Before you ask why storm victims didn’t evacuate despite warnings of catastrophic flooding, please consider that many folks don’t have cars, have no family or friends to stay with, can’t afford gasoline or hotels, don’t dare risk losing their jobs because they can’t return in time, can’t safely evacuate their elderly loved ones, won’t leave without their pets, or they have legitimate health concerns about staying in shelters. Poor shaming them during a catastrophe is not a good look. #Debby
@LnzyHou Not for nothing, but I used to volunteer at our county animal shelter, and they set up storm shelter facilities ar two of our four county storm shelters for folks with pets who wouldn’t otherwise leave home. Sadly, shelter experience wasn’t always great. Norovirus ran rampant as did drug problems. If you’re sheltering with small kids or the elderly or anyone immune compromised, that’s risky.
@cassandra17lina A very thoughtful post. You're right, most of us have the tendency to heap blame on people who haven't evacuated. True, some are just stubborn and feel they can ride it out, but as you point out, many simply haven't got the means or are otherwise constrained from doing so.
@Pat_Walrond I evacuated in 2018 for Hurricane Florence and it cost a LOT! Hotel, gas, and meals on the road. Fortunately I was able to stay with family but it took me ten days away from home due to massive number of road closures.
We need to keep our noses out of others’ decisions.
@cassandra17lina @Pat_Walrond I highly recommend the collection "Blood Dazzlers" by the incomparable poet Patricia Smith about Hurricane Katrina. It will break your heart.
@cassandra17lina with a special shout out to those horrid people who price gouge evacuees for emergency lodging & needs.
@peeppeepcircus @cassandra17lina
Florida’s finest
@peeppeepcircus Thankfully there was some emergency legislation that said folks evacuating with pets could not be charged extra at hotels that normally accepted pets. Otherwise that would be another price gouging bonanza.
@cassandra17lina nice. not sure my state has caught up to that yet with wildfire evacs.
@cassandra17lina
Totally agree. Everyone needs to mind their own business. Folks will live with the consequences they’ve chosen.