When we are hit with devastating images of hurricanes on television we sometimes wonder when seeing people in distress why they don’t evacuate earlier? Why don’t they leave even when ample warning has been given? Take for instance, Diane Berberian. She just didn’t leave in spite of being inundated with calls from family and friends. She even shut her phone off which makes one wonder why she didn’t leave during a hurricane. What people don’t understand is the fact that for a 59-year-old like Berberian who is visually impaired and living in Florida, it would be too expensive. A flight from Tampa to Philadelphia where her family resides would cost $1000.
1Many stay because they are helpless
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Like Berberian there are many who prefer staying back to take their chances against the storm. Hurricane Irma ended up being the worst storm in history and as a category 5 hurricane it devastated most of the Caribbean killing 13 people. Even though Governor Rick Scott issued an emergency and advised everyone to evacuate Florida, many stayed back. Amidst criticism, many were not aware that among those who didn’t evacuate during Katrina, 14 % were disabled. 55% did not have access to a vehicle and 68% did not have money to do so.
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