Disaster Discussion

[smokey the elder]

With the shift to allowing pets in shelters, it becomes a little more clear, IMO, that people should obey mandatory evacuations. I live 2 miles away from a nuclear power plant, so I'm mindful of the (hopefully low) possibility of needing to do so. But, the reason it's not 100% clear is if you have a situation like I do. I have several feral cats that live indoors. However, I think I have a workable intermediate solution where I'd catch who I could, then open the windows for the ferals to "self-evacuate" and try to re-trap them later. (The ferals live indoors as I'm on a busy street and would prefer they not get turned into rugs.)

[Randi]

I think it's pretty stupid not go leave if there is a mandatory evacuation. Especially, if you can take your pets along. About ten years ago, we had a huge fire in one of our buildings, it started 5:00 in the morning and a friend of ours lived right on the edge of it, two floors below the roof. He had packed his most precious possessions, phoned us and came over.

This is what we saw out of our window.

[mon]

Wow, sure hope no one was hurt in that fire! I was just wondering... so thought I'd just put this out there, if anyone thinks people behave differently when there is a full moon? I would swear that my mum acts even odder than usual when there is a full moon. If that's even possible

[Asiel]

In the case of a wildfire I would leave and no one would have to tell me-- but for anything else I would stay put in my home-- no one tells me when to leave, I control my own destiny and that of any pets that are with me at the time.

[Alysser]

You can't expect me to leave my dog to save my sorry butt. In CERTAIN situations, like fires or bad hurricanes, I'd leave. But floods, tropical storms, etc...I'd choose my own route. I'd probably wind up leaving before it got too bad anyway, and find a safe place for me and MY DOG. You couldn't ask me to leave my dog behind to burn in a fire or drown, sorry. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

[Karen]

When they issue a "mandatory evacuation" order, Alysser, they don't tell you how you have to go or anything! They just care that you get yourself and your pets/family safely away.

It's funny, because there are signs left over from I guess the Cold War around the Boston area directing people along an "evacuation route," and I have seen them on Cape Cod as well. But here in the Boston area, there are bigger, better roads that have been built since these signs were up, and on Cape Cod, there are limited choices how you're gonna get off the Cape anyway - there are just two big bridges that cross the Cape Cod canal, so unless your car floats, you've only got two choices anyway!

[chocolatepuppy]

My most likely disaster is tornadoes and there is no evacuating from them! Just hit the basement! I do worry about train derailments though. I live between two tracks. I would evacuate if needed, with furkids. The problem is, what if I'm not home? I've seen two trains derail in the 18 years I lived here. One was right on my street. Last year a train derailed up in town and they did evacuate but not as far as my street. I had already gone to work. I would leave work in a heartbeat to come back and get my furkids, but what if they wouldn't let me back in?