Dear Non-Floridians,
Rules when discussing the hurricane with Floridians need to be put in place- and I have elected myself to make the rules. I held a fair election and I won by a unanimous vote.
1) Calling people who don’t evacuate “idiots” or saying “they deserve what happens to them” is a judgement statement that without facts, you are not qualified to make. Take a step down off your pedestal please. You know it all. I get it.
We live in a state that is not the ‘Spring Breakers’ idea you have in your mind. We have more 55 plus communities than you can imagine. Elderly who can’t drive because of age, or leave because of finances. A lot of our elderly, don’t have “blood family” so they are relying on their “God made” family. We aren’t leaving our grandmas and grandpas behind alone to face Irma. They need younger people right now to make sure they have what they need to survive this storm and the devastation. Most of them have pets that are as old as they are. Just like your kids would be your priority, their furry companions are theirs.
2) Just go get a plane ticket! (You can’t just fly out.). Don’t make statements or give advice on how we should evacuate. You don’t have the knowledge of what we are up against. There are challenges of leaving. Flights out are being changed, cancelled, delayed. I can count a dozen or more friends who tried to get out (I’m looking at you mostly Delta) who spent 4 plus hours on hold trying to change flights. That’s unacceptable but a par for the course challenge now.
3) Don’t say “Get in your car and drive fast out” A) Gas stations are getting fuel still, but that fuel is gone before the lines are empty. b ) Things have gotten so crazy we now have police officers escorting oil tanker trucks for delivery. Let that sink in for a second. C) As an aside, i waited in line this afternoon and got.. 22 cents worth of gas in Starke. Wish I was kidding. D) even if you can get out where are you going to go? Last I heard the closest hotels were in .. Nashville.
B. ) There is no driving fast. Cars are moving 5-7 mph on highways trying to get to safety. The lines are long and imagine, with a gas shortage, being stuck on highways in jams for 12-15 hours.
4) Florida has one way out and that is through the top (Northern) part of the state. There are basically 2 major roads out. Those roads are jammed, backed up, and not expected to change.
5) To post “Florida is about to be wiped off the map” because you are watching the news reports and panicking from 3,000 miles away- is not the most uplifting thing for us to see. Plus, don’t speak your devastation to us. Be positive!
6) “If I lived in Florida, I would have evacuated a week ago.” Well I’m not so sure that you would have. It’s not that simple if you have a heart...not only that, you don’t know until the final days which path the storm is going to take. Homes have to be boarded. Things have to be done to ensure that if you do leave, you have somewhere to return. Then after our homes are secured, we again...have elderly who need their homes secured. So I’d say if you were here, you wouldn’t leave so fast.
7) Stop saying God is angry and that’s why Texas went through what Texas went through and that Florida is being hit.
God isn’t angry. Every person in the path of destruction was created in His image. Every person not in the path of destruction was created in His image. He is not angry. He is not judging us. He is not putting His wrath down. If you believe that, we don’t serve the Same God.
8.) “Go to a safer part of the state.” Yes, we thought of that. No one knows exactly what part that is. If Irma takes a turn it could hit the west coast- if we are all fleeing to the west coast because it says the east coast is the most dangerous, then that could be costly. We know what we need to do and we are monitoring the situation.
Feel free to stand in faith with us as we prepare for Irma’s arrival.
Feel Free to pray for divine intervention.
Feel Free to pray for our elderly, our people who can’t leave, our communities.
Feel Free to check on us, text us, call us. But, don’t text your fears of our demise. Don’t call us crying because you are scared for us.
We have a storm to conquer. As warriors we need to be healthy, mentally and physically. Your constant texts about impending death and destruction is counterproductive. Maybe it makes you feel better? If so. Go for it. If you’re a human, knock it off.
When your son or daughter or friend gets ready to go play in a competitive sport...before the game, do you call them and say ....
“you are going to lose”
“don’t show up for the game”
“The odds are against you”
I would hope not...well we are preparing to overcome this storm. Send us some prayers and encouragement! We welcome it! If you are going to do anything less than that, turn your TV or radio OFF and keep your mouth SHUT!
Rules will be strictly enforced...I don’t know how yet but don’t break them... Now, I have to go see what I can do to help my community get ready for Irma’s arrival.
God bless all, stay safe, love and help your neighbors!
#ProtectTheState #IrateIrma
My whole career was in Naples and I know what you are saying. I have many friends that are riding it out for whatever happens. Some are going to call me when its past and they can. Your advice is very good , its not something one can fathom living 3000 miles away. Its home and very difficult to leave if even possible.
Thank you! I have a daughter and 2 grandgirls in Gainesville, Fl. and they are not evacuating. My daughter has lived in various parts of Florida since 1995 and has been through numerous storms, one of which she rode out 2 blocks from the beach in Pensacola and said that was the scariest. They have a generator, plenty of propane for cooking, well water, and plenty of supplies. Irma will be a good deal weaker when it hits Gainesville, so I am praying they will be okay. You don’t know what it’s like until you live on the gulf coast. I’m almost 200 miles inland (in Alabama-same town AlasBabylon lives in now) from where Hurricane Opal came through but it hit my small town hard. I will never forget it. I can only imagine what Floridians and others in paths of hurricanes go through. Judgement should be reserved in these cases. It’s a personal choice which I think is what conservatives stand for.
Did I mention that my daughter in Florida is one half of my set of identical twins? What irony that she lives in Florida and was born on the peak day of Hurricane season...lol They will be 40 on Sunday. Since she is getting the hurricane, I sent her a nice edible arrangement...her sis in Alabama is getting 40 black crows on her yard with a big sign that says “Lordy, Lordy, M****** is 40!”....lol
Praying that no loss of life in Florida is found after the storm moves on...and it’s headed my way but should just mainly be rain...hope so!
Good rules.
Wife and I purchased 10 acres in North East Okeechobee this summary and are planning to build a home there in 2 years.
We will make sure it is as well built as possible.
One thing about evacuating is that, if you take the correct measures to secure you home from the storm and it survives in tack, I might not survive the looters. That is what I would be most afraid of and would want to be there to protect what I have worked all my life to build.
“”Send us some prayers and encouragement””
DONE! Your post is very well said!
I so appreciate your most heartfelt and sensible post. I just came in from going somewhere with a well-meaning friend who was spouting off about “why didn’t everyone leave?” Enough already!
I lived in FL for six years, was married to a native Floridian, who taught me everything about how to think about hurricanes, surges, prep, etc etc. After he died, when I was making a run for Orlando ahead of Hurricane Andrew, I could hear his voice loud and clear and was not afraid. I was prepared and realistic.
Bless you Floridians, natives and transplants, for your knowledge, experience, and willingness to watch out for the weakest citizens. I know you’ll come through stronger than ever.
Perfect.
May God protect Florida and all Floridians.
Else punishment for electing people like DWS and Little Marco.
Dang, you spent a lot of time on that.
THE VERY BEST POST I HAVE READ ON THIS THREAD,!
EXCELLANT!
Thanks for a poignant lesson in humility for ALL.
“1) Calling people who don’t evacuate “idiots” or saying “they deserve what happens to them” is a judgement statement that without facts, you are not qualified to make. Take a step down off your pedestal please. You know it all. I get it.”
There’s no `e’ after the `g’ in judgment.
Best of luck to you!
Excellent post. Especially your points about the vast numbers of elderly who live in Florida, particularly those who can’t easily just pack up and go.
Thanks DAVEY, I’m watching my cousin’s video camera pointed out the kitchen window at Bonita Beach. I consider evac from the entirety of South FL to be a bit over the top. Low lying areas maybe, but evac is a costly, difficult, and perhaps dangerous process as highways are suddenly filled with scared numbers far beyond the highway capacity. General preparedness in place, seems a far more cautious and prudent course of action. God Bless.
Amazing post.