There are always people who ignore mandatory evacuation orders when a massive storm or other natural disaster is coming, and sometimes they die. Other times, people die because they have no chance or means to leave. Hurricane Matthew, an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, has already killed more than 280 people, mostly in Haiti, and as it starts to batter Florida, Gov. Rick Scott (R) warned the 1.5 million people who live along the Florida coast: "This storm will kill you." President Obama has already issued emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Matt Drudge, the conservative web link curator, lives in Florida and, as the outer part of the storm started hitting his state, he suggested Thursday afternoon that maybe these dire warnings are a government conspiracy.
And it isn't just "deplorables" who planned to ride out the storm:
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Among the attaboys Vanilla Ice received for his Darwin Award application, there were the head shakes, both dark — "Authorities ask that you write your social security number on your body with permanent marker to facilitate ID," tweeted David Kroll — and darkly funny: "Stop. Evacuate and listen." But this isn't a joke, Weather Channel senior hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross emphasized Thursday evening. "This is like no storm in the record books," he said, specifically to his "friends in Florida." "We are concerned about reports of people deciding to stay in areas under emergency evacuation orders. This is a mistake. This is not hype, this is not hyperbole, and I am not kidding. I cannot overstate the danger of this storm."
"If you live in a Florida evacuation zone, you need to head for a safe spot, now," Norcross concluded. "Do not assume you can survive if you decide to stay. There will be overwhelming damage, and likely, a heartbreaking loss of life. Based on everything we know, Matthew will make history. The Weather Channel does not want you to be part of that history."
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