Shelters are generally used by people who have no other option. So generally the poor or less abled people. So adding a requirement to those are defeating the point.

Donations (or tickets) of goods brings problems - what is donated is not necessarily what is needed and then you have the task of sorting, storing etc. Cash works best.

As pointed out, many utilizing shelters are doing so as a last resort. It is a bit surprising that, given the long lead time and the accuracy of the forecast, that many were as unprepared for what was coming.

Some people are passive, trust to others to help, or otherwise rationalize the situation. Circumstances do vary and what seems possible is not always the case.

Better to be outadere a week in advance. Oh, yes, and buy flood insurance...

And three cheers for those who work in the shelters to assist those in need!

Three cheers for this guy and his network....
Noah’s Ark except it’s a school bus: Tru...ricane Florence
...and none of these guys have a ticket.

and the Cajun Navy. I understand they came over and were involved...

my experience with evacuees to a shelter was completely different from Montanero's...the school I worked at was, prior to the building code change after Andrew, a designated evacuation center... we were the closest shelter to a trailer park near the prone to flood Anclote River....I learned a lot from the "regulars"... they arrived early, wore quick to dry clothing, many had Sears rolling tool boxes that they could sit on, brought folding chaise lounge chairs with mosquito netting, along with ice filled coolers, cold cuts, bread and cold drinks enough for 3+ days... most had radios and area and task lights to get to the rest rooms...

my classroom was a chemistry lab, and had 6 sinks and synthetic counter top around the periphery of the room...it was used as a baby diaper changing area...I had very good custodian cleanup crews, but the smell lingered for days