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

[Miss Jasmine]

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.

Well no, your grandma should not stay there since she needs electricity, but in your first post you said your mom was going to take her to Gainesville.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

dental floss iw ould be cranky too

Better than granny panties all shoved up there, which is what happens. Sorry I don't mean to hijack your thread, OP. I am just trying to be helpful, really.

 

[Kimberly]

If she isn't in a flood zone and her house can withstand 150 mph plus winds (some very modern homes can easily), then I don't see why she should evacuate. The farthest she could evacuate anyways is probably to a local city hall or school, where shelters normally are.

 

[KelNottAt]

Well no, your grandma should not stay there since she needs electricity, but in your first post you said your mom was going to take her to Gainesville.

Yes, you're right, I did say that. And I hope she does take her. But since they haven't left yet and haven't contacted the Gainesville friends yet, I'll believe it when I see it. Sorry for the apparent contradiction.

 

[KellyLynn]

My cousin lost her house in charley, they lived with my aunt almost a year until thier house was rebuilt. They are leaving.

If you have never lived through a storm as bad as Charley or Katrina it is fine to say stay there and take a wait and see attitude, If Wilma is as unpredictiable as charley was there is no telling where it will hit where it will turn and what cat it will be at landfall. I just saw that it could come on land as a Cat 4 , I would leave.


Hope your mom is safe no matter what she does

 

[froglady]

Our local Publix has hurricane guides which, along with what to keep on hand, how to prepare, etc., has a map of evacuation routes and flood zones, and a listing of who should evacuate depending upon the storm Category. I think your mother should at LEAST find out what level of evacuation her home is. (I'm a Cat 5)

Ours also gives alternate routes which don't involve the major freeways. (Or at least bypass them as much as possible.)

I would also think that the local newspaper would be printing it about now.

 

[Disney Doll]

I will preface my remarks by saying that I know storms are unpredictable.

That being said...the most recent info I saw was that they thought she'd weaken going across the Gulf...I forget the reason why, because I know that is not what normally happens... and would make landfall as probably a Category 3 on the southwest coast of Florida or the Keys.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I live in Orlando, and these things freak me out. I am going to my inlaws house on Friday night and spend the weekend. After Charlie and roofs everywhere flying off, I don't play. I have a responsibility to keep my children safe so we are leaving and going to Deltona. I know that isn't much farther away than we are, but the inlaws have a safer house than we do, (we live in a manufactured house) so I know I will be safer there. We are going out in a little while to fill up the car and buy all the supplies we will need. I am going to be ahead of the game this year, just in case something comes this way.

 

[riu girl]

Can someone share with me what areas on the SW coast of Florida have been told to evacute?
Thank you
Suzy V

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Can someone share with me what areas on the SW coast of Florida have been told to evacute?
Thank you
Suzy V

As far as I know, none. Today is the day when decisions will start being made. But really the forecast isn't set enough in stone at this point. A lot of things could still happen, it won't be until after Wilma either goes across, skirts or missed the Yucatan Penninsula that we will really know.

Hmm there maybe a voluntary evacuation today for low lying areas, mobile homes, etc. in Collier County. That's all I have found so far, but I haven't really checked out emergency management yet today (crazy day already).

 

[Conversationist]

I understand from the Weather Channel that the storm is dying and down to only 145 MPH. Your mother should be fine!

 

[minkydog]

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

Now is the time to make decisions about leaving. Katrina was only a Cat. 3, I believe Rita was a Cat 2-3 and look how much damage they caused. My sister lives 150 miles inland (Meridian, MS) and they had 400 trees down.The power was out for 7 days. No water for 2 days. She just got her phone restored LAST NIGHT! Katrina was a Cat 1 when it hit her home.

OP, I know you are so worried. my mother did the same thing prior to Katrina. I live about 400 miles away and was calling her, begging her to leave Mobile. Even if her home is undamaged, I just wanted her not to be alone during a dangerous storm.

As it turned out, she did leave. When she came back, her house was unharmed and her power came on within 24 hrs. However, she had to rescue some friends who were without power and suffering heat related illnesses within a couple days. If she had not found them, they might have really been in trouble due to their isolation. Since Katrina, my mother has re-evaluated her stance on "staying during a hurricane" and decided that it wasn't fair to her children to make them worry so much.

 

[KelNottAt]

UPDATE...They're leaving!

Apparently DGm pulled rank on Mom and insisted they head to Gainesville by noon today.

Keep in mind, DGm was not motivated by the potential danger of the approaching storm. She simply didn't want to be caught in a miserable traffic jam if/when a mandatory evac is ordered. Whatever. At least they're going. Thank goodness.


And thanks for all the great hurricance education and discussion from the Dis!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

UPDATE...They're leaving!

Apparently DGm pulled rank on Mom and insisted they head to Gainesville by noon today.

Keep in mind, DGm was not motivated by the potential danger of the approaching storm. She simply didn't want to be caught in a miserable traffic jam if/when a mandatory evac is ordered. Whatever. At least they're going. Thank goodness.


And thanks for all the great hurricance education and discussion from the Dis!

I'm glad they came to a decision. They'll be in Gainesville though for some time (Wilma isn't expected to make her Florida appearance until Sunday night/Monday now). Tell them to go by Burrito Brothers for me. Thanks!

 

[FINFAN]

Glad to know they have reached a decision. Now my Dad is waffleing and wants to use the shelter in Naples if needed, and my Mom wants to head north/inland. They keep switching who wants to do what. My poor brother is trying to make arrangements, the est. landfall day keeps getting pushed back (which is good, more time) so they keep altering their hotel ressies, hotel is getting irritated. My mom has medical issues that cannot allow her to sit in a car for more than 2/3 hours,( so they know the ride will be long and divided up, getting caught in traffic is a major concern) and the shelter situation is not much better. She really should be near a hospital or medical facility. Like you, it is the loss of power after the storm that is concerning me more, not having toilet use etc. It is one thing for young, able bodied poeple to ride out the storm, it is quite another for someone with health issues that are constant, yet not to the level of a nursing home. Not to mention the shelters are basically for the duration of the hurricane/tornadoes etc. that can occur. It is not meant to house people for weeks. These things do need to be factored in.

 

[minkydog]

It is one thing for young, able bodied poeple to ride out the storm, it is quite another for someone with health issues that are constant, yet not to the level of a nursing home. Not to mention the shelters are basically for the duration of the hurricane/tornadoes etc. that can occur. It is not meant to house people for weeks. These things do need to be factored in.

You make an excellent point. After Katrina, my sister spent 7 days in a Red Cross shelter. She's in good health, but needs electricity to operate her CPAP so she can breathe at night. Older people often have chronic heart ailments, diabetes, high blood pressure and other things which put them at greater risk on a good day. If your parents need any type of special care during a crisis, like medicines, oxygen, or mobility issues, they should seek shelter at one of the special needs Red Cross shelters. They are better equipped to manage folks with complicated issues.

OP, so glad Grandma prevailed. It sounds like she's a wise lady.

 

[LisaR]

Now is the time to make decisions about leaving. Katrina was only a Cat. 3, I believe Rita was a Cat 2-3 and look how much damage they caused. My sister lives 150 miles inland (Meridian, MS) and they had 400 trees down.The power was out for 7 days. No water for 2 days. She just got her phone restored LAST NIGHT! Katrina was a Cat 1 when it hit her home.

I agree, now is the time to make decisions. However, now is not the time to panic and write your name on your arm with a Sharpie which is what I responded to when you quoted me. Anyone in the cone should be prepared. If you are elderly and won't do well without electricity for awhile, you should evacuate. If you live in a trailer or manufactured home or flood zone, you should evacuate. If you have medical needs, you should evacuate. If it will just make you feel better to leave, then you should.

I just get offended by the people that make assumptions that everyone needs to evacuate and if they don't, they are stupid and will die. People need to be prepared and have a plan in place. Wilma has slowed down. She is expected to make landfall as a Cat. 1 or 2. Those that live in safe homes with shutters and can survive without electricity and possibly water for a time do not need to evacuate. Only you know your individual situation.

Lisa

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I just get offended by the people that make assumptions that everyone needs to evacuate and if they don't, they are stupid and will die. People need to be prepared and have a plan in place. Wilma has slowed down. She is expected to make landfall as a Cat. 1 or 2. Those that live in safe homes with shutters and can survive without electricity and possibly water for a time do not need to evacuate. Only you know your individual situation.

Lisa

Exactly!!!!!

 

[kimber79]

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

As you said in another post *only you know your individual situation*, but quite frankly I think it is crazy to say you would never leave for a Cat. 3 or 4 storm. We vacationed on Captiva Island early Nov. 04 just barely 2 months after Hurricane Charlie. This was such a powerful storm that took everyone by surprise ~ he was totally unpridictable.....he suddenly strengthened, and suddenly turned and surprised all. We talked to a few local people on the island during our stay there, and they chose to stay during Hurricane Charley being that he *was not supposed to directly* affect them. All those that we talked to said they will NEVER stay for another one.

My heart goes out to all of you as I do not know what it is like to have to deal with these storms ~ I am only a Floridian *want to be*! Some day I will be a resident though! Please be safe, and make the best decision that you can! Please remember these storms have a mind of their own, and are totally unpredicable ~ BE SAFE!!

 

[LisaR]

As you said in another post *only you know your individual situation*, but quite frankly I think it is crazy to say you would never leave for a Cat. 3 or 4 storm. /I][/B]!!

We have 220 homes in our subdivision. The damage after Frances and Jeanne included a lot of landscape damage, many screened porches that had collapsed and water damage for those that didn't shutter. Most of the water came in under front doors. Structurally, nobody had what I would call major damage (this was reported in our subs newsletter). There wasn't a single blue tarp in our neighborhood. Some that didn't shutter did have some windows blow out. Maybe it was just a fluke and we were lucky.

The "shelter" just down the street from me lost its roof in the middle of the hurricane and had to evacuate the people to another shelter DURING the storm. I think my house is much safer then a local shelter.

Evacuating for a hurricane was 1000 times more stressful then staying for one (at least for us). We drove through some of the worst weather I have ever witnessed with tornado warnings all around us. And yes, we evacuated DAYS before the storm. There were accidents because idiots felt the need to drive at 80 mph in a blinding storm. We sat ON the expressway for two hours waiting for gas. ON the expressway! Cars were whipping past while the left lane was at a stand still waiting for gas. Little kids were crossing over barriers with their parents to trek up to the bathrooms. People were walking their dogs in the median of the expressway. I have never seen so many people walking on an expressway in my life. Quite a dangerous situation, IMO.

After all of that, it is then a crap shoot if you picked the right place to evacuate to. We were lucky and picked Naples. Two families we know picked Tampa. One had the first floor of their hotel flood and the other had the parking garage where their car was park flood. They had to find a rental to drive back because they couldn't get their car fixed. Neither had power or water for the three days they were there after the storm. Both live in a home like mine and didn't have any damage.

Maybe "never" is the wrong word to use. I would evacuate if and only if I felt there was a need for my family to get out. It would be VERY, VERY unlikely that a Cat. 3 or 4 would cause us to leave. I can only look at our past experiences and base my decisions on that. What happened with Katrina does not factor into my decision making process at all. I do not live in a bowl.

Lisa