Evacuations

Before I continue with this train of thought from my last blog entry, I would like to insert a footnote about my feelings on evacuating.

Newscasters on the major channels in this country portray those of us who live in Hurricane Alley negatively. I believe we are victims to editing and how the media wants to create a
stereotype of Southerners that the rest of the country expects or enjoys rolling its eyes at.
When a mandatory evacuation is put in order, the media insists on showing only one or two types of people who remain. Usually they show some stoic ol' Bubba who says "I was raised in this town and I ain't gonna leave" or they show a bunch of people a hoopin' an' a hollerin' getting ready for a hurricane party.

Weather reporting on a whole is not an exact science. No matter where you are in the world, I know that you have heard a weather report then walked outside and wondered if the weatherman had thought to do so too before the broadcast.

Living in a hurricane zone is like living with an active alcoholic.
You really don't know what's going to happen if and when they come home. They may bring blues skies and be contrite when you projected bad behavior, you can become complacent and have the shock of your life. When you live with an alcoholic or hurricanes, always hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

If you are a regular Joe like me, you work either the trades or in the service industry. The South has no labor laws, our jobs are not protected nor is there pay for hurricane evacuation. Just because Mother Nature/ local government decides you can't work doesn't mean there are not still bills due on the first of each month. Along with the lost wages is the added expense of leaving town. It's a great life if you can afford to take off and leave town every time they call for a storm. Those who can afford it still find it bothersome especially if you have four no show storms in a month or two.

You start to wonder if it's your own personal karma wrecking havoc on your finances.

My point is not everyone can afford to leave. Period.

Oh, you bring up the shelters so graciously provided by the government. I think the Super dome coverage finally showed what we all heard and known to be true years before. I'd rather take my chances at home, thanks. Guess where the Monroe County hurricane shelter is? Homestead, which was basically wiped off the map in Andrew but that's a story for another day.

I want to state that in Cuba, our communist neighbor, barely anyone dies in Hurricanes and they do an excellent job of evacuating everyone. Then again, they have nothing and no food anyway.

We might look like a bunch of hardheaded hicks and maybe we are. We are resolved to the fact that we are dancing with a 600-pound gorilla that we have no control over.

Next time you are being threatened to be wiped off the face of the earth make sure you have enough mixer's and ice for the drinks. Remember to pick your hurricane party friends carefully, it's like going out on a boat trip, you may be stuck with them for a long time.