>>The nanny state/welfare mentality - it's always someone else's job. What part of MANDITORY EVACUATION do these fools in the media not get? The people on the coast were warned, told to leave, and chose to stick it out thereby endangered themselves and their families. That would be considered neglect when parents put their children in danger.<<
I understand taking a calculated risk and staying behind, but I cannot believe these people didn't take even the most basic short-term preparations, such as filling empty milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, whatever they could find, with clean tap water and caching some canned goods. They had two to three days advanced notice.
It doesn't take a college degree and high income to think "Hmm, maybe I should fill some of these empty malt liquor bottles with tap water...just in case." A mixed case of canned stew, beans, and the like can be purchased for less than $20. Most of these people aren't that damned poor, unless they have drug and alcohol habits to feed (priorities, you know).
I expected some people to have no means of preparing, but it appears that NONE of these people took ANY short term preparations. I've been in one of the worst ice storms of the 20th century, a tornado, and several severe weather systems. I know for a fact that enough water and canned food can easily fit into a 13 gallon Hefty trash bag to support a family of four between two and three days (longer with a little rationing). I also know for a fact it doesn't take a helicopter or a swift water rescue team to carry said bag up a flight or two of stairs, onto the roof, or several city blocks away to higher ground.
As someone noted, its the insidious culture of the ghetto; someone will spend millions of tax dollars to airdrop us food, water, and televisions. They damned well better...or we'll act a fool just as soon as we can find a TV camera!
It would never even occur to them that they might have to provide for themselves for up to a week, because they live an existance rooted in pervasive dependence on others to provide for them. Someone else is responsible to make sure they have water and food if there is a major disaster. They just cash checks, pick-up food stamps, and go to the grocery store. Everything else is quantum physics.
They should try surviving in a blizzard that shuts everything down for 2 weeks or being on constant alert for tornados....you get used to preparation for extremes.