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.

  • Mike1576218@lemmy.ml
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    26 minutes ago

    The biggest problem, 25% (or however many) will survive this and be unharmed. Those are the ones others will hear about because god saved them. It will not matter how many believers died.

  • Furbag@lemmy.world
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    5 minutes ago

    Maybe it’s because I’m not from hurricane country, but I’ll never understand why people refuse to leave when told. Are they afraid looters are going to get their stuff? Then just file an insurance claim when you get back. People seem so obstinately stubborn about it for no discernable reason.

  • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 hours ago

    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.”

  • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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    2 hours ago

    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.

    • barsquid@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      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.

    • InverseParallax@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      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.

  • recentSloth43@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    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

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    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.

  • AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works
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    13 hours ago

    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…

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      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.

  • PorradaVFR@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    I wonder if they’ll ever consider that an almighty god could, you know, NOT send the hurricane instead.

      • vxx@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        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.

    • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      “Gods calling me!” Means the same thing as “I’m stupid and think I’m important.”

  • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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    16 hours ago

    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.

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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      7 hours ago

      survivor bias.

      They’ve probably done this a dozen times and made it.

      Well, time for them to make a saving throw.

    • r00ty@kbin.life
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      10 hours ago

      It made me think of that too. I remember hearing it on the West Wing though.