Only days before Category 4 Hurricane Florence was due to pound North and South Carolina, it was strongly suggested to evacuate the path of the storm. About 1 million people were ordered to evacuate, but not everyone was able to afford such an escape.

Jeremy Tominack, 40, told USA Today how he planned to not evacuate his hometown in Wilmington with his family.

“I’m not worried. I’m just hanging in there. What can I do? I think it would be more trouble to leave,” Tominack said.

Tominack felt he would be more helpful staying at home and riding out the storm while his wife and children stay with his mother-in-law, where they are safe. He plans to watch over his house and search for ones in need of help that also decided to stay behind.

Deb Frese, 65, waited the storm out until she felt that it was beginning to be too dangerous.

“Flooding, that’s the biggest concern,” Frese told CNN News.

Frese gathered all of her survival resources; stockpile of food, batteries, and lanterns. She planned to remain in her home for about a week and then decide if it was best to stay or leave.

Evacuating in time with the cost of gas and other useful things for survival in mind could cause loads of pressure on a family.

If I ever ended up in a situation where my life could possibly be at stake against a natural disaster, I would do everything in my power to evacuate. I would prepare myself as best as possible and get out of harm’s way. Waiting out the storm most likely wouldn’t be an option for me, as there is no guarantee of surviving such a massive, powerful storm.

I definitely understand how much money would have to be involved in evacuating purposes but it would be absolutely frightening to be left with no other choice other than to stay within the area that needs to be evacuated.

“I would probably stay for as long as possible and when it is no longer safe, I would leave,” Jenna Newton, sophomore, said.

Controversy stirred as multiple people in the evacuation zones decided they would remain in their homes until they found out what the best decision would be.

Before Florence even arrived, people already had their basements flooded with rainwater, and that was only the beginning. Most families that decided they would wait out the storm, soon realized that wasn’t the best choice as the flash floodings began.

Mandatory evacuations are never going to be ordered unless the storm is as bad as the authorities claim it is. My first instinct would always be to get as far from the disaster as possible, as it’s better safe than sorry.