Life is Hard When You Are Stupid

John Wayne was once quoted as saying "Life is hard. Life is even harder when you are stupid." Those words ring true for the people of Galveston Island, TX who made a concious decision to stay home during hurricane Ike despite a very bold warning by the National Weather Service and a mandatory evacuation order.

The National Weather Service made headlines by warning residents that to stay on the Texas coast was to court death. Ike was no joke and was bringing the power of Mother Nature was bringing a Texas-sized hurricane. Despite the warnings, thousands, even tens of thousands of people chose to stay in the barrier island communities to ride out the hurricane.

Barrier islands are made of sand. Sand does not stand fast in the face of water. Just ask the Israelis what water did to their big sand berm in the 1973 war. Wood frame buildings don't stand a chance against 10-20 foot waves. If you've ever been to the beach and played in the surf think back to the power that a 4-5 foot wave brings as it crashes on the beach. Those are 'gentle' waves. Waves that come ashore during a hurricane, driven by over 100 mph winds is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. By one account, a house on 16 ft pilings (yes, 16 ft above the ground) was lifted from its pilings by the waves of hurricane Ike.

Today we are seeing the 'survival' stories of the stupid who chose to stay behind despite all of the warnings. These people are being rescued at considerable expense (you are paying for their stupidity) and they are putting rescuers at risk to the hazards of Galveston Island. You'll also see stories of the hazardous slurry of chemicals and waste that are polluting GI. Rescuers have to repeatedly brave these dangerous conditions to bring out the 'victims.'

There really is no excuse not to evacuate. The State of Texas provided transportation out of the danger area and shelters for those who had no other place to go.

So when you read those stories about the horrors faced by the ass clowns who stayed behind remember that you are paying for their stupidity and the rescuers are putting their lives on the line for their stupidity. In hindsight, staying to ride out the storm is a selfish decision.