Those not evacuating - and my experience

[rufus dog]

MSNBC just interviewed a guy in Corpus Christi who was not leaving, in a garage with family/neighbors, drinking beer. He commented that it won't be as bad as they say it will be.

So I live in a fire area in CA, we have had optional evacuation twice in the last twenty years. I did not leave, other neighbors and friends used my garage as a staging area. Here is the difference, we weren't drinking beer, we were monitoring and assisting. For example, tree caught fire from an ember, fire fighters were fighting fire at entry to canyon, we were able to be thirty yards back and use a hose to knock down the fire.

Previous to the fire hitting close, the firemen walked through, gave advice (keep garage door closed, move chemicals outside in bin, etc) we also helped them move wood lawn furniture and toys from the backyards dropping to the canyon into front yards across the street.

Across the street and at the end of the street the houses backed up to the canyon. The houses are stucco with tile roof so a house across the street would have to catch, roof collapse or open, then my row of houses might catch. We had a plan, jump the wall behind my house, run through a backyard and down a street about 1/4 mile where we had staged ALL cars so none were in a garage. And this was the big diffence, there was no way we would be cut off into an island and require assistance, the worse thing that would happen was skinning our shins jumping the back wall. (One neighbor was unsure he could scale the wall, so we put out a step stool, a few days later we challenged him to try jumping the wall, no problem)

These people in CC are not using any logic, drinking beer and thinking it won't be as bad as those elitist claim is sure way to put others in danger.

[brokephibroke]

1. The fake news is making the storm up.

[maryellen99]

4. TWC had to actually say it wasn't fake news nt

[Ilsa]

2. I hope they asked him for the name & number of his next of kin.

That usually puts it in perspective. I know they did that in Galveston before Ike in 2008 (?).

[bettyellen]

3. They should tell everyone to leave that info in a waterproof wrap securely attached to themselves...

[underpants]

5. 2003 Isabel - I knew lots of people who rode it out

Tidewater including the peninsula. I grew up (high school) there so I knew a lot of people who rode it out. Isabel wiped out a lot of that area. My best friend was at his brother's house but the brick ranch house he lived in at the time, on the water, GONE. The foundation and a few bricks was all they found when they went back. My other friend's 100 year old two story wooden house also on the water completely disappeared. They found the hot water heater 200 yards away. Neighbors stayed and rode it out.

Why? They think they can save their property? They don't feel it will hit them?

Sounds like you all a great plan and a good neighborhood. I remember that even an hour from the water in Richmond whole blocks got to know each other. The power was out for weeks in the country but in the city everyone on some streets just brought out their girls an ALL the food. Great feasts with warm beer.

[maryellen99]

6. Because they think Car loads of African Americans are going to come and loot their neighborhoods nt

[dalton99a]

7. Exactly.

[underpants]

10. Yes hurricanes don't effect them

I think it's more about their familiarity with the water and thinking they could deal with it.

I think you right though. Their will be I'VE GOT A GUN! posts-pics on Facebook.

[hunter]

8. I've experienced a Southern California wildfire...

... that killed all the trees on the edges of my parent's small orchard, melted the drip irrigation lines, and almost caught our neighbor's house on fire.

I think we were fortunate the power and water didn't go out that night. Firefighters were able to protect the homes most in danger, but a few outbuildings were lost.

Our chicken coop got assaulted by burning tumbleweeds and airborne embers, and some of the straw in their yard burned, but the ladies woke up the next morning and went about their business as if nothing unusual had happened.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I live in San Diego and had two huge fires close our schools in between 2000 and 2010.

That never happened before but the fires were so huge they jumped over 12 lanes of a major freeway intersection ed and would've continued to the ocean if the weather hadn't changed. That is the thing with natural disasters that include weather conditions...they are so unpredictable. You were wise to stay sober and have a logical and realistic strategy in place and a group who was intelligent enough to take the emergency seriously.

[cwydro]

11. Well, I lived in the Florida Keys for over 20 years. Never evacuated.

Yes, we went through some scary times, but I'd do the same again. The authorities close the road, and after the storm you can't get back to see what is going on with your property.

When the surge hit with Wilma, we were able to save a lot of stuff because we were there.

It's a personal decision. We never made it lightly. I'd do the same again.

But we were prepared. Generator, food, water, etc.

And yeah, we probably drank some beer too.