Opal storm wrote:vbhoutex wrote:Unfortunately dh many are virtually clueless when it comes to Tropical Cyclones and what they can do. Even though many have seen it on TV most say "it won't happen here", I can handle it" and they find out they were wrong when it is too late. It is a quandry for emergency management as a whole because they are damned if they are wrong and people evacuate "for no reason" and they are criticised in situations like this when people were told to get the heck out of dodge but chose not to. ANYONE anywhere near water with even a possibility of storm surge geting near you should evacuate to higher ground as well as anyone not in a strong permanent type of home. That is why EM sets up shelters. They are not just for the homeless or less fortunate. They are for everyone and they are set up for a purpose-to save lives and give people a place to go when their homes are in danger. An example of what could happen is Hurricane Camille. If it had come into the Pensacola area, the home I lived in there, which was 17 feet above sea level, would have been completely under water!! Just look at what happened to the I10 bridge over P'cola bay and you know what can happen. Listen to EOM officials!!1 They do not tell people to evacuate just for the heck of it!!
A lot of those neighborhoods that were wiped out by storm surge were not thought of being threateded by storm surge,even in a cat 3 like Ivan.Some of those neighborhoods were not even told to evacuate.I don't blame them for staying becuase it's not their fault,how could they've known?These people are not idiots,if they would've known what was going to happen do you think they would've stayed???After seeing what Ivan did,i'm sure those neighborhoods will be empy when another hurricane threatens.
I was not being insensitive to anyone. No one called them idiots. I grew up in Gulf Breeze and know the entire Pensacola area quite well. ANYONE that lives very close to water knows they are subject to storm surge in any strong Hurricane unless they are completely clueless and pay no attention whatsoever to the weather and/or their surroundings. Note my example concerning Camille. We were not told to evacuate, but would have had she not continued on the path she took. I have sympathy for those who lost all, but unfortunately living on or near the water does have its' risks and those living in those areas should be well versed in what the consequences of living in their area could be. It is called taking responsibility for your own life and property.
This just happened to be the thread that received my venom, there are many others that are deserving.
