Texas mandatory evcuations

[corpusbreeze]

I have been reading in the paper that a new bill will be signed into law requiring mandatory evacuations of coastal areas of Texas if a cat 3 storm or larger approaches.I'm on the fence about this. I hate the government telling me one more thing I have to do. Then again it could save lives. I'm not sure how well it will work here in Texas. Others states have this program. I'm curious how it works in other states. Does everybody go that are told to go? I read the Governor will sign some time next week, and will take effect immediately. Next thing they will mandate everyone to use seat belts! Where will it end?

[Cookiely]

It may be mandatory but people don't always go. The police tell you if you stay to please use a black marker and write your name in large letters on your right thigh so they can identify your body. Also, to give a phone number of your next of kin. I'm dead serious.

[Derek Ortt]

I believe that Mississippi has a truly mandatory evacuation, and the FL Keys have a total evacuation law.

The other states, mandatory means that you receive ZERO emergency assistance during the storm

[GalvestonDuck]

I'm all for it.

We were chewing our nails here a couple of years ago during Lili and the UTMB admins were so danged certain about the turn towards LA that no one even went into preliminary prep mode. Of course, she did turn, but by the time she did, it would have been too late to get everything ready and evacuate the island if it hadn't happened and they didn't know that it was definitely going to happen. Wait...did that make sense? I hope so.

All I know is I'm not gonna hang around until the last minute to wrap up computer parts and peripherals in plastic bags. I hope IF the need arises, they will make the decision early enough so that they can dismiss us in time so we can hit the road.

[Aquawind]

Thing is no matter what the law says in this case none of the local officials enforecing this law have the tools or time to do it.. No way are they going to get to bang on every door.. not unless the National Guard comes in and that would be pretty drmamatic TV coverage..lol

They still have to make a point about the seriousness of the need to evacuate and they will arrest some people in the process as an example if anything. Of course you will always find somebody who will die before leave and fight anyone who will enforce it. Enforcement is certainly not worth getting shot over...

I definately agree people need to evacuate in flood prone areas or face being arrested and or fined.. A big fine would be effective at getting the point accross and take fewer resources.. Unfortuantely not hauling them away still defeats the purpose but hpefully they live and feel the pain of a fine instead. Heck comitting suicide is against the law and riding out a major cane with flood waters up to the roof not to mention a Storm Surge could be considered suicide..

Paul

[MWatkins]

Psychologically, we know for a fact that people will tend to evacuate more when the word manditory is attached to the order.

It just seems silly to me that Texas does not have the power to issue manditory evacuations given the state's checkered history in this area (see Galveston, 1900). Although that was a different era, although manditory evacuations won't change Emergency Response very much it may very well help folks who otherwise wouldn't respond to get out.

From a personal experience, a law enforcement officer knocked on my Miami Beach hotelroom door at 8AM on Sunday, August 23rd to tell me I had to leave. And that had a profound impact om my decisions from that point forward that Sunday.

MW

[Derek Ortt]

I know in FL that you cannot be forced to leave. I live in Dade evac zone B, which was under a mandatory evacuation for Frances (the moron of a mayor was responsible for that... since when would offshore tropical storm force winds bring 10 feet of tidal surge across the barrier islands and onto the mainland); however, I ignored it. Remained safely at my apt with the full confidence that I would be safe.

One cannot be forced to leave their home in FL. We are just on our own once the storm hits. I can handle 35 m.p.h. sustained with gusts to 50 easily

[Brent]

I don't think anyone should be "forced", but they should know that if they stay and they are injured in some way or are trapped under debris that rescuers will not be there to save them(this is not referring to you Derek, I also thought the Miami evac was stupid). This is for people who stay when it's obvious they'll be slammed by the eye/surge.

[Cookiely]

I believe that Mississippi has a truly mandatory evacuation, and the FL Keys have a total evacuation law.

The other states, mandatory means that you receive ZERO emergency assistance during the storm

In the Keys do they arrest you if you refuse to go? Evac you in a paddy wagon? How are they sure that people are complying?

[mobilebay]

I believe that Mississippi has a truly mandatory evacuation, and the FL Keys have a total evacuation law.

The other states, mandatory means that you receive ZERO emergency assistance during the storm

In the Keys do they arrest you if you refuse to go? Evac you in a paddy wagon? How are they sure that people are complying?

And they mean ZERO Derek, everyone heard the 911 calls during Ivan. They would not respond.

[SeaBrz_FL]

The quandary for the emergency officials, at least here on east coast central Florida, is that there is not enough public evac space on the mainland to host the coastal residents that they would order to leave. Therefore, the officials no longer arrest people like in years before.

Last year, in Cape Canaveral, they came through with bull horns twice, and then asked people to come outside to file "next of kin" forms.

Leave it to Daytona (LOVE YOU ALL!) to think of the "thigh writing solution" ... I like it!

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SB

[corpusbreeze]

Here in the Corpus and surrounding areas, do not have shelters open anymore. The nearest shelter is inland around San Antonio. Not everybody has the means to evacuate inland 150 mile. Now Texas will have a mandatory evacuation law, but how are they going to transport thousands of people inland to the nearest shelter? They need to reopen local shelter again if needed. Its crazy they don't. How is it in other parts of the country?

[Derek Ortt]

for the keys, one is NOT arrested for a mandatory evacuation. I am not sure about a total evacuation, though I do know that ina total evacuation, there are ZERO shelters available in the keys (shelters are available during a mandatory evcuation)

[Derek Ortt]

yes brent, stupid is the nicest way of putting the Miami mainland evacuation during hurricane Frances. Head a jokle givne by my music prof last year when someone flipped someone off in class. He asked if that was his way of showing the class his IQ. Well, the answer should have been, no, thats the IQ of our idiotic mayor of Miami-Dade County. Only someonw with a lone iQ point could even consider evacuating the mainland of Miami-Dade for Frances. Would have amde far more sense for Jeanne as it was stronger and has a better chance of bringing hurricane force winds to the area