You assume "cost" means MONEY for the CITIES.
I'm talking about personal COSTS for the victims - in terms of people who are ALREADY sick & injured and will get worse on long ordeals, people who are already exhausted and don't need to try to prop up on a long ride until they finally get there, etc. The longer they have to go, the harder it is for them to hold up, or even take some things w/them.
Never mind the COSTS to those victims trying to get BACK to where they were - in many cases, that too will be their money & credit, anyway (yes, you do have to make people start being responsible for themselves at SOME point). Not to mention the hardships of just trying to handle business/housing arrangements from further away, or making the trip back thru thousands of miles.
So the personal costs would be lower if they have no place to go at all?
Come on, these people need help and the great northern cities have facilities. Use those, too.
Or do you just not want the victims "in your back yard?"