Its not the leaving...

[hicksta]

Buts its the coming back that is always the worst time when you evactuate... Anyone else think this is true.

[Jim Cantore]

if you come back to nothing yes, just an opinion, the people affected by storms like Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Andrew, Camille, and Hugo would have better insight then me though, note my location.

[windycity]

coming back , and cleaning up ! Not to mention the drive back home!

[flashflood]

It is very stressful trying to get back. I was stuck in Houston for 4 days waiting to fly out to Miami after Wilma. I did not evacuate, I just happened to be visiting Houston a week before the Hurricane.

When I finally got back, I had a huge mess waiting for me as my shed and all of its contents were spread out all over the yard. I got lucky that there was no roof damage. I was very stressed out that I had water damage and my house would be full of mold by the time I got there. Some of my stuff could have been saved from the shed, and also from the neighborhood kids if I were there.

The material things can be replaced, but the stress of trying to get back was really bad, don't want to go through that again.

[Scorpion]

That's why my idea would be to ride out the storm, make sure everything is fine, and then if the power situation is looking grim get the heck outta dodge.

[CHRISTY]

WOW this topic i can relate to very much.....all i can say after liveing threw hurricane andrew i felt i was going to loose my life during those howling winds,that night will always stay in the back of my mind i think once u go something like that it stays with u forever no matter what,there are so many people that live in south florida that have no idea what a major hurricane is like or actually after many years of study andrew was a cat 5 at landfall so i really dont know how to put it in perspective all i can say iam very thankful me and husband made it threw.PLEASE PEOPLE HAVE A HURRICANE PLAN IN PLACE FOR U AND YOUR FAMILY U HAVE SIX MONTHS TO TAKE CARE OF IT...hurricane andrew was a very rare thing until we hit this active cycle but this year or the next it will happen again.

[Jagno]

Sorry but even coming back to a destroyed home wasn't nearly as hard as leaving my husband and two oldest sons behind when I left with my youngest to evacuate. They were all on lockdown for emergency relief and recovery.

Coming home was heart wrenching as it occurred to me early on that had I not lived here all my life I would not have been able to find my own home. The landscape and landmarks (not even street signs were left) were gone or severely destroyed. I cried but not for my home......................my beautiful city was in absolute ruins as though we'd been bombed. I always knew the house could be rebuilt but the lives were scared forever.

[CajunMama]

That's why my idea would be to ride out the storm, make sure everything is fine, and then if the power situation is looking grim get the heck outta dodge.

You might feel different about evacuating once you have other lives you are responsible for. You are a teenager without children (hopefully) and i find that many teenagers (not all and maybe not you) seem to think these powerful storms are fun and games until you are inconvenienced by loss of electrical power.

[windycity]

Christy, great post. Most people dont have a clue what its like to go through a cat 4-5 hurricane, myself for one. Preparation is the key, and if staying is your desision ,then you better know way ahead of time ,that the dwelling is built to withstand 150+ winds. Alot of buildings fail ,and alot wont. You need to do your homework ahead of time and dont assume anything . I think the brave soels that went through Andrew, Charly, and any another 4 or 5 storm, could teach all of us what its really like. And hopfully, gain knowledge from their experience.

[windycity]

Ya know, its not the lack of power after wards, that really stinks, but you deal with it . Its not knowing what the hurricane is going to do. that is very nerve racking. Can you imagine not having a computer , having only tv or radio to get info? Now , thats a scary thought.

[rockyman]

That's why my idea would be to ride out the storm, make sure everything is fine, and then if the power situation is looking grim get the heck outta dodge.

I have never understood this line "ride out the storm"...If this storm were so easy to "ride," then no one would need to evacuate...When a storm surge comes, the young and vigorous are not better off than the old and infirm...When a 2x4 smashes you in the head, it's not gonna make one bit of difference whether you have power for your computer, air conditioner, and playstation. If you are ordered to evacuate, GET OUT. I, for one, wish the government would enforce evacuation orders and physically remove people...I know it can be done.

[flashflood]

Christy, great post. Most people dont have a clue what its like to go through a cat 4-5 hurricane, myself for one. Preparation is the key, and if staying is your desision ,then you better know way ahead of time ,that the dwelling is built to withstand 150+ winds. Alot of buildings fail ,and alot wont. You need to do your homework ahead of time and dont assume anything . I think the brave soels that went through Andrew, Charly, and any another 4 or 5 storm, could teach all of us what its really like. And hopfully, gain knowledge from their experience.

My house design did actually very well during Hurricane Andrew. All of the 1 story houses just like mine had minor damages. However!, all of the two story houses had MAJOR damage, including loss of roofs, blown in garage doors, windows and structural damage. The two story homes have wooden second floors, and very wide garage doors with no support, the 1 story houses are all brick, with supported gabled ends and hurricane straps in concrete.

I have no problem "riding" out, if you will, another Andrew. I am not in an evacuation area, and I have a "Safe Room" all planned out. I will leave the evacuation to others who NEED to go. I feel fortunate that I do not have the hassle of evacuating and returning, as others do.

I do have friends who lived on Miami Beach and were extremely upset that they closed that city and they got stuck for 12 hours in their car on the road. Of-course they said they will never evacuate again, but I'm sure they got over it by now, at least I hope.

[Roxy]

I, for one, wish the government would enforce evacuation orders and physically remove people...I know it can be done.

Sorry I disagree. It's not the goverments job to be your Mommy, if peopel want to stay they do so at their own risk. As long as they understand that (and I understand in some places law enforcement forces people to sign a waiver that says as much) then let them stay, it's not your problem.

Lots of folks here in Houston won't leave next time, myself included. If I do leave it'll be at the last minute when the roads are dead. I have no children so I can say this and not feel bad about it.

Flashflood said:

I will leave the evacuation to others who NEED to go

if all those people who didn't NEED to go in Houston had stayed put, then the people who NEEDED to get out could have.

[windycity]

I couldnt agree more!

[ROCK]

I, for one, wish the government would enforce evacuation orders and physically remove people...I know it can be done.

Sorry I disagree. It's not the goverments job to be your Mommy, if peopel want to stay they do so at their own risk. As long as they understand that (and I understand in some places law enforcement forces people to sign a waiver that says as much) then let them stay, it's not your problem.

Lots of folks here in Houston won't leave next time, myself included. If I do leave it'll be at the last minute when the roads are dead. I have no children so I can say this and not feel bad about it.

Flashflood said:

I will leave the evacuation to others who NEED to go

if all those people who didn't NEED to go in Houston had stayed put, then the people who NEEDED to get out could have.

So agree with the last statement. A lot of people evaced as far north as Cypress, Spring area. I guess they wanted to have piece of mind. I live in South of Houston and never made it out.

[Jim Cantore]

That's why my idea would be to ride out the storm, make sure everything is fine, and then if the power situation is looking grim get the heck outta dodge.

I have never understood this line "ride out the storm"...If this storm were so easy to "ride," then no one would need to evacuate...When a storm surge comes, the young and vigorous are not better off than the old and infirm...When a 2x4 smashes you in the head, it's not gonna make one bit of difference whether you have power for your computer, air conditioner, and playstation. If you are ordered to evacuate, GET OUT. I, for one, wish the government would enforce evacuation orders and physically remove people...I know it can be done.

Especially at your location, Dauphin Island is so prone to surge it's literally suicide to ride out a major Hurricane there

[Roxy]

I, for one, wish the government would enforce evacuation orders and physically remove people...I know it can be done.

Sorry I disagree. It's not the goverments job to be your Mommy, if peopel want to stay they do so at their own risk. As long as they understand that (and I understand in some places law enforcement forces people to sign a waiver that says as much) then let them stay, it's not your problem.

Lots of folks here in Houston won't leave next time, myself included. If I do leave it'll be at the last minute when the roads are dead. I have no children so I can say this and not feel bad about it.

Flashflood said:

I will leave the evacuation to others who NEED to go

if all those people who didn't NEED to go in Houston had stayed put, then the people who NEEDED to get out could have.

So agree with the last statement. A lot of people evaced as far north as Cypress, Spring area. I guess they wanted to have piece of mind. I live in South of Houston and never made it out.

Yep, we live in the Clear Lake area and didn't make it out either. But by Friday morning the roads were clear and we could have coasted out of town no problems. Of course by then, we knew it wasn't going to be too bad.

[benny]

It isn't much fun staying either! The aftermath just sucks.

[Dionne]

Evacuating after the storm is the worst. We left out around 2AM on Aug 30, to get the kids (college students). Our last communication with them was around 11AM Aug 29...........at which time they advised trees where falling on our home. It took us 12 hours to travel 90 miles. Cutting trees down that are tangled in power lines.........the entire grid went down. Natural gas leaks everywhere.

By all means....leave before the storm.