"Get out of Florida" posts

[matt819]

I understand that the "Get out of Florida" posts are well-meaning, but they really have to stop. Those in Florida already know this is happening and have done what they can. But think about those who are not so flexible.

My elderly mother lives in Florida. I was down there earlier this week to help her out after a medical procedure. As Irma developed, we set up some procedures for her if things got really bad.

She's old. And alone (and, yes, I couldn't stay and sit it out with her - bad child!). And she's probably representative of a fairly large percentage of southern Florida residents. Where is she going to go? She's in a large condo development. It's a 15-minute walk to get the mail, and she has to work herself up to go to throw out her garbage. Any travel, even the taxi to the grocery store or the doctor, involves a plan, and not a lot of room for improvisation. As I said, we have set up something of a plan, and my sibling and I will stay on top of things from up north, and we hope that's enough - she's on the west coast, so we're hopeful that it's only rain and wind.

Okay, so that's my mother. Then there are the poor, those without transportation, and those, like my mother, who have no place else to go. What do you expect these people to do, get on a train and sort things out on the run? Get on a bus north and hope for the best? Get someone to drive them out of the storm range and sit it out in a truck stop? That may work for the able bodied and those with transportation and networks, but it doesn't work for probably millions of others in the storm's range in Florida and elsewhere. And, by the way, for those who said "get to shelter now," shelters in her county, at least as of Wednesday, were not open.

[NightWatcher]

1. And another thing (actually two things) gas and traffic.

Gas is rare along the drive north. Traffic is getting exponentially worse. Remember if you go into Georgia and South Carolina, citizens there are fleeing as well and will add to the traffic problems.

I'm in Jax and have friends and family in Atlanta but we don't want to get stuck between here and there. We've secured what we can and have supplies. If this is anything similar to Mathew, we'll be fine, just in the dark for days.

Peace to you all.

[GulfCoast66]

2. Thank you

Anyone in a hurricane rated building which we have lots of and not in a surge or flood zone is safer staying than risking the roads.

[Warpy]

3. What people don't understand about south Florida

is that after you jump in your car and drive for 8 hours, you're still in Florida. It's a peninsula and "get out of Florida" just isn't realistic for folks on the lower half of the peninsula with gas in short supply and distances so long. The better idea is to get a few miles inland and find a strong building to shelter in.

Also, the major highways out of the state are along the coast in the danger zone. You do not want to be stuck on a highway in your car in a Cat 5 hurricane, trust me.

[jberryhill]

5. As if there is someone in Florida who is unaware, and happens to be reading DU

Some people just use DU as an emotional outlet for the feeling of "doing something".

But, sure, there are thousands of people connected to the internet with no access to news and information other than the sage wisdom of people on DU thousands of miles away.

[mountain grammy]

6. After riding out a Cat 4 in Houston

many years ago.. I would leave. I was young and strong then. Now.. I would leave.

[XRubicon]

13. No doubt

But everyone can't leave.

[brooklynite]

7. There are really only four ways out of the Miami area...

I-95 or Rt 810 north

I-75 or US 41 west

A lot of the surrounding land is uncrossable everglades...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. 810?

That's Hillsboro Boulevard, a relatively short east-west road in Deerfield Beach in Broward.

The Turnpike will get you out, as will US 441.

Also US 1 but because that's so close to the coast I would take it too far.

[cwydro]

8. K and r.

Been reading a lot of nonsense here lately.

[PDittie]

9. We heard the same thing here in Houston last week

You simply cannot evacuate millions of people in a few days. From anywhere.

[XRubicon]

10. Super Rec!

I just made that a thing.

[kcr]

12. I'm in a similar situation with a family member. I hear you.

She's also on the west coast, in an evacuation zone A, to boot. Her town is opening shelters tomorrow. We are worried to bits.

[tammywammy]

14. My grandparents lived in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area of Texas.

You know, hit last week. Now my family in general believes in always evacuating. My grandmother was bedridden for years before she died. My grandfather told me when he was evacuated during Hurricane Ike that he was so glad there were no big hurricanes during the years she was bedridden, because he would have had no way to get her out.