Cedar Rapids; officer with drawn gun

[ilbob]

And you continue to imply that "their own purposes" are necessarily nefarious ones. Could it be that public safety resources are already strained to the breaking point and they're trying to make the most effective use of them? They're trying to keep folks from getting in "over their heads" (literally) and having to perform multiple rescues because emotionally distraught people can do some pretty silly things? What would be evil about that?

How do you know that there's "no need for everyone to leave"? Do you have first hand information that the rest of us aren't privy to?

And you have some special knowledge that there was a need for everyone to leave? we saw in katrina that a lot of people forced to evactuate were in no danger. nor were they in "over their heads".

 

[dm1333]

ilbob,

I'm not trying to pick an argument with you, but do you have any personal knowledge of the situation or that there was no need to leave the area?

Having done some flood relief work in Tillamook County, OR I can tell you that flood areas are dangerous because of infectious disease and gas and fuel leaks. It was reported in the news today that fuel tanks had leaked large amounts of fuel, the fire hazard alone is enough to probably keep large areas of the area evacuated.

My point is that there is a lot of conjecture here (even on my part) and very little fact.

 

[divemedic]

On both sides (and this is from a responders viewpoint)

1 Mandatory evacuation orders are meaningless. Only if you are in IMMINENT danger (like your home is on fire) can you be forced to leave your private property. However, if the disaster that caused the evac order is endangering you, the responders may not be available.

Around here, mandatory evac orders are issued most often for brush fires and hurricanes. Refuse to evacuate, get trapped by the fire, and responders may not be available to rescue you.

2 Leave your property in such a situation, and you are fair game for curfews and checkpoints designed to prevent people from looting the empty and damaged homes. Even people who are your neighbors can be looters.

 

[Jeff White]

Without any information at all about the circumstances involved this thread is just wasting bandwidth with senseless speculation.

Jeff