[taxcontrol]

Self education here.

Under what authority can the state order a person off their property? How can such and order be enforced without a warrant for arrest?

[Petronski]

I believe the deal is: evacuate the area by time X. After time X, no search and rescue will be attempted, citizen: you are on your own.

[bobwoodard]

The Pinellas EOC clarified that while there is a law that requires evactuation, they don't have the manpower to enforce it, so just next-of-kin info will be taken.

[Netizen]

Under what authority can the state order a person off their property? How can such and order be enforced without a warrant for arrest?

Not real sure how it works. I think they order the evacuation, as a precaution, your choice if you leave or not. But I think they have you sign something saying that you chose to stay and list your nearest living relative in the event of your death.

[LBelle]

No one will be dragged out of their homes, but if there is an emergency, the people who stay are on their own. Evacuation is ordered because of probability of storm surge. Low lying areas will flood and that is more likely to kill people than the wind. A high school classmate of mine was killed during the Storm of the Century because of flooding on the northwest coast of Florida. Storm surge is the most deadly part of the hurricane.

We are in the Florida Keys (Islamorada, upper keys) and if the storm was more than a Cat 2 we'd all be the hell out of here. If this storm were a direct threat, I'd be out of here with my baby daughter and hubby would hold the fort, but at most we are looking at losing power for a day. No big deal.

If evacuation were mandatory, we'd go. People want to protect their homes, but property can be replaced. Since our area is now under a hurricane watch, not warning, we'll stay. The authorities don't make evacuation orders lightly, and when they do, it's to preserve lives and not have chaos ensue during the middle of a hurricane when people who think it'll be fun realize they are screwed and want to be rescued.

[GOPJ]

They don't force us to leave. If you choose to stay in some areas, they take your name so when your body is found, relatives can be notified. It's a little dramatic, but it makes the point. Sometimes I've stayed, sometimes I've gone. It's a hard call. This time we're leaving and hoping our home is safe when we return.

I've been through direct hits before and it's no picnic. One in our group is a doctor, so that'll help -- God, I hope this is OK. At 6 they're going to close the bridges, so it's St. Pete for the storm.

[tutstar]

I think good answers have been supplied to you. It's best to be safe than sorry. A lot of bridges will be closed when winds exceed 40mph (I think this is the wind limit for driving over them in my area). They won't make anyone leave their home but once you've ridden one of these storms out, you'll definitely think about it once they issue evacuation orders.

[PFC]

If you've been ordered to evacuate it means no search or rescue, no ambulance service, no electricity, no gas, no water or sewage for the area.