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submitted 1 month ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

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.

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[-] vegeta@lemmy.world 141 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] Nougat@fedia.io 117 points 1 month ago

Fewer Republican voters in Florida, got it.

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[-] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 84 points 1 month ago

Ok, but when they are standing on their own roofs waving at helicopters, I want rescuers to just wave back. Let their gods come down and risk life and limb to save their stubborn asses.

[-] vodkasolution@feddit.it 60 points 1 month ago

Maybe the Oklahoma Gov could send them some bibles to help them pray

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[-] ladicius@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago

I think the helicopter people shouldn't only be waving.

An additional thumbs up could deliver so much inspiration and motivation!

[-] SilverCode@lemm.ee 29 points 1 month ago

They could drop down some fliers that said "thoughts and prayers"

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[-] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 72 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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.

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[-] TommySoda@lemmy.world 69 points 1 month ago

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

[-] TheBat@lemmy.world 40 points 1 month ago

What the fuck

[-] littlewonder@lemmy.world 34 points 1 month ago

Sounds like he needs to cut that monster out of his life.

[-] Today@lemmy.world 32 points 1 month ago

I hope your friend is ok and able to let you know.

[-] Travelator@thelemmy.club 19 points 1 month ago

See, that's why I never let my mom near the car keys.

[-] P00ptart@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

This is why I have my own house and cars lol

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[-] ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone 56 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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."

[-] PorradaVFR@lemmy.world 56 points 1 month ago

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

[-] jmsy@lemmy.world 31 points 1 month ago

The democrats control the weather and sent the hurricane.

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[-] Lepsea@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 month ago

It's god way to test our faith

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

Then how would he punish the gay people?

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[-] P00ptart@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago

"Gods calling me!" Means the same thing as "I'm stupid and think I'm important."

[-] Annoyed_Crabby 49 points 1 month ago

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.

Ooookay, that's super grim.

[-] Agent641@lemmy.world 47 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Tampa mayor on CNN, verbatim: "And I can say without any dramatization whatsoever, if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're gonna die."

Whether she's personally roaming the zone with an AK-47 to see to it, is not clear.

[-] Annoyed_Crabby 18 points 1 month ago

She'll unleash 2000 alligators just to be sure.

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[-] ladicius@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

That is one of the most practical suggestions I've ever seen.

They could tape their documents to their bodies, just wrap enough tape around. Sharpie may wash off.

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[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 48 points 1 month ago

Good for them and no worries. Anything bad happens to them and we have thoughts and prayers ready and waiting to take care of it.

[-] InverseParallax@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago

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 45 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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

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[-] AVincentInSpace@pawb.social 44 points 1 month ago
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[-] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 41 points 1 month 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 50 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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.

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[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 36 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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 19 points 1 month 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.

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[-] Drusas@fedia.io 25 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 39 points 1 month ago

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.

This isn't a new suggestion. I remember this being told to people staying in spite of evac orders for a previous nasty storm, iirc it was Key West hearing it that time. It scared the shit out of some people back then and convinced them to leave, sadly the more times you hear something like that the less impact it has. And your neighbor managed to ride it out last time they said that...

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[-] VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 37 points 1 month ago

The Lord also gave ya'll legs and the ability to move... Maybe put a little faith in that, too.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 35 points 1 month ago

Faithful at the Pearly Gates: "Lord, why didn't you help me?"

God: "I had people send you evacuation orders, wasn't that enough?"

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 31 points 1 month ago
[-] Mike1576218@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 month ago

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.

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[-] carl_dungeon@lemmy.world 22 points 1 month ago

Jesus take the wheel!

[-] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 21 points 1 month ago

Natural selection in action

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

I sincerely hope that the Lemmy user who said they lived on a sailboat in Florida and were going to ride out the storm is okay.

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this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2024
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