I fear greater loss of life this time...

[Steve Cosby]

Is it just me or has anybody else noticed the number of people on the media outlets saying things like, "I'm tired of this. I'm not going to evacuate this time." It seems to be greater this time.

With Jeanne already responsible for upwards of 2000 deaths on/around Haiti, you have to wonder if there will be greater loss of life in Florida - particularly with the storm deepening on impact.

[Banditt]

Steve

I was worried about the same thing. Francis's worst hit in a sparsly populated area. Jeanne doesn't seem to be tracking quite the same.

[mellows]

I fear for those who is in the path and decided to stay.....the next 24 to 36 hours wont be pleasant for those people.

[Steve Cosby]

Francis's worst hit in a sparsly populated area. Jeanne doesn't seem to be tracking quite the same.

Yes, there is the density of population issue to worry about too.

Plus, the "missiles" that are on the curbs waiting for pickup.

[HurryKane]

I saw an older woman interviewed who said she could not physically take another evacuation. Her sentiments were along the lines of "I left for Frances. My heart cannot take another evacuation. At this point, I figure either the evacuation or the hurricane will kill me so I might as well be home for it."

The enormity of the Florida situation is mindboggling.

[canegrl04]

By choosing to stay,those people have just signed their death warrants. Maybe some of them are so down they want to commit suicide.

Its possible Jeanne could strngthen to 130mph or greater.

[Doc Seminole]

NWS MELBOURNE IS NOTICING THE SAME THING.........


HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
725 AM EDT SAT SEP 25 2004

...SPECIAL EVACUATION ADVICE FOR COASTAL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA MEDIA OUTLETS PLEASE GIVE WIDEST DISSEMINATION... ...A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM FLORIDA CITY TO SAINT AUGUSTINE WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF THE EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WE ARE CONCERNED AFTER WATCHING SOME NEWS ACCOUNTS REGARDING RESIDENTS OF BARRIER ISLANDS WHO ARE PLANNING TO RIDE OUT HURRICANE JEANNE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH HURRICANE FRANCES. WE HAVE DONE A DETAILED DAMAGE SURVEY OF THE COASTLINE OF THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE FRANCES...AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO REALIZE THAT THE WORST WIND AND STORM SURGE FROM FRANCES AFFECTED AN UNPOPULATED AREA OF HUTCHINSON ISLAND BETWEEN FORT PIERCE BEACH AND JENSEN BEACH AND NETTLES ISLAND. THE GREATEST IMPACT WAS FROM NEAR MIDDLE COVE BEACH ACCESS TO HERMAN'S BAY PARK. EVIDENCE OF BATTERING WAVES ON TOP OF STORM SURGE TO A HEIGHT OF 12 FEET OR GREATER...ALONG WITH EXTREME BEACH EROSION AND A BRIDGE FAILURE... WERE NOTED. IMPORTANTLY...PEOPLE LOCATED ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH END OF HUTCHINSON ISLAND DID NOT RECEIVE THE WORST OF THE IMPACTS OF FRANCES.

WE ALSO NOTED THAT VOLUSIA AND NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY EXPERIENCED ONLY CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE EFFECTS FROM FRANCES. SOUTHERN BREVARD AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTIES EXPERIENCED CATEGORY ONE TO CATEGORY TWO IMPACTS WITH MARTIN AND ST LUCIE COUNTIES SOLIDLY WITHIN THE CATEGORY TWO IMPACT RANGE. TO BASE YOUR EVACUATION DECISION SOLELY ON YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES DURING FRANCES IS A MISTAKE.

JEANNE WILL LIKELY BE STRONGER...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE INNER EYEWALL MAKES LANDFALL. AT THIS POINT IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN EXACTLY WHERE THIS AREA WILL BE. THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME THIS MORNING TO COMMIT TO EVACUATING AS ADVISED AND MOVE TO SAFETY. WE HAVE MADE IT THROUGH CHARLEY AND FRANCES WITHOUT ANY DIRECT DEATHS FROM HURRICANE WIND OR WATER IMPACTS...PLEASE FOLLOW ADVICE OF YOUR COUNTY OFFICIALS AND LETS ALL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

[Steve Cosby]

That's about as strong as they (NWS Melbourne) can go. I sure hope and pray people listen.

[wxwatcher2]

you are correct. People are TIRED of evacuating.
It may cause a few more deaths.

BUT lets not equate Haiti with Florida.
We don't have mountains and huge mud slides in Florida. You simply can not make the comparison.
IMO.

BUt for sure, people, some people that is are not taking this one as seriously.
At the end of the day it's a personal choice.

[Anonymous]

What infuriates me is that it may be a personal choice, but just who do you think has to come and save these people when they decide they are scared or injured? To cause loss of life to others because of your own choice is wrong and selfish.

[birdwomn]

It is hard to even think straight when you are exhausted and stressed.
You don't always make rational decisions. Let's try to cut everyone a break here and just pray that somehow they pull it all together and stay safe.

[Troi]

After three storms in the last 2 months, there is absolutely NO excuse for not evacuating. We all know the dangers, and it is selfish of anyone to stay put in a dangerous area, and expect emergency workers and law enforcement to put their behinds on the line to save them, or dig them out. I understand the fatigue, and frustration, but I'd rather be tired and cranky, than dead.

[HurryKane]

Please remember that there are people who are now (after so many storms) financially unable to evacuate, as well as people who are physically unable to evacuate.

[Juno Beach]

Speaking just for my little townhouse development (about 700 yards from the ocean right at 26.9 LAT), there are TWICE as many people sticking this one out as there were during Frances.

I'm boarded up with 1" pressure treated lumber - very solidly done, but many of my neighbors have done nothing to protect their sliding glass doors (all units have no windows, just 4 sets of sliding glass doors).

While the units are all concrete block construction with concrete slab ceilings and roofs, who knows what a 125 mph wind would do once it's inside the house.

[Innotech]

it all comes down to putting possessions over life. A foolish choice. IF your house goes, it goes, regardless of if youre in it or not. you cant singlehandedly hold your own roof down! People can also go to shelters, and this is just the price people pay for living in Florida. I know thats harsh, but if you live in FLorida you damn sure better accept the fact that you may have to be without power, water, or in worse case, a home. Its a fact, proven many times htis year. FLorida is an ideal hurricane landfall zone, and living htere is literally putting yourself in the path. Again Im sure htis angerrs some people who are already stressed, but its just how it is. you cant change reality.

[huricanwatcher]

After three storms in the last 2 months, there is absolutely NO excuse for not evacuating. We all know the dangers, and it is selfish of anyone to stay put in a dangerous area, and expect emergency workers and law enforcement to put their behinds on the line to save them, or dig them out. I understand the fatigue, and frustration, but I'd rather be tired and cranky, than dead.

many cant afford to evacuate once again and thus are staying, many didnt have much effects from previous storms and are feeling that its not going to get them once again, many people are just tired and feed up and this time (i hoping against the worse of the senarios) its going to be the worse one. Prayers are with all those in the path..

[cat]

What infuriates me is that it may be a personal choice, but just who do you think has to come and save these people when they decide they are scared or injured? To cause loss of life to others because of your own choice is wrong and selfish.

I don't believe in mandatory evacuations. It should be a persons choice as to whether or not they want to stay and that decision should be based on sound information.

Consequently, if someone chooses to ride it out, they should then get to deal with the ramifications of that decision - even if it includes death.

You are correct in that these types of decisions shouldn't cost others their lives as a result of someone wanting to participate on the wrong side of Darwinian evolution.

[Juno Beach]

Another factor that (like it or not) greatly affects people's decisions whether or not to evacuate is their pets.

Kennels and Vets charge like it's a hotel room w/ room service, and who knows whether pets will be any safer there anyway?

NONE of the shelters will accept pets.

I don't see why they can't have special shelters - or cordoned off areas of current shelters where these people can bring their pets as long as the dogs are on leashes and the cats are in carriers. Granted, you'd have to separate the dogs and the cats or all hell could break loose, but there is no provision made for people like this.

[huricanwatcher]

if i had to evacuate..... i be up sh*ts creek... 3 dogs, 2 cats, bird, fish and hampster......

oh well guess i be staying put...........

[THead]

What infuriates me is that it may be a personal choice, but just who do you think has to come and save these people when they decide they are scared or injured? To cause loss of life to others because of your own choice is wrong and selfish.

I don't believe in mandatory evacuations. It should be a persons choice as to whether or not they want to stay and that decision should be based on sound information.

Consequently, if someone chooses to ride it out, they should then get to deal with the ramifications of that decision - even if it includes death.

You are correct in that these types of decisions shouldn't cost others their lives as a result of someone wanting to participate on the wrong side of Darwinian evolution.

I'm sorry, but thats their job, THEIR choice of profession. Most of their normal activites are caused by people not using their heads also, if you think about it. Sorry, but I agree with cat....and Darwin.......