TRIGGER WARNING I can’t believe some people aren’t evacuating in Florida

[Newsenmum]

I really don’t mean to be insensitive. This hurricane Milton is terrifying but I’m really struggling to understand this. I know there are some awful situations where people can’t drive/are disabled or elderly and feel helpless but what I CAN’T understand is people not trying. Like they’re completely putting their head in the sand.

I’m part of a few mum Facebook groups that are mostly American. I kid you not, people are staying in zones with their little babies where there is mandatory evacuation. Some reasons why they aren’t leaving:

• my dog is aggressive and won’t be allowed in the shelter, so I’m staying put with him and going to hope and pray. Why is the dog worth more than a kid?
• i have too many animals which don’t fit in the car, I’m worried about the chickens (!!) again.. wtf? Basically suicide for their kids because they don’t want to leave chickens!
• im from flORIda so I’ll be fine! Hopefully it’s not as bad as they think. I don’t want to disrupt us. wtf??
• my babies have a block safe room and that’s ‘normally fine’

There are other Americans trying to send them money, urging them to go storm shelters or at least a bit more inland!

These are people in areas that have 15ft storm surge, there is so much debris already around that is going to be trashing their houses. If they want a certain death for themselves then fine but can’t get over them not saving their babies 😭😭😭 all because they won’t leave the bloody chickens that are going to drown either way!!

My husbands aunt was caught in storm helene. He now fears she won’t survive storm Milton. She hasn’t left her home either.

@Octaviusoctober Line man trucks have workers in them who will go in asap to restore power.

I've got to confess - when I heard the warnings, I said there would be far too many people deciding it was all a conspiracy 😒 I may also have mentioned Florida and the Darwin Awards in the same breath.

Didn't anticipate people putting their kids at risk in favour of their pets! How do they expect to save the pets, anyway? (Actually, a dog in a life jacket would stand a better chance of survival than a human.) For added absurdity, won't the flood waters be full of crocodiles once it settles?

Having lived in Texas and through a couple of mandatory evacuations, I have to say it’s very much a judgement call for those involved. People die in the evacuation convoys - heart issues, stress, lack of medication. It’s not an easy option.
As someone said upthread, we Brits are not in a position to judge.

As an aside, no way am I leaving my dogs, nor any other family member.

Free Ubers and coaches can’t take everyone, you are underestimating the sheer size of the area.

Isn't Florida about the size of England ?

I can’t believe you’re actually comparing high winds in the Uk, to a proper hurricane in Florida… that’s like comparing a bit of rain to a tsunami

There are people everywhere who lose a bit of perspective where animals are concerned, I also find it bizarre and hope those who choose to remain are OK.

I think if it was a choice of a building or gridlocked on a road, I'd choose the former, but it's a hideous choice to have to make when the government has publicly said 'if you are in the path of this storm, you will die'.

They are mainly taking people to shelters not to the next state

No, plenty have expected to work as normal, some to prepare for this and others just because they are expected to. Not to mention key worker groups being huge

we’ve emergency service workers who can’t evacuate
prison guards
fuel station workers
supermarket
airport workers
uber driver

Exactly!! It’s what infuriates me about reglious fanatics. God has offered you a chance to save you. God offered a chance for you to get well when you’re sick. He offers vaccinations so you don’t get sick but it’s all “god will provide if it’s meant to be”. He did. You just didn’t listen

There are still people walking really close to the edge on that webcam and getting absolutely soaked. Absolute numpties!

https://southernmostpointwebcam.com/

The area is currently under a tropical storm warning as the hurricane builds up

I always marvel when people say their dog /pet is just as important as their children. That's unthinkable to me. I understand if people choose to value their animals as much as themselves (well I don't but it's up to them). But how do they value an animal as much as their own child? When did human lives start having so little value? It's actually a little scary for me and I worry for a world that equates human and animal lives

And yet if they get swept into the sea, it’s coast guard who have to risk their lives to try and save them

This.

At least in our (central European) floods some people who follow "alternative media" and are most vulnerable to russia-operated fake news were unable to understand that the official warnings have some merit.

Some of the internet personalities who downplayed the severity of the risks are now facing charges for public endangerment. One very stupid politician said that his posting (denying the risk of floods) was obviously ok, because he got many likes.

It’s such a terrible situation for som many people. Those whose work wouldn’t let them leave a several days ago face all the issues detailed in this thread such as surge pricing and roads getting gridlocked, but leaving without permission from your employer could mean losing your job, and therefore not having funds to help with recovery. For most people it seems that health insurance comes via work too, so you’d be risking your family not having access to healthcare at a time when they may really need it. Talk about stuck between a rock and a hard place.

That's so sad and the government should be doing everything they can to help. No vulnerable person should have to make this choice. I think most if not all of us would get the fuck out of there immediately! Also the poor animals, how are they being helped? Needs to be a full on whatever means to help everyone out.

It's supposed to make you feel better if you know there's something scary coming up
In fact it makes people more anxious.

It’s horrifying to see that a family had a child there, standing by the waters edge

Two people just took a toddler right up to the edge!! And got soaked!

These are the Trump voters presumably...

I wonder the same thing @HandDefence

There but for the grace of God go I

is my (flying spaghetti monster) prayer.

Same, I couldn’t live with myself, anyone that would consider leaving them doesn’t deserve to have a dog!

I love my pets. There's not a chance in hell I'd risk my children's life for them.

One thing that was pointed out on the news this morning, was all the debris outside peoples homes, stuff that was dragged outside following Helena, when this storm hits its going to be flying around, hitting cars, houses, its like the first storm has left weapons lying around for the next one to use !