Can you afford to evacuate ahead of a disaster?

This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the significant and rising costs associated with hurricane evacuations. The episode features interviews with an accountant who meticulously tracked his family's evacuation expenses during Hurricane Francine, highlighting the various costs involved (food, gas, lodging). It also incorporates analysis from an economist at Florida International University who explains why evacuation costs have increased dramatically in recent years, citing factors such as unpredictable storm behavior, increased demand for resources, price gouging, and the limitations of FEMA's disaster relief efforts. The discussion touches upon the challenges faced by states in covering these costs and the potential implications of shifting responsibility from the federal government to state governments.