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.

  • Tin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 day ago
    • Has faith in the Lord
    • Believes that God saved Trump from assassin’s bullet
    • Ergo: put Trump in the path of every hurricane, enjoy being protected by proximity.
  • Blaster M@lemmy.world
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    You don’t put God to thw test by putting yourself in a dangerous situation and expecting him to just save you from your own stupidity.

    • Randomgal@lemmy.ca
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      God sent the evacuation alert for them. They used their free will to choose to stay. Even if you look at it from their perspective, it’s a fucking stupid choice. XD

      • Blaster M@lemmy.world
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        A follower of God is supposed to obey the authorities up to the point it conflicts with God’s requirements. Since most of God’s laws are stricter/safer than most governments, they should not clash. Evac orders do not clash with God’s laws, so they are to be followed.

        • bork@sh.itjust.works
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          18 hours ago

          If Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for a census, surely evac orders should be followed one would think.

  • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 days ago

    Reminds me of the Parable of the Drowning Man

    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.”

  • Mike1576218@lemmy.ml
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    The biggest problem, 25% (or however many) will survive this and be unharmed. Those are the ones others will hear about because god saved them. It will not matter how many believers died.

    • InverseParallax@lemmy.world
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      100%, I have faith Jesus will protect them, or if the worst happens, help them rebuild.

      No need to send my tax money to trash states that just insult me.

  • recentSloth43@lemmy.world
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    Why would their god send a murderous hurricane then protect them from it? Feels like mafia tactics to make people rely on it.

    P.s. the second ‘it’ refers to their god

  • vegeta@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    And the Lord said, I sent ye a sign. A sign that said evacuate, and ye didn’t listen.

  • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    In Venice, about 40 miles (64km) to the south, Sherry Hall and her family decided to stay in their house several blocks from the ocean, despite many of their neighbors leaving amid warnings of a storm surge up to 15ft. Her husband, Tommy, prepared the property with shutters and sandbags, and she said they had generators, portable air conditioning units, and plenty of water and food to be self-sufficient.

    Let me know how well the portable AC & generators work in 15ft of water, Sherry.

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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      survivor bias.

      They’ve probably done this a dozen times and made it.

      Well, time for them to make a saving throw.

  • PorradaVFR@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I wonder if they’ll ever consider that an almighty god could, you know, NOT send the hurricane instead.

  • TommySoda@lemmy.world
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    One of my good friends lives in Tampa and his mom took the car and bailed while he was taking out the dogs. He’s stuck at home this very moment and I only hope he’s safe