I lived down there of and on from 85 until 2009....... it can be quiet stressful at times, especially if you lose just about everything you own....
here is a theory to ponder:
you have a full time job ( or perhaps you are in the Navy.Marines, armed forces etc ), yet you live off base.... and the following news in the below link happens...it hits where you live! youtry to call in but the phones are down, and you have no way to go/travel due to the flooding and the blocked roadways........so you either end up being fired for not showing up or calling in to work, or even worse if you are armed forces, er Navy, you get sent up to captain's mast.....
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/47969893/#47969893Hurricane Floyd caused me to be fired back in 99, but once we went to mediation, the 2 managers got let go and I was asked to come back to work....... I told them no thanks....
also, maybe he was refering to leaving "the country" as in out in the country, verses meaning leaving the country of the US........ just some thoughts
keep your chin up ASTAC ...... no matter how hard you think it is or will get.....
TC