why r some people not serious about making hurricane preparations when the time comes?

Answer 1

I live in the Hurricane Zone (Gulf of Mexico Side of Florida), and I can assure you that I take my Hurricane Preparations SERIOUSLY -- In fact, every Spring (May) I pull out my Hurricane Panels, and pre-prepare -- it helps especially since I live alone and am a bit older -- tightening them down, covering the least used windows for the season, and just making sure that I have easy access to them

Additionally .. EACH and EVERY Household in the state receives a pamphlet with the emergency supply needs listed -- and the same is true when they enter their local hardware store, super center, grocery store ... just about every store in the state. That listing has every emergency need -- from canned foods to bottle water needs .. and recommends at LEAST a 3 day (and most people I know prepare for at least a week) before you will be seeing the power restored and emergency workers coming around to check out the homes AFTER the storm passes.

Let me tell you ... living at least a week, with roofs torn up, power out, no way to fridge food (UNLESS you already have your generator), no ice (unless your icemaker is hooked up to your generator), and no safety tested running water, no land line phones, and under a curfew (because .. there is no automated streetlights or anything else) CAN Be survived, and QUITE Easily IF you prepare.

NOTHING of the preparations requires that much cost. Instead of the Reinforced Aluminum Panels (Wind Storm rated to Miami-Dade Standards), you can replace that permanent expense with the judicious purchase and preparation of Plywood Panels ... Just purchase the sheets, cut them yourself, and make sure you sink the mounting screws to install quickly in case of a storm.

Same with the food/water needs ... NOTHING on the list is expensive (powdered milk, bottles of filtered water, canned goods -- Veggies/Fruit/Staples), cleaning goods, and the Spare Tarps (in case you do have damage to your roof -- several are able to be stored quite easily).

Now as to why some folks wont prepare ... there are several reasons:

1. It can't happen to me mentality ... just because an area has NOT been hit in over a decade doesn't mean that within 6-9 months one wont be hit directly by MULTIPLE Major Hurricanes (3 or above) PLUS other Tropical Storms/Hurricanes (like my own area in 2004-2005).

2. I live in an Apartment ... they have to serve me ... NO ... no one HAS to do anything. It is your responsibility as a resident in the hurricane zone to make all the preparations for your family so that they are SAFE both during and after the storm.

3. Help will be available all the time. During the height of the storm ... even the emergency responders will be hunkered down in the safe areas of their command centers ... and they, too, will NOT be going out until the Brunt of the storm passes, and then only very limited services will be available.

4. They don't want to listen to the Weather Reports, or Ignore the warnings ... Just because a path shows it going 100-200 miles east or west of your location, doesn't mean that it WILL NOT HIT your site .. I can assure you that within the last 24 hrs before landfall there was movement that definitely changed the projected landfall locations ... and I was prepared.

5. Within the 72 hrs prior to the storm, they do NOT take the time to PUT UP Their Storm Panels, prep everything outside of their home, and put away anything that can end up a flying missile. I can assure you that MY HOME's Garage Doors (Steel -- reinforced), its Exterior Doors (Steel -- reinforced), and panels/surface ALL Received hits from pieces of flying debris -- from street lamps that were blown apart 2 or more miles from my location to pieces of not just the backyard sheds (NOT tied down), but all the lawn stuff (like lawn swings, lawn tractors, garden tools, etc) also made dents in my reinforced doors .. and you could easily see the marks.

6. The mentality that they will 'get served' immediately after the storm .. and that they are "entitled" to services.

7. Some don't care .. then DEMAND That they be housed, fed, clothed, whatever right away ...

8. Then there are the "What do you mean I have to take a $5,000 -- $20,000 or More hit for losses? The Government/Insurance Company, Public has to pay for my losses ... type mentality". I can assure you that around my neighborhood, we all take our insurance policies quite seriously ... realize by hardening our homes, entries, roofs, etc that we can obtain discounts on our insurance, and we KNOW that our deductibles are going to be STIFF for Windstorm Damage ... we Just SUCK IT UP and take our losses, and pay for the damages through HELOCs that we will be paying on for the next 5-10 years.

9. Gee, we ALWAYS have power, etc ... I can assure you that the cost of even a portable generator can be daunting ($700 to $1000), but for the peace of mind (and remember, you need to store in the 72 hrs window BEFORE the storm at least enough fuel to be able to use that generator for at least a WEEK BEFORE Power is restored) .. it is quite doable IF you make judicious purchases all year around. I SAVED UP for this by using coupons, etc and forgoing luxuries in life .. this is a basic safety need.

10. A Cell Phone is always a good thing ... the Towers were damaged, but I can assure you that MY cell phone was able to be used after the passing of the storm to contact relatives to inform them that I was OK (and so were the teen children).

Answer 2

i say that people are not that serios because they never think it is going to hit their house they think there never in danger and the goverment could fix it all up but they dont know because the goverment owes people a lot of money