured I won't the one saying you should've used bricks.

And it was also "SUPPOSED" to be me in the Tampa area, but by the Grace of God it did not come here, but if it had I did have some supplies with me in the shelter, enought that my stomach would have been satisfied, along with more supplies at home if it would have remained entact. No one can predict what will happen, If God brings it to you he will bring you through it, I also believe that when one door closes another opens. Miami is not NO and those people are not standing in rubble, they are without power, and even without power you CAN survive, if you have the necessities, food and water, even if the water is warm, as long as it is pure and food does not have to be a steak dinner, if need be many of us could survive on peanut butter and crackers! I hope I never or any others I know have to fully rely on the Government to take control of my survival, I do hope that they are there to help if I really need but it won't be because I didn't do everything in my power to help myself first.

 

[bsnyder]

Hey, Bet, it was supposed to be you last year with Charley, not me.

Remember this: There but for the grace of God go you or I.

And, if God forbid your house ends up looking like matchsticks during one of the hurricane seasons, rest assured I won't the one saying you should've used bricks.

You can spare me your holier-than-thou lecturing, please.

As Lisa has already pointed out, no one on this thread has said if you prepare then nothing bad will happen. No one. Not one person. Your argument is ludicrious, as you well know.

What this is really about, for you, is who's in the White House and the Governor's office. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

... if need be many of us could survive on peanut butter and crackers!

Okay I just had to chuckle at this. I was talking to my friend this morning who lives in Broward county and we talked about the preparedness thing. One of the things I said was that I could last a week on a jar of peanut butter alone. And yes I have a jar in my hurricane kit.

 

[ducklite]

Okay I just had to chuckle at this. I was talking to my friend this morning who lives in Broward county and we talked about the preparedness thing. One of the things I said was that I could last a week on a jar of peanut butter alone. And yes I have a jar in my hurricane kit.

I remember while we were preparing for Hurricane Frances last year, my husband got all sorts of nuts on me because I bought 12 cans of chicken. Until I pointed out to him that I'm allergic to peanuts, so living on PB&J all week wasn't going to be an option for me.

He didn't utter another peep. He just went out and bought a chainsaw. I didn't point out to him that we have exactly three trees on our property, none of which were large enough to need a chainsaw to cut up. Sometimes you just take the high road.

BTW--that chainsaw is still new in the box in the garage...

Anne

 

[Miss Jasmine]

He didn't utter another peep. He just went out and bought a chainsaw. I didn't point out to him that we have exactly three trees on our property, none of which were large enough to need a chainsaw to cut up. Sometimes you just take the high road.

BTW--that chainsaw is still new in the box in the garage...

Anne

LOL, Well I was able to talk DH is just borrowing one last year when he insisted he needed one to finish taking down this scrawny tree. Phew, dodged that bullet.

 

[AdventurerKat]

Okay I just had to chuckle at this. I was talking to my friend this morning who lives in Broward county and we talked about the preparedness thing. One of the things I said was that I could last a week on a jar of peanut butter alone. And yes I have a jar in my hurricane kit.

LOL. We have kids so we have two.

 

[PrincessKitty]

After evacuating for the hurricanes last year (sorry, I've forgotten the hurricane names, it was a stressful time and they all run together!), I thought I would never be able to eat another bite of peanut butter or another cheese sandwich (we had sandwich fixings in a cooler).

I was wrong! I'm back to eating both.