We all are sympathetic when a natural disaster hits because of lost lives and damage to property. The personal toll can be tremendous as well as the overall economic cost.
Unless one has been through such a disaster, many would find it hard to imagine what it is like.
Yet, when a mandatory evacuation order has been issued, residents should make plans and leave during a hurricane, predicted flooding, or wild fires. It is common sense.
If they choose to stay, but then call 911 half way through the storm to be rescued, it seems like their home  owners insurance should be canceled. The lives of first responders are at risk, as well as the lives of the people who should have left. Sometimes it is too dangerous for even first responders to be in the storm. In addition, expensive equipment can be damaged such as fire trucks and rescue boats.
All it would take is for the threat of the cancellation of insurance, and that would be the end of people staying at home when they should leave. There would definitely be less loss of life, and if the residents have a couple of days notice, they can pack up a few valuables in-between sand bagging or adding shutters.
It is not right for the first responders to risk their lives to rescue someone who voluntarily stayed home in horrific circumstances.
It is not right to risk expensive equipment to rescue people who knew they should be leaving.
Neither a house nor any possessions are worth risking lives.
Insanity is called doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is insanity to build a home in a hurricane prone area just a few feet off of the beach and then expect taxpayers to come to the rescue. Some common sense is called for. Rules need to be made.
There are lessons to be learned from those who were allowed to stay home. Making their own safety provisions are a valuable lesson which we could all learn from. Those precautions at a minimum should include filling the bath tub, sinks and a few buckets with water, candles and flashlights, drinking water,  food that doesn’t need cooking such fruits, vegetables and canned meat and soups. This emergency kit should include a cell phone, matches and blankets. As much as possible should be stored in the safest room in the house.
These measures just seem like common sense.