The "forgotten" Gulf Coast communities in the media

[MiamiensisWx]

The Hurricane Ike recovery effort continues in Texas and the Caribbean. The national media has recently devoted greater attention to the effects of Ike and other tropical cyclones in non-CONUS regions. The plight of Cuba, Haiti, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and other areas has finally (and rightfully) received attention. Concerted relief efforts have been initiated. However, is the population of the United States facilitating the rebuilding effort "closer to home"? This thread involves the "forgotten" Gulf Coast communities. These communities range from a major city to small towns. The potpourri is centered in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. The plethora of names includes Galveston (in some portions), Holly Beach, Cameron, Johnson's Bayou, Sabine Pass, Gilchrist, Crystal Beach, Kemah, and others. Galveston is recovering more rapidly than the other vicinities.

There is a pervasive mentality in the majority of the national media services, including news outlets, newspapers, and publications. If a hurricane does not inflict unique calamities (read: flood New Orleans and kill thousands), avoids major cities, and is not particulary intense (read: a Category 3+ hurricane), it receives scarcer attention. This media phenomenon was observed after Hurricane Rita's devastating passage through southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. The majority of the media's attention was transfixed by Hurricane Katrina's effects in New Orleans, so a "lack of attention" was partially understandable. However, this "lack of attention" exceeded its bounds. The media merely covered the mass evacuations in Texas. Newspapers briefly noted (days after Rita's passage) that Rita induced the ill conceived evacuation. This notation was followed by statements that indicated Rita was the most intense hurricane of the season and the seventh hurricane in the Atlantic basin. The effects of Rita in non-Galveston/Houston communities was entirely overlooked. The media contributed to the national perception that Rita "weakened prior to landfall", caused a massive evacuation, and was "merely a nuisance/dodged bullet" in the end. Today, Holly Beach, Cameron, Sabine Pass, and adjacent communities have barely recovered from Rita's onslaught. The lack of national coverage may have partially contributed to the sparse aid that filtered into these communities.

A similar scenario is unfolding with Hurricane Ike. The national (not local) media's perception indicates Ike is "old news" and did not inflict devastation on the scale of Katrina. They have ignored the fact that Ike was (arguably) Texas' most significant hurricane (based on numerous factors) since Carla 1961 and Galveston 1900. An enormous opportunity for rehabilitation and education was missed. The national media could have emphasized Ike's immense destruction in Gilchrist and Crystal Beach. They could have emphasized the destructive influence of storm surge. They could have emphasized the fact that a storm's damage potential is influenced by other factors unrelated to intensity (i.e. wind radii, time of impact relative to astronomical high tide, local topography/geology, movement, etc.). They could have mentioned the ~20 feet surge value confirmed by local surveys on the Bolivar Peninsula. They could have depicted the enormous extent of Ike's surge, which encompassed a very broad area of southeastern Texas. Kemah and other Galveston Bay communities received significant surge effects.

These opportunities were squandered.

Recently, at least one newspaper has noted that the Caribbean is currently receiving greater quantities of aid than Texas and Louisiana. The private Caribbean aid is great news. However, we should also focus on neighboring states on the mainland as well. If greater focus is not allotted to Gilchrist, Crystal Beach, et al, these communities' "recovery time line" could become extremely lengthy. Galveston is steadily recovering; this statement can't be said for the Bolivar Peninsula and (to a lesser degree) some areas of western Galveston Island.

[bvigal]

I agree that this is forgotton, after not even first being covered thoroughly! Yesterday I went in search on the interent to find out how many died in TX/LA and how many were still officially missing. Exactly as you have stated, there were very few news articles, especially lately, and most links don't work as they've been 'archived'. On some of the newspaper sites I tried a search in their archives by headline, "not found".

As to aid in Caribbean, there are private agencies helping, especially in Haiti. But, a lot of aid programs are funded by various United Nations programs. The big, bad USA sure isn't ever going to get aid from them, who would just as soon the USA collapse, as Russian analyst Professor Igor Panarin purported in an interview last week.

Sorry, I strayed WAY off topic! But I do want to find out more about Bolivar peninsula, Cameron Parish, and other areas devasted by this season's hurricanes. So any info anyone can find, please post the links, and I'll be checking back frequently. THANKS!

[bvigal]

Wow! I just read the "official" National Hurricane Center Season Summary, which states:
"AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER...MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE
19 DIRECT DEATHS IN TEXAS...LOUISIANA...AND ARKANSAS...11 OF WHICH
WERE FROM DROWNING IN STORM SURGE. THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS
HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE STORM...BUT AT LEAST 11
PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR...MAINLY FROM GALVESTON AND THE
BOLIVAR PENINSULA."

1. having just noted in another thread here how terribly INACCURATE the media is, how can NHC use them as source of FACTS???

2. does ANYBODY here believe only 19 people died from Ike?

[Cyclenall]

Wow! I just read the "official" National Hurricane Center Season Summary, which states:
"AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER...MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE
19 DIRECT DEATHS IN TEXAS...LOUISIANA...AND ARKANSAS...11 OF WHICH
WERE FROM DROWNING IN STORM SURGE. THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS
HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE STORM...BUT AT LEAST 11
PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR...MAINLY FROM GALVESTON AND THE
BOLIVAR PENINSULA."

1. having just noted in another thread here how terribly INACCURATE the media is, how can NHC use them as source of FACTS???

2. does ANYBODY here believe only 19 people died from Ike?

I've never heard of any source giving out such a low figure. Ironically some believe that the death toll from Ike is in the many hundreds and that there is a cover up.

[CaneMaster]

Wow! I just read the "official" National Hurricane Center Season Summary, which states:
"AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER...MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE
19 DIRECT DEATHS IN TEXAS...LOUISIANA...AND ARKANSAS...11 OF WHICH
WERE FROM DROWNING IN STORM SURGE. THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS
HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE STORM...BUT AT LEAST 11
PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR...MAINLY FROM GALVESTON AND THE
BOLIVAR PENINSULA."

1. having just noted in another thread here how terribly INACCURATE the media is, how can NHC use them as source of FACTS???

2. does ANYBODY here believe only 19 people died from Ike?

I've never heard of any source giving out such a low figure. Ironically some believe that the death toll from Ike is in the many hundreds and that there is a cover up.

many thousands is more like it, I don't know if any of you followed the actual numbers from media before it hit, supposedly in bolivar and west end 210,000 people were there, 110,000 supposedly evacuated, OK NOW HERE'S THE CLINCHER they rescued from roofs and water and people that survived a total of like 2,500 people give or take a thousand, now where is the other approx. 97,000 people just in that area that stayed???????? You're telling me they all made it after the roads were covered with water?????? COME ON NOW, THESE WERE THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE ON PEOPLE WHO WERE STAYING BEFORE IT HIT, THEN IT HITS AND THEY SAY THERE WERE SURPRISINGLY VERY FEW DEATHS... MY ARSE...........

[CaneMaster]

JUST TO ADD A LITTLE MORE, I personally have many friends and relatives who knew people there, that are no more. They thought because they withstood rita or whatever storm it was they could hold out on the cat. 2 hurricane. I PERSONALLY through friends and family know of over 100 people that are no longer from the coastal regions, people that after it happened were never heard from again, i'll leave it at that, just people through my network of friends and family just imagine how many other people had friends or family who knew people down there that hasn't heard from them since. the reported numbers aren't true at all and that is fact.

[Ptarmigan]

I can't find the latest death toll on Ike by county for Texas and Louisiana. I have heard that hundreds to thousands could of been killed, which could be possible. I have read that only 48 people have died in Texas due to Ike. Those coastal areas were hit really hard and I wonder if many of those who died were simply washed away?

[vbhoutex]

Wow! I just read the "official" National Hurricane Center Season Summary, which states:
"AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER...MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE
19 DIRECT DEATHS IN TEXAS...LOUISIANA...AND ARKANSAS...11 OF WHICH
WERE FROM DROWNING IN STORM SURGE. THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS
HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE STORM...BUT AT LEAST 11
PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR...MAINLY FROM GALVESTON AND THE
BOLIVAR PENINSULA."

1. having just noted in another thread here how terribly INACCURATE the media is, how can NHC use them as source of FACTS???

2. does ANYBODY here believe only 19 people died from Ike?

I've never heard of any source giving out such a low figure. Ironically some believe that the death toll from Ike is in the many hundreds and that there is a cover up.

many thousands is more like it, I don't know if any of you followed the actual numbers from media before it hit, supposedly in bolivar and west end 210,000 people were there, 110,000 supposedly evacuated, OK NOW HERE'S THE CLINCHER they rescued from roofs and water and people that survived a total of like 2,500 people give or take a thousand, now where is the other approx. 97,000 people just in that area that stayed???????? You're telling me they all made it after the roads were covered with water?????? COME ON NOW, THESE WERE THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE ON PEOPLE WHO WERE STAYING BEFORE IT HIT, THEN IT HITS AND THEY SAY THERE WERE SURPRISINGLY VERY FEW DEATHS... MY ARSE...........

Try again on your numbers!!!!! I have no idea where you got those from, but I can guarantee they are bogus!!! On a crowded tourist full day in the middle of summer with a major event of some sort going on you might get 210,000 people on Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula, not on September 13th when most, if not all of the summer tourist season people are gone and schools are in session. Your post is pure unadulterated and unsubstantiated sensationalism with no basis in fact, pure and simple.
Do I believe 19 died in Hurricane Ike? Hell no. I believe several hundred died in Hurricane Ike, but not thousands. Show me the actual totals from a substantiated source and I will publicly apologize. And yes I did follow the numbers(let's try 20,000 may have been on Galveston Island and that was an officially quoted number) and yes they are still finding bodies in debris fields in the marshes around Galveston Bay but I don't believe your numbers can come anywhere close to being substantiated.

[HurricaneBill]

Wikipedia lists 82 U.S. fatalities from Ike. 38 are indirect deaths, which leaves a direct death toll of 44.

[HurricaneBill]

Speaking of forgotten, anybody remember Gustav hit the Gulf coast?

[Cyclenall]

Speaking of forgotten, anybody remember Gustav hit the Gulf coast?

Yeah I remember that, that one sure got swept under the rug fast. How are the repairs coming along?

many thousands is more like it, I don't know if any of you followed the actual numbers from media before it hit, supposedly in bolivar and west end 210,000 people were there, 110,000 supposedly evacuated, OK NOW HERE'S THE CLINCHER they rescued from roofs and water and people that survived a total of like 2,500 people give or take a thousand, now where is the other approx. 97,000 people just in that area that stayed???????? You're telling me they all made it after the roads were covered with water?????? COME ON NOW, THESE WERE THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE ON PEOPLE WHO WERE STAYING BEFORE IT HIT, THEN IT HITS AND THEY SAY THERE WERE SURPRISINGLY VERY FEW DEATHS... MY ARSE...........

It sounds unlikely that those are the real numbers of who stayed.

[bvigal]

Just did some more looking, and found 37 dead in Houston/Galveston. Not sure what is considered "direct deaths", maybe that is why the NHC number sounds so low. Does burning up (2) during the storm because your candles caught the house on fire count? How about unable to get to a hospital for necessary medical care because of hurricane? How about being up on your roof trying to keep it on, being almost blown off by a gust of wind (from the hurricane) grabbing an antenna to keep from falling, and being electrocuted? How about 12 from generator fumes? 2 from lack of dialysis? Whatever! I count 12 drownings, and one killed when a tree crashed through the roof. I'm sure those are counted as "direct deaths".

And as to missing, Laura Recovery Center today still lists 52 missing. Per KHOU, "Getting a true account of the missing has proven elusive. Local law enforcement, the American Red Cross and federal agencies all have different numbers. With no central clearinghouse for the missing, most will say Laura Recovery Center's numbers are perhaps the most accurate."
Here's the breakdown of missing by location last known:
Galveston 30,
Port Bolivar 5,
Crystal Beach 4,
Houston 4,
Seabrook 2,
Bacliff 1,
Beaumont 1,
Dickinson 1,
Gilchrist 1,
Hitchcock 1,
LaMarque 1,
Pasadena 1

True, some of these people may have neglected to report in, but some almost certainly were lost in the storm surge.

Dolores Brookshire, a 72-year-old part-time cashier, called her niece, Joann Mier, at 5 a.m. on the day the outer bands of the storm arrived. She had no car and lived in a house in Port Bolivar with her son, Charles Allen Garrett, 42, who used a wheelchair. Brookshire told her niece that the street was already filling with water and that a neighbor who had promised them a ride to Dallas had never shown up. "She says, 'I'm calling you to tell you that I love you and to tell you bye,' and I said, 'Why? Where are you going?' and she says 'Nowhere. Me and Allen are going to drown,"' Mier said.

One body found 10/6 on Goat Island was 33yr old Shane Williams. He lived in Port Bolivar with grandmother Marion Arramide and Aunt Magdalena Strickland, both still missing. On 9/12 in a 6:15 a.m. call to family member, Arramide said “I’m walking out the door in a hurry. Everything’s taken care of, I’ll see you in a few hours." Obviously something went wrong.

There are still 3 Jane Doe's and 1 John Doe unidentified, so perhaps Brookshire, Garrett, Arramide, and Strickland are accounted for, and haven't made the news or Laura Recovery Center update.

RIP, dear Ones. (prayers continue for families of the missing)

[Ed Mahmoud]

Somebody forgot their meds today...


ETA:
This comment makes no sense because post it referred to has been disappeared...

[bvigal]

I don't believe the biological/chemical facitlity is a secret, it's part of UT Med, and was buttoned up long before the storm, right?

As to thousands of bodies, I don't know where. There are thousands of websites out there with photographs covering all the damaged areas, with missing homes labeled by family name, taken by owners or friends from boats, planes, and zooms from satellite by grid. hundreds of thousands of CIVILIANS combed all the search areas by boat, canoe, etc., have seen it all. So as far as the most-damaged areas, we know all about them and the media has been reporting on them since day 1.

I don't know about your kinfolk in the military, but if it were that big a secret, I'd guess a court marshall is in the works for them telling you!

Edit: ditto what Ed said... referenced post was deleted. (Thanks, to admin/mod who did that, too!)

[HurricaneBill]

The "cover-up" rumors pop up with many hurricanes.

Examples: Andrew (1992); Charley (2004)

Oddly enough, none popped up with Katrina.

[vbhoutex]

I don't believe the biological/chemical facitlity is a secret, it's part of UT Med, and was buttoned up long before the storm, right?

As to thousands of bodies, I don't know where. There are thousands of websites out there with photographs covering all the damaged areas, with missing homes labeled by family name, taken by owners or friends from boats, planes, and zooms from satellite by grid. hundreds of thousands of CIVILIANS combed all the search areas by boat, canoe, etc., have seen it all. So as far as the most-damaged areas, we know all about them and the media has been reporting on them since day 1.

I don't know about your kinfolk in the military, but if it were that big a secret, I'd guess a court marshall is in the works for them telling you!

The bio facility in Galveston has never been a secret and it is supposed to be able to survive CAT5 conditions of any sort iirc.

[GoldenTriangle]

The National Media gave more attention to the death of a local rap star than they did the follow-up coverage of the terrible wide spread devastation of Ike.

Even on this thread Bridge City wasn't mention and as of Thanksgiving people were still sleeping in cars and tents. That's over two months, Folks.

I asked a non-profit group in NOLA if they would be willing to share the blue prints of homes they are building in NO with the people who lost homes from Ike.....just the blue prints , mind you...not financial help. They were down-right insulted. I was told that was for the 9th ward of NO only and the blue prints would not be shared.

[GoldenTriangle]

I've always been more concerned about the medical supplies and trash that turned up on the beach at Crystal than I was about the safety of the Bio unit.

It was blamed on the company contracted to dispose of the stuff and supposedly was stopped....a couple of months later there it was again...and again.

back on topic.

[Sanibel]

The clean-up drugery and long term effects went on for months after Charley.

The media is interested in new news to keep people's interest for high ratings that increase advertizing potential.

[Ptarmigan]

The National Media gave more attention to the death of a local rap star than they did the follow-up coverage of the terrible wide spread devastation of Ike.

Even on this thread Bridge City wasn't mention and as of Thanksgiving people were still sleeping in cars and tents. That's over two months, Folks.

I asked a non-profit group in NOLA if they would be willing to share the blue prints of homes they are building in NO with the people who lost homes from Ike.....just the blue prints , mind you...not financial help. They were down-right insulted. I was told that was for the 9th ward of NO only and the blue prints would not be shared.

I was appalled by the lack of coverage for Ike. Like they say, there is a Northeast bias since they are all based in New York and Washington, DC. Also, there was way more coverage on New Orleans than on Mississippi and surrrounding areas. Why would they not share blueprints for you guys in the Golden Triangle?