Rescue being refused!

[Mattie]

In many of the threads today there have been questions of why didn't they evcuate, why didn't these people see the danger, etc. etc. and I was sympathetic with some of them - no car, no money, no gas, walk where? 20 miles to the superdome, etc.. were some of the thoughts that have been going through my head.

BUT - a news report said that a boat came by to rescue a man off of his roof and he refused to be rescued because he was the water level fall 3 - 4 inches from the roof of his house. And he wasn't the only one that had refused rescue efforts!

I don't get it!!! Everything these people are sitting on is unsalvageable at this point!! Death wish perhaps?? If so, then why didn't he stay in the house and drown! Wasted rescue efforts on people who don't want to be rescued.

[ohiostorm]

Probably wanted to stay with the house or was being stubborn. Might have thoguht that he would never get back in if he left.

[coolwater]

That ish is bananas!

[MomH]

One man refused rescue because the people next door were trapped in their attic and couldn't get out. He sent rescue team there first. I am sure they must have gone back for him.

[alicia-w]

a guy in our office has family there. he was able to convince his in-laws to evacuate to here. they brought nothing with them but a few clothes. No important papers, nothing.

A lot of these folks have lived in these places for generations without being savaged by a hurricane like this. Many of them are in denial. Oh, it'll go the other way, or It wont come here.

[inotherwords]

I'm sure they have those who also think the water will recede in a day or so. Sad to say, but a lot of people fear most what they don't understand. They fear leaving more than they fear staying, when it should be the other way around. Even if you explain it to them they don't get it. It's a lack of education, or common sense, or an inability to let go, or a combination of all of these.

[shaggy]

nobody can say for sure why he refused but a very disturbing thought is that maybe his loved ones were inside and dead and he just couldn't leave them!?!?! theres so many possibilites its just unfortunate any way you look at it

[blueeyes_austin]

Or he has his remaining possessions in his attic and doesn't want the looters to get them.

My dad and uncle spent a week in a boat with rifles guarding their possessions following Betsy.

[HurriCat]

a guy in our office has family there. he was able to convince his in-laws to evacuate to here. they brought nothing with them but a few clothes. No important papers, nothing.

A lot of these folks have lived in these places for generations without being savaged by a hurricane like this. Many of them are in denial. Oh, it'll go the other way, or It wont come here.

As much as we think we are removed from "nature", it is obvious that in these situations we are seeing the human form of natural selection. Those in-laws were "wary" and escaped the predator. Many of those who stayed did not. It's ironic, that in an area with casino gambling, we see the winners and losers in a terrible high-stakes event.

When considering dangerous weather or the latest hideous crime that someone has committed upon an old woman or child, I recall the line by the little girl Newt in the movie Aliens: "Mommy said that there aren't any monsters - not real ones... BUT THERE ARE".