I survived the eye wall of Hurricane Camille (anemometer at Kessler AFB, Biloxi, quit working and froze at 227Mph), and many here partied on in trailers, and in beach houses. Many died.
Our government can only warn and educate, but it is up to the individual to let some of this knowledge sink in. I am very sad for our countrymen in Florida. I will continue to pray for them all.
LLS
As a youngster, I traveled with my parents through Biloxi two weeks before and two weeks after Camille. I couldn't believe my eyes on that second trip. One sight I'll never forget was a sign a family had put up saying they had lost their mother in the storm. I remember my dad trying to calm my mother and his four daughters all crying in the car. The destruction from Camille is the worst I've ever seen.
Incidentally, we stayed in a VOQ at Kessler on the first trip. All night long you could hear jets taking off and landing. I would imagine they were flown out of harm's way before Camille hit, as I don't see how anything could have survived 227 mph winds.