A very simple rule: SAFETY FIRST

[PJMcK]

When my son was young, I volunteered to be a Cub Scout Leader and later, a Boy Scout Leader. I had some philosophical issues with the BSA program, but I had been a Scout and attained Star Scout before I quit. There were many positive values I wanted to impart on my son.

One of those ideas was the over-riding rule for any activity: SAFETY FIRST.

Don't do anything that might result in harm or damage.

Why do people stay in the path of a dangerous storm? There are always options to be safe.

It baffles me.

[maxsolomon]

1. One possibility: they don't have money to leave.

Hotels aren't free, gas isn't free. Yes, I know there are shelters.

Another: they don't believe it will be that bad because they've gone through it before.

Another: they have large animals that they can't take and they won't abandon.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. And another thing, they are afraid to leave their homes in case of looting, burglers, and the ...

like. Have to weight the benefits of staying and perhaps losing your lives, or protect what you may lose anyway (if you stay or not).

[PJMcK]

5. Please see my response #3 (n/t)

[maxsolomon]

7. I truly believe the fear of looters is overblown.

And I won't begrudge someone who loots to get clean water.

But no one can guarantee it won't happen, so it seems reasonable to a populace conditioned to fear everything, and arm themselves with semi-automatic weapons in response.

[PJMcK]

3. I've heard all of those responses

Nonetheless, personal safety is paramount.

While hotels and gas aren't free, there must be state or federally funded means for people to evacuate. Too often, people wait until it's too late. If a storm is coming, you need to leave at least 2-3 days ahead of its arrival.

The ignorance of thinking that you survived one storm so you're invulnerable to the next one speaks volumes of the individual who espouses such a thought.

In my life, I've been partnered with three dogs and eight cats. Sadly, we're down to one old cat. Nonetheless, if you assume the responsibility of caring for animals, you must protect them! Staying in the target of a major hurricane doesn't demonstrate love or care for those animals. Period. In fact, it demonstrates profound indifference to their well-being.

If someone needed help to relocate and the North Carolina or South Carolina governments couldn't help them, then that's another problem that needs to be addressed.

[dewsgirl]

8. I have lived my whole life on the east coast of Florida and I volunteered at

A homeless shelter for years and can say with 100 percent certainty that although a great idea, there is nothing like this I have ever heard of ,unfortunately. If evacuated or homeless and you can't get a hotel, you are expected to stay a shelter, of which there a plenty. The fact most won't accept pets, is one of the biggest reasons people don't.
I have been fortunate enough not to have to make this decision. I can honestly say, I would not leave her alone.

[PJMcK]

10. You are very special

Your volunteerism is profoundly respectable.

Florida's government really doesn't provide protective services for its residents. It's really quite criminal.

Nonetheless, isn't the role of government to provide for the well-being of its citizens? Coastal states should do better and it's rather obvious that the states that have poor services are red states.

[dewsgirl]

13. I 100% agree, it is awful the government doesn't do more to help it's citizens.

[uppityperson]

14. " there must be state or federally funded means for people to evacuate"? I don't think so.

There should be, but I don't think there is.

[lindysalsagal]

4. Agreed.

If you live in hurricane alley, you buy an old, used trailer, cheap, (some people are willing to give them away) get a hitch installed on your vehicle, and you drag it to a state park out of harm's way. Somewhere that still has food/water/perscriptions for sale, where you can visit a laundramat, call your relatives, and wait it out, alive.

It's not perfect, but you're safe and healthy, and well rested enough to return when it's over. Anything is better than living in the animal/human/industrial waste that runs through the flooded waters. At least you saved your car/truck.

If your living situation was going to blow/float away, it would have done it with or without you, so, you might as well just do the smart thing and take care of yourself and your loved ones.

I feel worst for the children. They must be terrified.

[mcar]

9. The National Forest(s) in FL have waived fees for Florence flee-ers

Shelters are free, some take pets. It's not perfect but better than cutting a hole in your roof to avoid drowning and risking other's lives to save you.

I heard a 911 call on CNN. Woman asking for rescue. With 4 kids.

[lindysalsagal]

11. Insane. It's not like we haven't all seen desperate videos of hurricane rescues.

That's child neglect.

[dewsgirl]

6. Last year here in Florida, I was shocked and appalled to hear the homeless families

That stayed in the shelters in my town were made to wear bracelets and segregated from the other families. They had two very young children, extremely sad situation.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. People who have ridden out an earlier hurricane

often have a false sense of safety or of their own invincibility.

I have a good friend who lives in Charleston SC, and a cousin who lives in Ladson, just outside. Both have stayed put. And since Florence decided to hit North Carolina instead, I worry that when the next hurricane heads their way they will again not leave.