Are you willing to stake your life ...

[LAMOM]

on being safe? If so..just give me a minute to vent.

I have been lurking around here for a few years now. I don't say much because I don't forcast weather and make uneducated guesses. Yet this time I do have something to say to all of those who don't take evacuations serious or are waiting for more advisories or think that waiting to the last minute is okay or think this storm is someone elses problem.

I want to tell you about evacuating...I was 8 when we evacuated from between Waveland and Bay St. Louis for Camille. This was in 1969, when the Gulf area even though built up for that time was still no where near as populated as the Florida area is now. It took us hours to get to the Louisiana line. So please leave early and don't wait!

Even though Charlie is not in the same category as Camille here's a link for some of you that don't know what a storm surge can do...look at this site http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/hu ... amille.htm.

So you might want to consider what you will do if you have a surge and hurricane winds coming your way. Are you really safe in your home? Has you home been tested and it withstood winds before? How about high water being forced by winds? Do you really know how strong your home is? Are you willing to stake your families life on how safe it is? Have you really decided that because other storms ended up missing you or were not as bad as they said it would be you are safe?

I do understand there are those who may want to see mother nature in all her glory or just don't want to leave your home or go to a shelter...but just remember..you may be the one we are talking about in years to come. You may be the guy/gal who stayed behind and never got to tell what it was like.

All I can tell you if we had stayed for Camille...I wouldn't be here today mouthing off. No one know's the exact landfall or strength until it happens, so please think about it before staying and ask yourself "Is it worth taking the chance?"

[Mattie]

Your Camille link doesn't work. . .
But I second the motion as I said in an earlier post. I was in Gulfport for Camille - Baton Rouge for Betsy. LEAVE! if you are in a warning area.

[BonesXL]

Thank-you for your wisdom and putting it all in perceptive.

[Mattie]

OH!!!! I just noticed you are in Denham Springs!!! I graduated DSHS 1976!

[GalvestonDuck]

Great post, LAMOM

Your Camille link doesn't work. . .
But I second the motion as I said in an earlier post. I was in Gulfport for Camille - Baton Rouge for Betsy. LEAVE! if you are in a warning area.

Mattie, it didn't work because of the period at the end of the sentence (it messed up the linkage).

Try this: http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/hu ... amille.htm

[Mattie]

Thanks, Duck!

[Agua]

Great post. I lived 70 miles north of the coast for Camille, and was about 5-6 years old at the time. We had 120 mph winds that far north.

But I don't want to take anything away from your post. These people facing potentially a Cat 3-4 storm need to get the hell out of there.

[LAMOM]

Thanks Duck, just had to say something with so many considering not doing anything and not taking this as serious as they should.

[LAMOM]

Mattie,

OH!!!! I just noticed you are in Denham Springs!!! I graduated DSHS 1976!

I graduated from Live Oak in watson in 1979..small world

[southerngale]

Great post LAMOM! I hope many people take your advice seriously.

[LAMOM]

Thanks...I do to

[bahamaswx]

Well technically if you had your house built properly it would stand up to Charley's winds with ease.... but nothing can survive storm surge.

[Anonymous]

Good post!!! I hope they will listen!

[c5Camille]

RUN AWAY!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVE!!!!

and i mean that...

cat 1's are fun...

cat 3 plus... RUN AWAY ! ! ! ! !

we always found it best to leave.. leave early.. but
at the same time leave late... my dad would have us
all packed up... and we'd pile up in the car at about
midnight... to avoid the mass 5-6pm exudus...