Which is why I don’t like very generalize, government “mandatory” evacuations.
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Nobody likes anything “mandatory”, myself included. I’m coming from this with a different perspective - that of police/fire/EMS. They tend to be viewed as a unit/government, but they are individual people too with homes, families, property at risk. Being “essential” personnel, they HAVE to be on the job and their lives are at risk.
What many do not realize is that at a certain wind mph, it is not safe for the fire trucks, rescue equipment, manpower to be out and about and they have to stop responding to calls. As someone who has fielded calls from desperate people (during a hurricane), I can assure you it’s pretty awful when there is nothing you can do to help them .... whether they were stubborn & stayed put on their own or got caught in circumstances that put them in danger, when someone is pleading for help because their life is at risk, all thoughts of “self-inflicted” tend to fall by the wayside.
My point with all of this rambling is that the authorities make the best decisions they can to be in a position to truly help people if they need it, but certain areas/conditions prevent them from helping or put the lives at risk (always at risk, but this situation is to an unacceptable level) of those tasked with rescues and providing help. They make the calls on ‘mandatory’ evacs which, if nothing else, puts those in the areas being evacuated ‘on notice’ that help cannot and is not coming. People ultimately make their own choices, but the odds of injury/death go up substantially if mandatory evac orders are ignored.
What if the mandatory evac order doesn’t ‘verify’ as being necessary because the storm track changes? Those that have left often get pissed off & start blaming the authorities because it was “unnecessary”, but the fire/police/EMS are relieved when that occurs because there will be no (or fewer) desperate calls, injuries, or loss of life.
Obviously, you’ve got respect for storm surges (amazing the number of people that do not) and you are totally correct that “Everyone needs to make their own judgements based on their own tolerance levels, special needs, health factors, etc,etc, ect...” My only issue is that for some people, they only learn through “experience” and sometimes that experience proves deadly the first time. I always liked what Will Rogers said (& find it to be true):
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
I would change “men” to “people” because women can be just as stubborn, if not more so .... the only caveat being they don’t pee on electric fences the way a man might. :-)
My 2 cents .... from my own experience. YMMV.
I could not have said it better. People and animals are unpredictable and predictable in a crisis. Staying on guard and alert for long periods of time during these times in sheer exhaustion.
The thing about the storm surges is that people underestimate the damage water can do.
Yes, it can flow around things and you can swim through it, but water is basically incompressible. Think of belly flops and how much fun they are.
When a wave of water slams into a building, the water isn’t going to give much. It’s going to make a great battering ram.
I don’t mind them being overly cautious. That is the wisest course in terms of a catastrophic event like a potential hurricane. So, I think it’s unfair to criticize the authorities if the catastrophe does not take place. The proper course of action is to get on your knees in thankfulness to God that a catastrophe did not destroy your life, your possessions, or your livelihood
Completely understand. If I choose to stay, I don’t expect help to be coming.
I’ve worked on several Hurrcane crews at chemical plants. The eye of Alicia went over my head. It’s not fun. (It IS plenty exciting )
But, I’ve also had family members take 48 hours to drive from Houston to Austin.... Unnecessarily. When EVERYONE tries to evacuate, the ones who really need to, can’t. I get why the civic leaders do it. But, I really think the entire process needs a “re-think”.