When will the evangelicals come forth proclaiming this to be God's actions in response for the politics of South Carolinians? Or does God just do earthquakes in California?
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics is in force and working as expected.
Many people do not have the means to pack up and evacuate...just like in NO when Katrina hit....not everyone is able bodied, not everyone has reliable personal transportation, not everyone has somewhere safe to go to and not everyone has the $ to go anywhere. That is the reality for millions of Americans...the assumption that we all can just pack up and leave when disaster hits is simply not realistic. The Gov can make all the emergency declarations he likes but alone that does not make it possible for many people to evacuate....might as well just say tough luck if you cannot pack up and go, at least that would be honest.
2
I can't help but think many who try to ride it out simply don't have the financial means to stay somewhere else for many days. Given how many Americans report not having $400 on hand for an emergency, how would they pay hundreds of dollars for motels even if they were available? Or should they just be lumped in with all the other "takers" the GOP is so fond of demonizing?
My sister, from Wilmington, North Carolina, is in Puerto Rico visiting my mother and plans to return on Saturday. Seeing as emergency supplies are depleted in Wilmington at this point, I suggested that if she is able to fly out on Saturday she can stock up on supplies in PR and take them with her. Now I see that's not a good plan! Here's hoping for the best outcome for PR and the Carolinas.
4
I have family that lives in Hilton Head and while they are concerned and feel greatly inconvenienced, they are also accustomed and greatly familiar with the hurricane season and the plethora of problems it can and often times blows in. My family comes from strong, stoic and tough stock. They don't run but rather stay calm and think of the most prudent course of action to take to remain safe. The hardest and most painful obstacle they are presently facing is the postponement of the funeral service of a loved one. They were hoping Mother Nature would have shown some compassion and waited a week before imposing her strength.
I sincerely wish all residents in the path of this "monster storm" will be safe and protected from harms way and hope no family pet is left behind to fend for his or herself. Best of luck everyone! You will be in my thoughts and heart this entire week.
10
The most prudent course of action is to get out of there.
35
I concur and yes my family members high tailed it out of there early this morning, well before the mandatory evacuation time arrived. After all, it's only "stuff" where one's life can never be replaced nor duplicated.
8
Get out. Tell them to get out. Now.
4
When you stay behind after a mandatory evacuation has been ordered, you not only put your life at risk, you put the folks who would be sent to save you at risk also. When rescuers don't or can't show up you only have yourself to blame.
If you have never experienced a flood, it is like nothing you could ever believe x10. While my home has never flooded I have experienced 3 catastrophic floods in my life, 1979 Tropical Storm Claudette, 2001, Tropical Storm Alisha and 2017, Hurricane Harvey. All three names have been retired. The devastation, the people, shock, frustration, FEMA failures, insurance hassles and then the shady contractor's come in and take advantage.
Buyer Beware, get references!
I wish you all luck, you have my prayer's, good vibes and positive energy, whatever works for you. I know myself and many of my fellow Texan's will be with you in spirit.
17
Batteries! Batteries, batteries, batteries! You will not be able to find them when you need them after the storm. Battery-powered and/or crank powered NOAA radio. That was the center of our lives after Maria -- the local radio folks went over the top to try to get information out. Make sure it works. Battery powered lights and flashlights. Tire-repair kits in the car and a full gas tank at least a day before. First-aid supplies because you might injure yourself trying to cut your way out of your house, and medical attention might be hard to find. Have a notebook and pen right next to the radio so you can note down advisories, shelters, medical care locations, curfews, road warnings.
If you can use a chainsaw, buy one. If you can't, get a Sawzall. As noted above, you might have to cut yourself out of your house.
Much more water than advised. Get the five gallon jugs and just stack them somewhere, along with a two gallon bucket in case you're not on municipal water and have to gravity-flush toilets. Someone else might need it if you don't.
Wash all your clothes now, change the sheets, etc. Things are going to get filthy for a while and that will buy you some time. If you have an electric stove and don't have a generator or a propane grill, buy a camp stove.
Use the Facebook "check-in" page afterwards. People worry. Godspeed.
17
Everyone in the Southeast: Forget politics, forget the President, forget climate change. Just pack up and go, and take care of yourselves and each other. We're all thinking of you, watching intently, and hoping for the best. Stay safe.
37
Thank you! Finally, someone who has a brain and a heart!
Best wishes to NC, SC, and VA's emergency personnel, staff at NOAA, FEMA, DHS, the Weather Service, and all other emergency operations staff within other federal agencies, and staff from power companies, water utilities, and other companies dealing with essential infrastructure, as they plan for landfall and in their execution of response efforts.
You all are understaffed and underappreciated....thank you for all you do and will be doing over the next several days and weeks.
Get some sleep when you can, OK? Take care
36
I hope that all the citizens are safe, and that after the storm there is compassionate help for the poorer people whose lives will never be the same.
But people need to understand that it will never be the same, the right decision for many will be to move elsewhere, find a new life. The wrong decision will be to stubbornly rebuild no-matter-what ... worse yet be angry if others refuse to pay for that.
New Orleans is not the same after Katrina. Much of Vermont will never be as it was before Irene. New York City is permanently altered by Sandy. And despite claims to the contrary -- Houston will be changed by Harvey.
Hurricanes happen. We have good reason to think that the sea levels will be rising AND hurricanes will become stronger. Stubbornly rebuilding in harms way is idiot, when you expect the danger to increase.
34
Agreed, but we all know there's money to be made in Disaster Capitalism, so it's easier to just keep pretending. I'd like to think we're nearly done with the paradigm we've been stuck in. The bottom is clearly falling out.
4
As a Houston resident who has been through Harvey, Ike and Alicia, I sincerely hope that the federal government has some sort of plan to help the people impacted by these storms. These storms are catastrophic, the impacts severe and for those without means especially, devastating. I have seen the impact of what Harvey did to Houston (we are still recovering here) and assistance by the government is crucial. Unfortunately, I am concerned whether this government has any emergency response plans in place (other than tweeting and handing out paper towels).
Separately, for those charitable agencies like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and others who are very helpful and who have been vital in Houston in the past in helping us, thank you. Please know that we along the Gulf Coast understand what these storms can do and we will help these charities as those in other states and territories have helped us as we are all in this together.
52
Indeed. Though I do remain puzzled that the people who live in states so battered by these storms and so dependent on federal help as a result are so consistent in voting for the GOP that would take away just about everything the government (wicked federal gov't, in these voters' minds) provides, both in stormy times and gentler ones. Of course, I do deeply hope that folks ride out the storm as safely as possible.
13
I am a Superstorm Sandy victim. I recommend that you read the expose that was printed in this paper, and co-written together with ProPublica, before suggesting donating to the Red Cross. The Red Cross refused to answer questions by Congress as to where all the missing Superstorm Sandy donations have gone.
The one thing that is clear is that the monies did not get to us Sandy Victims.
4
I've been through many hurricanes, including Cat 5 Maria- 3 months plus with no power or running water, surrounded by devastation..., SO, in my opinion, EVERYONE in hurricane zones should have National Weather Service app on their phone: "NWS mobile weather".
Enter your ZIP code, check yr local weather, then scroll down to "more info" at bottom & click "tropical weather", then basin: Atlantic Pacific, etc. The current storms are listed. Read the "public advisory" first (updated every 4 hours & every 8 hours based on NOAA's "Hurricane Hunter" flight). Then scroll down to "maps and charts", which provides very valuable information about probability of wind arrivals, speeds and projected cone of the eye, etc.
Spare yourself the misinformation, rumors and unnecessary panic & go to the source.
I pray you and your loved ones are safe and your property and homes are okay. kfm
52
Let's take a moment to consider the blessing in disguise here: we have had several days of warning that this storm is coming. As recently as a few decades ago, the intensity and track would still be massively uncertain. Several decades before that, we'd have no idea that the storm was even coming.
Because of U.S. investment in science, satellites, and monitoring, we can now know when and where deadly storms are going to strike with days to plan and execute evacuations. The millions of people evacuating this week literally owe their lives to science investments and advancements from years past. I wish them the best.
I also wish our future selves even better through further investment in life-saving meteorological technology to improve forecasts on future storms. I hope everyone remembers this the next time funding for NASA, NOAA, and the NSF are up for debate.
198
Hopefully, our models will eventually match the European Model for accuracy! A worthy goal for the future.
8
What good is all this science if laws and regulations are passed against using it?
9
Don't forget the USGS and EPA. It's all connected.
5
https://www.ready.gov/evacuating-yourself-and-your-family
Here in Atlanta, thoughts and prayers for all our Carolina neighbors!!
3
To the family on the beach who wants to stay until they make you leave: You’re part of the problem.
Please evacuate NOW if you’re in the mandated evacuation areas for your safety and those rescuers at risk.
I hope it weakens. I hope it doesn’t stall. But this is the effects of climate change and no, it’s NOT normal! How much worse do you have to see until you are truly convinced that you need to do something?
Lord, have mercy upon us all.
2
My sister rode out Irma last year. On Marco Island. The 2nd FL direct hit (after Key West). She was able to stay in a condo in a newer building w/all the most up-to-date hurricane resistant materials, engineering, back-up systems. Huh!!!
Power went out the day before Irma landed. The generators kicked on. Cool. No problem. 6 hours later, the generators failed. Not cool.
We texted that whole weekend but not too often, to reserve her phone battery. Like Florence, exact storm tracks were variable and uncertain.
I was glued to the TV and literally came out of my chair when it was announced that Irma had made landfall on Marco and it was expected that storm surge would swamp the island w/in 3-4 hours. I had been unable to reach my sister for 3-4 hours at this point.
What saved Marco Island was the extreme good luck that the expected storm surge never materialized. There was a lot of wind/storm damage and the island was inaccessible for several days. Several even lower lying areas around the island fared worse and still have unresolved problems today.
Marco hadn't had a direct hit since Donna in 1960, nor any serious damage since then. My sister says she will NEVER stay again.
When I re-read my texts again recently, it all came back vividly: I literally got chills and the fine hairs on my arms rose up.
Friends in the path of Florence: Be safe. Evacuate.
6
Television news footage shows people boarding up the windows of their homes. Of course that's a sensible thing to do. It can make a difference if the house is somewhat inland, or if it turns out to be in the eye of a miracle on the coast.
However, some of those houses look like the beach houses that face the Atlantic along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. If they are, and if the hurricane makes landfall nearby, there will be nothing to return to but the pilings. This has happened in hurricanes that were considered less destructive than the one that's coming now. Heaven forbid that anyone should try to ride out the storm in such a house.
If you're there, get out and Godspeed.
3
I hope all the folks by the coast get out, But don't think it's gonna be safe inland. Here on the east slope of the Blue Ridge (VA) rain and terrain make a devilish combination. Think of throwing a big wet soggy sponge, with spin, at a wall.
1
Make sure you have hard copies of any information you might normally keep on your phone. Maps, for example, and contact numbers. If power goes out and phone lines go down you will be offline without access to GPS or the cloud. A good long charging cable and a multi-usb port charger may also come in handy if you have to charge devices at a crowded outlet. If you have kids bring plenty of paper and crayons because you may not have electronic media devices to keep them occupied and they may be cooped up for days. A good board game ir pack of cards might be useful as well with a storm raging outside for hours.
5
I recommend, If they have access to a scanner, that they scan all that info and email the resulting images to themselves. These emails can later be accessed opened from wherever in the world they are. (Or photograph the document with their cell phone.) I did this with all of our important documents as well as my entire address book. The scanning thing has helped more often than I expected.
Just my two cents.
1
Some of us "southerns" in North Carolina believe the scientific evidence pointing to man-made climate change. A minority of us didn't vote for President Trump. We hope some adults up North explain to the several seventh-graders who commented that a mandatory evacuation order does not include every person because national security and public health require humans on sites.
3
You're right about the preconceptions regarding North Carolina political stands. Trump received only 49% of the vote there and Hillary received a bit over 47% . North Carolinians do not march in lock step. (I'm not claiming to know your specific politics, btw. It may be that you voted for neither of them. Just making a general observation about North Carolina that I hadn't been aware of until recently)
2
If you do not evacuate, you are putting the lives of the rescuers at risk. You have no right to do this, so if you are inclined to stay, think of how selfish you are being. Get out safely.
8
I cannot understand how a parent can be charged with child neglect for maintaining a dangerously unclean home environment but not be charged with child neglect for keeping their child in the path of a deadly storm. It boggles my mind.
2
Evacuate. Evacuate NOW! Bring your essentials and nothing more. Protect yourself and your family (including your four-legged furry kind). It will be tedious getting out, but you won’t regret it! Better safe than sorry. Don’t wait it out...it is scary, and having no power doesn’t help.
Wishing you a safe travels! God bless!!
5
Please take precautions. Evacuate if necessary and be safe. Hope no human loss will take place.
7
Instead of showing any sympathy for what the residents of North Carolina are about to experience, I read comments here (ones receiving the most "likes" by the way) politicizing a hurricane. The arrogance, not to mention the ignorance, of my fellow New Englanders posting here never ceases to amaze me.
30 years ago North Carolina was the first state in the nation to pass a coastal management and protection legislation. It is the standard that latecomers like Massachusetts used to write their own coastal management regulations. North Carolina also has rules against structures being rebuilt in the fragile Outer Banks after they have been damaged by storms. No similar law exists in Massachusetts.
What happened to North Carolina? We transplants happened. 50% of the population of North Carolina was not born here. Most of us are from Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, etc.. We've made North Carolina less progressive. The most rabid right-wing politicans in NC today are from New York, Ohio, and other points North. Until 6 years ago, and since the 1960's, North Carolina was arguably the most progressive state south of New Jersey. We've elected a woman governor before Massachusetts.
Please keep your self-righteous indignation to yourselves. Real people, black, brown, white, gay, straight, and thousands of animals are about to experience an horrific event. Wishing it on us may make you all "feel" superior, but it really just exposes your stupidity.
31
We visited Wilmington Island and other islands of the Outer Banks when we were living in South Carolina. Wilmington Island had been severely damaged by a previous hurricane and even a major motel was still a shell. But they were busy rebuilding even more expensive homes, just raised up on stilts. Just like they did along the Mississippi Coast after Katrina. Just drive through places like Pass Christian and see all the stilt houses! If Florence is as bad as expected hopefully more people will wise up and not rebuild.
3
Don't worry. Trump says everything's ok. FEMA is prepared. Remember Katrina? Get out and get out now.
7
Anyone reading this in the storm path who has never been through one of these needs to realize if you choose to stay, it’s not the storm that’s hardest to get through, it’s the aftermath. Evacuate now while you still can.
11
Let's just save President Trump and Sarah Sanders some time and trouble, and preemptively declare the administration's grade for their disaster response an A+. Best response in the history of the universe. Believe me.
19
Are those on the Right Coast finally understanding how warmer ocean water makes more severe storms?
8
What makes you sure the Left Coast understands that better?
2
No. They are still saying "climate has always been changing" and/or "our weather is normal here in ...."
5
I live here.
1
Somehow, I have very little faith in
the assurances of Donald Trump.
17
Why on earth do so many southerns decide to ride out the hurricane in thier home and put so many frist responders at risk when they realize they may die as result of poor judgement , We need srtronger laws that punish those who don't leave when order to do so / lock em up !
6
Is it really just 'southerners' who stay at home? At any rate, many older people, poor people, or people who have animals may find the prospect of evacuation more frightening than risking a storm.
8
What about those who can't afford to leave or have no place to go to or no family to help them? No car, elderly, etc. Some are simply stuck where they're at.
14
People who can’t evacuate: hospital patients, hospice patients and hospital workers who care for them. Also nursing home residents. Very elderly people living alone. Very poor people who can’t afford to get out.
4
What's going to happen to the thousands of captive animals in North Carolina's factory farms?
20
The same thing that would happen to the captive animals in Wisconsin's factory farms.
3
Storms like these, slow behemoths churning inevitably forward, are symbols of our future writ large.
44
Is it too early to congratulate the President for his handling of this disaster?...... ..... How about now? ....Now?
21
I have friends and in-laws in Puerto Rico who are still recovering from María last September.
So much for his "incredible success".
48
Puerto Rico was an “incredible, unsung success”?
If there were any doubts about whether Donald Trump lives in the Land of Delusion, this comment should clear that up.
50
"Incredible" and "unsung" are correct. Two out of three.
2
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to put out proposals to Congress to cut FEMA's budget, particularly a 47% slash to funding to train state and local disaster responders. But I'm sure everything will be fine. Trump will show up and throw some toilet paper. And, you know, if people lose their homes, they can comfort themselves with the thought that large corporations received a 15% tax cut and there are all kinds of money to lock up migrant children. MAGA!
42
In addition to an evacuation order they should notify the public that the electrical utilities will be cut off the day before expected land fall and all emergency and medical services will be closed until it is safe for their personnel to return.
13
If you don't evacuate , No one is coming to rescue you /period !
7
This will probably read as being callous and thoughtless. When I read or hear folks state that they will ignore mandatory evacuation orders I wish the local authorities would notify them, in writing, the local officials will not risk the life of a first responder to go save them. The local official would then give them a marker to write next of kin info on their arms.
31
Absolutely! It is terrifically selfish of people to ignore evacuation orders.
15
I believe that's kind of what's inferred by mandatory evacuation. Most emergency personnel are likely moved out of areas that are supposedly "evacuated" otherwise why bother. You're on your own.
John
2
Or perhaps they are risking their lives for reasons of national security or public health, to name just a few classes of people who simply must remain at their stations.
Donald Trump's assessment of the coming storm: "It's big and it's wet." Remember that, folks. Is this president ever wrong?
23
His comment reminded me of the saying, " a mental giant in his own mind."
18
Evacuate if need be; vote for those (Democrats, anyone?) who will take climate change seriously.
27
"Unsung success."
Carolinians must be praying for the same level of "success" in response to Florence. Right?
15
Been through storms exactly like this but in better built structures with shutters than is typical in NC. With highly rated roofs and shutters, you can open a few windows slightly behind shutters to equilibrate inside and outside pressure. Doors need to be calked with cloth or insulting material using a screwdriver or putty knife and hammer. You make sliding doors waterproof by calking as well. During major hurricanes, water comes streaming through ever crack and flaw of the structure as if being shot out of a water pistol. But, you might drive inland a few hundred miles and remember to bring the dogs and cats and children. Bring your debit and credit cards because FEMA under Trump might not let you go home after the storm unless you swear that you're voting GOP. As Horas Greeley said, Go West.
20
This is all good advice. I would note that bringing cash is probably better than cards, as one may still end up in an area without power.
11
The "good people" of North Carolina make it perfectly clear in 2016 that they want no government in their lives. Let's hope that they get their wish. Whatever damage, destruction, loss of life, disease, financial ruin comes to NC, they will stand on their own with small government and sense of self that they can discriminate against anyone, empower Republicans, and be proud North Carolinians.
52
An awful sentiment, poorly stated. I have a 20-month old, and a pregnant wife with a due date this weekend. I'd say you should be ashamed of yourself, but what you should really do is start acting with a level of class that others from your city can be proud of. Especially today.
3
This is an awful sentiment, and poorly stated. I moved here from Boston 4 months ago with a very progressive, very pregnant wife. Her due date coincides with this storm's arrival. We're not Republicans, to say the least. Perhaps you could consider showing a modicum of class worthy of a city who is remembering catastrophe today.
16
I hope things go well for you and your expanding family!
4
Given that the Carolinas have endorsed Trump's claim that Climate Change is a myth.......I am glad it hits them as opposed to Northern States. They will be the first to demand Federal Aid most of which will be paid for by Blue States.
51
My thoughts exactly. Get out of my pocketbook, and look to Trump your savior. I am having trouble caring about most of these people. They got what they wanted. Now they can live the Trumpian hurricane dream
5
Such empathy! Reads like a Trump tweet. Sad!
3
My, how broad your brush. The mere fact that you live in the North does not bestow some moral superiority over others who live elsewhere. There are many amazing people who live here who have solar panels, drive electric, don’t eat meat, vote blue, work tirelessly to educate and inform, and vociferously rally against gerrymandering and voter suppression. We may not share ideologies with all our neighbors,
but we don’t shy away from the challenge of changing minds. This is storm is coming for us and I’ve never felt more human, it is a shame you take this moment to wish it upon us, merely because of where we live.
14
I guess this is piling on, but here's a link the the Charleston, S.C. Post and Courier on a debate in the recent Governor's race in S.C., specifically on how the two candidates addressed climate change. Somehow I don't think these two buffoons look very funny right now. One of them is the Governor.
https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/republicans-should-kno...
14
NOAA's latest prediction (advisory #50, 5 pm today) is for up to 13 feet of storm surge and up to 35 inches of rainfall from Florence. That is a lot of warm-water energy being dumped on the mid-Atlantic. What does it take to convince politicians to TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE? How do those who deny climate change or at best waffle about how "science is undecided" (it is NOT!) look their children and grandchildren in the eye?
23
Bad timing for the fine citizens of North and South Carolina and Virginia. Landfall is expected at about the same timeframe as djt's weekly golf outing. He does NOT like to be disturbed during his game.
18
Rest assured, TrumpCo will make the most of this election opportunity and ensure all needed resources, including money, are provided. No paper towels for the carolinas.
10
President Trump declared today that the government's response to the hurricane in Puerto Rico was a huge, bigly best ever success.
So I would advise the Americans in the path of Florence to listen to their local authorities and prepare themselves. President Trump and his administration seemed to have learned very little since last season and your only help will be local authorities. Now, are they truly prepared?
Either way, Trump will be sending thoughts, prayers and Bounty rolls.
20
Bill McKibben has made the point that, ironically, North Carolina recently made it illegal to consider recent science on likely sea level rise when making coastal planning policy.
What the U.S. has been experiencing in terms of governmental quality since George W. Bush invaded Iraq, is not exactly a great recommendation for democratic capitalism, aka oligarchic democracy.
52
I wish safety for person and property from this coming storm but maybe a good licking is what it will take for the naysayers to buy into the climate change reality. Best would be if Mar-a-Lago would suffer major damage.
18
That's a callous statement. As someone who experienced Katrina, the death, destruction and despair caused by a hurricane of this type is nothing to hope anyone experiences.
11
I agree. Even though peer reviewed papers so evidence of climate change destruction is no way to be used as a lesson.
2
The medium term prediction, a decade to five decades from now, is for more and worse storm damage on the east cost. Bigger more powerful storms hitting further north and coastal damage magnified by accelerating sea level rise, putting storm surge, topped by battering waves, into coastal neighborhoods. The cost of insurance in flood threatened coastal areas will skyrocket. The best time to relocate is soon, before prices in at risk communities drop.
15
Sea level rise has already lopped billions of dollars off of coastal US real estate values. Who wants to buy a house in coastal S Florida that is on streets which flood once a month when the moon is full?
12
Well, according to Pat Robertson, massive weather events are some sort of god unleashing its wrath upon humanity for they way they are, and we know there's been a lot of craziness going on in North Carolina lately. South Carolina, meh. It's always been way too big to be an insane asylum.
18
It doesn't matter if you don't believe in Climate Change. Mother Nature doesn't ASK for your opinion. GET OUT, NOW.
58
Meanwhile, back at the White House and Congress, the climate change deniers plan to release more methane gas into the air, revive coal production, increase allowable auto emissions, and otherwise reduce environmental requirements for the industries and pollutants that cause climate change and increase hurricane frequency and severity. MAGA.
66
Don’t forget they now want to ensure we all get sufficient mercury in our diets as well.
2
Trump did great things for Puerto Rico after Maria that he never got adequate credit for.
I hope the people of North and South Carolina will turn out for him in great numbers after Florence to make up for this.
Getting paper towels tossed at you by a real live U.S. President is no small thing.
74
Six nuclear power plants are in the path of this potentially catastrophic hurricane. Let's hope that they are at least powered down and have back up utilities to keep them from melting down.
93
Hurricanes are made bigger, wetter and slower moving by the climate change. When the real danger of hurricanes come from rain and flash flooding, the negligence to fight the climate change is really a crime. When the guy who is most powerful and thus responsible is so negligent, what should people do? Should he be held to account in the Court of Law for ditching his responsibility to protect people's lives and property? Trump should be required to pay for about half the hurricane damages and for half the loss of lives. #LockHimUp!
68
Hurricanes have always happened, yes.
What concerns me is how they are happening now; against a backdrop of constant crisis concerning our politics, our environment and, ultimately, our will.
It seems that the West is always ablaze in fires, as the South drowns in one 'historic' storm after another, and as the Trump administration keeps gutting any and every environmental law which might lessen the severity of these catastrophes.
Maybe your worried about Hurricane Florence's potential victims. I certainly do too. But as I contemplate a world where our President and his greedy clan react to this growing conflagration by throwing all the gasoline they can possibly find upon it, I worry about all of us.
"Burn baby, burn."
"Drown, baby, drown."
Help, oh lord, help.
47
Sounds like most people are doing the smart thing and getting out of the way. It's unfortunate that every time a strong hurricane nears shore, extreme hyperbole gets thrown around with abandon. People aren't fleeing, they're calmly moving inland. The storm will not be like nothing we've ever seen, it will be like the strong hurricanes we see nearly every year. There will be some people killed, but not many, certainly nothing like the thousands killed in the hurricane that annihilated Galveston in 1900.
So I hope loss of life is minimized, and loss of property is overcome, and that this storm will have its day then pass away, like they all do.
16
How many Cat 4s have you experienced? What about a Cat 5?
Right. Thought so.
Give the hardworking meteorologists credit. Read the public advisories and discussion on NOAA’s website. They’re calm, scientific, and professional. No hyperbole. Just saving lives through information.
It’s a frightening and mad stressful thing to pack a car and leave home, not knowing what you’ll return to. The elderly and infirm have it particularly bad.
“Some” people killed?
New Orleans, Houston, Puerto Rico, the Islands.
Yeah, some people.
29
I was pleased to see that TWC for once didn’t have the atmospheric disaster music, breathless commentary and giant scary headlines and graphics all more suited to a horror movie. They usually do succumb to hyperbole either for ratings or as a way to scare people into compliance with evacuation orders.
1
After the deadly failure of the Trump administration to aid our fellow citizens cope with Hurricane Maria, we can only hope that perhaps some more responsible "anonymous" person(s) will actually get FEMA ready to assist with Florence. The storm is now being called a "monster" and tossing paper towels into it will not help those in the Carolinas any more than it did those in Puerto Rico.
69
Hey Paul, perhaps you missed this:
On Monday, Trump approved federal emergency declarations for North Carolina and South Carolina, and on Tuesday he issued a similar emergency for the state of Virginia.
But then, don't let any facts get in the way of your Trump Hate.
1
That Trump approved emergency declarations for those 3 states (somewhat dragging his feet on Virginia) means nothing if FEMA is not well prepared and well run. Trump has been cutting FEMA and other resources. One need not 'hate Trump' to see that his administration is a non-natural disaster.
7
Remind me, when exactly did the Governor of Puerto Rico ask the White House for help? It wasn't in advance of the storm last year, was it? Nor was the Puerto Rico government interested in ceding control to FEMA, wanting to manage things themselves and we saw how that turned out, didn't we?
"We know that this evacuation order I’m issuing is going to be inconvenient for some people..."
Bless his heart. Does he not realize it's a financial impossibility for many? What are the governments of these states doing to help ALL their vulnerable citizens evacuate safely?
87
As a resident of Norfolk, VA, I can tell you that they made up an imoprable useless map website with zones, opened a few places people can go and are leaving town until the worst has passed. This is a low city that floods easily and it continues house be the largest coal export facility on the east coast. Still the reality is that people may die -- poor and working people that is.
12
In Texas during Harvey, FEMA contracted with Greyhound and other bus services to provide free evacuation services to other major cities for anyone that could get to one of the evacuation centers. It's not perfect but it's also not reasonable to expect the government to take care of all of our problems.
3
Not asking for all, Ryan. Just help getting out of the eye of the storm. It's really not too much to ask. Say, have you thought about running for governor of a disaster-prone state? Your lack of empathy would make you a great asset to, well, your rich donors.
6