A picture is worth a thousand words

[GalvestonDuck]

[patgaz]

Yep... that picture is making the rounds.. But that being said, I read Galveston's evacuation plan about a month ago. If memory serves, I believe it said that everyone would be responsible for finding their own way off the island.

The *pilot 2-1-1* notice was published on OEM's website on August 3, 2005.

We all learned some valuable lessons during Katrina, and more during Rita.

Special Needs Evacuation Assistance 2-1-1 Pilot Program
Aug 3, 2005 11:35 am


Special Needs Evacuation Assistance
2-1-1 Pilot Program

In order to prepare for an emergency situation, Emergency Managers must have information about citizens in their communities who may need assistance when an evacuation is called for.

Through a cooperative effort between Galveston County Office of Emergency Management and 2-1-1 Texas United Way HELPLINE (a service of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast), a pilot 2-1-1 disaster preparedness program is being launched in Galveston County. All citizens of Galveston County and the cities within Galveston County who may need assistance in the event of an evacuation are encouraged to call 2-1-1 and register their needs. A brief questionnaire will be administered to determine the type of assistance needed.

PLEASE NOTE: we cannot guarantee that everyone registered with the Galveston County Special Needs Evacuation Assistance Program will be assisted, given the unpredictability of emergency situations. However, this is an important first step the County is taking to plan and provide for assistance to special-needs residents. It is essential that all citizens have a plan they develop themselves with family, friends or neighbors who will be able to provide assistance.

The 2-1-1 system will begin accepting calls for registration on Wednesday, August 3, 2005. To register, simply dial 2-1-1. All information will be kept confidential and used only by Galveston Emergency Managers for planning purposes.

For more information on this program contact the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management at 281-309-5003.

[arkess7]

well i dont care new orleans should have at least TRIED to evacuate people with all those friggin school buses.....i mean what a waste... im not gona say anymore cause the whole situation really grates my NERVES..

[Swimdude]

Whew... I hope people don't take that as insulting, because that can certainly be done. Besides evacuation plans, it does say something about Geography as well. Everything else aside, we've all known New Orleans would see a rough situation if a hurricane made direct landfall and breached the levees. Perhaps those buses in the parking lot didn't have the TIME to get out of there. Perhaps the streets surrounding it are flooded? We don't know.

[GalvestonDuck]

Whew... I hope people don't take that as insulting, because that can certainly be done. Besides evacuation plans, it does say something about Geography as well. Everything else aside, we've all known New Orleans would see a rough situation if a hurricane made direct landfall and breached the levees. Perhaps those buses in the parking lot didn't have the TIME to get out of there. Perhaps the streets surrounding it are flooded? We don't know.

The city didn't flood until the day after landfall. There were warnings. They can't say they didn't have time.

We (Galveston) evacuated long before landfall...on the only way off the island.

Besides, the main reason I posted it was not as a diss to NOLA but kudos to our mayor.

[sunny]

Okay, I realize I will probably get blasted for this - but here goes.

For all of Marc Morial's faults, when NO was threatened by Georges he had shelters opened in Northern Louisiana and had SCHOOL buses taking people to those shelters in advance of the storm. He got the people who "could not afford" to evacuate on their own out. Or at least those who wanted to get out. Yes, the Dome was opened as a "shelter of last resort" and we all know what happened. But at least he did what he could as far as assistance BEFORE the storm was due to hit. I sat after Katrina wondering why this wasn't done this time.

[stormie_skies]

Yep... that picture is making the rounds.. But that being said, I read Galveston's evacuation plan about a month ago. If memory serves, I believe it said that everyone would be responsible for finding their own way off the island.

The *pilot 2-1-1* notice was published on OEM's website on August 3, 2005.

We all learned some valuable lessons during Katrina, and more during Rita.

That is really interesting ... I have to say, one of the very few good things to come from this Katrina mess is the way it pushed other localities to review and improve their emergency plans. I remember seeing stories in newspapers all across the country during the week or two after Katrina discussing how local and state officials all over the place were trying to fix potential problems in their plans, and how they were learning from the different difficulties all levels of government faced during the aftermath.

Its hard to say whether or not the effective use of buses to evacuate people from Galveston was something that was planned all along, or if it was something that was added and streamlined after the disaster in New Orleans. But in the end, it doesn't matter much. Katrina was, if anything, a good teacher - and I hope the lessons she taught will stay fresh in the minds of decision-makers at all levels, so we can all benefit somehow from this tragedy.

[jasons2k]

Kudos to the Mayor and City of Galveston!! They did an OUTSTANDING job getting everyone off. They found extra buses from UTMB that were not originally earmarked for evacuation purposes, and by Thursday the last 2 buses that left were only half full because everyone else was already gone.

[patgaz]

And with Rita, we learned (at least I hope we have)..

a) We need contra-flow lanes to evac as many people who tried to evac from the Houston-Galveston area. Contra-flow was not part of our plans.

b) We also need some way to provide gas along the roadside.

[emeraldcoaster]

Aren't there about as many people total in Galveston as there were people total in New Orleans who didn't have the transportation to evacuate?

Not all the buses in the photo on left are actually operable. If drivers could have been found for all the buses and they were filled, the number evacuated would still have been relatively small. They needed to use trains and military transport planes to get everyone out, in addition to buses. Obviously, to get everyone out some additional planning by all levels of government was needed and it didn't happen.

A question for all the Houston people? Were all the areas that are flood-prone-- outside of Galveston--completely evacuated? No one really talked about that in the TV coverage and I'm just curious.

[superfly]

Aren't there about as many people total in Galveston as there were people total in New Orleans who didn't have the transportation to evacuate?

Probably less actually. Not to mention you can say kudos all you want, but the fact of the matter is all politicians are cautious now after what happened with Katrina. Would the same type of evac orders been given in the SE TX area if Katrina had not hit? Maybe, but I doubt it.

[simplykristi]

I expect to see a lot more emphasis on evacuations now... contra-flows set up sooner and providing transportation to getting people out of harm's way.

Kristi

[CharleySurvivor]

I must say I was VERY impress also by the way Galveston handled evacuations. Even if I don't live there, it was a relief to know 90% of the city was evacuated 24 HRS before Rita was to hit. That is what I call doing an outstanding job.

Another thing I am happy is the Galveston Mayor allowing people back into the city shortly after even if ressources were limited. I say this because if some of you remember after Charley, it turned pretty ugly at times on Fort Myers Beach when the residents weren't allowed back.

You can be proud of having such a great Mayor Galvestonians.

[schmita]

I read twice now that Amtrak offered to evacuate people and the offer was turned down by NO. Anyone know why?
Thanks
irina

[vbhoutex]

Aren't there about as many people total in Galveston as there were people total in New Orleans who didn't have the transportation to evacuate?

Probably less actually. Not to mention you can say kudos all you want, but the fact of the matter is all politicians are cautious now after what happened with Katrina. Would the same type of evac orders been given in the SE TX area if Katrina had not hit? Maybe, but I doubt it.

I'm curious as to why you say that. The plan was in place for a good while before it was implemented for zones A, B, C. I see no reason it would not have been implemented for Katrina if we had had to deal with her.

[wxmann_91]

The evacuation plan might have been there all along even before Katrina, but perhaps that if Katrina hadn't occurred, there wouldn't have been such a mass panic and the evacuation would've gone more smoothly. Everybody (even in the non-evac zones) got out all at once, which created a potentially dangerous situation.

I'm not meaning this in a bad or flaming way, but I think Katrina killed more in Houston then Rita did. 102 people in Texas were killed in accidents during the evacuation (including the 24 in the bus explosion).

[Skywatch_NC]

I'm not meaning this in a bad or flaming way, but I think Katrina killed more in New Orleans then Rita did. 102 people in Texas were killed in accidents during the evacuation (including the 24 in the bus explosion).

Bus accident happened during Rita...not Katrina.

Eric

[wxmann_91]

I'm not meaning this in a bad or flaming way, but I think Katrina killed more in New Orleans then Rita did. 102 people in Texas were killed in accidents during the evacuation (including the 24 in the bus explosion).

Bus accident happened during Rita...not Katrina.

Eric

I meant it in a real way. Had Katrina not occurred, Rita wouldn't have caused a mass panic out of Houston, and the evacuation would've been more orderly. The bus accident could've still occurred, but there wouldn't have been 78 other people killed in the evac.

[GalvestonDuck]

Would the same type of evac orders been given in the SE TX area if Katrina had not hit? Maybe, but I doubt it.

We know our history and heritage. We didn't need Katrina as a reminder. I've talked to enough here through the years to know -- you say hurricane, we're out the door. 1900 was enough for us.

[f5]

people in mississippi were saying camille killed more people this time than she did last time