We’ve evacuated twice since I have lived on a barrier island, 20 years. Both times there was little to no damage at our home from either water or wind. The main reason for the no damage was simple, the storm made a last day jog away. I do not regret having left, not one bit.
When we decide to go, we leave a day ahead of the crowd. Bring papers, hard drives (we work from home), clothes for two weeks, extra gasoline, cash, and guns and ammo after boarding up against wind damage. We have a bunch of provisions and water at the house for return, if and when that happens because if there is a lot of damage, there will be no electric service perhaps for along while.
It is not enjoyable, we just try to make the best of it. Since my mom passed, it has become easier as I do not have to make plans for her making the last one not more difficult than going away for a long vacation.
Last and above all, I do not rely on the government to tell me when to go.
“Last and above all, I do not rely on the government to tell me when to go.”
We live on the county line and once watched the other county out in trucks with loud speakers going up and down on the next street over. The local news had been warning people for days. I called our sheriff and they denied there was any flooding so they weren’t going to do anything.
We called grandma, packed and met on higher ground. The next day, the water had risen 23 feet and someone’s kitchen cabinets were on our deck.