Ugh! Mom doesn’t want to evacuate Wilma! - Updated

[KelNottAt]

I can’t believe it. My mother lives in Ft. Myers. This puts her very near Wilma’s projected landfall. She says she’d rather not evacuate. “Too inconvenient. Won’t be a Cat 5 on Saturday. Just want to stay home. I’ve got a case of water and canned soup. I’ll just throw the patio furniture in the pool.”

My grandmother is living with her temporarily, so Mom thinks she’ll drive Mimi to safety (friends in Gainesville) then return home to ride out the storm. Have you EVER heard anything more ridiculous? Oh, and she thinks MAYBE the men will get around to put the storm shutters on by Saturday morning. SATURDAY?!?! She should be long gone by then!!!

So my stepdad, who is stuck up here in Md for work, is joining me and DSis in bombarding Mom with pleas to leave. I mean jeez. She’s an intelligent woman who just retired and has been living in her Florida dream home for only 8 months. Don’t risk it all being brave and stupid!

I can’t believe she’s setting herself up to be one of those people we scream at on the TV.

Stay tuned...

Update 10/20 - they're leaving by noon today. See details in post #33. Thanks.

 

[DawnCt1]

It is a ridiculous position for an informed person to take. I assume that your mother has seen the storm coverage that has dominated the news. It's unfortunate that she is among those who feel that it can't happen to them.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Can you gently remind her about Katrina?????

 

[Marseeya]

Can you gently remind her about Katrina?????

Heck with gentle! She needs to be pummelled over the head with it. In the most loving of ways, of course.

OP, I'm sorry your mother is being so stubborn. It must be so difficult for you. Is it at all possible she's just trying to get some attention?

 

[Poohbear123]

I don't live in a "flood zone" per say, but we are not evacuating due to the fact we have animals and hoping that it will drop down to a catagory 2 or 1 by the time it hits us. Or, perhaps it won't hit us at all. who knows! Only WILMA knows for sure......

 

[KelNottAt]

Heck with gentle! She needs to be pummelled over the head with it. In the most loving of ways, of course.

OP, is it at all possible she's just trying to get some attention?

No, highly unlikely. She's not like that. I really think she's in denial...doesn't believe it will actually get close, be strong, etc., etc. Plus, DGm doesn't want to be stuck in traffic. (So leave now. Duh!) And Mom doesn't want to be inconvenienced.

It boggles my mind.

 

[MsDisney23]

You know not to be rude, because I never am on here! Let me vent, my MIL is the same way, they can just drive you nuts. I have found that you just have to put your foot down!

Don't play any games with her, tell her just the way it is! Then I know it is your Mother, let her make that decision and everyone stop calling her. Trust me she will cave in and change her mind! I hope.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

If she puts up her storm shutters and is not in a flood zone, she may fine staying where she is. You run from water, hide from wind. You are not supposed to evacuate hundreds of miles, you should evacuate to the closest, safest place.

Editing to add: Of course this all depends on whether she is a mandatory evacuation zone as well.

 

[FINFAN]

Well, my Dad is freaking out, he and my mom are in Naples, my one brother is there visiting (and his wife is supposed to fly down Friday) My other Bro lives in Cape Coral, and just finished getting their place back to normal from Charley. They still have the blue tarp in the garage. If your mom is griving your Grandma to Gainesville, try the cost of gas approach...
DH turned down a job to work for a hurricane shutter co in FtMyers, there were a lot of issues following Charley, yeah, maybe push to get those shutters up B4 Sat. if she is really planning on staying. My folks do not have them older home, but just 6 blocks off the beach. The surge is their bigger concern, but my brother is planning on boarding up the windows for them anyway. Luckily my brother has reservation in Ft. Lauderdale as he and SIL were planning to catch the Fins game, so they all may be heading over there!

Pam

 

[mrsv98]

My Grandma is being the same way. She lives in Ft Myers, on her own in her own little house. She does have storm shutters but I hate the thought of her being down there by herself. She is 86 and stubborn and we are trying to get her to come up on a flight tomorrow. I am worried if she waits too long, she won't be able to leave. She said I75 is a nightmare already. *sigh* Family

 

[LisaR]

Is there a reason she needs to evacuate? Is she in a flood zone? Trailer? House that isn't up to hurricane standards? Those are really the only reasons she would need to evacuate. As of the news this morning, they are still predicting the storm to make landfall as a Cat. 2. I am 4 miles from the ocean and would never evacuate for a Cat. 2.......or 3 or 4.

Lisa

 

[Nancy]

My advice...tell her to pack up all her important papers, like wills, insurance policies and take them with Grandma, Tell her to write her SS # with a sharpie on her arm or stomach so when they have to identify a body (not trying to upset you, maybe that will get the point through to her)they will be able to. If all her important papers are with someone else in a safer area then you can settle the estate faster. Like I said, not that I'm trying to upset you at all, but maybe hearing that from your mouth will get the point across just how dangerous this could be. I just saw on the weather channel how low the pressure is, can't remember the exact number, but I think it was lower than Katrina.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My advice...tell her to pack up all her important papers, like wills, insurance policies and take them with Grandma, Tell her to write her SS # with a sharpie on her arm or stomach so when they have to identify a body (not trying to upset you, maybe that will get the point through to her)they will be able to. If all her important papers are with someone else in a safer area then you can settle the estate faster. Like I said, not that I'm trying to upset you at all, but maybe hearing that from your mouth will get the point across just how dangerous this could be. I just saw on the weather channel how low the pressure is, can't remember the exact number, but I think it was lower than Katrina.

Okay this is a bit ridiculous. Yes Wilma is a cat 5 right now. Cat. 5's cannot sustain themselves, they end up collapsing in on themselves and weakening. Also if she goes across the Yucatan Penninsula at all, that will affect her intensity, there is also some shear expected once it hits the gulf. Nothing indicates Wilma will be a Cat. 5 or Cat. 4 at landfall (at this point).

 

[LisaR]

Seriously?? I really think you are jumping the gun with this. This storm is days away from making landfall. Many things could happen between now and then. Nobody has predicted that this storm will make landfall any higher then a Cat. 3 and most say a Cat. 1 or 2. I think she can forego the Sharpie.

Lisa

 

[mom2boys]

My first response to her would be that it will be pretty inconvenient for you to have try to figure out what happened to her after Wilma hits. And it will be extremely inconvient if you have to ID her remains.

Harsh I know but she's being stubborn.

 

[Nancy]

Okay this is a bit ridiculous. Yes Wilma is a cat 5 right now. Cat. 5's cannot sustain themselves, they end up collapsing in on themselves and weakening. Also if she goes across the Yucatan Penninsula at all, that will affect her intensity, there is also some shear expected once it hits the gulf. Nothing indicates Wilma will be a Cat. 5 or Cat. 4 at landfall (at this point).

She wants her Mom to evacuate...do I think this is necessary? NO! Read my post, I said to tell her that to try and scare her into leaving...sorry if my advice got all your knickers in a knot!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

She wants her Mom to evacuate...do I think this is necessary? NO! Read my post, I said to tell her that to try and scare her into leaving...sorry if my advice got all your knickers in a knot!

Believe me, my knickers are not in a knot, it's kinda hard to do when you are wearing a thong. Thanks though for caring.

 

[Nancy]

Believe me, my knickers are not in a knot, it's kinda hard to do when you are wearing a thong. Thanks though for caring.

A thong! Thanks for sharing that!


edited to add: I have nothing against thongs, I might have given them a try when I was young and skinny...now that I am old and fat I am loving my big old grannie gotchies.

 

[KelNottAt]

Thanks for all the insight and agreement everyone. To answer a few questions...

Nope, they're not in a trailer. It's a large-ish Spanish-style rancher less than 1 year old.
Flood zone? I don't know. They're about 2 miles from the Gulf and about .5 mile from the river. The lot backs up to a man-made pond-lake so common in Fl.

I guess it they're not in a flood zone and, if there's no mandatory evac, then her argument has practical merit. However, I'm basing my reccomendation on a "better safe than sorry" common sense argument. Why on earth would she want her 84 yo mother (who requires oxygen 24-7) to possibly be stuck in a place with no electricity, especially A/C? Talk about inconvenient! I think that beats all.

{{sigh}} We still a day or 2 to convince her.

 

[pattyT]

A thong! Thanks for sharing that!

dental floss maybe others should try that