# Acquaintance refuses to evacuate, Irene coming **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206 "2011-08-26T19:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/1 "2011-08-26T19:06:39Z")
My wife has an acquaintance on the Jersey Shore who is refusing to evacuate, despite the “mandatory” evacuation order. She (my wife) had me look up how feasible it would be to drive to this woman’s house NOW and haul her and her rescued animals to safety. Well, when I researched the address, the woman lives _on a barrier island_ (Seaside, NJ). Her elevation is 7 feet, 600 yards from the Atlantic. Current prediction for Seaside is 96-110 mph winds and 6-8 feet of storm surge. Fortunately for _us_, the crazy plan to drive there tonight was squashed because they’ve **closed** the eastbound roads to support the evacuation order. Can’t get there, now. The woman said (via phone) that she’s going to go to a multi-story hotel and “break in” and weather the storm there, taking the animals with her, _after the storm starts_. I suggested telling her to go \*before \*the 96-110 mph winds start if she’s going. No idea why this person has chosen this course of action – possibly because she has too many animals to take in one vehicle, and didn’t think of calling the volunteers until it was too late (better to have sent a caravan yesterday and hauled them all westward, but maybe she was shy about asking for help). Or nuts. Any other advice we should give this person, before the cell phone system goes down? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/2 "2011-08-26T20:38:03Z")
I can’t think of any advice to give you. That’s just really sad. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/3 "2011-08-26T20:40:50Z")
I can’t imagine it’ll be easy to “break into” a hotel. She doesn’t think they’ll have boarded up their windows and locked the doors? Can you call law enforcement, give them her address, and ask if they’ll send someone to get her? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/4 "2011-08-26T20:41:03Z")
Call local law enforcement and let them know her plan. They will force her to evacuate if it is necessary. Planning a mid-hurricane B&E is not an acceptable emergency plan. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/5 "2011-08-26T20:43:06Z")
You could ask her what sort of memorial ceremony she’d prefer… I think she’s out of her freekin’ mind, and I third the idea of calling law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/6 "2011-08-26T20:50:20Z")
Make sure she knows how to get into the attic fast and easy. Also make sure that any attic space she might retreat into is something she can get out QUICKLY if water gets even higher (like say wimpy screens/vents on each end of the house or something like that). A sledge hammer or axe up in there might be good. Something that floats once she escapes the attic is probably a good idea too. Also tell her a storm surge isnt just slowing rising water or a passing wave. Its A FUCKING fast moving WALL of very quickly rising water. Damn damn stupid (but I am sure you know that already). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/7 "2011-08-26T20:56:52Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Make sure she knows how to get into the attic fast and easy. A relative of a friend tried that in 1938. Her house got washed out to sea and that was the last of her. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/8 "2011-08-26T20:59:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > A relative of a friend tried that in 1938. Her house got washed out to sea and that was the last of her. Well yeah. But if you are going to stay there are less stupid ways of going about it. But its still stupid. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/9 "2011-08-26T21:09:36Z")
If she can get to it, there’s an evacuation center at Toms River High School North: > **[Evacuation Shelter At High School North Now Open](https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/evacuation-shelter-at-high-school-north-opens-8-am-friday)** > > Toms River establishes emergency hotline for Hurricane Irene In Seaside, the Poland Spring Arena is the evacuation center, and you can call the authorities if you have trouble evacuating: > **[Hurricane Irene casts shadow on Seaside Heights, as residents and workers...](https://www.nj.com/news/2011/08/hurricane_irene_casts_shadow_o.html)** > > HO/AFP/Getty ImagesThis NASA/NOAA GOES Project image released today shows Hurricane Irene moving up the East Coast. Millions of people are bracing for the hurricane, a massive storm officials fear will cause widespread flooding and dangerous... There’s an overflow shelter (probably) at Toms River Intermediate North: > **[Mandatory Evacuation of Barrier Island, Bridge Shuts Down At Noon](https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/mandatory-evacuation-of-barrier-island-at-4-pm)** > > Shelter available at Toms River North We have relatives on the Island – they’re evacuating. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/10 "2011-08-26T22:45:44Z")
I’d call the cops, what else can you do? It sucks that she didn’t plan properly and all the animals are likely going to die, but are pets worth her dying over, too? No. Worst case scenario, she stays in the house, you don’t call the cops, she dies, and you have horrible survivor’s guilt. Calling them is the ONLY way she might be forced to leave the house. Who even cares about the animals at this point? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/11 "2011-08-26T22:53:22Z")
She’s dead, and so are all her animals, unless you call the police to have her removed. I can almost guarantee it. Hell, the entire barrier island may disappear in the storm. Tell her to gather the animals. The police aren’t monsters. They’ll probably help move them. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/12 "2011-08-26T23:04:51Z")
I just heard from our relative on Long Beach Island – the bridge is still open both ways there. You can certainly evacuate them now. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/13 "2011-08-26T23:18:04Z")
Tell her to build a huge boat and take two of each animal onboard with her. If the storm ends up being worse than predicted, she might be the one to repopulate the earth. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/14 "2011-08-26T23:21:47Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > A relative of a friend tried that in 1938. Her house got washed out to sea and that was the last of her. Well at least she went down with her house. > [@Ogre](#): > > …Tell her to gather the animals. The police aren’t monsters. They’ll probably help move them. They aren’t monsters, but that doesn’t mean they’ll actually force her to leave against her will. “Mandatory” evacuation order doesn’t necessarily mean the authorities have the resources to go around forcibly rounding people up. Usually it’s a way of absolving emergency services of any legal responsibility to try and help people who refuse to evacutate, but change their minds once the storm starts. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/15 "2011-08-27T00:16:16Z")
Back when Mt St. Helens blew her top, we had an old codger that lived on the mountain. He had a lovely spot on Spirit Lake and just refused to leave. The authorities tried to get him to go, but he refused. Yup, he, the house and everything went with the mountain. I hope it was instant for him. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/16 "2011-08-27T00:24:53Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > Back when Mt St. Helens blew her top, we had an old codger that lived on the mountain. He had a lovely spot on Spirit Lake and just refused to leave. The authorities tried to get him to go, but he refused. > > Yup, he, the house and everything went with the mountain. I hope it was instant for him. Harry Truman. Buried under a million tons of volcanic residue. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/17 "2011-08-27T00:25:21Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > Back when Mt St. Helens blew her top, we had an old codger that lived on the mountain. He had a lovely spot on Spirit Lake and just refused to leave. The authorities tried to get him to go, but he refused. > > Yup, he, the house and everything went with the mountain. I hope it was instant for him. So technically, he died of natural causes? OP, as a last resort could you call the police and warn them of her intended crime? Being in jail would suck, but it’s better than being dead. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/18 "2011-08-27T02:05:44Z")
[Public advisory #26A](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/262342.shtml): > [@](#): > > STORM SURGE…AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER > LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 6 TO 11 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN THE > HURRICANE WARNING AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA…INCLUDING THE ALBEMARLE > AND PAMLICO SOUNDS. STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH > AS **4 TO 8 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL** WITHIN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA > FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER NORTHWARD TO CAPE COD > INCLUDING SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS > TRIBUTARIES. NEAR THE COAST…**THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY > LARGE…DESTRUCTIVE…AND LIFE-THREATENING WAVES.** (Bolding mine. Yes, the original is in all-caps. Guess it’s a good time to shout…) ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/19 "2011-08-27T03:03:39Z")
At least send someone in after her animals. It’s her choice to risk her life and liberty with this scheme, but her animals can’t make an informed decision and shouldn’t be put in danger. Then the question becomes whether to return them to her if she survives the storm… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206/20 "2011-08-27T03:43:18Z")
> **[N.J. pets welcome at hurricane evacuation shelters](https://www.nj.com/news/2011/08/nj_pets_welcome_at_hurricane_e.html)** > > Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerMaryellen Small of Beachwood, a volunteer for the Ocean County Animal Response Team, carries supplies past a stack of pet carriers at the Red Cross shelter at the Poland Spring Arena in Toms River, where they are... > [@](#): > > Maryellen Small of Beachwood, a volunteer for the Ocean County Animal Response Team, carries supplies past a stack of pet carriers at the Red Cross shelter at the Poland Spring Arena in Toms River, where they are preparing for residents of **Seaside** , along with their pets, who have nowhere to go after evacuating ahead of hurricane Irene. and > [@](#): > > “No one should be staying in their homes in an endangered area because they feel like they can’t bring their pets with them,” Christie said [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-refuses-to-evacuate-irene-coming/594206.md?page=2)