Find that information. I am looking for it everywhere. I will show you the messages from yesterday that people were not given evacuation orders until just before this thing hit.
ummm...post 48 in this thread.
NOBODY is ever going to get evac orders 3 days before a cane or something. 24 hours is typical, and is long enough to leave or go to a nearby shelter.
Keep in mind that we're creating a culture devoid of personal responsibilty, and people are looking to blame everyone but themselves.
" I will show you the messages from yesterday that people were not given evacuation orders until just before this thing hit."
you're nuts. I live down in the keys, and followed this closely, since I was considering leaving with my infant daughter. Mandatory evacuations were in place for Sanibel, Captiva, all of the barrier islands, mobile home parks, low-lying areas, etc etc on THURSDAY. Mobile homes are ALWAYS mandatory evacuation areas for a hurricane. Anyone who stayed tragically thought the storm was going to pass by, but it wasn't like they weren't warned. They were.
For those with short memories, Homestead was not the projected landfall area of Andrew, either. Miami was. Andrew turned south at the last minute, just like this storm turned east.
Quit trying to find some sinister government conspiracy to kill people in this tragic disaster. It is a natural disaster. They happen. Mother nature doesn't know about computer models. She acts as she wishes.
Here were the evac orders:
http://www.charlottecountyfl.com/Emergency/bulletins.asp
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2004 Time: 4:19:31 PM
Mandatory Evacuation of Barrier Islands
CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO CLOSE FRIDAY. MANDATORY EVACUATION OF BARRIER ISLANDS, RV PARKS, AND MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY ORDERED AT 3 P.M. TODAY.
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2004 Time: 8:12:01 PM
Low Lying Areas Strongly Urged to Evacuate
Residents in the following areas are strongly urged to consider evacuating their homes by daylight Friday in advance of Hurricane Charley. The strengthening storm is now forecast to produce a storm surge of up to 10 feet above normal tide levels. Those areas of Charlotte County below 8 foot elevation and subject to the worst flooding threat include: EAST PUNTA GORDA AND SOLONA DOWNTOWN PUNTA GORDA PUNTA GORDA’S HISTORIC DISTRICT RIVERSIDE DRIVE, PUNTA GORDA THE EDGEWATER CORRIDOR, PORT CHARLOTTE BAYSHORE ROAD, MELBOURNE STREET & HARBORVIEW ROAD, CHARLOTTE HARBOR BURNT STORE ROAD, PUNTA GORDA PIRATE HARBOR, PUNTA GORDA EL JOBEAN AND THE CAPE HAZE AREA IN WESTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY Evacuation is MANDATORY for Charlotte County’s barrier islands and for anyone in an RV or mobile home.