Attitudes on weak hurricane worry officials-St Charles Paris

[LaPlaceFF]

Attitudes on weak hurricane worry officials
Many residents say they wouldn't leave
Thursday, June 23, 2005
By Jenny Hurwitz
River Parishes bureau
A study assessing hurricane evacuation behavior in St. Charles Parish found that the vast majority of residents would evacuate when faced with a Category 4 hurricane if public officials advised them to do so.

However, in a finding that concerns parish emergency officials, the study also showed that more than half of the residents believe they would be safe during a Category 3 hurricane.

According to University of New Orleans pollster Susan Howell, who led the study, Category 3 hurricanes used to be a smaller threat and residents could safely ride them out without evacuating.

But that's no longer the case, due in part to coastal erosion, she said.

"It's natural to rely on past experiences, but the world is changing; geography is changing," she said.

Although officials were pleased to see that many residents, 78 percent, said they would evacuate for a Category 4 or 5 storm, the officials worry that people who plan to stay during a Category 3 or smaller storm do not understand the state and parish's changing environmental conditions. The wetlands that used to protect coastal Louisiana are rapidly disappearing, putting residents at greater risk from weaker storms.

Studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Louisiana State University show that land is sinking about half an inch each year everywhere on the Louisiana coast.

To protect homes from storm surge, engineers need to know the land's correct elevation to build adequate protection levees. But, LSU engineering professor Roy Dokka said, "everything is subsiding. It's subsiding enough that we have no idea what the true elevation really is."

The behavioral study, conducted by researchers from the UNO Center for Hazards Assessment Response and Technology and geology department, included 401 St. Charles Parish residents interviewed by telephone between Nov. 23, 2004, and Jan. 31, 2005, after the threat of Hurricane Ivan.

The study was released last week, and parish emergency officials are renewing efforts to educate the public.

"What people don't realize is we do have serious concerns," St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Director Tab Troxler said. "A Category 2 can be particularly catastrophic, even though the perception is out there that it can't do much damage."

During a presentation to the Parish Council on Monday, Troxler emphasized that a slow-moving Category 2 hurricane could lead to a 10-foot storm surge and 4 to 5 feet of water in certain homes.

"If your home elevation doesn't say 10 feet or higher, chances are you're more vulnerable in these smaller-type storms," he said.

Troxler said that the Office of Emergency Preparedness is creating a hurricane brochure detailing the risks presented by smaller hurricanes.

He is also giving presentations throughout the season to civic associations and at local industries.

But officials can only do so much, he said.

"We have this vulnerability," he said. "People have to educate themselves."

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[dhweather]

Amazing. They've already forgotten the water from TROPICAL STORM
Isidore. A cat 2/3 coming in from the same direction will flood most of SE LA badly.

[LAwxrgal]

See, this is what kills me about the people in my area, the complacency. It's alarming.

I have members of my own family, some who live in MOBILE HOMES, who say they won't evacuate. They can't even stay in their mobile homes for a tropical storm, and where they live, it floods during a run-of-the-mill afternoon thunderstorm.

[skysummit]

Even my own parents sway they won't evacuate...not even for a cat 4. Cat 5 maybe, but I doubt it.

[Steve]

The key is the coastal erosion. What is it now, a few football fields every day? Meanwhile, Congress concerns themselves with things like a flag burning amendment or filibustering judicial nominees. Eventually someone from the deep blue sea will be elected to lead the country and in doing so, will require short-term dictatorial powers to throw every partisan idiot in Washington out of government.



Steve

[Radar]

There are always some who claim "I'm going to ride it out" I hear them talk the tough talk all year long. Last year when Hurricane Ivan was threatening this area and mandatory evacs were called only one of the so called "tough" talkers that I know of were actually planning on "riding" it out. The other "tough" talkers had decided to board up and head out. So even though many say that they will stay, not that many will. Although the ones that do stay when they should not is still a crying shame . However, I feel it is a free country and they should not be mandated to leave UNLESS, they are responsible for another person who can not willingly make the decision to leave on their own. That other person being, a child, a physically or mentally disabled person or elderly person. Then the law should be able to step in and force them to leave based on the fact they are endangering the life of a minor or disadvantaged person!