Why didn't Floridians prepare for Wilma.

[Tstormwatcher]

After watching the news lately about people having to stand in line for food, water, and gas only one day after Wilma hit, it makes me wonder why didn't they prepare for Wilma. They had some four or five days warning that she was coming. And after seeing what happened last year and earlier this year, I cannot believe that these people were dumb enough to not prepare and then whine about the government not bailing them out of their own stupidity. sorry for the rant.

[Vandora]

That's a good question. I don't know anyone who didn't prepare... The only thing most people I know NEED is ice. Which makes sense, because without a freezer, ice only keeps so long.

I don't know why anyone didn't prepare. I hear on the news that "we didn't expect this" but if they didn't, they weren't paying attention.

[arkess7]

dont know??? maybe some were poor....or maybe some were just plain ignorant!!! yea i did see alot of people on the news saying "we werent expecting this"..........my god......i guess some people just dont understand the strength of hurricanes??????

[Windsong]

Good point. They were told to have 72 hours of supplies on hand, over and over.

Here's some food for thought: When bird flu becomes a world wide health threat, what then? Better rethink the on-hand food and water supplies, cause if the military is implementing quarintines, and people are sick, who wants to stand in some line some where hoping to get food?

Windsong

[O Town]

I totally agree with what you are saying. I am not rich and was debating on getting stuff I may or may not need, but I ended up spending the money and doing it. Water, can and box food, gas(for the van, and generator), batteries. We will use them adventually I know, but spending the money as little as you might think it is, I wasn't sure I wanted to do unless we had to. But going theough Charley and his last unexpected move made me think, ecspecially with 3 kids, I want to be prepared. So beats me why people would not prepare, unless maybe they could not afford it. 20-50 bucks for some people is alot of money. And then you have the people, they are everywhere, that have not a lick of common sense. It is human nature. There is always going to be the people who don't prepare, don't understand but it will always be that way no matter how much they have seen and learned. Sad but true.

~Kelly

[arkess7]

very awesome post OTown!!!!

Amy

[Lindaloo]

Most of us on the Gulf Coast were prepared for after the storm. Who'da thunk that our supplies would have been washed away.

[furluvcats]

Folks should be prepared, but like someone said earlier, you'll always have those who don't heed warnings...we have to be there for them, reguardless, its what we do as a nation.

I'll be honest...I was in FL for Wilma, and had I known how bad it was going to be all the way in Brevard Co. I would have evacuated earlier in the week. The storm was downplayed in the media, "only a Cat 2 or cat 1 at landfall expected"..."no major stregnthing"...etc etc... I never want to experience another night of tornado outbreaks again...it was awful, and scary. The storm itself was pretty awesome in rainfall and winds, but the night leading up to it was something I'll never forget...

[gratefulnole]

What bothered me more than so many not being prepared was those that were complaining about FEMA just 24 hours after the storm rather than admit that they were stupid and didn't prepare. With approximately 8 million affected by Wilma just 5% not preparing is 400,000 people, but it being south Florida you would think everyone would be ready with 5 days advance warning. The worst part about it is that there are people who were prepared but lost everything and now have to wait in line for necessities with those who lost nothing but just didn't bother to go to the grocery store last week.

[K4Gators]

Of course, millions of people were affected and were NOT standing in line. It's just harder for reporters to find those people because they are home using the water, ice and non-perishable food they prepared ahead of time. Many, probably most, people do something to prepare. To interview the folks who didn't and are standing in line is a little one-sided.

[sponger]

I'll tell you the one thing I heard over and over was " I didnt think it would be that bad" It all comes down to a west coast landfall combined with a population that is distracted with other things. Many didnt fill their gas tanks or get cash, an absolute necessity. Fortunately for my parents I was loaded to the teeth with supplies and fuel, but was amazed they didnt have any food.

[Ixolib]

Most of us on the Gulf Coast were prepared for after the storm. Who'da thunk that our supplies would have been washed away.

I heard 'dat!!

By the way, DHweather is working on getting the video at the Beau uploaded, so hopefully we'll soon have the link up and working. It's pretty amazing stuff!! Tsunami may be overstating it a bit, but the onslaught of that water is unreal - and quite eye-opening!!

[Lindaloo]

Looking forward to seeing the video.

[wayoutfront]

What I found amazing was that I was just in Dade county an inspected homes from Katrina.not 3 weeks ago..and in the poor sections.

I would say 75% of the homes had cases of FEMA water and MRES stacked up

not making any analysis. Its just an observation..

[HurricaneBill]

I think some people figured it would do the same as Dennis, Katrina, and Rita. Wilma would fall apart just prior to landfall.

The forecasts said strong shear and cooler waters would cause Wilma to steadily weaken prior to landfall. There was the slim possibility Wilma might landfall as a Cat 3.

Unfortunately, the slim chance occured.

1. Wilma moved over the warm loop in the Gulf. Had she been a bit further north, she would have been passing over cooler waters.

2. The trough and front put Wilma in a position that allowed her to strengthen. The same thing happened with Alex and Charley last year.

3. Her fast pace meant less time under the shear.

4. Like intensity, shear can be difficult to forecast. In this case, the shear didn't become as strong as forecasted.

5. As ragged as it looked, Wilma's large eye was another factor in her strengthening. Hurricanes with large eyes tend to fight off shear much better.

[Aquawind]

maybe some were poor....or maybe some were just plain ignorant!!!

Seem like income plays a very large role in planning and preparation.. and even the wealthy and educated are still ignorant of what even a hurricane can do..not just in S Florida though.. Pre and Post Storm planning and executing are expensive and offer many hurdles that are difficult to fix at the last minute..soo people take their chances and it hurts sometimes..

Clearly a few people are not in a position to help themselves and in serious life threatening situations they rely on someone else to take care of them..In those cases we could be more proactive and evidently need to be..

Paul

[yzerfan]

Yeah, an extra $50 can be a lot for some families, but it's not like you need to buy supplies in one big swoop. A gallon of potable store brand water goes for about $0.79. Starting in March, pick one up every week when you go to the grocery stores. Look through the sales flyers at the store for buy one-get one free sales for things like tuna, canned vegetables, crackers, and canned soup. An extra $2-$3 per week, and you can have the food needs part of the hurricane kit taken care of by July.

[Derek Ortt]

will have to convince some of the "poor" in Miami, especially Overtown, to stop spending money on drugs and actually finish school so they can get decent jobs, so that they have the money to prepare.

The money for basic preps is there. I should know, as an undergrad, money was tight, yet I was ALWAYS able to prepare for everything. Its just that some have not figured this concept out yet

[zlaxier]

It's not so easy Derek. As you should know, outside of the magnets, Dade County schools are mostly garbage.

[stu]

Despite the argument “they were too poor to evacuate / or stock up” the over all reason why this storm took many by surprise was simply apathy.

Of all the hurricanes that I have intercepted – what really struck me about Wilma was the lack of preparation beforehand. I understand that there was a mandatory evacuation South and West of Highway 41 – yet there was hardly any evidence of storm shutters being put up, no lines at the gas stations, stores had not run out of supplies in fact none of the normal rush and panic as is found when a hurricane is hading towards land.

The Katrina affect evacuated some 5.2 million people from Texas, only for Rita to make land fall in a less populated area.

The Rita affect meant that many did not leave Florida and due to Wilma crossing the Everglades – I am sure that there will be a Rita/Wilma affect for the next major landfall.

Honestly I went to the beach area on the Sunday to film the waves – I was shocked at the scene at the beach. People walking, playing ball and surfing. I spoke to a few people who all said that Wilma would not be that bad. Even old people who would not be able to fend for them selves if the worst happened.

Overall what struck in my mind was the following….

I asked a life guard what he was doing to prepare for Wilma. He just shrugged his shoulders and said

“Surf!”