Killer Evacuation

[thermos]

Hopefully they will learn some things for the next time.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mp ... an/3374468

[mcw]

This is from the article referenced in the link above:

A Chronicle survey of Houston-area counties and those along major evacuation routes to the north and west indicates that at least 109 people were killed by last week's hurricane or died in accidents or from health problems associated with the evacuation of 2.5 million people from their homes.

I hate this sort of story. It's a weak and incomplete report and makes me glad I left journalism as a career. It has a "grabber" headline, makes people read it but few question what it really says. Sadly, much of the story is dedicated to political leaders expressing outrage, but offering no solutions.

The data is only relevant if there is a control group. What are the average number of deaths over a similar time period in the same area?
How many fatal auto accidents happen when there is no evac? Further on in the story experts question the link between the storm and some of the deaths, two in particular. Only one expert is named and apparently only one call to one M.E.'s office is made. Who are the other experts? What makes them question the link? Are the two deaths the only ones that are questionable? Lazy reporting.

This is in no way intended to minimize this situation. The tragedy of over 100 people dying from any cause is awful. I am concerned that this may cause many residents of the Greater Houston area to reconsider evacuation next time.

[thermos]

No it is not just two cases -- 31 people died from the evacuation not including the bus accident.

None of the 31 people who died in the Houston area as Hurricane Rita approached last week died during the storm itself, the Houston Chronicle said Wednesday.

Beverly Begay, chief investigator of the Harris County, Texas, medical examiner's office said 17 of the deaths involved were people evacuating the area when they suffered some sort of medical distress. The fatalities linked to Rita do not include the 23 nursing-home residents who died during the storm evacuation when their bus caught fire Friday in Dallas County.

The dead ranged in age from 14 months to 92 years. About one-third of the victims died Thursday when the evacuation crush was at its peak, clogging Houston-area highways.

Nineteen of the 31 victims died or became ill while they were inside vehicles, and seven of the deaths were thought to be heat-related, Begay said. Some had body temperatures ranging from 105 to 112 degrees, the report said.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/national/ ... 52402A5B4C[/quote]

[ajurcat]

This is from the article referenced in the link above:

A Chronicle survey of Houston-area counties and those along major evacuation routes to the north and west indicates that at least 109 people were killed by last week's hurricane or died in accidents or from health problems associated with the evacuation of 2.5 million people from their homes.

I hate this sort of story. It's a weak and incomplete report and makes me glad I left journalism as a career. It has a "grabber" headline, makes people read it but few question what it really says. Sadly, much of the story is dedicated to political leaders expressing outrage, but offering no solutions.

The data is only relevant if there is a control group. What are the average number of deaths over a similar time period in the same area?
How many fatal auto accidents happen when there is no evac? Further on in the story experts question the link between the storm and some of the deaths, two in particular. Only one expert is named and apparently only one call to one M.E.'s office is made. Who are the other experts? What makes them question the link? Are the two deaths the only ones that are questionable? Lazy reporting.

This is in no way intended to minimize this situation. The tragedy of over 100 people dying from any cause is awful. I am concerned that this may cause many residents of the Greater Houston area to reconsider evacuation next time.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Houston Chronicle.

[mcw]

No it is not just two cases -- 31 people died from the evacuation not including the bus accident.

Hi Thermos,

There's a little more clarity in that story. Thanks for the post. My main question is (not to be macabre) how many fatalities or death from natural causes would occur anyway?

Again, I am not trying to minimize the tragedy. I agree that the evacuation procedures need to change. I take exception to the incomplete nature of the original report. I am concerned that people will not evacuate next time, possibly leading to a greater tragedy..

[thermos]

No it is not just two cases -- 31 people died from the evacuation not including the bus accident.

Hi Thermos,

There's a little more clarity in that story. Thanks for the post. My main question is (not to be macabre) how many fatalities or death from natural causes would occur anyway?

Again, I am not trying to minimize the tragedy. I agree that the evacuation procedures need to change. I take exception to the incomplete nature of the original report. I am concerned that people will not evacuate next time, possibly leading to a greater tragedy..

I understand. Well these particular people died in the huge traffic jam because their bodies were overheated (stroke) or because they had blood clots so very few, if any, of them would have died if the evacuation had not happened or if traffic had flowed smoothly. I agree that people might not evacuate because of this which would be very bad. It is probably the frequency of it that makes people reluctant to leave. Florida's continual need to evacuate over the past few years has probably made more residents there ride out the storm -- I'm make an assumption on this of course. People get evacuation weary.