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 DH is in law enforcement. WHat infuriates me is the people that could leave (much like your examples) that don't and then will scream that 1st responders are not getting to them quick enough to save their hides!

It’s clear the situation on the ground isn’t easy re being gridlock and no petrol etc…. But that’s not who the OP is talking about - those who either have taken all precautions and believe it’s enough or had no way to evacuate earlier (eg crazy boss)

BUT I’m wondering if those people have lived through a hurricane.
I have. And I have no doubt that my dcs would come before any animals. Trying to save them? Yes. Taking that sort of risks for them? No.
Its terrifying. And the damage it can do really crazy. Try to spend 24~48 hours in cupboard because that’s the only safe hiding left in the house….

Unfortunately, there is also a tendency to dismiss government advice now too (thanks Covid)

Who decided animals lives were less than humans?

OP why don't you say your judgy comments on the Facebook groups to the people, instead of coming to bitch on Mumsnet
You've no idea of their situations and not everyone has the means to evacuated whether it's mandatory or not

Stop judging and do something helpful like donate or share awareness

I know right!

This is my point. The number of people assuming they’d survive. I’m talking about the coastal areas. Some people clearly haven’t seen the videos of the storm surge.

I said on another post CPS / police need to be stepping in. If adults want to play stupid risk games that's on them. But kids need to be protected if their parents aren't able to.

I saw the video with the lady who had the baby. It’s 6 weeks old! She is 15 miles from tampa. I would honestly be getting out of there ! vm.tiktok.com/ZGdeJxMST/

If its the tiktok I saw where a mother mentioned that her baby was constipated(I can't imagine there is more than one) she wasn't in the madandatory evacuation zone and there was no where to buy petrol that was why they were staying put. You are kind of misrepresenting what she said.

I do know because they’ve said what their situations are.

Mind blown that people on here are putting their pets before their own children. I’m a big animal lover but could never do that to my kids. I will always judge someone who puts a pet before their own human child.

I feel the trigger warning is a bit unnecessary!

Ive heard on the news several times today that it may well be downgraded by the time it hits. Obviously we won’t know if this is true until it’s arrived. But these people have more experience of this than those of us who won’t live in a regular hurricane area.

I’d want to be out of there asap, with kids and pets if I could take them. If not, the pets would be staying behind regardless. They are NOT more important to me than the safety of my kids so it wouldn’t be tricky for me to leave.
Well, other than finding somewhere else to go and being able to actually get there.

fingers crossed that it’s less painful than projected to be and that those who could make it to safety did and those who couldn’t are all okay.

THANK YOU

They have to evacuate a lot and are probably sick of it. They’re playing Russian Roulette—the other times they evacuated, their house was still standing, so they think chances of their house being destroyed are minimal. It won’t happen to me if I pray hard enough.

I actually saw him yesterday, I think!
He is missing one leg from a bit below the knee down. Thin as a stick.
They have cut his social security down because he said "apparently I am not disabled now". The boat is all he owns. He stayed in it during Helena and made it out ok.
I hope he is ok.

Are you sure they are staying in their homes - and not just mopping up the money people are offering to give them if they leave?

I can't imagine risking my child for a dog. What kind of person would do that?

Trigger warning? For what?

If people want to stay that's up to them. I would go as long as I could take my cat. (Oh, and my husband too I suppose.)

.

The worst is going to be tomorrow. 8am UK time I believe.

serious tornadoes are now hitting south florida according to CNN

AND to watch their child die....or for your child to watch you die?!!!

Dh was telling me about so called "Hurricane Hunters", people who actively flock to the eye of the storm, for some kind of adrenaline rush....these people need to go back to pre vaccination/pre antibiotics/pre sanitation, where no life was ever presumed to last into the 6th decade and many buried their children.

They are desensitised to hurricanes and likely don’t fully comprehend that this one is different. They’ll reason that they’ve been ok before so will be ok this time.

I guess I’ve got young children so I find what’s happening to small children and babies very upsetting.

I saw that too :/

@Dramallama19

"Who decided animals lives were less than humans?"

Humans, that's who. The evolved apes that created this mess in the first place.

As cruel as it might sound, I would humanely kill my pets and get my kids to safety if I was there right now. But I’m not. I’ve no experience with hurricanes. They do. They know what to expect and they also know that most hurricanes down grade before they hit land and I guess they are hoping for the best.

It can’t be cheap to evacuate either

I can never put my head around people who put thier animals before thier babies. I love my cat, he is pampered, insured, loved and leads a very good life, but the love I have for my DCs is so very different.

I honestly think these people have some kind of bonding issue with thier DCs for them to put them in danger for a dog who will be dead buy the time those DCs finish school.

It’s not an unusual scenario. I’ve read a thread where people were mostly in agreement that if their child was older they’d save their pets first in a fire. Someone said they could shout at their 8 year old to run outside but the dog and cats would understand. Lots of people place/value their pets, themselves, their partner or other things over their children and it’s one of the saddest facts of the world.