[ClaraC]

So with Irma, the question comes up, why didn't you leave? I realize some people believe they are safe, they live in a safe house, are on high ground, etc., or they don't want to leave for other personal reasons.

What percentage of people in Irma's projected path actually don't have any way to escape? (I'm not talking about nursing home inhabitants or people who are in prison or hospitals).

How many people who say "they have no way to leave" literally don't have a car, and $100 to buy gas? Nor do they know anyone who has a car, and can help pool together $100 in gas money.

It's just heartbreaking. In Katrina, there were thousands who literally had no way to get out. I saw on CNN today some guy BICYCLING out - that's not going to end well if you just left this afternoon.

[markjames68]

The problem isn’t just having $100 in gas money, it’s finding gas, and the car actually making it. I saw a bunch of cars broken down on the side of I-75 that clearly weren’t in good condition. Luckily FHP was on top of helping them.

[ClaraC]

So mark, what percentage do you think actually can't get out? It's so educational, in emergencies like this, to realize the percentage of US citizens who are completely and utterly without means even to flee for their lives.

It was a surprise to me at Katrina, and it's a surprise to me with Irma.

In Houston with Harvey, most of the people could have escaped - it seems - except they had no IDEA their neighborhood would flood like that. Had they known, they could and would have fled prior to the hurricane. The time was so short with Harvey. It was just BAM and it was on them.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

In Houston with Harvey, most of the people could have escaped - it seems - except they had no IDEA their neighborhood would flood like that. Had they known, they could and would have fled prior to the hurricane. The time was so short with Harvey. It was just BAM and it was on them.

It was pretty controversial to not call the evacuation in Harvey but there was the history with Rita

https://qz.com/1064813/hurricane-har...-explains-why/

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

It was pretty controversial to not call the evacuation in Harvey but there was the history with Rita

https://qz.com/1064813/hurricane-har...-explains-why/

I'm not talking about Harvey, really. That came too quickly. And I'm not really talking about a "mandatory evacuation" ordered by the government. I'm asking about what percentage of people given the notice that Irma has given, don't have the means to watch the news and decide to leave - and get a hotel for a week in Alabama or drive or fly to family's homes well out of reach of the storm.

I don't have a lot of family in Florida (I do have some, in the panhandle, who haven't evacuated) but I have friends who left Wednesday from St. Petersburg and points south. Because, yeah. That's what you do if you have the means. You decide to make a little vacation of it, and get the hell out of dodge.

So again. What percentage of the population doesn't have that ability to pack the car and drive out if they think their lives depend on it.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

I'm not talking about Harvey, really. That came too quickly. And I'm not really talking about a "mandatory evacuation" ordered by the government. I'm asking about what percentage of people given the notice that Irma has given, don't have the means to watch the news and decide to leave - and get a hotel for a week in Alabama or drive or fly to family's homes well out of reach of the storm.

I don't have a lot of family in Florida (I do have some, in the panhandle, who haven't evacuated) but I have friends who left Wednesday from St. Petersburg and points south. Because, yeah. That's what you do if you have the means. You decide to make a little vacation of it, and get the hell out of dodge.

So again. What percentage of the population doesn't have that ability to pack the car and drive out if they think their lives depend on it.

And where do they drive to out of danger, live, buy food, etc and then have the money to go back?

[PDF]

I'm sure it's much more than we realize. Not everyone has the means to leave.

[StillRoaming]

Fortunately, there are many shelters to keep safe those who can't or won't leave. Many are pet friendly now making them accessible for those who used to refuse to leave because of their pets. Shelters are free, so those without the means to flee will be safe and don't have to worry about paying.

While we can afford to leave, we're in a solid block home away from the coast and, as always, will ride it out. We figure leave the evacuations to those in the most vulnerable areas such as along the coast where they have to deal with storm surge and take the first hit. We're in the middle of the state, so hurricanes will always hit land to slow it some before it gets to us.

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by expatCA

And where do they drive to out of danger, live, buy food, etc and then have the money to go back?

Well, if you have a little bit of money, you can do that. Drive out, early, to Alabama and rent a hotel for $50 a night.

I'm just asking, in empathy, how many are stuck without the means to leave although they dearly want to?

You have to buy food wherever you are, so that's a net zero expense.

I think I'm not being clear. How many literally don't have $500 to their name, to flee for their lives, even if they have to put it on a credit card and pay it off in a couple months?

So anyway, my question continues to be (and it hasn't been answered yet) what percentage are unable to leave because of poverty?

[markjames68]

The question is unanswerable unless you knew the mental and financial state of everyone.