Folks - this was a residential hotel for senior citizens.  The woman who
died on the top floor was 85 years old.  The rest of the people who were
evacuated were aged 60ish and up.  They were routed out in various stages
of dress, and they left without false teeth, daily medications and other
necessities.  I'm sure it wasn't their choice to leave without their pets.
I know it wasn't their choice to leave at all, as some of them now have no
place to go although city agencies are working on that.  I believe that, so
far, they have not been allowed back to reclaim personal possessions.
Otherwise, I agree with you regarding pet evacuation.  I spent part of
Memorial Day weekend watching the tornado warnings for a town 25 miles north
of me, with pillow cases at the ready, preparing to throw everybody into
them and beat it to the cellar if necessary.  Although tornados in the
mountains can be pretty strange as to how they skip around.
 
SG
[Posted in FML issue 2387]