Hurricane Florence made landfall this morning near Wilmington, North Carolina. It arrived as a Category 1 storm, bringing winds of 105mph, "making it the second strongest wind ever measured there." Power has been knocked out for nearly half a million people already, and storm surges has turned many streets into rivers.
And it's only 9:30 in the morning on the eastern seaboard, with the Weather Channel advising: "Destructive winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall will continue to batter the Carolinas throughout the day."
New Bern, NC, is one of the hardest hit towns so far, with water rising so quickly that dozens of people were trapped in their attics. About 200 people have already been rescued, and 150 more are still awaiting rescue.
Naturally, the shaming of people who didn't evacuate has already begun. I have a few thoughts about that.
Instead of shaming people who didn't evacuate, consider the reasons why some people might not have evacuated despite urgent warnings. Disabled & ill people may be unable to evacuate. Incarcerated people are, in some cases, disallowed from evacuating. People w/o cars may be stuck.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) September 14, 2018
Working class folks may have feared losing their jobs: "She worried about losing her job if she chose to leave. The evacuation itself, including gas, lodging and meals out of town, also would be expensive." https://t.co/gpwbPmWbDu
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) September 14, 2018
It's not as straightforward as: Anyone who stayed behind is a dummy who didn't heed warnings and now doesn't deserve rescue. When we treat evacuations as "every person for themselves," we can't be surprised that not every person is able to evacuate.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) September 14, 2018
Anyone who lived through, or can read an account of, what happened in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina should understand the foolishness and cruelty of shaming people who are unable to evacuate. Frequently the people who can't are the most vulnerable.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) September 14, 2018
This is a time to be good to one another. We are not being governed by compassionate or decent people; we need more than ever to be compassionate and decent to each other in times of crisis.
So far, there are no reports of serious injuries or death. I desperately hope that will remain the case throughout the day, even as I know how unlikely that is.
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