Hurricane evacuations: who pays?
At least two thousand people have been evacuated from Galveston following Hurricane Ike's destructive fury, with more than fifteen thousand still on the island. Power and water services are out all over Galveston, so food is rotting and unsanitary conditions are developing. Heavy damage to roads and bridges means that getting out is easier said than done, and poisonous snakes are infesting the debris. Many people are either injured or simply just stuck and won't make it out without help.
Who gets to pay for all the rescues?
This question comes up in Oregon frequently, as costly search and rescue operations are mounted for people lost in the mountains (usually woefully unprepared) in inclement weather. In 1995, a law was passed to allow rescue agencies to charge up to $500 per person in rescues where authorities find violation of law or a lack of reasonable care. (No, I don't know what exactly reasonable care means.) People charged with this fine can appeal, and the fine will be waived if they can successfully demonstrate that they did not violate any laws and were fully prepared for sub-optimal or outright dangerous conditions.
While $500 per person is a start, I don't think it's nearly enough of a deterrent in Oregon. On the contrary, if adventurers get into life-threatening trouble solely resulting from demonstrated bad judgment and/or poor preparation, I'd like to see them pay the full cost of their rescue.
Anyone who read my last post on Hurricane Ike might wonder whether I'd be willing to put a price on my own near-drowning a few weeks ago. The answer is simple: you bet your bippy I would. I went out farther than I should have in very rough water, knowing that I'm not a particularly strong swimmer. The danger was forseeable, and I exercised poor judgment. That particular section of the Jersey Shore has lifeguards, but should I be responsible for paying a punitive fine because I did something stupid that resulted in my needing a rescue?
Absolutely.
(Since the Jersey Shore lifeguarding system doesn't charge for rescues, I'm still mulling over what I can do as far as a donation is concerned.)
So, what does that mean as far as Galveston goes?
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the island in more than enough time for residents to leave via public or private transportation, and approximately twenty thousand chose not to comply.
I think those people should be required to pay every cent of their rescue costs, with a punitive fine on top of that.
What say you?
15 retorts. What say you?
I completely agree, however let me ask this question... what if you cannot afford to evacuate?
My wife and I agree that if you cannot afford to evacuate and are rescued, you should have to perform a certain amount of community service.
I guess a system should be in place so that those who want to evacuate and either have no money or no transport should be able to notify authorities and be evacuated to a shelter at no cost or costs determined by a means test. I never thought I'd advocate another govt handout. Those who have the means and still refuse should pay all costs and a fine.
I live not too far from Whistler and all through the winter, rescue teams (mostly volunteer) are called to rescue people who have crossed "out of bounds" markers in search of new powder snow and either get lost, injured, or simply vanish. Never mind the cost; what about the safety of the rescuers? They are literally risking their lives for the foolish few.
Great subject, it all boils down to personal responsibility. People don't take care of their health, the rest pay the price. Same with personal finance and many more.
Amen (from someone living in the greter Houston area...who thankfully has power again but still has unsafe drinking water). Government should not provide everything for everyone - including water and MREs all over this city for people who ran out of food. Seriously? How???? We have had house guests (people without power or in mandatory evacuation zones) and still could last for a couple more months without the grocery store. Would we love to? No. Can we? YES
It's called Natural Selection". Ignore a mandatory evacuation order and you deserve to be left to deal with the consequences of your choice in the form of NO HELP when it's too late.
Tom - I think that when predictability exists, as it did for Ike, government should provide a means of evacuation. I think Texas did, although I don't know how effective it was. That would give a little more oomph to the concept of fining people who refuse to comply.
Gord - As usual, good point. You are quite right that a means test and a government-sponsored method of evacuation should be in place before punitive fines would apply. I think physical or mental/psychological disabilities are also mitigating factors to some extent.
Jill - I'm glad you're managing despite the trying circumstances. Seems to me that part of living in natural disaster-prone zones is taking responsibility for being adequately prepared. It sounds like you've gone above and beyond. The very best of luck to you.
Anon - ehh, I see your point but I can't say I agree. If we do that, what does that say about our moral grounding as a society?
FZ - Yes, I just heard the other day that FEMA is footing the whole bill. They are paying temporary living expenses for all evacuees. I don't want to sound uncompassionate, but I want people who irresponsibly stayed to have to pay for their rescue, $ or community service. Send those people back to the destruction zones and make them clean up!
Tom - totally agree, with the caveat that in some (I expect relatively few) cases, there may be mitigating circumstances.
Bill 'em just like they would get an ambulance bill if they had to go to the hospital. If they don't pay then garnish their income taxes. Seriously.
Are you people nuts???? Those people pay taxes. They are American citizens. They have the right to expect their government to assist them and protect them in any way they deem fit. Its their government also. Americans never turn their backs on people in need. It's irrelevant if you think they were irresponsible. What price do you put on a human life. Are you like the car companies that use actuaries to determine what a arm or leg or life is worth. Are you kidding me????
Our government blows trillions of dollars subsidizing oil and gas companies what drugs are you smoking that makes you want to charge some one for saving thier life.
Since I work with the poor I do feel some ambivalence with this issue. How about health insurance: if you smoke cigarettes-no insurance. If you're more than 20# overweight, no insurance until you lose the weight. If you ride your motorcycle without a helmet and have an accident with a head insurance, your family must pay for the long term treatment that you will require. If you drive while intoxicated, no health insurance coverage for you. I bet we'd see some pretty fast changes in our country.
oops
head injury
great post
never thought about it this way
I think that people should be willing to do whatever it takes to save their lives
That's something I never understood about, dare I say, Hurricane Katrina. Whenever I fail to parrot the party line over what, despite some people's claims, was NOT a singularly black tragedy--people look at me like I'm some sort of heartless, primitive creature. But if I knew my neighborhood was likely to be at the bottom of the ocean in a matter of hours, I'd drive away, cycle away, walk away if it came to that. How much help should be extended to people who wouldn't even try to save their own lives? No money for a trans ticket? Whatever happened to begging? Too proud I guess.
Shall we start charging people to have the fire department come over and rescue them from a housefire? What if it was because you knocked over a candle? How about charging for the police to chase away a burglar? What if it was because you left the door unlocked?
I agree that people shouldn't be reckless, but the reason we live in a social society is to take care of each other in times of need.
Wow. Just wow. Since "personal responsibility" is king, shouldn't the (state/local, federal) government pay me back a portion of my taxes so I can personally acquire certain services?
Outside of suicide, people don't intend to put themselves in life-threatening situations. Learning occurs through a series of successes and failures - including failures that an observer may deem "poor judgment."
We're humans... not robots. We see (and interact with) the world through glasses colored by experience and sensory cues. We determine courses of action based on a summary all the inputs (subjective and objective). After all of that calculating, sometimes we make mistakes and go the wrong way (e.g. the person who didn't leave Galveston because they couldn't afford to evacuate and didn't/couldn't leverage alternatives).
Are we so heartless as to require damages when a fellow citizen encounters such trouble??
(I used to joke about it, but we're getting closer and closer to charging for the dang oxygen people breathe).
BTW: Greetings. :-) This is my first visit to your blog. Thanks for allowing me to leave long-winded comments. hehe I read your story about almost drowning. I actually live on... well near... the Jersey Shore. I have a b-day party to attend in Atlantic City tonite.
Hawa, author of
Fackin Truth Blog (Personal Blog)
and
Cleanse Master Remix (Health Blog)
PS: As a first time visitor I want to compliment your blog mission. I added you to my "favorites," and I'll eventually update my blogroll. I'm a fan of greener living (including the "spiritual" aspects - like being happier with what we already have - much like No Impact Man).
When I look at the economy (and the problems we face), I don't just see "money." I see greed. I see consumerism that originated too often in wounded souls looking for "stuff" to comfort. I see apathetic citizens that accept BS from politicians.
Oh Lord. I'm rambling again.
Have a great Technology Free Vacation!
Hawa, author of
Fackin Truth Blog (Personal Blog)
and
Cleanse Master Remix (Health Blog)
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