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It's important that individuals heed evacuation warnings when such recommendations are issued, as studies of past natural disasters illustrate the effectiveness of evacuations. According to a joint report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 52.5 percent of drowning deaths directly related to Hurricane Sandy, the deadliest and most destructive storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, occurred in the home. Nearly all of the homes where those deaths occurred were within evacuation zones, which means many of them could have been prevented had individuals chosen to evacuate when orders were issued. Studies have found that people ignore evacuation orders for a wide range of reasons, including the cost of evacuating and past experiences during previous storms that gives a false perception that the storm will not be that bad. However, as technology has advanced, public safety officials are now more capable than ever at gauging the characteristics of oncoming storms, including the dangers they pose. That should be enough to compel individuals, even those who have long lived in areas vulnerable to storms like hurricanes, to evacuate when their local officials urge them to do so.
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DEAR ABBY: My fiance, “Peter,” has a number of female friends I’m not comfortable with, primarily because they are women he “had” interest in before we started dating. He says he has told them he’s taken now and they can’t be more than friends, but I don’t think they got the message. He recently told me one of them told him a guy had proposed to her but she’s delaying accepting in case Peter becomes available. This is the second time something like this has happened.
Read moreLast Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated, “I’m not sure I understand the distinction-why the states would have the power but the federal government wouldn’t,” in regard to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “emergency temporary standard” (ETS) requiring companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated or wear face masks while at work and submit to weekly testing. That type of statement from a sitting justice is very concerning and unacceptable. Either Justice Sotomayor is ignorant on the subject of separation of powers, or she is deliberately attempting to dilute the powers of the states while simultaneously concentrating undelegated powers to the federal government – or both. The Tenth Amendment to
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“I bought more broccoli because I knew you were coming,” my mother informed me.
Read moreDEAR HARRIETTE: I feel so uncomfortable all over again. We have spent what felt like nearly two years homebound because of the COVID-19 pandemic. My family and I followed all of the protocols recommended. We were strict with our children. Now, it seems all for naught. My daughter caught COVID-19, not because she broke any rules, but because she ate lunch with other students at her school. Apparently one of them had COVID but didn’t know it. Almost all of the kids got it -- and they are all vaccinated, some even with the booster shot.
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Hello again, dear readers! It’s a busy and, let’s face it, sometimes stressful time of year. We urge you to take a bit of time for yourself to regroup, even if it’s just a bit of deep breathing or a quick walk outdoors. If any of you have coping mechanisms for stress that might be helpful to others, we’d love to hear them. And now, onward to your letters.
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DEAR ABBY: I need some advice regarding my mother-in-law. She has hated me since the first time she met me because I’m not from the country but from “the city.” I have given her gifts for birthdays and holidays and invited her on day trips with us, but she always refuses.
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