Why do some people ignore evacuation warnings

[Deb in IA]

and decide to "ride out" a hurricane?

I am so amazed to see people doing this. Although the news channels all show tons of folks streaming out of the predicted path, there are always some people who decide to stay.

Just last week, some people rode out Hurricane Frances in a MOBILE HOME at Fort Pierce!!!!

If it were me, especially with all the warning, I would have packed up all my irreplaceable treasures (photo albums and such), boarded up as much as I could, and high-tailed it out of there!!!

Now, why would someone want to stay, and risk getting killed?

And would YOU ever stay in the path of a major hurricane?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't know, maybe they have had a lot of warnings turn out to be nothing, maybe they are stubborn, maybe they are afraid of losing everything? I really don't know.

Personally, I'd leave. I'd pack up my dog in my car and as much of my stuff as could fit in my car and drive as far as I could out of the way. If I could not find a shelter or motel, I'd just rough it out in the car for a few days. I'd rather be in a car, out of the hurricane path than in a house in the hurricane path.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

If I had a strong home built to withstand hurricanes (not a modular home or mobile home) I would probably ride out a storm below category four.

 

[gina2000]

I think alot of people are concerned about their pets and their belongings. It's also difficult for older people. And some people are just stubborn.

I wouldn't ride out a hurricane. Many years ago I can remember NYC being shut down for the day because a hurricane was supposed to hit. It ended up hitting Fire Island and people who stayed were pretty terrified.

I also can't imagine being a weather forecaster standing in front of a camera to prove to everyone how bad the hurricane is. I think that's sheer lunacy.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Im staying

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
Im staying

 

[flaps]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
And would YOU ever stay in the path of a major hurricane?

conceivably, yes

however, the only time I've been in an evacuation situation (tornado), I evacuated

so...I dunno

 

[JayBee]

Money. Face it not everyone can afford to drive somewhere and pay for a motel for who knows how many nights.....I suspect most folks who live in Mobile homes have limited budgets. Instead of feeling so superior to them, we could show compassion. (shrug)

 

[Pete's Mom]

Well, the VP of our company who lives in Stuart, FL sent his wife and family to Tampa for safety but he rode out the storm. No major damage to his home but all of his trees in the yard were down. He had looters in the neighborhood every night so he's having to protect his property very closely.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by JayBee
Money. Face it not everyone can afford to drive somewhere and pay for a motel for who knows how many nights.....I suspect most folks who live in Mobile homes have limited budgets. Instead of feeling so superior to them, we could show compassion. (shrug)

While that may be true, in that case the people in mobile homes should be moving to the shelters. I highly doubt those charge.

Personally -- I don't know. I want to run every time any hurricane is coming this way, but last year when a Cat 1 came through, it was no big deal at all. I don't know whether that one just fizzled out as soon as it hit land or what, I just know that I'd seen more damage and heard worst winds during tropical storms.

So, I probably will ride out Cat 1's from now on, but Cat 2 is iffy, and anything Cat 3 +, I'm OUTTA Here.

 

[aimee11621]

Some folks do'nt have a way of getting around....too sick, or elderly.

Others are afraid of looters.

But too many can be just stubborn. It can't happen to me attitude.

Going to shelters is always an option but if your old and sick and need to sleep on floor it can be too difficult.
Not everyone has family or neighbors to help.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by Pete's Mom
Well, the VP of our company who lives in Stuart, FL sent his wife and family to Tampa for safety but he rode out the storm. No major damage to his home but all of his trees in the yard were down. He had looters in the neighborhood every night so he's having to protect his property very closely.

I would suspect THIS is one major reason. The thought that if you are THERE you can somehow protect your home and/or belongings.

I'd be gone in a heartbeat, though. Mother Nature is scary.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

My grandfather used to ignore the warnings all of the time. He was a stubborn old fisherman, and was set in his ways. The police even had to go to his door a few times to get him to evacuate. (ugh)

 

[msdznyduck]

Thankfully, we don't usually have such severe weather in NJ, but if a strong hurricane was predicted, and I lived in FL, I would be outta there.....you can always replace "stuff".

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

I am not stubborn but I will tell you that I am one that doesn't have the money to pick up and leave. I don't have family I can go stay with and my parents live next door to me so I would just assume stay with them and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them behind as they are stubborn.

We are in a level D evacuation area so we will be one of the last to be called to leave.

We also had some punks casing our neighborhood the other night when we were out of power so that is another fear.

There are many reasons why people don't leave, please don't bash them for it we all have fears of some sort.

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
Im staying

Party at Jason's.

I'm the type that would more than likely ignore the evacuation warning too. I would probably send my kids to my mom's or my brother's, but I would probably stay. Don't ask me why, I guess I'm just too curious to leave.

 

[plutolovr]

IT WAS STATED SOMEWHERE THAT BUILDING CODES WERE CHANGED AFTER ANDREW HIT FLORIDA. IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY DO THEY STILL ALLOW MOBILE HOMES.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYTIME FEDERAL AID IS NEEDED IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS. THESE MOBILE HOME PARKS NEED TO BE TORN DOWN IN HURRICANE AND TORNADO AREAS. PERIOD!

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

I don't know about Florida - but here in Myrtle Beach I know the reason that a lot of people give is that it is a MAJOR pain in the patootie to get back in after the evacuation has been lifted...they want to be able to "see" the damage and get back home and in the past it has been days beofre they let people back in.

Me? I stayed through two and they were cat. 2 and 3. We were here for Charley (they didn't expect much damage - WRONG!)which seemed worse then the previous two I was here for. I have vowed that in thr future somebody says "hurricane" and we are over the bridge and heading out! I don't care what damage is done to my home - I don't want to be a part of it

 

[chyam]

Originally posted by Chrissi Pooh
I am not stubborn but I will tell you that I am one that doesn't have the money to pick up and leave. I don't have family I can go stay with and my parents live next door to me so I would just assume stay with them and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them behind as they are stubborn.

We are in a level D evacuation area so we will be one of the last to be called to leave.

We also had some punks casing our neighborhood the other night when we were out of power so that is another fear.

There are many reasons why people don't leave, please don't bash them for it we all have fears of some sort.

I agree with this poster I too am living in FL and over the past few weeks we have been put in the situation several times, one time I say I will go the next I say I will not...............Looters is one of the reasons, being so far away and they don't always let you return right away is another, having no place to really run to or no family is also a consideration. Ivan is now supposed to be heading my way, I have prepared all I can do, I had said I was leaving but you know I don't think this one is one we will be able to outrun. All the people that left for Charley and went to Orlando fared worse than us in Tampa.
I don't think that anyone who has never been in this situation can really say exactly what they would do. I do know if I were in a mobile home or a modular home yes I would defineately go. But for anyone who has also spent days and days in a shelter you would know why some people do not want to do that again. The anxiety really begins to wear on peoples nerves, people become cranky, kids get whiny and cry and some people just can not deal with that. So instead of critizing people for their decisions or their lack of resources let's just pray and hope that this one heads out to sea, let people make their decisions on how best they think they can handle the situation. Shelters too have been damaged and people hurt and then again people have lived in wooden houses...............none of us know what the plan is for our futures. We just want to be with the things that mean the most to us, perhaps to some it is their homes, or their pets but it is something that brings us comfort and that is probably why we feel safest there.

 

[chyam]

Originally posted by plutolovr
IT WAS STATED SOMEWHERE THAT BUILDING CODES WERE CHANGED AFTER ANDREW HIT FLORIDA. IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY DO THEY STILL ALLOW MOBILE HOMES.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYTIME FEDERAL AID IS NEEDED IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS. THESE MOBILE HOME PARKS NEED TO BE TORN DOWN IN HURRICANE AND TORNADO AREAS. PERIOD!

You know what..........some people can not afford much more than a mobile home and still say they own a home, many of these residents are low income or elderly and it is THEIR home. I would much rather that the money that does come out of my pockets help these people than fighting wars in countries where those people hate us! The people in those mobile homes are just trying to live like all of us and they are probably the people that are working the hardest in this country, not all of us can be highly educated and living in the the suburbs............period