Galveston - possible mand. evac at 5PM

[Roxy]

Clear Creek ISD has shut down...I can't confirm this except a parent just said their kid called here at work...more if I hear it.

I was looking for confirmation of that, I suspect NASA will be next since the kids need their parents around. Followed by Boeing, etc....


*edited to add, my sister just confirmed CCISD closed tomorrow.

[swampdude]

Hey Duck, maybe if they were to visit Galveston and the surrounding area they would understand what you folks are up against. Better yet, take and aerial view. Galveston is much like the Outer Banks of NC with only one land route out of town. I would hope my Mayor acted like Galveston's and err on the side of safety instead of like NO's Mayor Nagin who seems to err on the side of everything.

[Florida_TSR]

Error on the side of everything - now thats funny!!

[scostorms]

Well, what is the population of Galveston? I don't know, those people should be preparing now, if I was near Galveston I'd be gone right about... now.

[LAwxrgal]

Speaking from recent personal experience...I left my area Sunday morning, the day before Katrina hit (although I wanted to leave earlier), and let me tell you, the interstate was a parking lot. Cars didn't move for hours upon hours. Getting from one town to another took much longer, mostly because everybody tried to get out at once.

I've never been to Galveston Island, I passed through the area on my way to Houston, but if it's that difficult to evacuate the island, I'm glad to see they are taking this step. The mayor of Grand Isle (our barrier island) began evacuating his residents on, I believe, Friday. That was three days before Katrina hit.

[Miztiki]

It took me 6 hours to drive from Pearland to Tomball because of horrible Friday rush hour traffic.

It took an hour for the return trip.

The traffic here is atrocious and that's the biggest problem.

[jax]

Sunday morning we drove to dauphin island at 4 am from MS coast.
surfed untill about noon and then drove back to MS. finished all my
last minute to-do-list things... and left for Alabama at 10pm...
no traffic. easy-japaneesie...

[Texas SpeedDiva]

From the CCISD Website.

Clear Creek ISD has been closely monitoring, along with our local government agencies, the progress of Hurricane Rita. All computer models predict that the Houston area will be significantly impacted late Friday or early Saturday. Therefore, Clear Creek ISD will not be holding school on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of this week (September 21, 22 and 23.)

Same goes for Pasadena I.S.D., Deer Park I.S.D. and Anahuac I.S.D

[loon]

same for Galveston, as per news radio FM97.5

[inotherwords]

wow...i guess overreactions are to be expected after katrina...but its entirely too early and unnecessary to order mandatory evacuations today.

How is it an overreaction? Do you know how long it takes to evacuate Galveston and then other parts of the Houston area, if necessary? Galveston has to go first.

It doesnt take 72+hours and I can tell you this there are a lot of BOIs there, that aren't going anywhere.

IMO, its too early. I think 48 hours is enough.

48 hours before the storm is not enough when it takes at least 36 hours (based on experiences during Alicia). Furthermore, if we're expecting TS force winds by 10 AM Friday, then everyone needs to be gone BEFORE that time or they can't get across the causway. So...36 hours before 10 AM Friday would be 10 PM Wednesday night. Given the fact that it will probably take longer than 36 hours nowadays....

Ah, nevermind...I'm tired of fighting with you guys about this.

If we didn't go, you'd all be saying "You know better...didn't you learn from Katrina? Why did you wait? It's your own fault if you're stuck there and didn't evacuate."

Thanks for the support to those who have been supportive.

I thought you said yesterday you weren't there for Alicia?

Thread:
http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=74675

GalvestonDuck wrote:
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:51 am Post subject: Can someone refresh me about Alicia?
I wasn't here then. Wasn't she a 3 on the west end but on the east end, they experienced Cat 2 winds (or lesser)?

Just trying to understand for the sake of coworkers here -- wondering if what they experienced in Alicia was truly a "major" experience or not.

[djtil]

All computer models predict that the Houston area will be significantly impacted late Friday or early Saturday

really?

not the nogaps

[thetraveler]

If you have to bug out get your trusty state map out and find less used routes. It would seem that the major freeways, 10, 45, 59, and 290 will not be user friendly. Use your state roads and FM roads to get north and west. I 10 east might not be a bad route to Beaumont or even Lake Charles (which is only 40 miles past) Also make hotel arraingments now if you plan to leave. Hotels as far west as Cleveland were filled when Katrina came through. Good luck to all. I am watching from L.A. but live north of Houston. I hope all goes well.

[lisa0825]

County orders mandatory evacuations

By TJ Aulds
The Daily News

Published September 20, 2005 - Updated 13 minutes ago

Officials have called for mandatory evacuations ahead of Hurricane Rita. The order is for every one living in Galveston County.

People in medical centers and nursing homes to start at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Residential evacuations start at 6 p.m. The county's evacuation plan calls for the evacuation of residents in phases.

People in medical care and other facilities needing special help are scheduled to begin evacuations at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Zone A of the evacuation plan which includes the southern portions of the county including Galveston Island, Tiki Island and Bayou Vista begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Zone B of the plan which includes the central portions of the county's mainland as well as the bay front communities of Kemah, San Leon and Bacliff are to start evacuation at 2 a.m. Thursday.

Zone C which is the northern reaches of the county including League City and Friendswood will start evacuation at 12 p.m. Thursday.

Tropical force winds from Hurricane Rita are expected to hit the county by early Friday.

EVACUATION ZONES

ZONE A – 6 PM Wednesday, Sept. 21

Galveston Island (I-45)
Jamaica Beach (I-45)
Tiki Island (I-45)
Bayou Vista (Hwy. 6)
Clear Lake Shores (Hwy. 146)
Kemah (Hwy. 146)
San Leon-Bacliff-Bayview (Hwy. 146)
Bolivar Peninsula (Hwy. 87 and Hwy. 124)

ZONE B – 2 AM Thursday, Sept. 22

Texas City (Hwy. 146)
La Marque (I-45)
Hitchcock (Hwy. 6)
Dickinson (I-45)

ZONE C – 12 NOON Thursday, Sept. 22
(Use Highway 6)

League City (I-45, Hwy. 146)
Friendswood (I-45)
Santa Fe (Hwy. 6)

[CentralFlGal]

wow...i guess overreactions are to be expected after katrina...but its entirely too early and unnecessary to order mandatory evacuations today.

How is it an overreaction? Do you know how long it takes to evacuate Galveston and then other parts of the Houston area, if necessary? Galveston has to go first.

It doesnt take 72+hours and I can tell you this there are a lot of BOIs there, that aren't going anywhere.

IMO, its too early. I think 48 hours is enough.

48 hours before the storm is not enough when it takes at least 36 hours (based on experiences during Alicia). Furthermore, if we're expecting TS force winds by 10 AM Friday, then everyone needs to be gone BEFORE that time or they can't get across the causway. So...36 hours before 10 AM Friday would be 10 PM Wednesday night. Given the fact that it will probably take longer than 36 hours nowadays....

Ah, nevermind...I'm tired of fighting with you guys about this.

If we didn't go, you'd all be saying "You know better...didn't you learn from Katrina? Why did you wait? It's your own fault if you're stuck there and didn't evacuate."

Thanks for the support to those who have been supportive.

I thought you said yesterday you weren't there for Alicia?

Thread:
http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=74675

GalvestonDuck wrote:
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:51 am Post subject: Can someone refresh me about Alicia?
I wasn't here then. Wasn't she a 3 on the west end but on the east end, they experienced Cat 2 winds (or lesser)?

Just trying to understand for the sake of coworkers here -- wondering if what they experienced in Alicia was truly a "major" experience or not.

Doesn't say "personal" experience.

[CentralFlGal]

County orders mandatory evacuations

By TJ Aulds
The Daily News

Published September 20, 2005 - Updated 13 minutes ago

Officials have called for mandatory evacuations ahead of Hurricane Rita. The order is for every one living in Galveston County.

People in medical centers and nursing homes to start at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Residential evacuations start at 6 p.m. The county's evacuation plan calls for the evacuation of residents in phases.

People in medical care and other facilities needing special help are scheduled to begin evacuations at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Zone A of the evacuation plan which includes the southern portions of the county including Galveston Island, Tiki Island and Bayou Vista begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Zone B of the plan which includes the central portions of the county's mainland as well as the bay front communities of Kemah, San Leon and Bacliff are to start evacuation at 2 a.m. Thursday.

Zone C which is the northern reaches of the county including League City and Friendswood will start evacuation at 12 p.m. Thursday.

Tropical force winds from Hurricane Rita are expected to hit the county by early Friday.

EVACUATION ZONES

ZONE A – 6 PM Wednesday, Sept. 21

Galveston Island (I-45)
Jamaica Beach (I-45)
Tiki Island (I-45)
Bayou Vista (Hwy. 6)
Clear Lake Shores (Hwy. 146)
Kemah (Hwy. 146)
San Leon-Bacliff-Bayview (Hwy. 146)
Bolivar Peninsula (Hwy. 87 and Hwy. 124)

ZONE B – 2 AM Thursday, Sept. 22

Texas City (Hwy. 146)
La Marque (I-45)
Hitchcock (Hwy. 6)
Dickinson (I-45)

ZONE C – 12 NOON Thursday, Sept. 22
(Use Highway 6)

League City (I-45, Hwy. 146)
Friendswood (I-45)
Santa Fe (Hwy. 6)

Glad to see evacs issued a good amount of time before the deadline to allow for plenty of preparation, "grab and go" stash, and hopefully easing the congestion on the evac route.

Stay safe all.

[wxwatcher2]

the petty fussing and fighting about the time frame to evacuate is childish.
Like all other areas, the Texas coast has grown since Alicia and I agree that it's never too early when it involves saving lives.

[inotherwords]

This is a very scary storm and if it continues to track toward Galveston, tomorrow would definitely be a good time to start getting out. I think part of some of us stressing on focusing on the cone instead of the line is because a lot of us don't want to see it hit such a tremendously vulnerable area and are hoping the track changes. With several days out, it's always possible.

Good luck, everyone in its path.

[GalvestonDuck]

wow...i guess overreactions are to be expected after katrina...but its entirely too early and unnecessary to order mandatory evacuations today.

*standing with arms crossed, tapping foot*

Now...tell me it was too early.

[jax]

wow...i guess overreactions are to be expected after katrina...but its entirely too early and unnecessary to order mandatory evacuations today.

*standing with arms crossed, tapping foot*

Now...tell me it was too early.

it was actually not needed... it would have been wise...
but not mandatory...

[Air Force Met]

wow...i guess overreactions are to be expected after katrina...but its entirely too early and unnecessary to order mandatory evacuations today.

*standing with arms crossed, tapping foot*

Now...tell me it was too early.

it was actually not needed... it would have been wise...
but not mandatory...

Bull. If Rita doesnt turn and there are no mandatory evacs...it is a major disaster and the same people who are complaining about it not being needed would be calling for people to be fired (from their jobs and with a firing squad). It doesn't always work out the way you fear it might so it is ALWAYS best to err on the side of caution. BY the time evacs would have been needed...it would have been too late. So...sorry...you are totally incorrect in that statement. Please don't ever become a city manager of where my family might live