KHOU.Com - Galveston Mayor announcement

[GalvestonDuck]

I realize this is only for a few of us, but just to let you guys know -- The Mayor is considering voluntary evacs starting 5PM tomorrow. More info to follow in a press conference, which I'm told will air online on KHOU.com.

[HollynLA]

evacuating tomorrow?? You're kidding! This storm is still 5+ days out and the path usually does change numerous times between now and 24 hours out. I really think this is premature.

[KatDaddy]

http://www.kprc.com

Galveston Puts Hurricane Plans In Place For Rita
City Of Galveston May Issue Voluntary Evacuation Tuesday

POSTED: 7:33 am CDT September 19, 2005
UPDATED: 1:02 pm CDT September 19, 2005

GALVESTON, Texas -- As Tropical Storm Rita moved toward the Gulf Coast on Monday, many Galveston area residents and officials began preparing for the storm, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The City of Galveston is expected to announce a voluntary evacuation that would begin Tuesday at 2 p.m. depending on the path Rita takes. If necessary, a new state law gives officials the authority to order a mandatory evacuation.

"Now is the time to go ahead and make sure they have a good hurricane plan, they have an evacuation plan, they have their disaster supply kit ready," Office of Emergency Management spokesman Elliot Jennings said.

Officials with the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management said they hope the wrath of Hurricane Katrina has reminded people how important it is to evacuate when advised.

Galveston County has three evacuation zones that depend upon the category of the hurricane.

The blue area on the map, which includes Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island and other low-lying areas, should evacuate during a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. The yellow area, more of the county's mainland, calls for an evacuation during a Category 3 hurricane. Further inland, some residents could be asked to evacuate during a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

[Roxy]

evacuating tomorrow?? You're kidding! This storm is still 5+ days out and the path usually does change numerous times between now and 24 hours out. I really think this is premature.

It's VOLUNTARY.

And I don't think it's premature at all after the Katrina debacle.

[canegrl04]

After Katrina,I don't think anyone is taking anymore chances.

[HollynLA]

I know what Voluntary means. I still think it's extremely premature. While now IS the time to prepare and make sure you have you emergency supplies, I don't think it's time for evacuations........ yet.

If the track remains pointing towards there at 48-72 hours, then I think evacuations need to be considered.

[loon]

I know what Voluntary means. I still think it's extremely premature. While now IS the time to prepare and make sure you have you emergency supplies, I don't think it's time for evacuations........ yet.

If the track remains pointing towards there at 48-72 hours, then I think evacuations need to be considered.

I think its what you will expect to see after Katrina. I don't think anyone will wait until 48hrs out, because 30hrs out worked so well for NO, and we have a few million more people in this area. In the end, what is the hurt? No one will leave on a Vol. basis usually anyway, but once an evac call goes out, vol. or mand., people WILL start paying attention. I think this is the right move.

cheers,
loon

[Houstonia]

I know what Voluntary means. I still think it's extremely premature. While now IS the time to prepare and make sure you have you emergency supplies, I don't think it's time for evacuations........ yet.

If the track remains pointing towards there at 48-72 hours, then I think evacuations need to be considered.

There are a lot of people on Galveston - why not give those who WANT to evacuate the go-ahead to go. Voluntary first - get them out of the way, and then the mandatory later on. I think it works well that way.

I just can't believe we are talking about evacuations at all though...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kprc/20050919/lo_kprc/2944703

As Tropical Storm Rita moved toward the Gulf Coast on Monday, many Galveston area residents and officials began preparing for the storm, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The City of Galveston is expected to announce a voluntary evacuation that would begin Tuesday at 2 p.m. depending on the path Rita takes. If necessary, a new state law gives officials the authority to order a mandatory evacuation.

"Now is the time to go ahead and make sure they have a good hurricane plan, they have an evacuation plan, they have their disaster supply kit ready," Office of Emergency Management spokesman Elliot Jennings said.

Officials with the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management said they hope the wrath of Hurricane Katrina has reminded people how important it is to evacuate when advised.

Galveston County has three evacuation zones that depend upon the category of the hurricane.

The blue area on the map, which includes Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island and other low-lying areas, should evacuate during a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. The yellow area, more of the county's mainland, calls for an evacuation during a Category 3 hurricane. Further inland, some residents could be asked to evacuate during a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

Officials said evacuation plans are important to have as a storm nears land. Unlike the Superdome in New Orleans, Galveston County will not have any public shelters.

"The No.1 lesson that they need to take from Katrina is that if they decide not to leave, there will be a period of time when conditions will simply be too bad and nobody will be able to get to them," Jennings said.

Emergency officials said anyone who will need assistance or will need to use a bus to evacuate the area should contact their city government as soon as possible.

The agency said it plans to issue an evacuation alert 48 hours before it is scheduled to make landfall if Galveston is in the storm's projected path.

New Facility Will Offer 1-Stop Shopping For Storm Victims

Katrina evacuees will soon have the equivalent of one-stop shopping in Houston when it comes to trying to get information from the government.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state will open the Greater Houston-Area Disaster Recovery Center this week.

The facility, located on the 610 South Loop at Wayside Driver, can hold four football fields and will bring representatives from more than 90 agencies under one roof.

Storm victims will be able to get information on housing assistance, federal loans, grants and health assistance.

Storm Could Test County's New Emergency Services Facility

If Rita comes ashore in Galveston, the storm could put a new emergency facility to the test.

The county's new emergency services facility opened in May. It is the first facility in the country to combine a National Weather Service office with a local government emergency management department.

Officials said the facility is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane with winds of more than 155 mph.

[GalvestonDuck]

I know what Voluntary means. I still think it's extremely premature. While now IS the time to prepare and make sure you have you emergency supplies, I don't think it's time for evacuations........ yet.

If the track remains pointing towards there at 48-72 hours, then I think evacuations need to be considered.

Okay, I've said this before but I'll need to say it again. The VOLUNTARY evacuation plans are for GALVESTON ISLAND.

There is ONE way off the island and there are 57,000 resident here as well as a medical center that employs over 12,000 (not to mention all the students and more importantly patients).

Usually, it takes 36 hours to evacuate the island. However, we have to keep in mind that WE Galvestonians are like those at the far tip of Florida -- once we get out of our area, we still run into everyone else leaving their areas. AND we have a number of NOLA and MS evacuees here also. The roads will be crowded enough as it is.



IMO, there's nothing...and I mean absolutely NOTHING premature about this.

[carve]

Holly!! If you would have seen the total destruction i seen in Long Beach Mississippi,you would never say the word premature.

[HollynLA]

One problem with evacuations being called too early is that many will book hotels and leave. This can get very expensive (when you've left 5 days early) and it will also take up what little hotels are left after Katrina if this path were to shift. Also, and this is the big problem, sending people away this early only to have the path shift (remember how they will shift tracks numerous times 5 days out) and they return to everything being okay after spending hundreds or more staying out of town for several days will make them less likely to leave next time when a threat is imminent (sp?).

And carve, I'm in southeast LA, I know what destruction hurricanes can cause so don't even go there. I have 12 family members who've lost everything in Katrina and I just got my roof repaired a few days ago. That's not the point.

[JenyEliza]

I know what Voluntary means. I still think it's extremely premature. While now IS the time to prepare and make sure you have you emergency supplies, I don't think it's time for evacuations........ yet.

If the track remains pointing towards there at 48-72 hours, then I think evacuations need to be considered.

Okay, I've said this before but I'll need to say it again. The VOLUNTARY evacuation plans are for GALVESTON ISLAND.

There is ONE way off the island and there are 57,000 resident here as well as a medical center that employs over 12,000 (not to mention all the students and more importantly patients).

Usually, it takes 36 hours to evacuate the island. However, we have to keep in mind that WE Galvestonians are like those at the far tip of Florida -- once we get out of our area, we still run into everyone else leaving their areas. AND we have a number of NOLA and MS evacuees here also. The roads will be crowded enough as it is.



IMO, there's nothing...and I mean absolutely NOTHING premature about this.

I quite agree. This is very prudent, pro-active planning on the part of the City of Galveston. Seems to me some people are forgetting that Galveston sits between the Gulf and a Harbour--both of which will inundate the island with storm surge, should Rita strike Galveston.

With just ONE way on and ONE way off the island, and upwards of 60k people to evacuate--it makes sense to get the earliest head start on any possible major Hurricane.

Those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it. Here is a link to pictures from Galveston 1900.

http://www.gthcenter.org/exhibits/storm ... index.html

[wlfpack81]

I agree with starting vol evacs for Galveston now and possibly Hou in a day or two. Can't hurt to at least get people thinking about this storm and getting out of harms way if needed be. Remember Hou city proper has about 2mil people there (from http://www.city-data.com as of 2000 Census) and Harris County has 3.5mil people (2000 Census). Add in Galveson County and you have about 3.8mil people in that metro area compared to the 1.4mil for NO. It's going to take the full 48-72hr to evac most people out of the possible danger areas and honesty probaby a bit longer. Then add in all the NO evacs in Hou (w/o transportation) and you have an even greater mess.

Yes track will change b/t now and eventual landfull but after Katrina definitely best to play it very, very safe.

[skysummit]

I think it's a day or two too early. The problem being many will want to leave once the voluntary evac is ordered. This will book up many hotel rooms....then when it's time to really evacuate, if it's in a different area, those you really need a place to stay will have a much harder time finding one.

Maybe tell the residents they should think about leaving, but hold off on the official call this early.

[ChaserUK]

TOTALLY agree that it is never too early to issue voluntary evacs after Katrina. The earlier people who find it easier to get out the better. That makes it easier for those who find it more difficult to get out later.

[Air Force Met]

I'm sending my wife and kids out after the 4AM advisory on Thursday...if it still shows a hit for this area (within 60nm and if I think the track will not shift much further away). They are packing up on Wed. if the track holds.

So...it's never too early or premature for voluntary evacs.

[bbadon]

Lets see, we were all thinking nagin was crazy when he was calling an evac to late. Now people harping galveston is too early. Come on people. Early is much better than late and there is no exact time so chill.

[inotherwords]

Late Weds/early Thurs seems prudent if the track holds. Today and tomorrow seem premature to me, though.

But it's voluntary after all, so people can do what they want even without any kind of formal announcement. I've always chosen to leave when the 3 day track looked like it was going to hit here, and then in the middle of the night around day 1-2 prior. I guess it depends on where you live and where you're going, too. Not everyone has friends and family to stay with and not everyone has unlimited funds for hotels.

[artist]

why argue over this particularly if it is not affecting you??? Galveston Duck wanted this to be in info thread - not a bickering thread I'm sure!

[GalvestonDuck]

Late Weds/early Thurs seems prudent if the track holds. Today and tomorrow seem premature to me, though.

But it's voluntary after all, so people can do what they want even without any kind of formal announcement.

Look at a map, gang.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps.py?&addr=&csz=Galveston,TX

Island...one route (the causeway) off the island....leads to I-45 that heads northwest towards Houston. Then all those people near the bay (League City, Texas City, Kemah, Webster) have to leave also and they'll be joining us on the busy interstate.

And look at an evacuation map.
http://www.cityofgalveston.org/_private ... p_6_05.pdf
Once we do get off the island or away from the bay, we still can only go northwest on I-45 until we're north of Houston.

The earlier, the better.

Furthermore, just because landfall is forecast for early Saturday morning doesn't mean we won't start feeling effects before then. Rainbands can make some streets impassable.