DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Rant >> I can't believe I'm paying for this.......
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 39, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 09/14/2008 03:15:52 PM · #1
Yahoo article

Ok, maybe I'm in a bad mood today.

But these idiots CHOSE to stay in their homes during the hurricane, after being ordered to evacuate. I now have no sympathy for their stupidity, and get a little flustered when I think that now hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars are being spent on rescuing their asses.

I say let them fend for themselves if they chose to be in that situation.

Message edited by author 2008-09-14 23:15:49.
 09/14/2008 04:14:50 PM · #2
I'm not saying that what they did was right but you don't know everyone's reasons for staying in their homes during the mandatory evacuation. I also don't think they should "fend for themselves" but I do think that the Coast Guard or the goverment should send them a bill. If they have a good reason for not leaving then an attorney should be contacted.


09/14/2008 04:33:11 PM · #3
I recall, after Katrina, a news story about the evacuations. The one part that stuck in my mind was them asking an obviously impoverished man in a wheelchair why he stayed.
Simply, he had nowhere to go and no way to get there.
It's not much good just telling people they have to leave if you don't help them when necessary.
 09/14/2008 04:35:36 PM · #4
I'm going to have to agree with the OP. It's called a MANDATORY evacuation for a reason.

They should have to pay for their rescue. I know up here in Northern New Hampshire if a hiker needs rescue, and it turns out that they were at fault and not prepared, they may be charged for their rescue. It's only happened a couple times since they started doing this.
 09/14/2008 04:59:53 PM · #5
Having been born in Houston and living there until 2002, I have to say I agree with the OP. If evacuation is ordered and a person chooses to stay, he/she made a decision. Assistance with evacuating should be provided for those with no way to leave, but that should be the end of the government's responsibility.

I'm wondering if FEMA is picking up the motel tabs this time. A $billion here, a $billion there, glad Uncle Sam has unlimited resources....
 09/14/2008 05:36:37 PM · #6
I can't say I object to people who could have evacuated, but didn't being charged something, but for those who obviously resent the government paying for aid to those affected, I hope you're never face to face with someone like yourselves in a situation where you need help.
 09/14/2008 05:37:16 PM · #7
It's our tax dollars at work. I doubt if any of the people who were picked up from rooftops after the storm will need evacuation awareness training for the next hurricane. I can understand that some people don't have the money to evacuate. If mandatory evac orders were issued, then I would hitch hike if I had to in order to get back inland somewhere. I am sure that there is assistance for those ill or disabled to be able to evacuate if they will call the local police, fire dept. or other services before the storm arrives.
It's human nature to want to stay with your home, and to feel like that will be safe. It's not always smart, but emotions override common sense.
I saw one news clip where a guy stayed at the beach because he wanted to be there to surf the big waves the morning after. He almost surfed with his whole house under him.
I have been through a couple of strong hurricanes, and I can tell you that it's very exciting, but the fun wears off when the you can see the windows bending, and the house starts vibrating and shaking around in the wind while you see other places being totally demolished around you. By then you are stuck in it, until it subsides hours later, if you survive. It's pretty high pucker factor stuff.
09/14/2008 05:57:09 PM · #8
I agree that if they were ordered to evacuate and if adequate transportation and help were available to all who needed it, any who stayed by choice and not necessity should foot the bill for their own rescues.
I assume that something's been learned since Katrina and that this time the officials were prepared with transportation, shelter and medical aid.
 09/14/2008 06:06:29 PM · #9
Originally posted by NathanW:
It's called a MANDATORY evacuation for a reason.


well, i just remember the big river flooding in 2002 here in the eastern part of germany. when the water was rising to inhabited areas of our town, they ordered a mandatory evacuation for our neighborhood, that was within the area that was going to be flooded within the next 3 days (tho they did'nt really know for sure as the magnitude of the flooding was beyond everything that had happend before).
so when the officers came to our house we could somehow convince them that we had enough food and some fresh water in our bathtubs to survive a couple a days without any additional supplies.
so the fact that we were allowed to actually stay in our home (in fact we were the only family in our neighborhood that did'nt leave during the flooding) was the reason we could save about 80% of our property, personal stuff and some furniture by taking all that stuff to the upper floor. all other people in that area lost about EVERYTHING they had in the water because the evacuation team (mostly police officers, military people and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief) did'nt warn them and made the decision to evacuate most of the poeple too early and planless.
that said, i can kinda understand these people not leaving their home. on the other hand, if people decide that way they have to be responsible for the possible consequences including paying for their rescue if the situation becomes hopeless ( if i remember correctly my parents had to sign a paper stating that we refused to be evacuated on our own risk).
 09/14/2008 06:36:11 PM · #10
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I can't say I object to people who could have evacuated, but didn't being charged something, but for those who obviously resent the government paying for aid to those affected, I hope you're never face to face with someone like yourselves in a situation where you need help.


I'm not sure what the answer is. I do know that the national debt is going to have to be dealt with eventually.
 09/14/2008 06:36:27 PM · #11
I agree with BeeCee completely about some people being unable to evacuate for a number of reasons; disabilities, no where to go.

But I also remember watching the news of people being interviewed in front of their homes and defiantly saying they didn't have to leave. For them, I have no sympathy.
 09/14/2008 06:49:42 PM · #12
Originally posted by chaimelle:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I can't say I object to people who could have evacuated, but didn't being charged something, but for those who obviously resent the government paying for aid to those affected, I hope you're never face to face with someone like yourselves in a situation where you need help.


I'm not sure what the answer is. I do know that the national debt is going to have to be dealt with eventually.


Compared to the quagmire in Iraq, the cost to the Fed Government for Katrina and Ike is peanuts. If you want to talk about reducing the national debt, that's the best place to start as there's little benefit to the average American in that war unless you're one of Bush or Cheney's business cronies.
 09/14/2008 07:11:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by chaimelle:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I can't say I object to people who could have evacuated, but didn't being charged something, but for those who obviously resent the government paying for aid to those affected, I hope you're never face to face with someone like yourselves in a situation where you need help.


I'm not sure what the answer is. I do know that the national debt is going to have to be dealt with eventually.


Compared to the quagmire in Iraq, the cost to the Fed Government for Katrina and Ike is peanuts. If you want to talk about reducing the national debt, that's the best place to start as there's little benefit to the average American in that war unless you're one of Bush or Cheney's business cronies.


There's also the billion we recently sent to Georgia. It's like a house of cards, and someday it is going to collapse.
 09/14/2008 08:13:47 PM · #14
Originally posted by Mephisto:
Originally posted by NathanW:
It's called a MANDATORY evacuation for a reason.


well, i just remember the big river flooding in 2002 here in the eastern part of germany. when the water was rising to inhabited areas of our town, they ordered a mandatory evacuation for our neighborhood, that was within the area that was going to be flooded within the next 3 days (tho they did'nt really know for sure as the magnitude of the flooding was beyond everything that had happend before).
so when the officers came to our house we could somehow convince them that we had enough food and some fresh water in our bathtubs to survive a couple a days without any additional supplies.
so the fact that we were allowed to actually stay in our home (in fact we were the only family in our neighborhood that did'nt leave during the flooding) was the reason we could save about 80% of our property, personal stuff and some furniture by taking all that stuff to the upper floor. all other people in that area lost about EVERYTHING they had in the water because the evacuation team (mostly police officers, military people and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief) did'nt warn them and made the decision to evacuate most of the poeple too early and planless.
that said, i can kinda understand these people not leaving their home. on the other hand, if people decide that way they have to be responsible for the possible consequences including paying for their rescue if the situation becomes hopeless ( if i remember correctly my parents had to sign a paper stating that we refused to be evacuated on our own risk).


With all due respect... flooding alone is totally different then chosing not to evacuate during a hurricane. With the hurricane you are looking at the flooding, plus the unknowns of whether your roof will get rippped off or a wall collapse etc at the same time. Putting fresh water in a bathtub is not going to help if your roof comes off and it gets contaminated with sea water. Most of these people have lived in a hurricane prone area for a long time, so being able to put your valuables in the attic before you evacuate to hope for the best should be a given. It is not like they did not have several days of warning before the storm.

What ticked me about this story was reading about a bar in Galveston right on the oceanside, and there were people in there drinking their faces off and the bar owner said that she was not even going to close the windows, let alone the bar! This encouraged a whole group of "bravados" to decide to stay there and drink out the storm. I wonder if they called for rescue or if the lived?
 09/14/2008 09:09:03 PM · #15
Boy you can really see the red and blue in here. hahaha

I just have to say that I am GLAD I don't live near any of you. I'm glad that some of you aren't in the service, I'm glad that some of you aren't even near me because I would want someone to come save me if I wasn't able to move, or hell even if I decided to stay.

I just can't believe how some of you people have no flipping heart.. I just need to stay out of this damn thread because it's the people that say things like F-em that really piss me off.

that's just my 2 cents and now I MUST stick this thread on ignore before I get into ANOTHER pissing argument.

For what it's worth to ANYone that reads this, I am the type of person that WOULD have left when I was told but I would be the FIRST one to raise my hand to come back and help even when things are at it's worse.
09/14/2008 09:57:12 PM · #16
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Compared to the quagmire in Iraq, the cost to the Fed Government for Katrina and Ike is peanuts.

Yeah, thank God the Fed Government gets the bill and not us already over-taxed taxpayers. Having a rich uncle is great.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
If you want to talk about reducing the national debt, that's the best place to start as there's little benefit to the average American in that war unless you're one of Bush or Cheney's business cronies.

Absolutely, but only if you live in the liberal pie-in-the-sky dimension and totally ignore reality. ;)

09/14/2008 09:57:20 PM · #17
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
Boy you can really see the red and blue in here. hahaha

I just have to say that I am GLAD I don't live near any of you. I'm glad that some of you aren't in the service, I'm glad that some of you aren't even near me because I would want someone to come save me if I wasn't able to move, or hell even if I decided to stay.

I just can't believe how some of you people have no flipping heart.. I just need to stay out of this damn thread because it's the people that say things like F-em that really piss me off.

that's just my 2 cents and now I MUST stick this thread on ignore before I get into ANOTHER pissing argument.

For what it's worth to ANYone that reads this, I am the type of person that WOULD have left when I was told but I would be the FIRST one to raise my hand to come back and help even when things are at it's worse.


I don't recall anyone saying they shouldn't have been helped, and I'm sure nobody here expects them to be just left there to die. What HAS been said was that if they chose to disobey the evacuation order they should be the ones to pay, not the taxpayers. In other words, to take responsibility for their own actions.
 09/14/2008 11:11:43 PM · #18
Having had to work trying to rescue folks I can tell you that risking one's life trying to save someone who did not heed the warnings is NOT something that I enjoyed.

YES indeed, let's do all we can to assist those in need, but there are instances where some folks should be left to their own device... they did make a choice.

Ray
 09/15/2008 12:42:17 AM · #19
Originally posted by Mick:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Compared to the quagmire in Iraq, the cost to the Fed Government for Katrina and Ike is peanuts.

Yeah, thank God the Fed Government gets the bill and not us already over-taxed taxpayers. Having a rich uncle is great.

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
If you want to talk about reducing the national debt, that's the best place to start as there's little benefit to the average American in that war unless you're one of Bush or Cheney's business cronies.

Absolutely, but only if you live in the liberal pie-in-the-sky dimension and totally ignore reality. ;)


Yeah, that rich uncle that's eager to squander $12 Billion a month on a useless war, but reluctant to help his own citizens. Sounds like a dysfunctional family to me.

Let's see, for one, we could discuss the fact that despite KBR being fired and replaced by another contractor by the DOD for millions in unaccounted expenses and cost overruns, no sooner had Bush/Cheney taken office than KBR was reinstated and the bulk of no-bid contracts have gone to them. Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention, Cheney was CEO of KBR and certainly has very close ties to the upper level execs there. The same execs who have made millions and millions providing 2nd rate services to our servicemen while overcharging for those same service. Do you mean that reality or some neo-con alternate reality where that sort of thing is OK?
 09/15/2008 12:49:13 AM · #20
The OP was talking about the costs of rescuing citizens who did not evacuate when they were under mandatory evacuation. Can we stay on topic, please?
 09/15/2008 08:30:10 AM · #21
If a father of 3 kids decide that the family is staying, you still need to rescue the kids.
 09/15/2008 09:39:47 AM · #22
I'm pissed that my tax dollars are paying for the NO resident's hotel rooms from last week or so when they had to evacuate. Perhaps food and gas too said the news.
Hey, they chose to live in a hurricane threatened city- worse yet, they chose to move back there after is was nearly destroyed. Common f'n sense says you made you choice - live with it. Don't ask me to pay for it. If it's too costly or disruptive to live there then move!

I'd like up here in the north - why on god's green earth would a homeless person choose to live here? Move south. Just walk. It's not like you need a moving van or will miss work!
 09/15/2008 09:40:33 AM · #23
Gah. I spent all weekend volunteering at the shelters in Austin, only to open the paper and see that some people were complaining about the lack of 24 hour food service and constant movies for the kiddos. Really makes me just want to stay home next time and let them fend for themselves. *sigh*
 09/15/2008 10:10:48 AM · #24
Originally posted by Mick:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Compared to the quagmire in Iraq, the cost to the Fed Government for Katrina and Ike is peanuts.

Yeah, thank God the Fed Government gets the bill and not us already over-taxed taxpayers. Having a rich uncle is great.



Huh? I hope you were being sarcastic because if you weren't you need to wake up.

Where do you think the Feds get their money from? A money tree?
 09/15/2008 10:54:03 AM · #25
DID anyone read this POST?
Great job and I thank you for your service. THat's the thing about service, you do what you can and find intrinsic worth in it. With everyone bitching about paying, you're out there helping.

Don't feel bad, just encourage more people to follow in your footsteps.

Originally posted by shamrock:
Gah. I spent all weekend volunteering at the shelters in Austin, only to open the paper and see that some people were complaining about the lack of 24 hour food service and constant movies for the kiddos. Really makes me just want to stay home next time and let them fend for themselves. *sigh*
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/26/2025 07:00:29 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/26/2025 07:00:29 PM EDT.