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!!

Instead of praying they have a quick death maybe you could pray they survive instead!

Well thank god we have you to let the Florida government know not to worry about this hurricane 🙄

I wouldn't leave my horse behind, so if I couldn't take her, I'd stay.
I wouldn't expect my dh and dd's to stay though, they could go with the more portable pets we have.

No one is purposely choosing to die. They are making decisions to stay which they feel a right in their situation.

They have been through many hurricanes before and some are very well prepared.

No mother would actively chose to put their children at risk. Many don't have the money to flee. There are also limited shelters/accommodation available as everyone is booking it.

I was in Florida when Helena 'hit'. I was concerned but the people I spoke to seemed very calm and in control.

This is an utterly horrific situation to be in and I'm sure the decision to stay isn't being made lightly.

So your Dds would live knowing you died for your horse rather than lived for them? How old are they?

It is a category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of 130 - 156 mph.

Storm surge up to 15 feet, so those in low-lying areas will not be able to use their storm shelters because they will be flooded.

But my plan wouldn't be to die, it would be for both myself and my horse to survive.

Dd's would probably tell me to stay with her too 🙈, they are old enough to make that decision.

Why is the dog worth more than a kid?

😳

@InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom what do you mean "no one has died". Over 200 people have died in Hurricane Helene which this storm is pretty much a continuation of.

No chance I'd leave without the dogs. I'd never forgive myself, even if they survived. They'd be so scared.

A lot of the houses I've seen boarded up seem to be made mostly of wood. I find that rather terrifying for an area that is prone to drastic weather.

I would have evacuated and I'd have gone early rather than leaving it late. I do find it hard to imagine people not being able to drive or use public transport to get at least 200 - 300 miles away in a country as big as the USA.

I also find it hard to understand not having anywhere to go. No friends or family at all that could put you up for a little while in an emergency? No cheap motel room anywhere outside of the evacuation zone? I think I'd rather sleep in my car somewhere safe than risk staying.

Anyway, I hope those that have chosen to stay manage to stay safe.

Are these groups for any particular shared interest that might correlate with a mistrust of the authorities or the 'mainstream media' by any chance, OP? Homeschooling etc?

Dear god some of the comments on here. You can’t totally see why some people are staying given the level of stupidity on here. My jaw is on the floor at the bbc weather app comment.

My friend isn’t evacuating, he doesn’t have children, he is getting married next month. Some petrol stations have run out of petrol plus the airlines have increased airfares by huge amounts. It’s gridlock and who wants to be stuck in a car. His brother has only just been released from work.

I have been in more or less this situation in New Jersey some 35 years ago. I had no kids and we were told that shelters were being opened but under no circumstances to bring animals as they wouldn't be allowed in. I stayed with my dog.

As long as they don't expect other people to risk their own lives saving them when they've insisted on staying, I don't think you can make them go. Especially at this point ... it's too late. They'll have to ride it out and hope for the best.

The people the op is judging, as it hasn't hit florida quite yet, is what I mean.

Does the word mandatory mean something different to you. No you can't just choose to risk children's lives.

I'm sure they appreciate the patronising brits who've never even experienced a hurricane judging them.

I spoke with friends who only evacuated last night after resisting for days. They REALLY didn't want to go to a shelter and wanted to sit it out in their low-level house - not an unheard of Floridian response.

They're on the seafront, and precisely in the centerpoint of the predicted storm path. I'm just relieved they've finally left.

If I couldn’t take my dog I wouldn’t go. His life is as precious as any other member of the family.

OP, kindly, stay out of it. I don’t think any of us can judge when we haven’t experienced anything like this in the UK.

The issue now is the roads are blocked. Many petrol stations are closed / ran out of petrol so many will be better staying put than risk getting stranded in their car when it hits

Not wanting to leave the animals though is ridiculous

Can't believe I've just read that!

When you say "trigger warning" because this could be upsetting for people with little babies, how do they know it is them that the trigger warning is aimed at when they look at the thread title? Or if you feel there might be something that "triggers" should you you keep away from all threads with a "trigger warning" even if, as is likely, it doesn't concern spiders/ nuclear war/ misgendering/ whatever specific thing it is that you find upsetting? I don't understand "trigger warning" at all.