Residents In the Path of Hurricane Florence Feared This More Than Losing Their Lives

Hurricane Florence, at its peak, ranked a category 4 with 130 miles per hour winds, covered the Carolinas with devastating effects. So far, 37 people have died and 343,000 are without power.

Cable news reports warned of the impending hurricane and flooding on a 24-hour loop, with local officials urging residents to flee the area.

Yet many stayed despite the warning.

If you were like me, you assumed everyone who stayed were either uneducated or in denial. I asked myself, “Why would these people stay when they have been told their lives could be in danger?” Perhaps it was a lack of resources or poverty? Although these are very strong factors; there is also another to consider.

I have a more complete picture of why they stayed.

When Hurrican Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, I was actually there on vacation with my sister. I was able to get out on the very last plane leaving the area before the storm hit. You would think that the 1,883 deaths would have been the worse that happened to the community, but it was only the beginning.

Over 25,000 (mostly African-Americans) in Louisiana lost their land and had zero assistance rebuilding. Why? Because the property they had lived on for generations, had no clear title. It’s called, “heirs property.” Often times, when the original property owners pass away, they may not have left a legal will. As a result, these 25,000 hurricane victims lost their property as they had no legal documents to prove ownership. So their homes/land went into foreclosure and they permanently lost their property to the State.

Many Hurricane Florence victims are also facing this same dilemma. Their property has been in the family for decades, maybe a century. If they leave their property, they would be kept from returning and rebuilding. (FEMA funds for rebuilding are only given to property owners who can prove ownership. That takes many years, a ton of cash and patience. Once finally done, the window to apply for assistance has closed). Simply put, without proof, they do not qualify for any rebuilding support.

So they are faced with a dilemma: Do they flee and perhaps be blocked from ever returning and owning their property again, or do they stay and fight for their property and land and prepare for the worse as much as possible? What a horrible situation to be put in.

I pray that Hurricane Florence survivors faced with this situation and who survived the initial storm, survive the possibly more devastating one that comes with red tape.

Patrice Williams Marks is an author, Sensitivity Reader, founder of courses that teach Sensitivity Reading, founder of a non-profit charity, founder of several film festivals with diverse entries from filmmakers and writers. She also has a background in public relations, marketing, and journalism with an emphasis on research.

I originally posted article on Medium.