I think this story is also about public misunderstanding of risk and of odds, even setting aside the tendency of people to gamble, if even with their own lives. Alas, they also put at risk First Responders as well as civic treasure, all in the exercise of their personal prerogative.
And, then, running for cover by blaming a misinterpretation of a weather forecast is just a really cheap shot.
Postscript, later in day Apparently Georgia Emergency Management Agency director Charley English is accepting responsibility for making a bad call. He seems quite honorable about it. I do think they need better government integration of all levels of management. And that includes better integration and understanding of probabilistic weather forecasts.
