As Hurricane Milton approaches many cities were largely deserted but some people decided to shelter in place
Most left when they were told to. But some chose to stay, even though officials warned Hurricane Milton would turn their homes into coffins.
Along Florida’s Gulf coast, where millions of people were urged to get out of harm’s way, cities were largely deserted on Wednesday afternoon as time ran out to evacuate. Those who remained were advised to shelter in place as best they could. Others who fled spoke of their dread at what, if anything, they would return to once the storm had passed.
…
William Tokajer, police chief of Holmes Beach, told islanders who planned to stay to write their names, dates of birth and social security numbers on their limbs with Sharpies to help identify their bodies after the storm.
Reminds me of the Parable of the Drowning Man
A storm descends on a small town, and the downpour soon turns into a flood. As the waters rise, the local preacher kneels in prayer on the church porch, surrounded by water. By and by, one of the townsfolk comes up the street in a canoe.
“Better get in, Preacher. The waters are rising fast.”
“No,” says the preacher. “I have faith in the Lord. He will save me.”
Still the waters rise. Now the preacher is up on the balcony, wringing his hands in supplication, when another guy zips up in a motorboat.
“Come on, Preacher. We need to get you out of here. The levee’s gonna break any minute.”
Once again, the preacher is unmoved. “I shall remain. The Lord will see me through.”
After a while the levee breaks, and the flood rushes over the church until only the steeple remains above water. The preacher is up there, clinging to the cross, when a helicopter descends out of the clouds, and a state trooper calls down to him through a megaphone.
“Grab the ladder, Preacher. This is your last chance.”
Once again, the preacher insists the Lord will deliver him.
And, predictably, he drowns.
A pious man, the preacher goes to heaven. After a while he gets an interview with God, and he asks the Almighty, “Lord, I had unwavering faith in you. Why didn’t you deliver me from that flood?”
God shakes his head. “What did you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter.”
Others who fled spoke of their dread at what, if anything, they would return to once the storm had passed.
At least they won’t be part of the debris.
Who sent the hurricane?
Do you want a correct answer, a wrong answer consistent with their ideology, or a completely wrong answer? The one they are believing is the completely wrong answer, of course.
Or the answer the insurance companies will give.
It was sent as a test, all that chose to stay failed
Good for them and no worries. Anything bad happens to them and we have thoughts and prayers ready and waiting to take care of it.
100%, I have faith Jesus will protect them, or if the worst happens, help them rebuild.
No need to send my tax money to trash states that just insult me.
Well, bless their hearts!
Why would their god send a murderous hurricane then protect them from it? Feels like mafia tactics to make people rely on it.
P.s. the second ‘it’ refers to their god
“That’s a nice megachurch there. Be a real shame if some thing where to happen to it.”
"That’s a nice megachurch there. Be a real shame if some thing where to happen to it
Interesting thoughts…Is Clearwater in the path of this storm?
Looks like it.
“WITNESS ME!”
Natural selection in action
Jesus take the wheel!
I sincerely hope that the Lemmy user who said they lived on a sailboat in Florida and were going to ride out the storm is okay.
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He is, but that dude has a record, been in prison, a sex offender, and not even from Florida.
William Tokajer, police chief of Holmes Beach, told islanders who planned to stay to write their names, dates of birth and social security numbers on their limbs with Sharpies to help identify their bodies after the storm.
This isn’t a new suggestion. I remember this being told to people staying in spite of evac orders for a previous nasty storm, iirc it was Key West hearing it that time. It scared the shit out of some people back then and convinced them to leave, sadly the more times you hear something like that the less impact it has. And your neighbor managed to ride it out last time they said that…
I don’t know if they ever said it beforehand, but it’s been a very prominent bit of information ever since Katrina for obvious reasons.
I wonder if they’ll ever consider that an almighty god could, you know, NOT send the hurricane instead.
The democrats control the weather and sent the hurricane.
And apparently the Democratic party is more powerful than their god.
But climate change is not real and man can’t affect the weather.
Odd then that they didn’t send rain when CA was burning or hail on J6 or some such.
Then how would he punish the gay people?
Maybe like this??
By making the bottoms attracted to other bottoms and the tops attracted to other tops I think. He seems to get a chuckle out of that.
It’s god way to test our faith
Religion is great like that.
The two choices of why are always:
[ ] Punishment [ ] Test faith
I thought it was enough to not be a murder, a thief or a cheater. Well, you also shouldn’t sell your soul to the devil.
Once you’ve sold it, no storm will save you. If you haven’t sold it, you don’t need a storm.
I think they’re so scared of god and think they have to be tested, because they already failed and have sinned by being envious, hateful or greedy.
“Gods calling me!” Means the same thing as “I’m stupid and think I’m important.”
In Venice, about 40 miles (64km) to the south, Sherry Hall and her family decided to stay in their house several blocks from the ocean, despite many of their neighbors leaving amid warnings of a storm surge up to 15ft. Her husband, Tommy, prepared the property with shutters and sandbags, and she said they had generators, portable air conditioning units, and plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.
Let me know how well the portable AC & generators work in 15ft of water, Shelly.
survivor bias.
They’ve probably done this a dozen times and made it.
Well, time for them to make a saving throw.
“several blocks from the ocean”
I’m sure that’s enough, right?
It made me think of that too. I remember hearing it on the West Wing though.
One of my good friends lives in Tampa and his mom took the car and bailed while he was taking out the dogs. He’s stuck at home this very moment and I only hope he’s safe
See what Florida does to people?
What the fuck
Sounds like he needs to cut that monster out of his life.
I hope your friend is ok and able to let you know.
See, that’s why I never let my mom near the car keys.
This is why I have my own house and cars lol
Fewer Republican voters in Florida, got it.
As morbid as it is to think about, this was was the first thought I had.