General Discussion Board

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

PERRYEASTEP — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:54:17 GMT

CNN.com had a poll on this last week, I would gooooo!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:09:58 GMT

Hey Lisa, hope to see you back online and in the mix soon!! Glad you had some good luck.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Meri — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:35:45 GMT

So glad you are back safe and sound, Lisa Carey. I spoke with my cousin who lives in Houston and he said the power outages are the worst part of the aftermath for the people in his neighborhood. It could have been a lot worse!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:12:12 GMT

So glad to read your update, Lisa Carey! I saw that you posted a review on a cleaning supply--how fitting after all of that. Sounds like you guys have some great people around, except for those "spammers."

To any others who have been affected by a hurricane, I sure hope everyone made it through OK. I know it must be hard to try to pick up the pieces, but it looks like Lisa and her family are a great example of how to enjoy what you have and to "roll with the punches."

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

krislynn — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:37:40 GMT

Hi Lisa and Carey family, so glad you are safe and sound!! You have been in my thoughts. Hope things get back to normal for you soon. Take care and let us know how you are doing.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

turtle4592 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:29:49 GMT

LisaCarey, glad your family is safe and able to return home. I know what it's like to go through a hurricane and the aftermath is a lot of hard work. Hopefully Houston was prepared and can start getting things back to semi-normal soon. Your family is in our thoughts.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

LisaCarey — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:09:57 GMT

Hello all. the Carey family is back in Houston, safe and sound! We are truly blessed to return to our home to find the electricity back on and the food in my fridge (which has been carefuly stored and quick frozen in the freezer before we left) still in good shape even after a power outage. Our neighborhood took quite a hit, with uprooted trees, leaves and debris. Several houses, including the one directly behind us lost all or portions of their roofs. We found shingles in our pool!

We are back to basics though. We are using a friend in another county for internet service since we don't have any, nor any tv, or telephone. So, we have been reading, but not commenting, reviewing but not participating much as we try to get as much accomplished as possible in the little time we have there. So many of my friends have been incredibly generous!

One house in our neighborhood had the uprooted tree land on the car next door, so that is causing problems. We had a guardian angel, good karma, or whatever you want to call it, and especially lots of our friends well wishes, warm thoughts and prayer protecting our house. We are still doing clean up, downtown is closed so Bryan is out of work for awhile, and we are trying to spend lots of time outdoors enjoying the pleasant weather and letting the kids play. Visits to the library and other places work too, but much of the area is flooded and many stores etc are still without service or power. Several churches in our area have started shelters, as the needs increase with the longer it takes to return to their homes. Collections are being taken for food and clothing, personal items, etc and fun things for the kids to do as they are all out of school and many out of their homes.

Hopefully we will recover quickly, but I have found that it all depends on the people. So many have been kind and caring, sharing what they have and others are selfish, grabbing the last can of spam off the shelf (not that I wanted it but no need to be rude!). One moment you encounter panic stricken people demanding food and gas and that is causing some of the problems, but mainly it's the flooding and out of work (ness). We hope things get better soon. BubleFan is Houston also, and I haven't heard anything of her, going to go check her home page.

Thanks all for your warm wishes! We hope to be up and writing at full capacity real soon!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:17:46 GMT

I think it must also be hard to leave if your work hasn't officially closed, b/c then does work allow people to leave if they have fear that it's coming closer. I'm saying if there are not yet warnings of evacuation, but you have a feeling it's coming... in that instance, would your job be A OK with you evacuating your family? Just curious as we have nothing like this around here.

Also, Jo, Lisa posted something a page back about going up to a hotel in Dallas. I don't know if they are still there or not but I would think it's a safe bet that they haven't gone home yet.

And redfire, does your sister ever think of moving? I guess if I had to evacuate many times like that, I'd start to reconsider where I live.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

redfireant — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:56:21 GMT

I would definitely pack up my most important papers, pictures, and jewelry along with my husband and dog and get the HECK OUT!! A home can be replaced, but lives can't. I've got family all over the states, so we'd shack up with them until it's safe to go back and see what kind of damage was done. I have a sister who lives in Savannah on Tybee Island (1 way in, 1 way out) and every time there's a hurricane headed their way, they come to Alabama and stay with us.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Jo — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:38:18 GMT

Speaking of storms does anyone know if Bryan and Lisa are ok?? They live in TX (Houston I believe) and does anyone else here live in the hit area and are you ok?

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JazzSinger — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:43:44 GMT

Good luck, Carey family. I wish you well.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

PattyTherre — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:41:47 GMT

I am thinking of all of you in Texas as well. I am watching CNN and thinking how dumb they are to send their people right into the eye of the storm to report. It looks really bad out there. Category 4 winds at building height in Galveston. ACK! They are saying people are calling for help and there is no way that anyone can get to them. They refused to evacuate and now they are stuck. :(

Prayers - and positive energy - to everyone involved in these hurricanes.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

MikeMaroon — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:40:03 GMT

LisaCarey said…
Hello all, the Carey family got a chance this week to put it's money where it's mouth is. Yes, we evacuated today, we are all safe and sound. I know that there is now no power in our neighborhood as well as approximately 31 mph winds. It's not landfall in Galveston yet, so I am staying tuned in with puter and tv, unfortunately not able to concentrate on anything except this drama. We had prepared to stay, with water and food and all, but decided last night not to chance it. The girls are not scared as we decided to treat it as an adventure.
Going west would have been nice, but at the time we got a room there was nothing in Austin, Brenham or even San Marcos, San Antonio was possibly going to be hit just as bad almost with it possibly coming in Freeport. We are in Dallas now, they say that yes we will probably have some pretty bad winds and rain Sat. night but by 1 on Sunday all should be fine. I have been through a tropical storm before, so that doesn't scare me as much as Ike does. We worry for our home and our friends we left back there and pray everyone will be safe. Don't expect to be doing much viewpointing, as I honestly can barely spell right now with staring at the tv screen. But they have sleep number beds here, so could be a good review coming.
You know I thought I was a stuff person too. But we left with a rubbermaid container of food, a cooler, one suitecase of favorite toys, my laptop, clothing, my grandmothers quilt, my rosary (made of pressed roses and given to me by my MIL, and the family photos (ok my laptop). Dont' worry I am practical too, I brought all the important papers.
Thanks for many of your well wishes, the Carey family is safe for now and will check back in when we return home. Please pray (think happy thoughts, send good energy) for the safety of our friends and our home.

Happy thoughts and prayers coming your way! Glad you got out of harms way and I hope the damage is limited or non-existant when you get back! I was on Guam for Typhoon Omar in 1992, it was a cat 4 with 145 mph winds. We had no where to go so just had to hunker down and take it. It was nasty, but nobody died and we are here to tell about it. Hope this doesn't turn out as bad as eveyone thinks it is!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

krislynn — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:45:54 GMT

LisaCarey said…
Thanks for many of your well wishes, the Carey family is safe for now and will check back in when we return home. Please pray (think happy thoughts, send good energy) for the safety of our friends and our home.

Lisa and all other VP members from TX,
You and your families are in my prayers. Stay safe!!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

LisaCarey — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:27:42 GMT

Hello all, the Carey family got a chance this week to put it's money where it's mouth is. Yes, we evacuated today, we are all safe and sound. I know that there is now no power in our neighborhood as well as approximately 31 mph winds. It's not landfall in Galveston yet, so I am staying tuned in with puter and tv, unfortunately not able to concentrate on anything except this drama. We had prepared to stay, with water and food and all, but decided last night not to chance it. The girls are not scared as we decided to treat it as an adventure.

Going west would have been nice, but at the time we got a room there was nothing in Austin, Brenham or even San Marcos, San Antonio was possibly going to be hit just as bad almost with it possibly coming in Freeport. We are in Dallas now, they say that yes we will probably have some pretty bad winds and rain Sat. night but by 1 on Sunday all should be fine. I have been through a tropical storm before, so that doesn't scare me as much as Ike does. We worry for our home and our friends we left back there and pray everyone will be safe. Don't expect to be doing much viewpointing, as I honestly can barely spell right now with staring at the tv screen. But they have sleep number beds here, so could be a good review coming.

You know I thought I was a stuff person too. But we left with a rubbermaid container of food, a cooler, one suitecase of favorite toys, my laptop, clothing, my grandmothers quilt, my rosary (made of pressed roses and given to me by my MIL, and the family photos (ok my laptop). Dont' worry I am practical too, I brought all the important papers.

Thanks for many of your well wishes, the Carey family is safe for now and will check back in when we return home. Please pray (think happy thoughts, send good energy) for the safety of our friends and our home.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:07:30 GMT

turtle4592 said…
We live down here in the plywood state near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida so we have been in a few hurricanes. Wilma left us without power for six days and I can tell you that was not fun at all. Try crossing a six lane, four way intersection without the street lights working. (I work for the city and had to go to work the day after the storm.) Riding out a hurricane is pretty much a way of life down here. Most people only evacuate if they live near the beach or in mobile homes or are older and may not survive being stranded at home for days without power. I think the year we had Katrina and Wilma (and a bunch of other smaller hurricanes and tropical storms) taught people to prepare better. Now we fill up the cars and the generator days before we even know if the storm is actually going to hit our area or not and extra bottled water is a staple at home. There is not a hurricane season that begins without cases of water being stacked in my laundry room. If you live in an area that gets frequent storms you learn what you need to do to prepare your family and pretty much just hope for the best.

Well, I guess I should have prepared even though we're not in the path of the storm because our gas prices just went up twice in one day. This morning--$3.69. Early afternoon--$3.99. Late afternoon--$4.29. They say gas stations about an hour away are selling out at $6.00/gallon. Ouch. Guess I got a bargain at $4.29.

Those are some good points about being ready for power outages, and it would probably be a good idea to be prepared in other areas as well.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:17:04 GMT

Turtle, I think everyone should learn to be better prepared. I remember the big power outage that happened in the NorthEast and spread, none of us had more than 1/4 gas! Now I try to gas up as soon as the tank goes below a certain level.

Regardless of what natural disaster you face, having a stockpile of water, canned foods, and the like is a good idea. Here in MI it's the snow we worry about, and boy does it suck if we have an empty fridge adn 2 feet of snow outside! So now in the winter I make sure we always have plenty of cans of soup and other canned foods because at the very least, even if we have to go without fresh food, at least we have something to eat.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

turtle4592 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:51:12 GMT

We live down here in the plywood state near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida so we have been in a few hurricanes. Wilma left us without power for six days and I can tell you that was not fun at all. Try crossing a six lane, four way intersection without the street lights working. (I work for the city and had to go to work the day after the storm.) Riding out a hurricane is pretty much a way of life down here. Most people only evacuate if they live near the beach or in mobile homes or are older and may not survive being stranded at home for days without power. I think the year we had Katrina and Wilma (and a bunch of other smaller hurricanes and tropical storms) taught people to prepare better. Now we fill up the cars and the generator days before we even know if the storm is actually going to hit our area or not and extra bottled water is a staple at home. There is not a hurricane season that begins without cases of water being stacked in my laundry room. If you live in an area that gets frequent storms you learn what you need to do to prepare your family and pretty much just hope for the best.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JovialCougar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:03:04 GMT

Bryan-Carey said…
Well, it looks like I am about to experience my first hurricane! Unless Ike takes a turn in a different direction, I plan to pack up the van and head to Dallas tomorrow.

Good luck! If you haven't already, hit the ATM before the cash machine runs dry.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:18:59 GMT

Bryan-Carey said…
Well, it looks like I am about to experience my first hurricane! Unless Ike takes a turn in a different direction, I plan to pack up the van and head to Dallas tomorrow.

Be safe and know that I'm thinking about and praying for all those in the area! Keep us posted when you can.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JazzSinger — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:14:16 GMT

Bryan-Carey said…
Well, it looks like I am about to experience my first hurricane! Unless Ike takes a turn in a different direction, I plan to pack up the van and head to Dallas tomorrow.

Bryan, if you're going to leave, you might want to consider leaving sooner. Houston evacuated for Hurricane Rita, and I heard horror stories about people being stuck on the interstate for hours. It's just that Houston is such a huge city, and it's really hard to move that many people.

Also, if you don't mind a suggestion, go west, not north.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Fardreamer — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:12:22 GMT

Bryan-Carey said…
Well, it looks like I am about to experience my first hurricane! Unless Ike takes a turn in a different direction, I plan to pack up the van and head to Dallas tomorrow.

Be safe, Mr. Carey. My thoughts are with you and your family. You have to keep on writing those reviews of books and brews!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:02:13 GMT

Good luck! It's a good idea to be ready to go even if you're not sure, that way all you'd have to do is hop in the already-packed van and leave.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:01:29 GMT

I agree with jazz. I think a lot of times the people who choose to stay (even after warnings to mandatory evacuate) those people end up being shown as victims who no one cares about. However if they are told NO ONE WILL HELP YOU, and they STILL stay, then it's there problem and the media should make it clear that these people were warned about the lack of help.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Bryan-Carey — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:42:02 GMT

Well, it looks like I am about to experience my first hurricane! Unless Ike takes a turn in a different direction, I plan to pack up the van and head to Dallas tomorrow.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:07:13 GMT

JazzSinger said…
By the way, I forgot to share one tip on when to evacuate for a hurricane. There's a running joke around here that if Jim Cantore shows up in your town, it's time to get the hell out. In fact, I think a great ad campaign for The Weather Channel would be to show Jim Cantore running routine errands, but every time he enters a store, everyone starts panicking and running.

I'm picturing that one in my mind--GREAT IDEA. If I ever see that on TV, I'll know exactly where they got the idea!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:06:21 GMT

JazzSinger said…
They don't help, and they shouldn't. The first thing people who refuse to leave are told is that no one will help you. Emergency personnel WILL NOT go out into a hurricane, and that includes ambulances and police. Why should they risk getting themselves killed in a hurricane for someone who wouldn't listen?

I tend to agree with what you said. As a healthcare worker and a former lifeguard, I know that people in helping professions tend to go the extra mile and then some on a regular basis. I wasn't sure exactly what they say in a situation like that--thanks for the info.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JazzSinger — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:17:46 GMT

By the way, I forgot to share one tip on when to evacuate for a hurricane. There's a running joke around here that if Jim Cantore shows up in your town, it's time to get the hell out. In fact, I think a great ad campaign for The Weather Channel would be to show Jim Cantore running routine errands, but every time he enters a store, everyone starts panicking and running.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JazzSinger — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:36:51 GMT

They don't help, and they shouldn't. The first thing people who refuse to leave are told is that no one will help you. Emergency personnel WILL NOT go out into a hurricane, and that includes ambulances and police. Why should they risk getting themselves killed in a hurricane for someone who wouldn't listen?

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:53:58 GMT

I'll throw out another question since so many of you have posted to this one.

Do you think emergency personnel should be available to help people who have decided to stay despite a mandatory evacuation?

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Fardreamer — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:46:57 GMT

mysticstarfish said…
Fardreamer said…
Katrena said…
The images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath were horrifying. Seeing people standing on rooftops begging to be rescued really made an impression on me.
I can also see how difficult it would be to leave. Job. Pets. Possessions. Waiting in a line a mile long to board a bus going to a mystery destination. Previous false alarms. So, what would you do?
We don't get too many false alarms here in Miami. Usually if the National Hurricane Center says "it's going to hit/affect South Florida for sure," it does.
My mom is not doing too well these days, so even if she were to change her "I'm staying put" position, she's too tired and frail to even think of being in a shelter. We've never evacuated because (a) we are not by the beach and (b) we have the same "stuff" situation that vivasuzi has, or at least I do, so no. A Category 3 or worse could be coming (like Ike may early next week) and we won't budge.
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Ike is coming and it looks like it may be bad. May I make a recommendation? Please let your local police department know you will be riding it out just so they know you are there and what your situation is.
Good luck....you are in my thoughts.

Thankfully, Ike's track took it southwards and westwards so it struck Cuba more and took South Florida out of its path. We're still going to get the rain bands and some the outer winds, but at least we dodged the bullet.

Oh, and thanks for the good advice and good wishes! :-)

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:36:40 GMT

Hurricane destruction and the mass evactuations they often spawn is something I used to experience only on television. But now that I live in Texas, there is always a chance that I may find myself in a situation where I would have to hit the road and head inland.

I live far enough from the coast that a threat isn't very likely and even if a hurricane did strike directly, we would not be required to evacuate because we are about 90 minutes inland and about 150 feet above sea level. But required or not, if a powerful hurricane was approaching (category 3 or greater) I would most certainly load the family in the van and get out of Dodge. If I was still without children, I might ride out the storm but I would not take any chances with my little girls.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

krislynn — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:45:51 GMT

Fardreamer said…
My mom is not doing too well these days, so even if she were to change her "I'm staying put" position, she's too tired and frail to even think of being in a shelter. We've never evacuated because (a) we are not by the beach and (b) we have the same "stuff" situation that vivasuzi has, or at least I do, so no. A Category 3 or worse could be coming (like Ike may early next week) and we won't budge.

I hope your mom gets better soon, Fardreamer!

I was born and used to live in FL. I still have family living in FL. Like you, they do not live near the beach. They do not usually evacuate. My prayers will be with you and your family.

Stay safe!!!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

krislynn — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:26:41 GMT

Stay safe during this Hurricane season everyone! I always hated Hurricane season when I lived in Savannah, GA.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

jasyjen — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:29:35 GMT

I've lived in North Carolina for 25 years, so I've had a lot of experience with Hurricanes. And NO ONE ever wants to leave. Ever. However, when you are positive it's coming your way and is a Category 3 or higher, most people will go. It's just so hard because you know you'll have to fight traffic, lots of rain, and you have no idea when you'll be able to get back home. And if you have pets, that's an entire other story.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

AnnaBanana — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:22:44 GMT

I have never been in a hurricane (yet) but I'm the type who would not want to leave home for any reason unless I could be sure I would be able to return and find it the way I left it or at least still standing -- and of course, there are no guarantees like that. Now here's another question: which of you guys would voluntarily leave a sunny tranquil state (Illinois) and travel down to Florida THIS WEEK to visit someone. Because that's what I'm getting ready to do. My tickets are refundable though so I'm open to suggestions.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

TheBard — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:02:32 GMT

Katrena said…
I saw that you were on a battleship. Were you in the military? My dad went to the Naval Academy and served in the Navy for 5 years. I wish I had asked him more about his experiences at sea.

I served 15 years in the U.S. Navy; I took early retirement in 1995. I served mostly onboard submarines, but rode the occassional surface ship when the Navy deemed it necessary.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:39:42 GMT

TheBard said…
vivasuzi said…
Thebard said: " At sea there was nowhere to run and or hide, and it was a wild ride indeed!"
Wow I would think you would flip for sure! Did anyone get hurt or thrown off the boat?
Not our ship but an escorting crusier lost a man overboard; he was never found. And we suffered a broken propeller shaft and a lost a boat, but everyone survived.

I saw that you were on a battleship. Were you in the military? My dad went to the Naval Academy and served in the Navy for 5 years. I wish I had asked him more about his experiences at sea.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

TheBard — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:55:37 GMT

vivasuzi said…
Thebard said: " At sea there was nowhere to run and or hide, and it was a wild ride indeed!"
Wow I would think you would flip for sure! Did anyone get hurt or thrown off the boat?

Not our ship but an escorting crusier lost a man overboard; he was never found. And we suffered a broken propeller shaft and a lost a boat, but everyone survived.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

TheBard — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:53:50 GMT

JovialCougar said…
I know an old ''tin can sailor'' who lived through a typhoon in the Pacific during WW2. Maybe you have heard the stories? He said the waves were so high they were breaking right over the ship's deck. If I'm not mistaken, several ships went down in the storm with everyone on board.

We did not lose anyone but one of the cruisers escorting us lost a man overboard. At the hieght of the storm we were taking waves up and over the o4 deck, that is four stories above the main deck of the ship. We were in state 5 seas (really bad with waves 30 or more feet high) and the ship, a battleship mind you, was rolling and pitching like a toy. It is an experience I will never forget and I do not regret!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:09:18 GMT

TheBard said…
I think the answer to that question depends on where you live. I have personally lived through 5 hurricanes in my lifetime; two while living in Newport, RI, two while living in Hawaii, and one in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.
In Newport and Hawaii, there was little danger of flooding so we stayed put; but the wind is another matter altogether. The best plan there is to board up the windows and head for the basement, or find a shelter to ride the storm out in. At sea there was nowhere to run and or hide, and it was a wild ride indeed!
Those who live in a flood zone should always leave. Hurricanes are very unpredictable, deadly, large, and should be respected. To do otherwise is to invite folly and dead!
If one lives along any coastal plain on the East Coast or Gulf Coast of the U.S. not to be prepared to evacuate and resume life elsewhere is just plain ludicrous and inexcusable. Compliancy in the face of the growing hurricane threat is inexcusable. When I lived in Hawaii I had a hurricane kit I kept in the apartment just in case. And while living in Newport we had plans as well.

I've got to ask about your experience at sea--what type of vessel was it? I can only imagine living through something like that--I can imagine this plays a big part in having a healthy respect for hurricanes.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:06:41 GMT

Fardreamer said…
Katrena said…
The images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath were horrifying. Seeing people standing on rooftops begging to be rescued really made an impression on me.
I can also see how difficult it would be to leave. Job. Pets. Possessions. Waiting in a line a mile long to board a bus going to a mystery destination. Previous false alarms. So, what would you do?
We don't get too many false alarms here in Miami. Usually if the National Hurricane Center says "it's going to hit/affect South Florida for sure," it does.
My mom is not doing too well these days, so even if she were to change her "I'm staying put" position, she's too tired and frail to even think of being in a shelter. We've never evacuated because (a) we are not by the beach and (b) we have the same "stuff" situation that vivasuzi has, or at least I do, so no. A Category 3 or worse could be coming (like Ike may early next week) and we won't budge.

Health issues must be pretty big in FL. I know a lot of people retire down there. Being in a shelter would be especially difficult for people who are not well. I feel for you, Fardreamer, and hope this hurricane season is short in FL.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:04:10 GMT

vivasuzi said…
Having never been in the situation before, I would say really it depends. My problem relates mostly to "my stuff". I'm a stuff person, I like my stuff, I spent time picking out my stuff, so overall, I'd at the very least pack up important stuff like photos, gifts, my favorite clothes and be ready to go at any time. I'd have to own a travel trailer b/c i couldn't imagine leaving this kind of stuff behind without knowing if it will get destroyed.
If everyone else in the neighborhood was leaving, I'd definitely jump on board that train. No need to stick around if the whole city is clearing out. If no-one is leaving, I'd still probably pack up and organize my stuff so that I could be ready to go. My worry would be that the news would say "it's fine, it's fine", and then all of a sudden they'd say evacuate and I'd have none of my stuff! I really think the reason a lot of people do stay, even after the worst warnings, is because of their stuff. They can't afford to pack up allllll their stuff, and they can't decide what stuff is important stuff. If it wasn't for "stuff" everyone would probably clear out quickly with every warning.
These hurricanes do make me feel sorry for the people who live down there and have to think about all of this. I couldn't live in a place where natural disasters occur once a year or so. I'd probably be more organized though b/c I'd want to know where all my important stuff is all the time :) However, I'll stick with MI where our "natural distaster" is a couple feet of snow. Same with what Patty said, it's almost no big deal for us. The worst thing snowstorms can do really is shut off the power and get your job or school closed for the day (which hardly never happens even when it should!). And all you gotta do is get a bunch of blankets and play board games.
For those of you about the tornadoes - I'm so tired of tornado warnings here in MI. I've not had one recently, but all summer we had watches and warnings and not a single tornado came anywhere near any county around here! I wish they could learn how to predict those better. It is nice with Hurricanes that you can see it coming from miles away. Snowstorms can be a big surprise to us since the weather men never seem to know what they are talking about.

I think it would be hard to leave stuff behind, especially if one were worrying about looting and having things ruined. We don't have many warnings at all except for flash floods, but we don't live in a flood plain. The worst we tend to get is some water in the basement.

I do think it would be tough with tornadoes--they can form so quickly. I remember being VERY near one tornado. We were in a JROTC high ropes course. Another guy and I had just gotten up in a tree and were headed across the ropes and then they sent all the other cadets back to another area. The guy doing the course suddenly yelled for us to "Go back!" right after I had thrown my safety line down for the next person. When he told me to unhook my upper safety line and get the heck out of the tree, I knew we were in trouble. Fortunately, the tornado didn't uproot the tree we were in, but several were uprooted along the trail. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. The funny thing about it was that the sergeant major had decided to give everyone a silly job--I was in charge of weather that day. I respectfully asked not to be put in charge of weather again, and he readily agreed!

I really feel for the people who have to evacuate due to wildfires--sometimes there's very little time and it's very likely that the property will be a total disaster when you return.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:52:23 GMT

Jo said…
We talk about this all the time because we live on the ocean. It would depend on the wind gusts. We are on a 40 foot bluff so even if the tide rose a lot it has a long way to go to get here but the wind is another story. Our house wouldn't survive in 125 mile winds. We'fe seen gust of 60 mph. The windows are fairly new and it's weird to see them move i.e. give a bit rather than break. We'd leave for sure if a category 2 or more was headed our way. We'd take our dog and I'd take some jewelry and as many photo albums and pictures as possible and just head away. The bad thing about where we live is that there is one road out....

My husband had mentioned that they converted the interstate to all outgoing lanes to evacuate before the hurricane. I had never heard of that before, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:02:17 GMT

Thebard said: " At sea there was nowhere to run and or hide, and it was a wild ride indeed!"

Wow I would think you would flip for sure! Did anyone get hurt or thrown off the boat?

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JovialCougar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:11:37 GMT

TheBard said…
I think the answer to that question depends on where you live. I have personally lived through 5 hurricanes in my lifetime; two while living in Newport, RI, two while living in Hawaii, and one in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

I know an old ''tin can sailor'' who lived through a typhoon in the Pacific during WW2. Maybe you have heard the stories? He said the waves were so high they were breaking right over the ship's deck. If I'm not mistaken, several ships went down in the storm with everyone on board.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

mysticstarfish — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:57:33 GMT

Fardreamer said…
Katrena said…
The images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath were horrifying. Seeing people standing on rooftops begging to be rescued really made an impression on me.
I can also see how difficult it would be to leave. Job. Pets. Possessions. Waiting in a line a mile long to board a bus going to a mystery destination. Previous false alarms. So, what would you do?
We don't get too many false alarms here in Miami. Usually if the National Hurricane Center says "it's going to hit/affect South Florida for sure," it does.
My mom is not doing too well these days, so even if she were to change her "I'm staying put" position, she's too tired and frail to even think of being in a shelter. We've never evacuated because (a) we are not by the beach and (b) we have the same "stuff" situation that vivasuzi has, or at least I do, so no. A Category 3 or worse could be coming (like Ike may early next week) and we won't budge.

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Ike is coming and it looks like it may be bad. May I make a recommendation? Please let your local police department know you will be riding it out just so they know you are there and what your situation is.

Good luck....you are in my thoughts.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

TheBard — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:27:43 GMT

I think the answer to that question depends on where you live. I have personally lived through 5 hurricanes in my lifetime; two while living in Newport, RI, two while living in Hawaii, and one in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

In Newport and Hawaii, there was little danger of flooding so we stayed put; but the wind is another matter altogether. The best plan there is to board up the windows and head for the basement, or find a shelter to ride the storm out in. At sea there was nowhere to run and or hide, and it was a wild ride indeed!

Those who live in a flood zone should always leave. Hurricanes are very unpredictable, deadly, large, and should be respected. To do otherwise is to invite folly and dead!

If one lives along any coastal plain on the East Coast or Gulf Coast of the U.S. not to be prepared to evacuate and resume life elsewhere is just plain ludicrous and inexcusable. Compliancy in the face of the growing hurricane threat is inexcusable. When I lived in Hawaii I had a hurricane kit I kept in the apartment just in case. And while living in Newport we had plans as well.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Fardreamer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:05:56 GMT

Katrena said…
The images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath were horrifying. Seeing people standing on rooftops begging to be rescued really made an impression on me.
I can also see how difficult it would be to leave. Job. Pets. Possessions. Waiting in a line a mile long to board a bus going to a mystery destination. Previous false alarms. So, what would you do?

We don't get too many false alarms here in Miami. Usually if the National Hurricane Center says "it's going to hit/affect South Florida for sure," it does.

My mom is not doing too well these days, so even if she were to change her "I'm staying put" position, she's too tired and frail to even think of being in a shelter. We've never evacuated because (a) we are not by the beach and (b) we have the same "stuff" situation that vivasuzi has, or at least I do, so no. A Category 3 or worse could be coming (like Ike may early next week) and we won't budge.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

vivasuzi — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:25:46 GMT

Having never been in the situation before, I would say really it depends. My problem relates mostly to "my stuff". I'm a stuff person, I like my stuff, I spent time picking out my stuff, so overall, I'd at the very least pack up important stuff like photos, gifts, my favorite clothes and be ready to go at any time. I'd have to own a travel trailer b/c i couldn't imagine leaving this kind of stuff behind without knowing if it will get destroyed.

If everyone else in the neighborhood was leaving, I'd definitely jump on board that train. No need to stick around if the whole city is clearing out. If no-one is leaving, I'd still probably pack up and organize my stuff so that I could be ready to go. My worry would be that the news would say "it's fine, it's fine", and then all of a sudden they'd say evacuate and I'd have none of my stuff! I really think the reason a lot of people do stay, even after the worst warnings, is because of their stuff. They can't afford to pack up allllll their stuff, and they can't decide what stuff is important stuff. If it wasn't for "stuff" everyone would probably clear out quickly with every warning.

These hurricanes do make me feel sorry for the people who live down there and have to think about all of this. I couldn't live in a place where natural disasters occur once a year or so. I'd probably be more organized though b/c I'd want to know where all my important stuff is all the time :) However, I'll stick with MI where our "natural distaster" is a couple feet of snow. Same with what Patty said, it's almost no big deal for us. The worst thing snowstorms can do really is shut off the power and get your job or school closed for the day (which hardly never happens even when it should!). And all you gotta do is get a bunch of blankets and play board games.

For those of you about the tornadoes - I'm so tired of tornado warnings here in MI. I've not had one recently, but all summer we had watches and warnings and not a single tornado came anywhere near any county around here! I wish they could learn how to predict those better. It is nice with Hurricanes that you can see it coming from miles away. Snowstorms can be a big surprise to us since the weather men never seem to know what they are talking about.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

mysticstarfish — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:30:23 GMT

My husband put all the lawn furniture in the shed, covered the pool and put the toys away in anticipation of "Hannah". I don't believe it will be more than a tropical storm with a lot of rain, but living this close to the coast, tends to make storms stronger for us.

I hate those awful NorEasters. They can be as bad as hurricanes, but a little less predicatable, and during the winter months really bring damage with them.

I'll let you know how we make out when it's over.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Jo — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:52:46 GMT

We talk about this all the time because we live on the ocean. It would depend on the wind gusts. We are on a 40 foot bluff so even if the tide rose a lot it has a long way to go to get here but the wind is another story. Our house wouldn't survive in 125 mile winds. We'fe seen gust of 60 mph. The windows are fairly new and it's weird to see them move i.e. give a bit rather than break. We'd leave for sure if a category 2 or more was headed our way. We'd take our dog and I'd take some jewelry and as many photo albums and pictures as possible and just head away. The bad thing about where we live is that there is one road out....

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:49:08 GMT

mysticstarfish said…
steve9631 said…
Actually, it kinda sounds like riding one out would be fun. That being said, I've never been in one either.
That's what we thought, but were we wrong. The staff at the resort told everyone to stay in their rooms while they went together in the main building.
At first the wind was kind of cool, until the windows blew in and the roof started coming off. The sound of the wind became so loud, it was terriffying.
We spent the rest of the night in the tub with the mattress over us. In the morning we found the room was a total loss, including our luggage and clothes.
We had to wait another day for a flight out.
By the way, the staff at the resort was nonexistent the next day. They never even bothered to check on any of the guests.

That does sound terrifying. Glad you made it through the ordeal in one piece, even if your possessions did not.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:45:45 GMT

LibbyMcMillan said…
I too have lived in Tornado Alley (western Oklahoma), Earthquake Central (San Francisco) and now Hurricane Land (south Florida).   You are absolutely correct, hurricanes are the easiest disaster to weather, as you have full warning and can prepare.
We always keep frequent-flyer airline tickets "in the drawer" for Evacuation Season (June-Nov). Pets only go for Category 4 or higher; otherwise the trauma they endure is greater than what they would suffer at home.
Once you seriously evactuate for a "big one" you learn what is important: insurance and legal papers, all forms of ID and home ownership, video of your home and contents, love letters, family photos, your favorite clothes, computer, and address books.   That's about it.
You do also have to have a great plan in place, including EARLY hotel reservations or airline seats; shutters, etc to protect your home;   a place to take/store your vehicles on high/dry land; plenty of beef jerky, fresh water and batteries; prescriptions;  chargers for all your gear; a way/plan to reach your friends if your entire town disappears; an idea where you want to live next if your entire town disappears; phone numbers for FEMA, Red Cross and your insurance companies; a plan for your pets' comfort/needs in your absence; and an idea how long the power's been off when you come home......before you decide whether to open your fridge and remove the food or just chain the whole thing and have it hauled away!

I wonder if there's a website that has a checklist for items to pack if you are getting ready to evacuate...looks like you've been there and done that.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:42:29 GMT

JazzSinger said…
Well, I just went through one in the last 24 hours, so hopefully I can offer you some useful perspective.
I think an important factor you have to look at is where you will go. You have to have some kind of plan if you evacuate. The ideal situation is to have a relative or friend to stay with. Some people stay in hotels, but those fill up very quickly. People with campers usually haul them to some safe place and wait it out there. Otherwise, you have to find a shelter somewhere to stay at.
It also helps to know a little about the anatomy of a hurricane. Because of the way a hurricane spins, northeast of the eye is the absolute worst place to be. The eastern side of the eye usually has a lot more substance to it than the western side, so if you have a choice between going east or west, go west.
If you live in a sturdy structure (i.e. brick house), you live in a city where services are likely to be more quickly restored, and you are in a reasonably safe position relative to the hurricane, then staying may very well be your best option. When in doubt, though, go west young lady.
By the way, in case you're wondering about me, I stayed with my parents in central Louisiana. We got it pretty bad, and I would have probably been better off staying here. Fortunately, my parents had no major damage. They just had a lot of downed branches.

Great tips and glad to hear you guys are OK.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

PattyTherre — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:34:44 GMT

I would want to go but my husband is one who would want to go down to the basement and ride it out. If I had time and a place to go and thought I would be safer, I would go and force my sons to go with me. I would not leave without my animals though.

I live in central New York where we get terrible blizzards and storms like that but we never leave. We just sit in the cold and dark and ride it out unless our roof caves in, which it has at least three times. To us, six feet of snow is just a nuisance and blizzards are an excuse to use our four wheel drives. But when it comes to hurricanes and such, that's VERY scary and I would rely on my husband to know what to do because he knows all about weather and how to survive in the worst of conditions.

I hope everyone here who has gone through this current hurricane (and any others) have gotten through it safely and with little or no damage to their homes. Mother nature can truly be vicious at times.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

mysticstarfish — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:02:08 GMT

steve9631 said…
Actually, it kinda sounds like riding one out would be fun. That being said, I've never been in one either.
That's what we thought, but were we wrong. The staff at the resort told everyone to stay in their rooms while they went together in the main building.
At first the wind was kind of cool, until the windows blew in and the roof started coming off. The sound of the wind became so loud, it was terriffying.
We spent the rest of the night in the tub with the mattress over us. In the morning we found the room was a total loss, including our luggage and clothes.
We had to wait another day for a flight out.
By the way, the staff at the resort was nonexistent the next day. They never even bothered to check on any of the guests.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JovialCougar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:49:04 GMT

JazzSinger said…
We got it pretty bad, and I would have probably been better off staying here. Fortunately, my parents had no major damage. They just had a lot of downed branches.

Glad to hear you rode out the storm OK. I'm sure it'll take some time to clean everything up!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

LibbyMcMillan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:30:42 GMT

I too have lived in Tornado Alley (western Oklahoma), Earthquake Central (San Francisco) and now Hurricane Land (south Florida). You are absolutely correct, hurricanes are the easiest disaster to weather, as you have full warning and can prepare.

We always keep frequent-flyer airline tickets "in the drawer" for Evacuation Season (June-Nov). Pets only go for Category 4 or higher; otherwise the trauma they endure is greater than what they would suffer at home.

Once you seriously evactuate for a "big one" you learn what is important: insurance and legal papers, all forms of ID and home ownership, video of your home and contents, love letters, family photos, your favorite clothes, computer, and address books. That's about it.

You do also have to have a great plan in place, including EARLY hotel reservations or airline seats; shutters, etc to protect your home; a place to take/store your vehicles on high/dry land; plenty of beef jerky, fresh water and batteries; prescriptions; chargers for all your gear; a way/plan to reach your friends if your entire town disappears; an idea where you want to live next if your entire town disappears; phone numbers for FEMA, Red Cross and your insurance companies; a plan for your pets' comfort/needs in your absence; and an idea how long the power's been off when you come home......before you decide whether to open your fridge and remove the food or just chain the whole thing and have it hauled away!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JazzSinger — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:39:31 GMT

Well, I just went through one in the last 24 hours, so hopefully I can offer you some useful perspective.

I think an important factor you have to look at is where you will go. You have to have some kind of plan if you evacuate. The ideal situation is to have a relative or friend to stay with. Some people stay in hotels, but those fill up very quickly. People with campers usually haul them to some safe place and wait it out there. Otherwise, you have to find a shelter somewhere to stay at.

It also helps to know a little about the anatomy of a hurricane. Because of the way a hurricane spins, northeast of the eye is the absolute worst place to be. The eastern side of the eye usually has a lot more substance to it than the western side, so if you have a choice between going east or west, go west.

If you live in a sturdy structure (i.e. brick house), you live in a city where services are likely to be more quickly restored, and you are in a reasonably safe position relative to the hurricane, then staying may very well be your best option. When in doubt, though, go west young lady.

By the way, in case you're wondering about me, I stayed with my parents in central Louisiana. We got it pretty bad, and I would have probably been better off staying here. Fortunately, my parents had no major damage. They just had a lot of downed branches.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

steve9631 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:31:59 GMT

Actually, it kinda sounds like riding one out would be fun. That being said, I've never been in one either.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:46:08 GMT

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's thoughts in this post. Keep them coming!

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:44:42 GMT

LisaCarey said…
I actually an a co writer on a book about Katrina survivors and I would be gone in a flash.
If you would like to know more about the book or the research I have done, check out
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/994058/three_years_after_the_storm_anniversary.html?cat=9

Nice article! We know a few people who relocated to NC from the hurricane area. I think it takes quite a while to feel settled after something like that.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

njchicaa — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:27:13 GMT

A tip for those with cats and birds: sew ribbons or ropes around the open end of pillow cases. When there is an emergency and you have to evacuate the house, you can't possibly carry more than 2 plastic carriers at a time. You can throw cats and parrots into pillow cases and carry up to a dozen at a time out of the house.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

mysticstarfish — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:28:01 GMT

I rode one out at a resort at Turks and Caicos about 9 years ago.....NEVER AGAIN!!!!!

It was only a category 1 but wow, was that scary.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

njchicaa — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:58:51 GMT

I would go, but it would be extremely difficult with 3 cats, 3 parrots, and whatever fosters we had at the time.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

jazzybean01 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:24:26 GMT

As a person who works with an animal rescue group during disasters I heard horror stories of what went on with the animals over there. So sad.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

krislynn — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:01:26 GMT

I used to live near Savannah, GA when I was growing up. I lived on an island and our backyard was the marsh. We would definitely head out of dodge when a hurricane was coming our way. I always made sure I took my baby, a Jack Russell Terrier dog.

I now live in Carrollton, GA a metro city of Atlanta. It so happens where I live we are in tornado alley. I would prefer to face a hurricane vs a tornado. A hurricane you have plenty of warning but with a tornado you sometimes have no warning.

It was sad so many people / pets were lost and misplaced in LA and MS after Katrina hit. I was glad to see people evacuating early this time.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

JovialCougar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:51:02 GMT

I would get out. After the storm ends electricity would likely be out and branches covering the roadways. I've seen cases where people get stuck in virtually inhabitable homes in sweltering heat with no way to cool off, little food, and nothing functioning. In such cases a Motel 6 will seem like a luxury penthouse (almost).

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

LisaCarey — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:09:51 GMT

I actually an a co writer on a book about Katrina survivors and I would be gone in a flash.

If you would like to know more about the book or the research I have done, check out

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/994058/three_years_after_the_storm_anniversary.html?cat=9

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

epsgambler — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:36:33 GMT

Back when I was a teenager and involved in the Civil Air Patrol and the Ground Observer Corp, I went toward the hurricanes that came into the North Carolina coast. We hunkered down until it passed and then provided emergency power and communications. It was exciting, but I wouldn't do it now.

I grew up in tornado country and would much rather face a hurricane than a tornado. I also lived in earthquake country for awhile and rate hurricanes less scary than earthquakes.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

dukethepcdr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:29:56 GMT

I'd move and keep on moving. I would avoid living in places that can be hit by hurricanes in the first place but, then that's just me.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

jazzybean01 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:20:19 GMT

20/20 hindsight is always nice. I'm not sure what I would do until I was in that situation. But I do know living with animals, loving them as part of the family and part of being a responsible pet owner I would leave with them. I think the problem with Katrina is that they didn't evacuate in time, look at Gustav 2 million people evacuated before the storm hit! Wow. None of the help came for Katrina until afterwards.

If a hurricane's headed your way, would you stay or go?

Katrena — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:02:36 GMT

The images of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath were horrifying. Seeing people standing on rooftops begging to be rescued really made an impression on me.

I can also see how difficult it would be to leave. Job. Pets. Possessions. Waiting in a line a mile long to board a bus going to a mystery destination. Previous false alarms. So, what would you do?