Reply #18: I know. In many ways it's a mental health thing.

[intheflow]

Not that they're inherently crazy, or crazy because they're poor, but PTSD and severe depression is certainly a factor. I think many people are still in a lot of shock and there may be a certain level of denial ongoing. It's fairly easy to think, "I'll just wait until that FEMA trailer gets here, then I can live in that, on the premises, until my housing is rebuilt." Whereas if they leave the premises, will they get free, private housing while their house is being rebuilt? Or are they going to have pay rent and maybe a mortgage as well for the next year? Will the government take their property by eminent domain due to soil contamination by the floods (or for some other reason)? Many poor people have an inherent distrust of the government and other authority systems (such as the police, lawyers, etc.) from years of being yanked around the system.

So I guess what I'm saying is that what may seem like a stubborn, fool-hardy choice to stay, may actually not be so much a choice but a kind of survival instinct kicking in on their part. It may not seem logical to us, but in their own heads it makes perfect sense.

Sad state of affairs, all around.