The death toll after Helene now up to 58. I find that, not only discouraging, but somewhat surprising. I just didn't expect that in 2024, with all the early warnings and mandatory evacuation notices that these are the numbers which would have resulted - not in the US.

Do you think people who refuse to leave in the likely event and warning of catastrophic results do so simply because they are too stubborn, or could it also be a case of not having the means (money or transportation) to do so?

@Pat_Walrond I was speaking this morning about how police officers came to my door when I was 22 to evacuate me as the town was flooding and I refused to go.

For one I didn't think it was that bad.

And the second reason? I don't easily trust authority and did not want to be in an evacuation center.

I resolved that if it got bad, I'd leave on my own. My distrust of govt officials is well earned, and deeply ingrained.