Can someone explain this to me because I think maybe I am missing something? A category 5 hurricane is steaming its way towards you. The police, fire department, local government, TV, radio, and newspaper all letting you know there is a mandatory evacuation order. You need to leave your home and head inland.

Did the meaning of MANDATORY change recently and I missed the announcement? What part of mandatory is misunderstood? Last I knew if a mandatory anything is issued it means you don’t have a choice. You do it.

So some people decide they are going to ignore the mandatory evacuation order and stay with their homes. They know the water is coming. Everyone around them knew it too that is why they left. The storm hits and the water rises and rises. Now these people that didn’t want to obey the order are stranded. They go to the second floor of the house and the water keeps coming.

So they panic and grab their trusty cell phone and hope it still works. They call 911 and cry for rescue. Hello? Are you morons? You were told to leave and that it wasn’t safe. Now at least 4 people have to risk their lives to come rescue you because you thought you knew more than everyone else. Someone that is really in trouble could loose their life because you were an idiot or worse yet one of your rescuers could loose their life trying to save your sorry ass.

Sorry if I seem a little crass on this issue. It really pisses me off when people do stupid things like this. Mandatory evacuation orders are just that – MANDATORY. That means you pack up what you can, move stuff to the second floor if you can, secure your home and LEAVE. Is that couch you just bought really worth more than yours or someone else’s life? Is that big screen TV really worth that much? Things can be replaced; Lives can’t.

Personally I think that if there is a mandatory order to evacuate and you choose to ignore it you should be left on your own. Everyone told you, you had plenty of time and you chose to ignore it. So sorry; wait for the water to go down and then you can drive out. Oh wait, you were a moron and your car is in the garage under six feet of water. I don’t feel sorry for you one bit.