ATL: IKE Discussion

[bayoubebe]

It all looks horrible right now, but just maybe the casualties are relatively low. Maybe the local officials are just taking a different approach, but by this time the NO people were already being very grim in their reports and talking about many many deaths.

A lot more survivors from the hardest hit areas like Bolivar and Crystal Beach than I would've expected (which would've been none).

So at least it seems like there won't be thousands of deaths like the government was warning there might be.

No they were not. The first reports of casulaties from Orleans parish did not come until a good 24 hours after landfall.

That is because the levee systems failed and were breached when Katrina was to the EAST of NOLA. Remember, everyone thought we dodged a bullet right after Katrina passed New Orleans. It was the next day when things got horrific.

With Ike, I'm curious what we will hear in the days to follow, they can't know too too much about total fatalities and destruction now IMHO.

[lele25]

Thank you everyone. Prior to the storm they did put the generator on the lift and got it to 2nd story balcony, so they are able to use fans and the fridge. They are no longer alone, other people in the area are now staying at their house. My uncle says that the house did wonderful.....parts of the roof missing but the main structure, which was stucco, is intact. As I said previously, the neighbor's son had planned to get them, but they are now saying that they might as well stay, because even if they go to main land they won't have power. They have not walked around but said that from what they could see, it looks like a war zone. They have good friends that had a home about 6 houses down, it it completely gone, fortunately they evacuated.

[jopatura]

http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/galveston_records_its_first_st.html

Galveston records its first storm-related death
The first known storm related death in Galveston happened when a woman with a bad heart died when a generator powering her oxygen equipment failed.

Martha Ferguson, 65, died between noon and 1 p.m. Saturday at a house in Galveston where she was staying with relatives, according to her cousin Richard Dare.

[welcome2florida]

I was very blessed my family / in laws are staying with me. All are safe.


I do NEED INFO on Sea Isle on the WEST END of Galveston? my parents retired there and they are looking to see if their house survived.....

Glad you all are in good health!
I heard photos will be taked of each home in the west end. They will post them on a website so homeowners know the condition of their home since it will be a while before they will be able to return/boat by. I do not recal the site. Possibly cityofgalveston.gov ???? You will have to snoop around. I am guessing you saw the ariel photos. I believe Sea Isle was included. When this would occur I could not guess.

[jaxfladude]

This from a poster on KHOU forum regarding Crystal Beach today:

"Galveston Co Sheriff 64 rescues today, plus many bodies."

[shah8]

It's getting pretty apparent that we are "being managed" wrt the areas of serious devestation. It could be for good reasons, perhaps to prevent sensationalisation, but I really don't like it. I would rather that emergency officials would just say that the Bolivar Peninsula is really bad and closed to media or something like that.

[attallaman]

Does anyone know of a website that has been set up for people to go to and post questions or comments about people they are trying to find out the status on who were affected by Hurricane Ike? I have an aunt who lives in Pasadena, Texas who I spoke to late yesterday but haven't been able to get through to today to check on her status. I am aware that power is out almost everywhere as well as most phone service. Her phone is through a cable TV provider and it's not working and she doesn't have a cell phone otherwise I could probably text her. Anyone on the board tonight from Texas know of any radio stations broadcasting information where I could call in and ask a question? There's no need to email KHOU TV in Houston which I did only to receive 3 non read tag receipts to my emails, they were deleted before being read.

[jopatura]

This from a poster on KHOU forum regarding Crystal Beach today:

"Galveston Co Sheriff 64 rescues today, plus many bodies."

Remember when you read that they've rescued about 1000 people so far, there was still about 140,000 people that didn't heed evacuation orders over several counties. And I don't think that counts the people in the Golden Triangle that were badly affected, but not asked to leave.

[jaxfladude]

This from a poster on KHOU forum regarding Crystal Beach today:

"Galveston Co Sheriff 64 rescues today, plus many bodies."

Remember when you read that they've rescued about 1000 people so far, there was still about 140,000 people that didn't heed evacuation orders over several counties. And I don't think that counts the people in the Golden Triangle that were badly affected, but not asked to leave.

I know......

[CrazyC83]

Still a tropical storm 21 going on 22 hours later. Seems unusually long to me.

Yeah, but given its low pressure (982mb) it is hardly surprising; it may remain one right up to becoming extratropical.

[Raebie]

In watching the flyover coverage today, this is what struck me. Given the large number of people that chose not to evacutate...where the hell was everyone? I saw 2 people cleaning out their house. If I was there and hear a helicopter flying over, I'd be out waving my arms like there was no tomorrow.

I saw no one.

[southerngale]

This from a poster on KHOU forum regarding Crystal Beach today:

"Galveston Co Sheriff 64 rescues today, plus many bodies."

Remember when you read that they've rescued about 1000 people so far, there was still about 140,000 people that didn't heed evacuation orders over several counties. And I don't think that counts the people in the Golden Triangle that were badly affected, but not asked to leave.

Actually, they called for a mandatory evacuation here about 6am Thursday morning. Many left, some didn't. There were a lot of rescues over here too. People should have left!

I'm worried about Sabine Pass and can't seem to find much info. I've heard that about 15 people stayed in Sabine Pass and shortly before the storm hit, they were on their roofs calling 911. It was too dangerous at that time to attempt a rescue. I hope that isn't true.
Sabine Pass had a record surge... highest surge before that was from Audrey in 1957.

[Rod Hagen]

It's getting pretty apparent that we are "being managed" wrt the areas of serious devestation. It could be for good reasons, perhaps to prevent sensationalisation, but I really don't like it. I would rather that emergency officials would just say that the Bolivar Peninsula is really bad and closed to media or something like that.

I suspect a large part of it may be due to concern about problems of identification and a desire to not cause undue stress amongst those who don't know where loved ones are given the huge displacement of people generally.

[Innotech]

does anyone know the status of League City or any news about it?

[fasterdisaster]

I'm really concerned about the complete lack of news from the west end of Galveston Island. This is the end with no seawall and we should have heard something by now. They likely did not get as much wind damage as downtown Galveston but the surge that hit the east side of the Bay could have wrapped around when the backside hit and slammed into the west side of the island.

[DPTX]

To the poster whose aunt is in Pasadena. Keep trying. We just got power back. We were suprised that we had cable...it went dwon first last nihgt. I am in Deer Park which borders with parts of Pasadena. We did not venture out but a few blocks. We mainly saw trees, fences, and light poles down.

[Raebie]

The flyover showed it basically submerged. And like I said, no one visable.

Not good.

[Brent]

In watching the flyover coverage today, this is what struck me. Given the large number of people that chose not to evacutate...where the hell was everyone? I saw 2 people cleaning out their house. If I was there and hear a helicopter flying over, I'd be out waving my arms like there was no tomorrow.

I saw no one.

I know, I had the same thought. It's really scary.

I'm really concerned about the complete lack of news from the west end of Galveston Island. This is the end with no seawall and we should have heard something by now. They likely did not get as much wind damage as downtown Galveston but the surge that hit the east side of the Bay could have wrapped around when the backside hit and slammed into the west side of the island.

Same.

[soonertwister]

I'm guessing that Galveston only had a barebones evacuation plan, without a lot of pretty important details that could have been invaluable right now.

I won't get into that, but I picture Galveston officials saying get off the Island, or your life is in serious danger, and then those who leave, leave. And those who don't, don't.

Without a baseline of who is or isn't there, right now they are just drawing straws to guess how many people they may actually be looking for.

Don't tell me that's not important. I think someone should request their voter rolls via the FOIA in order to try to establish at least a barebones baseline of what's gone on there.

[jopatura]

It's getting pretty apparent that we are "being managed" wrt the areas of serious devestation. It could be for good reasons, perhaps to prevent sensationalisation, but I really don't like it. I would rather that emergency officials would just say that the Bolivar Peninsula is really bad and closed to media or something like that.

I suspect a large part of it may be due to concern about problems of identification and a desire to not cause undue stress amongst those who don't know where loved ones are given the huge displacement of people generally.

I know the reporters on KTRK said you couldn't even really get over there unless you had boats, but the rumors they had heard just wasn't good at all.