Ivan story from P-cola News

[rolltide]

Joe and Martha Holloway did not expect Ivan to be as bad as it was. The couple, married 60 years, have yet to start cleaning up from the storm.

"I looked out and water was up to the axle on my truck," Joe Holloway said. "I knew we could not drive out, and no way I was going to try to walk out. I was afraid we wouldn't make it."

He almost didn't. Although his wife and adult daughter used an access door in the garage to reach the house's upper level, he decided they needed light and went to retrieve a gas lantern on the kitchen bar.

"I was walking through and the refrigerator came barreling through, hit me and knocked me down," he said. "The gas lantern hit me in the stomach and burned me. The refrigerator broke two ribs, but I didn't know it at the time.

"I got up the ladder, and quick as I did, the washing machine slammed against it.

"I've been through open heart surgery, three heart attacks, cancer and angioplasty. The only time I've been really scared was when the refrigerator hit me and knocked me under the water, and I thought I would drown in my own home."

The next morning, a family friend used a boat to pick them up.

"We were lucky to be alive," Holloway said.

[vbhoutex]

It is stories like this that make the point- DO NOT TRY TO SECOND GUESS THE OFFICIALS!! If you are in an evacuation zone and are told to leave-DO IT!!! It doesn't matter that this was an elderly couple. They could have just as easily been my age or even a 20 something couple. I do not know what type of orders they were under or where their house was located, but the lead sentence says it all!1 "They didn't think it would be..." Use ALL the resources available to you to make your decisions and make them early and wisely!! ALWAYS FOLLOW OFFICIALS WARNINGS AND EVACUATION REQUESTS!!

[Aquawind]

Well Said vbhoutex! Don't wait until it's to late..

Paul

[george_r_1961]

Here is something else to think about. Many times during an evacuation emergency workers (police, fire, and rescue) leave as well, or stay in quarters until the storm has passed. That means if you call 911 you will be told that NO ONE IS COMING TO HELP YOU. If these workers are injured or worse during the storm trying to help some stubborn arse who wouldnt evacuate and suddenly discovered his house had no roof, they would not be able to help others after the storm. If you are in a mandatory evacuation area, you should leave regardless of how strong you think your home is or how tough you think you are. If you are in a voluntary evacuation area and have any health problems (heart, diabetes..etc.) or you have any doubt as to whether your home can survive the storm, LEAVE!

[StormChasr]

It is stories like this that make the point- DO NOT TRY TO SECOND GUESS THE OFFICIALS!! If you are in an evacuation zone and are told to leave-DO IT!!!

Extremely well put--having had a nightmare with Charley here, and a lesser, but tough time with Frances, I could not agree more---if one is ordered out---GO!! Drop the bravado, and be fascinated by the storm from a distance, as all of us would gladly do so---from a distance.