If you’re in the region of Ike — GET OUT NOW.
CNN warns:
“On Galveston Island, waves washed for blocks inland, the beginning of a storm surge that forecasters warned could reach up to 22 feet and bring “certain death” to anyone who remained in Galveston Bay homes.
Rarely do forecasters use such forceful language.”
Ike ain’t playing. Stay safe, stay dry, get out, save your life. We’re praying for all of you.
I pray for the safety of everyone in the path of Ike.
I live in Austin and feel that there should be a new law that people in mandatory evacution areas that CHOOSE not to leave and then require emergency rescuing should be later fined! To put emergency personnel lives in danger for ignorance is ridiculous. There is enough information and access to transportation, etc for even the poorest of people to leave a mandatory evacuation area, especially after the disaster that was Hurrican Katrina. The people that are staying in Galveston to “ride out” this storm are an embarrasment to Texas. SHAME ON YOU THAT STAY and GOD BE WITH YOU!
Sadly, the quotes on CNN from those who decided not to leave Galveston are another example of how people either are ignorant of history or simply choose to ignore it. Galveston was the site of a particularly deadly hurricane around the turn of the twentieth century. Thousands of people were killed, namely due to a storm surge and Galveston’s particularly low elevation (below sea level, or just level)allowed the surge to move through the island like a freight train. I found the same “certain death” comments were applied to Katrina, and yet there were those that chose to stay. Yet, the American government was chided and criticized for not responding quickly enough to rescue those that knew of the imminent disaster, and that death could result, and still chose to stay.
Hey Bella,
I’m in Dallas (which isn’t in the direct line of fire, but we could a lot of flooding), but I have many friends in Houston since I lived there for a number of years and I also have the “privilege” of being a Rita evacuee, which was absolutely no fun. Just imagine being 8 months pregnant, trapped in a car for 22 hours! So, needless to say I’m praying as well and hoping that everyone heeds the warnings and stays safe.
I spoke to my peps in Galveston 2 days ago and they quickly decided to head for Dallas, although when I look at the weather channel, I think they probably should have gone further. I don’t understand why some people would even consider staying, Galveston mailboxes already under water. I know people love their homes but material things can be replaced. The storm of, I believe, 1900 killed thousands. I wouldn’t think twice about leaving and I’m so glad my peps are out harms way.
People who have chosen to stay are going to regret it, if they survive. You will not be safe in Galveston, even on the third floor of a building, if the surge is 15-20′ high because the waves crashing above this will destroy everthing in their path. If you want to live to talk about this storm, evacuate now while you have time.
WTF! that dood is so pwned! Longcat is Loooooooooooonnnngggggggg
I agree that anyone who stays behind should have to fend for themselves until such time as all those who left are taken care of. I hope that everyone who was quoted as staying behind will be alive to tell the story after it’s all said an done. They should print a list of those who had “famous last words”.
Anyone who chooses to stay is stupid and like they did in LA, you are on your own. The guy who said he it’s only water and will walk or kayak might want to visualize coming out in a body bag
People who choose not to follow mandatory evacuation warnings SHOULD BE BILLED for expenses of their rescue!! Even better, make them pay upfront. No credit card, no cash, no rescue. It’s a hardline stance, but it is not my responsibility as a federal taxpayer to support and pay for people who made a decision to put their life in jeopardy. There is enough advance warning of hurricanes, and enough time BEFORE THE FACT to get help if needed to get out. It’s an individual choice not to heed warnings and GET OUT, and there should be no civic duty to help those that chose not to help themselves first.
If you stay and are without water, food and power do not blame the government. It will be your fault for not listening! Don’t let this be another Katrina.
I pray for the safety of those in Galveston and H-town. I lived in Houston for 3.5 years and have friends and former co-workers down there. I am thinking about all of them and their loved ones now and hope that IKE is not going to be as big and bad as predicted.
I agree that those who don’t leave are putting their lives and the lives of EMT at great risk, and it’s silly to think you can ride it out. At the same time, I can relate to those who are against risking their lives as they leave… check out this news quote from an MSNBC.com article:
“…Officials in Houston took a calculated risk and told people to stay put. That order was an attempt to avoid a repeat of the chaos and death that ensued after residents were ordered to evacuate Houston when Hurricane Rita threatened the city in 2005. In that instance, the number of deaths attributed to the evacuation was more than ten times higher than the toll from the storm.”
Kind of a catch-22. It’s sad; my prayers go out to all of the residents of Texas. And as one who grew up in West Texas, I also pray for the rest of the region, which will likely face tornado-ridden storms in the coming days.
I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we just got past the devistation of Gustav. It was devastating though no one really knows because it got no National Coverage. Texas be smart, be safe and (if possible) be OUT! Sometimes the worst of the storm doesn’t happen until it has already past. We are definitely feeling “Ike” right now.
We’ve just got through talking to family trapped down there. The flooding is bad, ocean water pouring into the neighborhoods. There are even reports of sharks in the water. If you need to go into the water, DON’T, the sharks are everywhere.
Ummm… So why hasn’t Presiden’t Bush not said anything about this? Like issue a state of the emergency atleast acknowledge that Galveston is going to be a dead zone area. With the slow response he had with Katrina, he should be more involved with assuaring the people of Texas!
I think the MAYOR of GALVESTON is an IDIOT. She should be FIRED. She did not encourage people to evacuate earlier. She actually wanted everyone to stay on Galveston initially. That is why us Galvestonians are in this mess. She should be FIRED.
Here is her quote Wednesday/early Thursday:
“We do not intend to evacuate Galveston Island,” she said. “It’s the last thing we want to do. Our job is to protect lives and property, [and] right now we feel that sheltering in place is the best action for our citizens to take.”
Galveston; if you stayed? I’ll bet you don’t go to church. Do what I read a sheriffs department asked people to do; get a black marker and write your name and serial number on your chest or back so when they find your rotting corpse floating and your arms and legs are most likely no longer attached we can at least know who you are and not continue to look for you!
Um for those of you who are criticizing the decisions of those who stayed behind in Katrina…
From what I understand, many victims of Katrina were of the 9th ward (the projects), and couldn’t afford evacuation. The government was being criticized not only for their slow responses to aid these people who had no means of getting out, but also because they weren’t willing to help out those who needed means of evacuation, compared to how they would bus out people’s pets to northern shelters.
But I do agree with several of the other posters: charge those who chose to stay at home during the hurricane (that is, if they had the means of leaving in the first place).
My prayers are going out to those in the direct path of Ike. Be safe!
I’m in Houston now. We live downtown and we’ve boarded up. Our friends and family got off the island early. I don’t understand why people stay. I’ve lived through “Andrew” in Miami in ’92. I don’t know why people think they can beat mother nature. She wins everytime. Watching the local news the island is already flooding. Luckily in my opinion the city officials are serious and moved people out of low areas quickly.
In August 2005 I left the Mississippi Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Katrina. I am over 2 miles from the water and got 7 feet of water in my house and lost everything. In 1969 I lost everything to Hurricane Camille.
But guess what….I came back bigger and better each time because I was alive to rebuild. There are no material, earthly goods worth risking your life to try to save. Houses on the beachfront of the Mississippi Gulf Coast that had stood for 150 years or more were washed away. By the way, New Orleans was flooded the DAY AFTER the Mississippi Coast was destroyed because billions of dollars WERE NOT used to rebuild the levees.
To the people of Texas near Ike. Our prayers! To the people that ignored the warnings (madatory) to evacuate! WHY? Now you will be wasting valuable assets (Coast Guard, National Guard to name a couple) that SHOULD be used other places to assist with people that at least gave an effort to evacuate.
I was just wondering about the man in the picture.Is he all right?
Coming to you from Dallas as well… Ike doesn’t sound like a joke at all and I hope people listen. Things like this make you realize just how small we all are. I mean, geez!
My entire family is in Houston nervously awaiting landfall of the hurricane. Prayers are definitely in order.
-Missy
I live in Houston and the wind sounds like motorcycles revving up right now. I know a lot of people without power right now in Houston, hopefully mine will hold up. I am saddened by how many people stayed in Galveston, especially knowing what happened in 1900.
I live in Austin and today I fielded calls at work for emergency management.
If people that lived in the mandatory evacuation areas WANTED to get out and could not afford it, there were many many buses that brought people here to Austin and other areas of the state to free shelters. There are several people in Galveston (just like Florida) that have “rode out” many hurricanes and feel that this one is no different. We never know what Mother Nature will bring us with these storms and of course the best course of action is to always leave. On the news tonight, they said some people didn’t want to leave their homes..I don’t get that and I am a homeowner..this house can be replaced, but my precious life can’t!!
Thanks everyone for your well wishes and prayers. Texas needs it!
All this talk of praying bothers me. Hurricanes are as much a part of God’s universal plan as human beings. God gave us the gift of intelligence and physical ability. If we don’t use these gifts, we fail God. The people who should be praying are those who chose to stay – for forgiveness.
All this praying, as well, bothers me.
It absolves them from taking personal responsibility for themselves.
Not to mention, whatever Entity said people pray to, is kinda busy throwing a hurricane their way to worry about their selfishness.
Wow. I can’t believe this.
yeah, Nikki — wow is right. I have been away from the computer for basically a day and some of these comments are so not the kind of thing I get from typical Afrobella readers.
I don’t claim to be the most religious person under any circumstance, but I do keep the victims of a storm in mind when one is about to destroy a place where people live. I pray for them to find guidance (to escape) and mercy (if they don’t manage to). I keep the EMT workers and the police in my prayers especially, and I even consider the reporters who stand out in the weather to film live reports (I still don’t get why they do that. We understand, it’s wet, windy, and dangerous. So why are YOU out there with a slicker and a microphone?)
I sincerely hope — and yes, pray — that Ike doesn’t bring about tremendous loss of life.
@ Denise. I believe so. He’s standing on a sea wall. My daughter and I googled the sea wall last night because we were in awe of that photo.
This is what I saw on CNN last night:
A woman from the Galveston area chose not to evacuate because…get this…she has a cat!
Why did so many people make the selfish, stupid and asinine decision to stay after they were told to evacuate. They were told it could mean uncertain death if they stayed. They are now placing others in danger because of their selfishness, because now rescue workers have to go in there to save their trifling behinds…