[PennsylvaniaMom]

I have been thinking of the same thing. I imagine a family, a mom and dad w/several children, who took the warnings and evacuated to a motel maybe 200 miles inland. You fill the car w/gas, take money from the ATM, and probably charge your motel room (just thinking you will be gone a day or two) on a credit card. Now you find you have no home to go back to (or no way to safely go back to see for yourself); your place of work is probably out of business, no school systems for your kids; you are close to being out of cash (are the bank ATM systems running, I doubt it), and after a week or two of staying put at your evacuation local, you have maxed your credit card. Then what do you do?

No house, but still a mortgage; credit card bills, maybe a car payment on a second vehicle that you left behind. You are ruined financially and emotionally. You got your family to safety, but how and where do you start over?

This tragedy will take years, if not a generation, to recover from.

[stuartcr]

I know, it's tragic. People doing what they are told and what they are supposed to do. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that when it comes to helping out with re-location, etc. these are the people that will be told they are too well off for help, or there is no more room for them.

[AppyPappy]

If you are lucky, you have family somewhere that can help you.

[LaineyDee]

I understand the frustration and hopelessness stated in your post....but I think (in our mobil society) that most of these families are not "islands unto themselves" probably having relatives elsewhere... that will be more than willing to help them relocate and start over.