Houstonians "It will not come here" attitude

[HouTXmetro]

As more storms potentially target our area and turn off without even providing decent rain, I am getting more and more concerned that Residents will not heed warnings when we are faced with a real threat. Even when the NHC had the black line going right through Galveston, many people I talked to didn't even know about the storm and the few that did without any knowledge of weather and track had the attitude, 'it's not gonna come here.' This attitude of Houstonians is really starting to concern me. One day, "possibly in the near future" we will be faced with a real threat. By the time residents do realize the severity of the situation I fear it will be too late.

[freeport_texas22]

i agree!

[LSU2001]

That attitude is prevalent all over the gulf coast except maybe FLA. I was telling people about cindy last night and the response was :"WHAT WE HAVE A STORM!!" The local mets have been mentioning cindy for days and even the paper had a short mention of it but still no clue.
I guess it will take a major to open eyes and only then for a little while.
TIm

[loon]

This is the same attitude on all coastlines..the fact is, people just forget, its too infrequent. Right now, most of Florida will haul a** if something comes rumbling through becuase of last year. But if you remember, a bunch of people didn't leave last year, because Andrew was over 10 years ago (13 now). It will happen again in Florida, wait 10 more years with few strong hits (if thats possible with the current upswing of activity) and Floridians will again stay when they should go. Let something hit Georgia, nobody will leave there. All I can say is me and my family will be safe, and thats about all you can hope for.

cheers,
loon

[dwg71]

I live in Houston, Cindy was not even a named storm when they had Galveston as predicted landfall. Its not a much ado about nothing attitude, its a wait until we have a named storm that is headed our way attitude.

Most local mets were not overly concerned that it was coming here, and if it did it was not going to be much more than a midrange TS.

[HouTXmetro]

i agree!

Most here have the "I have to see it to believe it' attitude." I doubt most will realize a storm will hit until they are actually feeling the effects of squall lines. Can only imagine the hysteria and panic as people rush to prepare. It will be too late then.

[LSU2001]

I live in Houston, Cindy was not even a named storm when they had Galveston as predicted landfall. Its not a much ado about nothing attitude, its a wait until we have a named storm that is headed our way attitude.

Most local mets were not overly concerned that it was coming here, and if it did it was not going to be much more than a midrange TS.

I am glad you have confidence in your local mets, here in BR the local mets seem to think their job is comedy and actually blow off everything.

[tw861]

i agree!

Most here have the "I have to see it to believe it' attitude." I doubt most will realize a storm will hit until they are actually feeling the effects of squall lines. Can only imagine the hysteria and panic as people rush to prepare. It will be too late then.

Sooner or later it will happen. Can you imagine the potential for destruction with a strong cat 4or 5 landfalling between Galveston and Freeport moving NW or N. With all of the chemical plants in this area I shudder to think what the aftermath might be. Its only a matter of time.

[HouTXmetro]

I live in Houston, Cindy was not even a named storm when they had Galveston as predicted landfall. Its not a much ado about nothing attitude, its a wait until we have a named storm that is headed our way attitude.

Most local mets were not overly concerned that it was coming here, and if it did it was not going to be much more than a midrange TS.

I am glad you have confidence in your local mets, here in BR the local mets seem to think their job is comedy and actually blow off everything.

Besides Neil Frank, I have NO confidence in the other mets.

[freeport_texas22]

i agree!

[vbhoutex]

I live in Houston, Cindy was not even a named storm when they had Galveston as predicted landfall. Its not a much ado about nothing attitude, its a wait until we have a named storm that is headed our way attitude.

Most local mets were not overly concerned that it was coming here, and if it did it was not going to be much more than a midrange TS.

Unfortunately that same wait till we have something attitude can be a real problem since we do have the real possibility of something brewing on our doorstep and going through RI. I must unfortunately agree with HTM on this one. Too many I talk to are "there's a threat?", or literally say, "it won't come here anyway, they never do.". I had a person tell me yesterday that Cindy wasn't going to be a threat to anyone on the Gulf coast and that we didn't even need to worry about "whatever that is they are talking about in the Caribbean" and he used to do weather obs in the Pacific during WWII! Of course he is 85 yrs old and still knows everything about everything, just ask him. He wasn't even willing to listen to what I had to say so I didn't waste my breath. Many I run into are that way unfortunately. Alicia was the last "baddie" we had here and that was 22 years ago. Too many do not remember it because either they weren't here then or they just don't remember back that far.

[LSU2001]

22 years,
Thats pretty recent other than andrew try Betsy 1965 for any real impact for SE La.
TIm

[Roxy]

I think that has always been the attitude of Houstonians. Most of my friends and co-workers find my obsession with hurricanes hysterical. I guess I don't blame them since I am pretty convinced we won't ever see another storm, and if we do I am sure our news people will get all riled up like it's the end of the world like they when it simply rains.

But seriously, I don't see Houston getting threatened any time soon. That may be a foolish statement but I am starting to think those people who don't think it's not a big deal...are right.

Oh, and Dr. Neil is about the only one to listen to around here!

[gboudx]

I live in Houston, Cindy was not even a named storm when they had Galveston as predicted landfall. Its not a much ado about nothing attitude, its a wait until we have a named storm that is headed our way attitude.

Most local mets were not overly concerned that it was coming here, and if it did it was not going to be much more than a midrange TS.

I am glad you have confidence in your local mets, here in BR the local mets seem to think their job is comedy and actually blow off everything.

Mets in BR are a joke. I always relied on the NWS for my local weather and forecasts.

[GalvestonDuck]

For me, it wasn't so much of a "It won't come here" attitude as it was "It needs to get over the Yucatan so we can go from there" attitude.

[Cape Verde]

[quote="HouTXmetro"]As more storms potentially target our area and turn off without even providing decent rain, I am getting more and more concerned that Residents will not heed warnings when we are faced with a real threat. [quote]<P>I have given up on it ever raining in Houston again.<P>I barbecued steaks yesterday without even lighting the grill.<P>I think we got all of the century's rainfall during Allison. That's it. No more for us.

[Roxy]

As more storms potentially target our area and turn off without even providing decent rain, I am getting more and more concerned that Residents will not heed warnings when we are faced with a real threat.

<P>I have given up on it ever raining in Houston again.<P>I barbecued steaks yesterday without even lighting the grill.<P>I think we got all of the century's rainfall during Allison. That's it. No more for us.

You might be onto something there.

[HouTXmetro]

As more storms potentially target our area and turn off without even providing decent rain, I am getting more and more concerned that Residents will not heed warnings when we are faced with a real threat.

<P>I have given up on it ever raining in Houston again.<P>I barbecued steaks yesterday without even lighting the grill.<P>I think we got all of the century's rainfall during Allison. That's it. No more for us.

You might be onto something there.

ROFL

[Hurricaneman]

I think Houston will be ok, but I would still keep a close eye on dennis

[thetraveler]

My late father said the night before Hurricane Alicia made landfall, aw son that storm aint gonna cause us no problems, it wont come here. 8 days later we finally had lights and water again.
Even though I live near Cleveland Texas now I still watch the tropics and hope every year that we dont have an Andrew OR even an Allison. To many lives at risk and to much property that can be lost. The other reason is because I hate to hear the "we're all gonna die" doom and gloom from the local tv stations. I AM glad we have Doc Frank around as he is the only one that I trust when it comes to this time of year.
Good luck to New Orleans and points south.
The Traveler...