Why aren't Haitians bugging out of Port au Prince?

[Broil]

You'd think that as bad as things are, they'd be swarming out into the countryside looking especially for water elsewhere.

I've always doubted the idea that rural dwellers would have to defend themselves against hordes bugging out from the big cities during a possible fast crash of civilization.  People generally stay with what they know and wait for rescue.  Katrina was an exception to that rule, but I think it was more because they were literally flooded out.

[DarthBruder]

They are. By the thousands, at least.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60F1V820100116

But many are in no shape to leave. Others can't afford gasoline. There also isn't enough gasoline. And many are on foot.

The media is doing an impressive job, but there aren't enough reporters on the ground to cover all the angles sufficiently.

[picasso moon]

Actually, they are doing just that en masse, reported KPFA news yesterday, 6PM Pacific time,shows are cached at http://www.kpfa.org    
But we know the "real reason" why not, don't we? Blacks after all have lower IQs, don't they.

[quietnite]

Jesus, Picasso, that's a pretty inflamatory comment.
 

[Poseidon]

They are. By the thousands, at least.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60F1V820100116

But many are in no shape to leave. Others can't afford gasoline. There also isn't enough gasoline. And many are on foot.

The media is doing an impressive job, but there aren't enough reporters on the ground to cover all the angles sufficiently.

"I have waited for two days, but nothing has arrived, not even a bottle of water," said Yves Manes, walking slowly toward
a main route out of the coastal capital with his wife and two children.

I know many people are injured and in shock, simply unable to realize in what kind of situation they are, but I feel it is important to point out that those people have been simply waiting for days for 'something' to come and help them.  And while that island, with its millions of inhabitants, is far from a past where everyone could have been self-sufficient, to me it is clear that it's a symptom of a larger problem: people are too willing to simply wait for help no matter if it's coming or not.

If a disaster hits your area, will you wait or snap into action to help protect yourself and your loved ones?

[SabreKai]

I think in his haste to make a snappy comeback pointing out OUR racism, he forgot to put the purple print on.


Sabre

[AreWeThereYet]

Actually, they are doing just that en masse, reported KPFA news yesterday, 6PM Pacific time,shows are cached at http://www.kpfa.org    
But we know the "real reason" why not, don't we? Blacks after all have lower IQs, don't they.

Honestly..why not stay on topic..that was uncalled for.

[DarthBruder]

Excellent point, Poseidon. Some are fleeing but some will die while taking no action of their own.

And Picasso did have the eye-rolling emoticon, so I'm pretty sure we should realize his tone.

[Broil]

They are. By the thousands, at least.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60F1V820100116

But many are in no shape to leave. Others can't afford gasoline. There also isn't enough gasoline. And many are on foot.

The media is doing an impressive job, but there aren't enough reporters on the ground to cover all the angles sufficiently.

Thanks, I should have looked at Reuters and I suppose BBC. 

I think like I said, it's a natural human instinct to "bug in" when possible ...... to stay in familiar surroundings.  I think we can expect the same from a fast crash in this country (not that I believe there will be a fast crash, but it's possible!)

[SabreKai]

I don't care if hes rolling his eyes or blowing flame out his ass. Hes calling the rest of us racist in a round about general way and looking down on us at the same time.

Sabre

[firewalker]

I think that we should be watching this exact thing.  We know from Katrina people fled en masse when provided the transportation after the fact.  Why not everyone left beforehand is academic; many things intertwined.

We watched the after effects of the 2004 tsunami.

What will large populations do in the days following mega-disasters?  Haiti, Sumatra, and "third" world responses are probably what anyone can expect even in the US if there is a large enough scale disaster.  Katrina was the hybrid "disaster", perhaps even used as an experiment to see the population response of a "first" world city if left to their own devices for a week or so.  We know people moved from NO, but it seemed only with mass transit assistance.  How many left on their own after the storm?

Will populations move from an uninhabital land, or will they stay and wait for someone to help?  

What these populations do are probably a good indicator of what will happen in the future.  IF Haiti does not have roaming MZB's moving from the city in ever larger circles in order to find food,water,etc would we see it in a US, European or Asian city.

This is what I will be following, if we can rely on the "news" people to give accurate data.

Do people have the ability (or desire) to move even 30 miles from an epicenter to better surroundings?

[Broil]

I guess it would be hard to generalize from natural disasters (hurricane, earthquake, tsunami) to a situation where there is sudden financial collapse - no jobs, money worthless.  The homes and farms and whatnot would still be intact ...... water would run out within a coupla days though.  Food also.  So at least there would be that short bit of a grace period.

[Megadoom]

OK.....have to clear something up about Katrina. I can 100% assure you that most people wanted to leave New Orleans after the storm hit, but they had several logistical obstacles to over come. One - they were surrounded by flood waters with the only exception being the CCC on into the Westbank, but that was blocked by Jefferson Parish deputies who were hell bent on preventing New Orleans residents (likely a racial issue) from crossing the bridge. They justified this by arguing they were preventing looting. Two - people were repeatedly told via radio, the few phones that did work, and authorities that were there that help, food, and water was on its way. We know the rest of that story.

[Madnsassy]

OK.....have to clear something up about Katrina. I can 100% assure you that most people wanted to leave New Orleans after the storm hit, but they had several logistical obstacles to over come. One - they were surrounded by flood waters with the only exception being the CCC on into the Westbank, but that was blocked by Jefferson Parish deputies who were hell bent on preventing New Orleans residents (likely a racial issue) from crossing the bridge. They justified this by arguing they were preventing looting. Two - people were repeatedly told via radio, the few phones that did work, and authorities that were there that help, food, and water was on its way. We know the rest of that story.

It's always great to have an eyewitness reporter!     Thanks!  I, too, remember when so many were instructed to go to the Dome, where they were then also abandoned for days.

Meanwhile, as to a lot of the Haitians, thousands of them have family members who remain trapped/buried beneath rubble, or lying in piles with dead corpses along the streets.  The state of shock after such an event, and the ultimate despondency and depression, also lead to inaction.  I wouldn't imagine that I would want to leave while I still had loved ones buried, dead or critically injured. 

[rocketgirl]

OK.....have to clear something up about Katrina. I can 100% assure you that most people wanted to leave New Orleans after the storm hit, but they had several logistical obstacles to over come. One - they were surrounded by flood waters with the only exception being the CCC on into the Westbank, but that was blocked by Jefferson Parish deputies who were hell bent on preventing New Orleans residents (likely a racial issue) from crossing the bridge. They justified this by arguing they were preventing looting. Two - people were repeatedly told via radio, the few phones that did work, and authorities that were there that help, food, and water was on its way. We know the rest of that story.

Not to mention the folks who wanted to leave before the hurricane hit but couldn't because they couldn't afford to and didn't have adequate transportation nor any place to evacuate to.

IMO, Picasso moon wasn't trying to push buttons and had the rolling eyes icon so purple applies here.