Is it normalcy bias or just plane stupidity

[JoJo]

 My heart aches for those who lost everything in the hurricanes but the normalcy bias that everything will be OK has me perplexed. Why didn't they prepare. They had plenty of warning to get a trailer, lode up and drive to safety. Now Peurto Rico is a different story. They had no place to run to, They were ground zero.
 The California fires is another thing.  Three hundred and four square miles didn't just start burning at once, people had time to pack up.
 You saw the fire, you heard the weather report, WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAVE?
I bet everyone on this forum would have been prepared and left in plenty of time to save life and limb.   

[JohnyMac]

Yes & No JoJo. You bring up a valid point ala - Normalcy Bias. Let me tell our story.

Late October 2012 the Cat. 1 Hurricane Sandy hit the tri-state metro area of NJ, NY, and CT. MrsMac and I knew that once it hit a 8' surge over high tide during a new moon was coming our way in RI.

The local fire department asked us to evacuate however they would not allow us to take our two cats to the facility. After a short discussion we decided to stay.

I put up our storm boards thinking they would prevent the egress of the ocean into our home but alas they didn't. The surge arrived at about 1900 hrs and the surge water started to seep into our home when all of a sudden our house rose.

To make a long story short, our house rose from its 100 year old stilts and when the water ran out (Flooded) the house came down with a resounding thump.

We ended up with about a 18-24" flood in the house and most of the 100+ year joists snapped when the house came down.

As the water started to seem in, I turned off the master switch to the electrical panel. Lit an Aladdin lamp, grabbed the Grundig radio and some bottles of water and went upstairs with MrsMac and our two cats.

So why did we stay you might ask...Well first and foremost the chances of the surge hitting us was only 50/50. Then the evacuation center offered to us would not accept our two cats - My wife's children. Last, I was not really worried if even we did get flooded as the wind from the hurricane was well west of us.

In all, there was ~$100K worth of damage. We had FEMA Flood Insurance which initially only agreed to pay ~$50K in damages however through my persistence and the help of our US Congressman, they paid ~$90K with the other $10K coming from our retirement.

So there you go about MrsMac and my normalcy bias. 

Now on another subject that few are talking about. Why do people live in high probability locations that would cause the loss of life and property? Why do insurance companies insure folks for high risk locations? Why does the government (FEMA) insure properties in high flooding probability locations? We are all paying for it.

And then there is: Why has California stopped "control burns" about ten years ago?

[JoJo]

 I'm glad everything worked out as beast as possible with that problem but as you said there was a 50/50 chance. But for the hurricanes and the fire there was probably 90/100% chance they would be affected.

 Flood insurance has been one of my big complaints. Why should I have to pay for someones problems when I can't afford to live where they do? Flood insurance should be private and not part of the government.
As far as stopping the control burns the environmentalists should be made to pay for the damage done by the fire. It was there fault the fires could not be controlled. 
 

[JohnyMac]

I agree with JoJo's comments, "Why should I have to pay for someones problems when I can't afford to live where they do?"

I told MrsMac that we were going to be flooded and or destroyed during our time at our property in RI. We had FEMA flood insurance the whole time we were there forced on us by the US Government in hoots with our mortgage company.

Now if we had 86'd our flood insurance and had gone self-insured and squirreled $6K a year away, 1997 till the drama, we would have insured ourselves at 15 years x $6K or $90K + interest - This would had covered our damage...BUT our mortgage company would NOT allow this option.

Now we wanted a mortgage to off-set our salary's and hence taxes.

The government has their hands in everything. 

[Kbop]

wow JM  thats some adventure!

I agree with JoJo. 
its one thing to get surprised by events the unfold to fast to see coming.
I wonder how many children paid the price for that particular blind spot.

[Erick]

Much props to you John for taking care of the kittycats at some (managable) risk to yourself.

The way a man treats animals says much about this honor and personality. 

[Nemo]

Normalcy Bias?  Yeps, dayumsure.  No real figuring anymore of the idea-- yes it could happen to me, and if it does the govt will take care of me.  Good thoughts but the govt ain't right there when the house is on fire.

That and the idea of letting the woods burn like they did for a big long time before people moved in there.

Me-- I would be gone.  I would be loaded up in the camper and truck and were the word given she would be in her Escape and we would be gone 3 days prior to that. 

Arrangements for where to go have already been made 100 miles away in 4 directions from where are right now, so all would be good.

So if Central Va ever gets going like that, wave to me when I pass you by as I GOOD.

And its also Plain Stupidity.

Nemo