Why Did Warning of "Certain Death" Fail to Work?
Monday October 6, 2008
The National Weather Service used strong language in attempting to get people to heed their advice to evacuate prior to Hurricane Ike last month, "Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family, one- or two-story homes may face certain death." However, thousands remained in the deadly area and refused to leave. National Geography News has an interesting essay on this topic.
Comments
MAY face CERTAIN death? What does that mean?
I suggest that (1) the Weather Service check its arrogance at the door (’people think they know how to interpret weather data’) and (2) they focus on how to better HELP people do an orderly, safe evacuation.
I’m just appalled at the tone of arrogance and the detachment from the need to understand why people won’t leave their homes in the face of warnings. “May” face “certain” death is a stupid way to state a warning. It sounds pompous, suspicious and contradictory, like pill-bottle warnings.
Of the people who decided to remain, it would be interesting to read what the non-survivors had to say.
Blame the Weather Service for its self-contradictory language “may face certain death”. Which is it?
Residents must have put their trust in their Deity and “in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.”
JUST LIKE THE STUPID AMERICANS!
I grew up in Houston (back when Dinosaurs ruled the Earth). My Mother lived about two miles up from the Gulf, untill she died last year.
She (and pets) always invited to someone’s home, north of Houston, but getting there was such a nighmare of traffic and rules/laws etc, that she would NOT have have gone…other than for the safety of her animals.
Many people faced just this sort of stuff. First, traffic was unbelievable, then rules HAD to be followed. Getting home was an even worse nighmare…depending on what the hurricane had done.
Right or wrong…this is why many Gulf Coast people do and make the decisions that they do.
I realize that this is not the fault of authorities…it has more to do with the Gulf Coast population(s). But think of the many decisions and guesses the people all must make.