(09-15-2018, 03:14 PM)Catherine Wrote: I guess the real point of this discussion is to remind people to be prepared for disasters. We should all be aware of the disasters that could happen in our area. We should work out solutions to looking after ourselves and our pets. Also we should pay attention to what's happening so that we are aware of a storm early enough to do whatever is needed.
Yes it's always good to be prepared for a disaster...or even the unexpected to happen. Wherever we might live, the unexpected can happen.
For those in the general path of hurricanes and flooding, it's always wise to have a plan in place regarding pets and other animals, so it is quick to put into place days before the storm hits.
If people wait too long until evacuations are happening, they are acting in a panic, last-minute, and things can go very wrong.
But I think many people hang on too long because of schools and workplaces which don't always understand not turning up, unless a major storm warning is more or less actually happening!
I spoke with a woman the other day who was threatened by a big storm. That wasn't hurricane Florence, but another milder hurricane. The school hadn't yet given her the green light to keep children at home, and there were fines and all sorts for just keeping them at home because it was safer to do so!
So she was poised -not knowing what to do for the best. She also had an elderly mother living right on the water!
So people are manipulated by "authorities" into not doing what they really want to do ....i.e. getting out of there before the storm hits, and booking the whole family into a (pet friendly) lodgings inland. They stay because they are unsure what to do for the best. Or because of other concerns like job, school, etc
I told her to ignore it and act on her gut feelings and blow everybody else's rules.
(It worked out okay in the end for her and her family, and not too much trauma or damage they couldn't handle.)
