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.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    48
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    26 days ago

    I feel bad for these people because I have a feeling that they are staying not because of religion, politics or any other reason other than … they can’t afford to do anything else. I know a few people in Florida and from what I’ve gathered from many people who live down there, life is expensive and it got even more expensive in the past decade.

    • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      51
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      26 days ago

      Many people can’t afford to evacuate. No car, no cash, nowhere to go… plenty of people like this exist.

      But that’s not these people. No, this article addresses those who, in the face of a very real and very deadly storm, choose to believe in a wish-granting invisible sky wizard instead.

      Evolution is cruel, but fair…

      But here’s a bedtime story for the “faithful”:

      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.”

      Sleep tight.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        16
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        26 days ago

        Yeah … I’m as anti religious as the next guy … I’m indigenous so I’ve seen a lot of “Christian love” to know that these people are probably religious nuts.

        But I also know desperation and being cornered into a life you have no control over … especially if your life leads you into a dangerous situation and you have no money, no wealth, no options and no hope.

        I know a lot of proud people that would never admit to anyone that they can’t afford to save themselves and they’d rather raise their hands and praise the lord than admit defeat.

        I may not share the same beliefs as these people and chances are they might not appreciate me either … but it doesn’t mean I’ll give up my sense of empathy for my fellow man.

        • bcgm3@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          26 days ago

          It’s wild seeing a message of intelligence, empathy and compassion getting downvoted, while several other messages condemning all religious folks everywhere get solidly positive responses. I’m strongly atheist myself, but only sith deal in absolutes… Or maybe I’m just fortunate like you, to have met a real variety of people in my life, so I know that there’s a possibility that there is more to someone than just what I read about them on the internet. Either way, I like your take and I appreciate that you voiced it here.

      • Malfeasant@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        26 days ago

        When I heard this story, the man wasn’t just being obstinate, every time he was offered rescue, he turned it down because he was sure someone else needed the help more than he did. It’s a minor difference in words, but a major difference in the tone of the story.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      37
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      26 days ago

      You’re completely missing out on how many religious people want to die, there’s a reason virtually every major religion say suicide makes you go to the bad place.

      If you legitimately and completely believe in an ever lasting paradise, any type of life will be disappointing.

      If they die it’s just “god calling me home”.

      It’s why religions are so dangerous. If someone believe in an eternal afterlife, throwing your life just means skipping to the good part. Literally any action can be justified by saying the god(s) desire it for whatever reason. Even an ineffable one.

      “The Lord will save me” ones want to die, it’s passive suicide to get around the punishment for it

      • lordnikon@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        19
        ·
        26 days ago

        it’s almost like it was designed that way to make people throw their lives away for a ruler and to bare the misery created by aristocracy. it’s classic good cop bad cop the church tells you it’s going to be alright just keep your head down and keep working it will all be over soon oh and btw gives us a 10% tip on your way out. While the elite torment you making you work more and live less.

      • Gigasser@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        26 days ago

        I think it’s more that they want to prove to themselves God exists, because if he does, than clearly, he would save them through miracle. Arrogant bastards they are, they think God will personally help them out. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

    • Drusas@fedia.io
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      25
      ·
      26 days ago

      If that is the case, they should say so and seek assistance. Not lie about it.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      26 days ago

      There are other reasons too. I was told by someone that they know a person who couldn’t evacuate because they run a cat rescue. You can’t leave rescue animals behind, but you also can’t take 10 of them (or however many) with you.

    • TommySoda@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      26 days ago

      One of my friends is stuck right now because his mom took the car and bailed while he was taking out the dogs. So there’s also that…

      • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        26 days ago

        Pretty sure your friend could have found someone to give them a ride, including emergency services.

    • Hegar@fedia.io
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      26 days ago

      Yeah, I think religious explanations are often given when someone can’t tell or can’t face why something is happening. When people tell me they’re doing something out of religious conviction, I usually wonder what the real reasons are.

      • PugJesus@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        17
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        26 days ago

        I don’t know, I think you may underestimate the depth of religious convictions in some areas of the country.

        • Hegar@fedia.io
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          26 days ago

          Yeah there are definitely some earnestly religious people.

          I just think that material circumstances, group identity, social status and things like that are what determine the behavior of social primates. Religion is a convenient explanation because it makes you look upstanding and can justify absolutely anything, really.

          • PugJesus@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            7
            ·
            26 days ago

            I think that the modernist and materialist interpretation of society is very lacking and outdated. Humans are not purely rational creatures, and incredibly counterintuitive behavior, up to and including massive movements of millions of people contrary to their material interests and the interests of their own social advancement, has been and is caused by religious mania.

            • Hegar@fedia.io
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              26 days ago

              We’re definitely capable of some amazingly counterintuitive behavior - things like moral panics, groups who make high risk travel, or high control cult groups. But again I’m not convinced that religion is causing that. A lot of those things have non religious examples as well - large parts of the cultural revolution sounds like a secular mania to me.

              I still suspect these sorts of things are just human behavior. Even if we finally cast off religion for good, I fear we’d still see all the same things happening just with different explanations.

              • PugJesus@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                26 days ago

                large parts of the cultural revolution sounds like a secular mania to me.

                I mean, I’d include that in the list of “Things that have weak material triggers and are largely outbursts of irrationality based on abstract beliefs”

    • dohpaz42@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      26 days ago

      I would imagine that it might also be that maybe it’s all they ever known, and so t know where else to go. I know that’s how I’d feel if it were to be me in their shoes.