General Discussion

BlackSkimmer

(51,308 posts)

13. I lived in Key West for 25 years. I never evacuated.

Thu Sep 29, 2022, 07:08 AM

Sep 2022

When Andrew threatened, many of my neighbors evacuated to Miami. They ended up with the worst of the storm, while we were safe and sound in the lower Keys.

During Georges, many left. We went from Key West to Cudjoe Key, which ended up getting the brunt. We lost our cars in the surge. If I’d stayed in Key West, my car would have been fine. They then closed the Keys, and those who left couldn’t get back in for days. That stopped a lot of people from leaving in the future…not being able to get back to their homes infuriated those who had left.

We never had “magical thinking” and we weren’t ignorant, especially by the time I rode out Wilma, by which time I’d ridden out more than I can count.

A hurricane is unpredictable, even with the best of science. Until you’re faced with this situation, best not to judge those who are.

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I'm perplexed about those Floridians who had the capacity and ability to leave [View all] no_hypocrisy Sep 2022 OP

Every hurricane in every location Dorian Gray Sep 2022 #1

The impulse for flight or fight is a confusing one when it comes to decision making. Ford_Prefect Sep 2022 #55

absolutely Dorian Gray Sep 2022 #78

Tradition. multigraincracker Sep 2022 #2

Very few people stay because they don't trust science and data. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #3

And hoping it won't hit them directly Patton French Sep 2022 #5

And pets Native Sep 2022 #15

I wouldn't leave my animals. nt leftyladyfrommo Sep 2022 #20

Me either obamanut2012 Sep 2022 #28

I've always had pets, and you are so right. BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #44

And blow off those who just assume incredible stupidity. Hortensis Sep 2022 #65

We left with the last hurricane and drove to Augusta. Guess what happened? Native Sep 2022 #18

A good idea except Orlando got hit hard. jimfields33 Sep 2022 #57

I'm specifically thinking about people on the water. I've spent most of my life living on the water. Native Sep 2022 #60

That is true. jimfields33 Sep 2022 #64

We evacuated from Irma when it looked like it was going to hit us. It shifted and ... Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #68

Run from the water. Shelter from the wind. LeftInTX Sep 2022 #99

Yup, and pets or people they help obamanut2012 Sep 2022 #27

Yep, and when I lived in the Keys we were well aware that a single traffic accident can close a BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #47

Not to mention trying to leave when you have an all electric vehicle. Native Sep 2022 #58

Where do you get gasoline... ret5hd Sep 2022 #62

When you prepare to leave and you are filling up your tank, you bring additional tanks to also fill. Native Sep 2022 #82

Correct!! My brother and his wife packed everything up to go then decided the storm was going to dameatball Sep 2022 #33

But the OP is talking about people that did have the capacity to leave . There actually ARE always JI7 Sep 2022 #74

I recommend looking at the section of responses under the DUer in Key West. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #76

I have some friends in Tampa. They didn't leave Raine Sep 2022 #4

It is a feature and not a bug. Hugin Sep 2022 #6

A whole bunch of this. nt Phoenix61 Sep 2022 #11

Well said n/t Doc Sportello Sep 2022 #56

I wonder if part of it is that they think their neighbors will loot their homes. TheBlackAdder Sep 2022 #7

There's probably a subset in that category. Hugin Sep 2022 #9

"Resent the inconvenience of having to save their own lives." BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #49

This thread is about those who can and don't. Hugin Sep 2022 #51

THIS: "The bulk, however, resent the inconvenience of having to save their own lives." Doc Sportello Sep 2022 #54

It's what happened after Andrew bluecollar2 Sep 2022 #12

I went through Andrew mcar Sep 2022 #80

Farmers so we didn't leave bluecollar2 Sep 2022 #85

There's usually two types of people who stay put during natural disasters. Elessar Zappa Sep 2022 #8

The first complicating efforts to help the second. Hugin Sep 2022 #10

I'd add another key category. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #88

I lived in Key West for 25 years. I never evacuated. BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #13

As a native Floridian, I agree with you 100%. Native Sep 2022 #21

100% this obamanut2012 Sep 2022 #30

I consider leaving this time when I saw the hurricane was supposed to go right threw my city jimfields33 Sep 2022 #63

Agree 100% HipChick Sep 2022 #31

Exactly, but there are always these kind of comments every time there's a major storm. BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #40

I've faced many deadly storms Doc Sportello Sep 2022 #61

Leaving the Keys is a daunting proposition when a storm is approaching. BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #73

There will come a day when heroes who don't want to evacuate Key West will end up Chainfire Sep 2022 #69

Why so hostile? BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #75

Anyone who would not evacuate Key West in a serious hurricane is simply irrational. Chainfire Sep 2022 #77

Could you please point out where anyone used the word "hero" in any post about staying put? BlackSkimmer Sep 2022 #79

As a Florida native you should be aware that we're essentially a sponge. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #87

1000% The "talking about people who can and don't" still misses the bigger picture. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #70

My Wife's College Roommate... ProfessorGAC Sep 2022 #89

A lot of it is "normalcy bias" catbyte Sep 2022 #14

I've always assumed as much, but I didn't know it had a title. Makes alot of sense. lindysalsagal Sep 2022 #59

My neighborhood caught fire yesterday Sympthsical Sep 2022 #16

You are spot on. jimfields33 Sep 2022 #53

Wasn't that a problem some years back? Sympthsical Sep 2022 #67

I think you're thinking of Superstorm Sandy. The year before, Hurricane Irene was catbyte Sep 2022 #71

Peninsular Florida's not an easy place to evacuate geographically. Tommy Carcetti Sep 2022 #17

Exactly true, I left the state for Ivan in 2017. jaxexpat Sep 2022 #26

It is foolish to buy a home with a floor elevation less than 15 feet in Florida dembotoz Sep 2022 #32

Given what we know about climate change, people should be permanently leaving FL Kaleva Sep 2022 #19

Given what we know about the planet, nowhere is 100% safe for anyone. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #94

No place is 100% safe but some are safer Kaleva Sep 2022 #100

I've been telling my family for years I'm retiring to the Shenandoah Archipelago. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #101

houze bout: Conjuay Sep 2022 #22

When you live on a sand bar and can't afford insurance, Emile Sep 2022 #23

I would guess a evacuation would cost the average family about $500. 3Hotdogs Sep 2022 #24

The average is more than twice that. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2022 #66

Or, they could go to one of the many local shelters that are opened Mariana Sep 2022 #81

I wouldn't be able to leave, not with physically disabled Ilsa Sep 2022 #25

Problem is most people always wait until the day before to split. Ligyron Sep 2022 #29

My brother is in St Augustine Bmoboy Sep 2022 #34

It's usually less about not trusting data and more about circumstances facing their lives. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2022 #35

It does get a bit frustrating. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #96

Contempt helps people feel like their choices are what have kept them safe. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2022 #98

My own experience no_hypocrisy Sep 2022 #36

For the most part we (humans) are innumerate. plimsoll Sep 2022 #37

There's no reason for everyone to leave the area. Mariana Sep 2022 #38

Not this DUer! NCDem47 Sep 2022 #39

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did a story on Deminpenn Sep 2022 #41

I'm perplexed by people who choose to live in Florida IronLionZion Sep 2022 #42

No state income tax and no shoveling snow and a big selection of 55+ communities. Native Sep 2022 #83

Neither are the reasons personally that brought me to Florida, although I do hear that a lot. Tommy Carcetti Sep 2022 #84

That has probably changed. I have heard people recently say they moved here because of politics, Native Sep 2022 #86

It's where my husband got an amazing job offer. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #90

My retired parents live there IronLionZion Sep 2022 #93

The worst GOP types in my life are in-laws in Massachusetts. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #95

We never left. piddyprints Sep 2022 #43

Good perspective! NCDem47 Sep 2022 #46

Indeed. The last thing we need is people judging us harshly for circumstances they don't truly grasp Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #97

Public announcements should have encouraged ALL DEMOCRATS to evecuate! CCExile Sep 2022 #45

When everybody tries to leave at the same time, what do you think happens? LisaL Sep 2022 #48

We have lived in Clearwater for 30 years... Sancho Sep 2022 #50

The shift was deadly Johnny2X2X Sep 2022 #52

You're not wrong. By far there have been way more storms... Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #91

For most, it wasn't about doubting science. Jirel Sep 2022 #72

You make a really good point. Damage "on the edges" can be unpredictable. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2022 #92

It's the F' Around and find out effect... JCMach1 Sep 2022 #102