We had this discussion here not too long ago... started July 25, 2018
https://www.disboards.com/threads/natural-disasters.3695672/#post-59526150
My contribution then
It's complicated.
I live in a hurricane prone area. Our family has lived here for 300 years. We are resilient people who have hurricane prep in our DNA. We know our risk and limits. Up to category 2, we easily stay. Beyond a 2, we assess the direction it's coming to the east or west of us (being on one side or another makes a difference in impact) and discuss the factors specific to the storm and our family.
We live 10 miles inland. When Katrina was projected to come, we were staying at our house until I awoke to a report that winds hit 155 mph while still offshore and predicted to increase. Jumped up, packed up and called my brother and mom who did the same. Storm was abt 18 hours away when we left. Tornadoes spin off and impacts are not just for those who live on the shore.
Many others can not afford to jump up and evacuate. Gas, food, a place to stay (if one can be found) are all expensive. Waiting on the interstate for 10 hours for a 2 hour trip due to everyone evacuating -folks run out of gas, have medical situations, etc.
Local shelters crowded with a few hundred odd people are not a pleasant place to be. Some take care of family who have medical needs and are not easily moved.
Others are essential personnel and must stay for work. Others have crappy jobs they have to stay to report for so they don't lose it.
Some stay to protect homes and businesses from looters and to shore up damage ASAP. We were fortunate to get back home the day after Katrina. Shortly after we got back home, the interstate we just traveled had to be closed to incoming traffic due to damage and debris. We were glad to be in our home, even though it was hot as he## and we had no power. Nothing like the comfort of your own humble place in a disaster.
I was able to clean out the nasty refrigerator and keep it from becoming an issue. We were able to start making repairs on our roof and help family and neighbors start their repairs and clean up.
Some don't listen to forecasts, or trust forecasts-false alarms happen. News people overly hype a storm and the next one, people don't listen because they were wrong before.
I would add...hard to predict rain and how much will fall where and how it will affect rivers, streams and bodies of water. Sometimes water rises much faster than anticipated.
We do not live in a flood prone area and are 4 miles from the nearest river. 2 years ago we woke up one April morning to find that it had rained 12 inches over our house in under 3 hours. Only typical thunderstorms were predicted over night. Nothing at all in the forecasts indicated that we should be watchful.
Due to runoff and over building of formerly wooded, swampy areas near us in recent years, our home came close to flooding. From 6:30 a.m. I watched water rise and rush through our backyard until 8 a.m. when it started to receede. It came within an inch of our porch which sits 3 feet off the ground. By the afternoon, it all receeded and you could not tell that there had been water in our yard. Flood insurance is not required, but I now have it.
Mother nature can be a beast and even the most astute people can be caught off guard.