Hurricane Ike: recovery II here http://www.dailykos.com/...
This diary is going to take a pause from updating because I need a break. ;)
Please volunteer to keep these open threads going. It would be nice of the admin let them go into rotation on the front page, but until then, we need to keep people informed. PLEASE volunteer your daily diary after this one gets knocked off so we can keep this news gathering up.
IMPORTANT: If you have new information, please post it as a NEW COMMENT and not a reply, so I don't miss it to post it on the diary.
GALVESTON COUNTY MISSING PERSONS HOTLINE (866) 898-5723
Although there is a national media blackout about Ike's aftermath, you can monitor local news here: http://abclocal.go.com/...
You can see photos of damage here: http://jakeabby.com/...
If you are looking for friends and loved ones, please go to the person locator at http://www.abc13.com
These threads are for posting updates about the aftermath.
Today, there is good news and there is bad news.
First, the good news:
• Galveston is no longer on both in and out lockdown. Residents still can't enter, but they can leave and buses are being provided for those who can't get out another way. They will be taken to San Antonio if they have no other place to go.
• Galveston now has two PODs.
• There are no reports of major looting. There have only been 11 arrests in Houston for looting. Galveston police last night said that they do not have enough people on the force to control looting and the national guard has come to the island without guns, but there have not been any reports from the island about violence problems.
• The local media has been allowed onto the island and are doing a good job interviewing survivors.
• Local business owners have been allowed onto the island if they run business like supermarkets and other basic goods and services.
• All water in the city of Houston is now safe to drink and over a million people have had power restored.
• People are being allowed back in to Tiki Island, the last stop on the causeway before Galveston and there are reports of some non-emergency vehicles being allowed onto Galveston.
Most importantly-
• The weather outlook is good for the foreseeable future.
Now, the bad news:
• Galveston's UTMB hospital is open, but only for emergency trauma cases and cannot handle any critical care. It is a "M*A*S*H setup," they have no blood and cannot dispense prescriptions. This may be true for at least two months.
• Emergency supplies and crews cannot get onto the island due to a giant traffic jam on the Gulf Coast Highway as residents line up for miles in the hopes of getting onto the island and, so far, there is not a dedicated lane for emergency vehicles. Meanwhile, as cars in the line run out of gas, more and more are being abandoned on the roadside.
• There are still 15,000 people on the island. Only 1000 have been rescued and only 200-400 people can be evacuated from the last resort shelter (a high school) per day.
• Local energy companies are saying it could be up to a week before power is restored for almost 2 million people in the region.
• Official body counts have not even begun and there are already reports of 50 dead. Expect this to get much, much higher over the week.
• Frustrations are beginning to boil over and there are more reports of conflicts between state, local and federal officials.
• FEMA's sole capacity so far has been transporting supplies to PODs. Everything else has been left up to the overtaxed state and local governments.
And, finally, the weird:
• There are reports of both a lion and a tiger having escaped in the Galveston area.
• A reporter has encountered a massive cattle drive in Bolivar as ranch fences have been knocked down and ranchers have pooled together to save their livestock.
I will update as I hear more. Chertoff is scheduled to speak soon, having returned to the region last night after leaving on Sunday for Washington.
UPDATE: Actually, less an update than a forgotten addition. A long-term Galveston resident this morning told everyone to stay away. There is raw sewage in the streets and there are no structures that are certified as being safe.
WTF Quote of the day: "FEMA doesn't do trailers." -- Michael Chertoff
UPDATE: Over 100 ships are in line waiting to get to the Port of Houston with more coming.
UPDATE: New diary here: http://www.dailykos.com/...
UPDATE: Water and sewage should be restored to Galveston in "a couple days." Phone service is being worked on.
UPDATE This diary is now on the rec list. Thank you all for getting it there! I will keep trying to update with news.
UPDATE 5 are confirmed dead on Galveston Island. Expect this number to rise considerably. The island has no power, no water and no sewage. It is unlivable. Bodies are beginning to be recovered from Chambers county.
UPDATE
• Galveston Daily News reports that search teams are leaving Galveston claiming the island has been fully searched and that deaths have "leveled off" at 50. Let's hope they're right. ABC 13 confirms, more than 50 deaths.
• Galveston Daily News is also reporting that half of Galveston's property tax base has been "wiped out."
• Emergency vehicles are still stuck in traffic on the Gulf Coast Highway, but a convoy of electric trucks from around the country are moving in to Galveston!
• Meanwhile, on the same highway, people waiting in line for two days are only finding out now, once they reach the first checkpoint, that they are not being allowed in.
• Gulf area power update.
• Wait was 3-4 hours to get emergency vehicles into Galveston earlier, but roads are being cleared for them.
• "High risk" of disease spreading in Galveston.
• DPS (police) say that they are 'watching for looting.' The main concern is after dark. Police have 'quite a force' on the street.
• Possibility of fines up to $2000 for violating curfew, no word on whether anyone has actually been fined.
UPDATE
• Things are getting worse on I-45 as they allow civilian cars back into emergency lanes. What the hell are they thinking?!
• Wal-Mart and Kroger have 12 trucks coming to Galveston to replace items on empty shelves, most are stuck in traffic.
• Galveston city council is deadlocking on issues. Mayor is taking charge.
• If you are in the area and need supplies, get to a POD sooner rather than later. They will close the PODs as soon as they run out of supplies.
• FEMA will pay for residents to stay in hotels for 30 days. Only some hotels are FEMA hotels and there's very little room left. If you are not in one yet, it is unlikely you will be able to get in. Get this- they're telling people to check a hotel website before they move out of their unlivable house to make sure there's room.
• A mobile medical emergency team has been set up at Rice University to do triage work. Hospitals are more overtaxed than they were during Rita.
• At least 8 hospitals have been closed due to storm damage.
• Texas A&M students and faculty at the Galveston campus are being relocated to the main campus.
• The highway between Tiki and Galveston islands is now clear!
• There were NO SIGNS on 45 telling people that Galveston was closed.
• The FAA website says that there are no flight restrictions in Texas, so Galveston is no longer a no-fly zone.
• 18 confirmed dead in the Houston/Galveston region.
• Ike caused the largest internet outage in years.
• Important! IF YOU ARE STUCK IN THE REGION AND HAVE A RELATIVE ELSEWHERE TO STAY WITH Continental is selling inexpensive one-way tickets out of Houston or Beaumont if you buy them before the 19th. Under 500 miles, $69. Over, $119. Domestic only.
• The Lion is safe it swam to a church. Perhaps he was looking for Daniel.
• The Houston Chronicle reports that oil is spilling into a wildlife refuge.
• The Gulf Coast Freeway is currently clear! People finally understand that they can't get to Galveston. You can go to Tiki island. Rescue vehicles are streaming in.
• Residents of Webster are now allowed to return. There is a 10 pm - 6 am curfew in effect.
•HOORAY! The Kroger and the Wal-Mart on the island are currently getting re-stocked with supplies!
• tnsherrie points out that we shouldn't forget about other states hit by Ike like Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Indiana.
• Naval ship USS Nassau is heading to Galveston, full of supplies!
VOLUNTEERS WANTED! I am doing most of this myself and I have been doing it all day. If you want to take over with a new diary, please let me know. You must monitor one of the news webcasts. I have linked to ABC 13 in this diary and they seem to be doing a 24-hour cast. If you want to take over, just link to this diary and PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you do.
UPDATED 5 PM PST
• "1 in 50" homes gone in one Galveston neighborhood.
• Grocery and convenience stores are now open in Galveston! PODs are also still open, but not very busy. People have what they need right now.
• Galveston residents on the island are afraid to leave because they don't know when they will be allowed back.
• Johnson Space Center will be starting back up Monday and that in the mean time, the station is being run out of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
• Coast guard still trying to clear the Port of Huston. One major problem is a loss of navigation buoys.
• The USS Nassau is normally a fighter ship, but this time is coming stocked with a disaster team, surgeons, medicine, food and water.
EVENING UPDATE
• Well it looks like even ABC 13 is no longer all that concerned. They have stopped their 24-hour coverage this evening. I will check back with them later and update with various submissions to the diary.
• Kossack avahome reports that the power is back on in Alvin, TX.
• Huston Chronicle Article: (thanks, suswa!)
DEATH TOLL EXPECTED TO RISE
The death toll from Hurricane Ike is remarkably low so far, considering that legions of people stayed behind as the storm obliterated row after row of homes along the Texas coast. But officials suspect more victims are out there and say some might simply have been swept out to sea.
[...]
"We don't know what's out there in the wilds," said Galveston County Medical Examiner Stephen Pustilniks. "Searchers weren't looking for bodies; they were looking for survivors."
As the hurricane closed in, authorities estimated 90,000 people ignored evacuation orders along the Gulf Coast. Post-storm rescuers in Galveston and the peninsula removed about 3,500 people, but another 6,000 refused to leave.
THE BLACKOUT IS ENDING!!!
Top story on MSNBC's website right now- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
This is due in no small part to all of you spreading the word about what is going on in Texas. Give yourselves a round of applause!