Welcome Hurricane Irma Evacuees to Atlanta (hotels, cheap house, school)

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

In other news, the Toco Hill Publix was a madhouse this morning...a virtual Florida refugee camp, according to my cashier.

That seems like a really odd location for a huge number of evacuees.

Originally Posted by Beretta

While at the Hyatt Regency this morning (last day of conference) I witnessed several evacuee families doing their thing (checking in or out or asking if there were rooms available). Some with pets, families and some people were crying. I talked with one Mom with a small family. They had a suitcase each, a container of animal crackers and two cases of water. That's it. They said that is all that they were able to grab before they had to leave.

I know it sounds harsh, but it's not like there was a house fire, and people had to grab what they could and run. They've known this was coming for a week.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

That seems like a really odd location for a huge number of evacuees.



I know it sounds harsh, but it's not like there was a house fire, and people had to grab what they could and run. They've known this was coming for a week.

There was a report that evacuees are in every motel and hotel around town so I think that they are hitting any local store.

One young lady I talked to from Miami said that once she heard about the evacuation she packed and left on Wednesday. She said had she not, she was afraid she wouldn't have gotten a rental car otherwise. She said she had tried to get a flight but it was impossible on Wednesday morning. I didn't ask too many questions.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

That seems like a really odd location for a huge number of evacuees.

Jewish community. Lots of south Florida refugee relatives, descending upon your house and hungry when they arrive. Makes total sense to me.

[Beretta]

I think a lot of shoppers are preparing for the storm as well, not necessarily evacuees.

[kmarc]

I'm one of those staying put and hunkering down in Florida, but I want to send a big thank you to all you Georgia folks hosting those from Florida.

And may I say, I SURELY hope that the politicians in Tallahassee and our two Senators remember the kindness and generosity extended to Floridians in their time of need before they decide to ever pick another water war with Georgia.

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

That seems like a really odd location for a huge number of evacuees.



I know it sounds harsh, but it's not like there was a house fire, and people had to grab what they could and run. They've known this was coming for a week.

Not only that, but if you live in Florida, you know this is always a possibility, year in and year out. I don't understand the appeal of wanting to live in harm's way.

[BullochResident]

Originally Posted by Beretta

There are Georgia Evacuees also, they are harder to spot!

If you see "Chatham" written on the bottom of their Georgia tag, they are probably an evacuee. There were mandatory evacuations listed for parts of the Savannah area, even though now it looks like they will only get tropical storm conditions from this instead of hurricane conditions.

My county is also under an inland tropical storm warning and we're expecting 45 mph winds on Monday down here.

[atlHawks]

I heard them referred to as "Hurricane People" by a salesman yesterday. That said, they are taking up all the parking in our complex smh

[fieldm]

Gas and food shortage in FL so make sure you fill up with gas and but as much as you can here in GA before you head back to Florida

[Pemgin]

I'm sympathetic to people having to flee their homes because of a disaster, but I have a scale of sympathy, and Floridians fall toward the bottom. Choosing to live in a part of the country that is prone to yearly natural disasters is unwise. Evacuations are inevitable, and the huge influx of people to neighboring areas strains those areas resources. As decent people, we should extend our help, but, frankly, it's annoying. And when does anyone ever evacuate to Florida. It's always a one-way street.