On Tue, 14 Sep 1999 20:33:02 -0700 Spike Jones <spike66@ibm.net> writes:
>
> This brings up another question. The TV news is stirring the
> pot for sheer panic. Seems like sitting on a packed freeway
> is more dangerous than just staying home. But panic sells news.
> Whats the right thing? spike
>
Since the Governor has ordered those areas evacuated, we can naturally presume that people are heeding the civil order. Several decades ago, before weather satellites, and earlier, when aircraft and automobiles were less common, the death toll from huricanes was much higher because people did not have as much warning nor as much data on the strength and path of the storms as we do today. In 1937 or thereabouts some 1300 died when a hurricane hit Long Island without much warning. Even today there is much uncertainty in predicting 12 or 24 hours in advance exactly where the storm will hit, so if it's better to be safe than sorry, people should, if possible, evacuate any and all areas where conditions might become dangerous.
If the roads are clogged, I would say it shows that not enough people left early enough.
Ron Kean
.
.
.