1 in 4 won't evacuate

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/even-a...ry-4/ar-BBN9Vkw

After all, it's only a cat Four....Particularly interesting to see the awareness of CO poisoning and use of generators

I can see the merits of staying put if living in a hurricane resistant home that is above the worst likely flood height.

More shocking to me is the lack of awareness re CO poisoning from portable generators.

I see 48-24 hours prior to be a realistic evac window...after that batten down the hatches

We are already receiving family members and friends from the coastal areas. Most have already evacuated, at least inland a hundred miles or so.

According to news bulletins, "mandatory evacuations" have been ordered for low lying coastal regions. "Mandatory evacuation" is an interesting term; at least in CA, it merely means that you should leave and that responders are not necessarily under any obligation to undertake rescue. You will not be hassled or charged if you remain in your residence. You are basically on your own.

I was in a mandatory evac zone last year and we got out promptly; for one very good reason,it makes first responders work much simpler. They don't have the death wails of screaming victims distracting them from the work at hand.

Not sure how this works in other jurisdictions but it seems to work reasonably well in CA. Looky-loos and those wandering around do get hassled and charged, if they are up to no good.

What are the ground rules on the East Coast?

As far as I know, pretty much the same. I have seen some areas receiving "very strong encouragement" to leave, but no forced evacuations.

What ever happened to the legendary "FEMA Camps," so beloved by hard core survivalists???

Those come afterward, when the people are starving and realize they have no other choice because they did not prepare well enough.

That in my view is as it should be, in peace time in a democracy.
Advise people to leave, certainly.
Warn them that no rescue is available if they later change their mind, yes.
Forced evacuation at gun point, not acceptable in my view in peace time.

During hurricane Katrina there was a lot of ill feeling regarding forced evacuations, and it would seem that lessons have been learned and that TPTB respond more reasonably now.

The camps are out there, ready equipped for the illegal, non constitutional detention of innocent law abiding American citizens.
The perimeters are protected by secret alien technology that projects government mind control rays, as a result people can drive right past without seeing the fate that awaits them.

One of the camps was so well hidden that even the federal government cant find it.

We have 'mandatory evac' orders here (FL) but similar.... you don't go.... Don't call us for help... we HAVE had it happen. You can imagine the 'surprise' when the dispatchers tell them: We're sorry but we are NOT sending anyone. We will log the request and try to respond when it is safe to do so..... They try to provide some over the phone direction of what to do (ie central room, no windows etc) but they do remind them that they WERE told to evacuate.

People have been told to use permanent marker to write their social security number on their arm so we can ID them later if necessary.

Our crews do NOT go out in sustained winds over 40 MPH. Just too dangerous.

Hurricane Florence: One man plans to ride out the storm on his boat
What could possibly go wrong???

Circumstances vary, and these are deeply personal decisions. It would be interesting to do followup interviews with these same people, at least those who will have survived.

I probably would be gone by now. Life safety is far more important than any material goods. By withdrawing now, I would be available to assist in rescue and salvage efforts after the storm.

Typically, there are about as many fatalities occurring during the cleanup phase as occur as a direct result of the storm itself....

If we lived on a boat, we too would stay on it for the storm...... IN ANOTHER LOCATION.

Why evacuate from the house, when you can evacuate the house it self, right?

That's just it- the ones who survive will be happy with their decision. The ones who don't... you can't interview. It's called "survivor bias".

Not necessarily. I worked with a guy who hunkered down in place for Andrew, and he definitely regretted that decision. Of course, there are many who would never admit to making less than a wonderful, intelligent decision.

AuntGoo was in Homestead for Andrew and had to stay. She lived in a condo complex. The buildings perpendicular to hers lost their roofs, contents, etc. She still gets nervous anytime there's a hurricane on the east coast...