Texas -- Who does what or not!?!

[mattpetre]

Starting a thread to discuss the craziness that seems to be ensuing in TX evacs right now. Mayor of Galveston has stated on TWC that they can't do mandatory evacs now?! Is this true? Schools are still business as usual tomorrow!? I'm staying home and risking my job at the chance I may save someone's life. Good enough for me.

[gboudx]

At the end of the day, isn't really up to you to decide what is best for you though?

[mattpetre]

At the end of the day, isn't really up to you to decide what is best for you though?

Hah! Hope that was very tongue and cheek.

[gboudx]

At the end of the day, isn't really up to you to decide what is best for you though?

Hah! Hope that was very tongue and cheek.

Sorta. I wouldn't let someone else determine for me if I should bail out of the way of a dangerous situation or not. If you live along the coast, then you know hurricanes are a possibility, and you should be prepared. If you're not and don't take precautions, that's your fault. Isn't it?

[txag2005]

If this thing hits Freeport or Galveston as a Cat 4 or 5, it's going to be unimaginable. I don't see many schools or businesses closing before Friday and they are projecting TS winds Friday morning/afternoon.

Crazy to think we may have a storm hit us with only a very small fraction of one of the countries largest metro areas technically allowed to leave. That said, I feel if you are in a surge zone, it's up to you and your family to ensure you are safe.

[pablolopez26]

Well i know the University of Houston is open on Thursday. They are going to release another emergency action report at 10:30pm CST tonight.

[txag2005]

At the end of the day, isn't really up to you to decide what is best for you though?

Hah! Hope that was very tongue and cheek.

Sorta. I wouldn't let someone else determine for me if I should bail out of the way of a dangerous situation or not. If you live along the coast, then you know hurricanes are a possibility, and you should be prepared. If you're not and don't take precautions, that's your fault. Isn't it?

The main problem is many schools and businesses rely on city/county officals before they begin closing down. Therefore, any coastal and storm surge areas in the Hou/Gal area right now that aren't under an evacuation, people who have work or kids in school are unable to leave most likely. I know my company does not allow us off of work unless you live in an area with mandatory evac.

[mattpetre]

I have already decided I will "work" from home tomorrow. I will tell my boss that if he doesn't like it, he can come visit me Saturday morning and tell me how much. I have been so frustrated all day today. When I was a kid, if we had a little snow (N. Mississippi) school was out. There was no huge threat, but the school district didn't want the liability. Seems to me that HISD is taking on a HUGE liability tonight. I for one will hold them partially accountable if evacs go all wrong yet again.

[mattpetre]

Well, I'm making a decision for myself and if I'm fired I'll be on Storm2K 24/7 I guess

[bzukajo]

Baylor gave an evac info email broadcast....but did not advise to evac

[mattpetre]

I give up... this is in my opinion a complete debaucle... I never planned on leaving, because I wasn't in a surge zone, but WHY couldn't they get the surge folks out of town even? That's a travesty.

[mattpetre]

How do the FL keys do a mandatory and Galveston does not? Scary I just had a really strange deja vu, like I've seen this play out somewhere. Must have been a bad dream.

[Janie2006]

Starting a thread to discuss the craziness that seems to be ensuing in TX evacs right now. Mayor of Galveston has stated on TWC that they can't do mandatory evacs now?! Is this true? Schools are still business as usual tomorrow!? I'm staying home and risking my job at the chance I may save someone's life. Good enough for me.

Jim Cantore has repeated that same thing a few times since then. I presume Galveston has a plan in place, at least one would think so.

I can't figure out why all of those people are standing behind him during the live shots acting as if they'd won the lottery when they should be getting ready for what's on the way.

[hurrican19]

I think if I lived in Galveston County, I wouldn't wait for them to issue an MANDENTORY Evacuation, I would go NOW, because if they DO issue a Mandetory evacuation, that is when traffic will become a big nightmare, so My thoughts, if you are in Galveston County, go ahead and leave tonight, before the AM - because it will be an ugly mess then.

[mattpetre]

People need to leave Galveston by tomorrow at the very latest! Roads will be very clogged on Friday.

[x-y-no]

Everyone be advised, we will not permit bashing. If you want to discuss evacuation orders and plans, that's fine but remain mindful of our rules, please.

[lantanatx]

The public and private schools and universities around Kingsville and Corpus Christi almost all announced that they are closing until Monday, by mid afternoon today. Now we don't have the evacuation issues that Houston/Galveston does, but no city or county had to call a mandatory evac before the schools made their announcements. http://www.caller.com/news/2008/sep/10/keeping-eye-ike/

If this thing keeps heading north we might have very little to deal with, but I'm glad the schools went ahead and closed. I've been very surprised by the comparatively little attention Ike's gotten in the Houston Chronicle website up until this afternoon. I hope people in low lying areas around Houston and Galveston used their god given free will to get out on their own without waiting for some city or county official to make the announcement.

[Janie2006]

At the end of the day, isn't really up to you to decide what is best for you though?

Hah! Hope that was very tongue and cheek.

Sorta. I wouldn't let someone else determine for me if I should bail out of the way of a dangerous situation or not. If you live along the coast, then you know hurricanes are a possibility, and you should be prepared. If you're not and don't take precautions, that's your fault. Isn't it?

There's a part of me that strongly agrees with you. On the other hand you've people who (for whatever reason) are completely at sea when it comes to tropical storms and hurricanes...those people have little choice but to rely on official directions as the sole arbiter of their actions during a storm event. This is a mistake, in my opinion. As in so many other cases, knowledge is power. In the main I think people who live in the coastal areas really should be aware of the hazards. Like, for example, every few years the Gulf decides to forcibly foreclose on your mortgage.

[iiroberts]

How do the FL keys do a mandatory and Galveston does not? Scary I just had a really strange deja vu, like I've seen this play out somewhere. Must have been a bad dream.

I just heard on the news the seawall is 16.5 feet. They are calling right now for a 6-11 foot surg right now. It Ike moves north they will reconsider that I'm sure.

[eaglegirl]

Matt,

I don't know the "math" for your area, but perhaps this information will help you out?

When evacuation orders are issued, the evacuations should be completed by the time tropical force winds hit.

Every GIS department I know already has the stats on how long it takes to evacuate everyone safely.

Emergency Managers and Government Offficials do use this information when making their decisions.


My heart and prayers go out to all of you in the cone.