From CNN right now: <I>As hundreds of thousands of people were fleeing coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana Thursday, Rita dropped to a still-dangerous Category 4 storm. Late Thursday, Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, warned Rita could again become a Category 5 storm overnight. </I>
New Orleans is an entirely different situation compared to Sugar Land. We are not a big "bowl" like NO, whose entire city is WELL below sea level, surrounded by a lake, and huge levies. Most people knew the doomsday scenarios for NO, in regards to flooding and damage. Several experts had very accurate models, which came true in New Orleans. I am not saying anyone shouldn't leave. If anyone feels their life is in danger it is up to them to make that decision. Also I disagree that 70 mph winds could cause that much of an impact. Here is word for word from the national hurricane center site: Category One Hurricane: Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricane Lili of 2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. Hurricane Gaston of 2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast.
Valid point. But look at this: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9429714/ Notice the evacuation zone even for a Cat. 5 hurricane.
I find you're theory lacking. Going by my plan and what a lot of other people I know were thinking, we are all planning on the same as you. Tomorrow morning I decide if I am staying or going for good. Now imagine if instead of 50% of Houstonians "jumping the gun" and making that decision a couple of days earlier, they all wait till tomorrow to decide. You'd have the same problems, only with a lot less time to deal with them. It is very very unfortunate that the people likely most affected by the storm (the coastal townspeople) had some of the worst driving experiences. But as a whole, surely starting early can only end up being a positive.
To put it bluntly ~ way too many people freaked out and bailed clogging up the highways for people that really need to get out. On top of that the folks leaving early took off to places that the hurricane was still quite capable of hitting.
I don't blame anyone for leaving the Houston area, especially when all of the models were showing it heading toward us. The flooding alone would have sent me packing if I lived in a flood prone area which, thanks to the bayous, many people do.
yes... the problem is that until now, no one would say to people futher inland.. "stay home" - the message was "do what you feel comfortable with" ... well these people are going to spend 15 hours in a car one way - I would rather spend 10 hours in my house riding out the storm I wonder how everyone will get back !
Yes, but then again, didn't the mayor of Houston call for voluntary evacuations of the Houston area yesterday or the day before? I do think it's overreaction in terms of actual danger, but even during a "regular" Cat 4 storm, there would still be 20-30 dead. Why take a chance? Why not take a short vacation instead? If I live in a hurricane area (I'm in Austin), I would always leave for a major hurricane - but I'd go to Vegas or something. Regardless of the actual danger, I don't want to deal with a lack of power or water or whatnot.
No, I don't think so. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe he did, and that's why the Brazoria Country official blasted him Thursday morning for causing the traffic jams that made it difficult for the vulnerable residents to evacuate. My theory (as you call it) is that people should evacuate based on facts and not irrational fears. If Houstonians had waited, Galvestonians and others who needed to leave could have whisked through Houston in 2-3 hours instead of 24 hours. If for some reason others on the east side needed to leave, they could have done so today. Looking at the evac map I posted, 80% of Houston will never need to evacuate, even with a Cat.5. We can cut some slack for people who live close to an evac zone line, no problem. But if you live 20-30 miles away, sorry, not a good idea. You were part of the problem and contributed to the jam that made people's cars overheat and run out of gas on freeways in Houston after driving only 20-40 miles. It's not as if Houston has never been hit by a hurricane and nobody has a clue what to expect. You are right, if irrational fears had seized us tomorrow instead of today, the same thing would have happened. My point is the irrational hysteria should not have happened and would not have happened without Katrina. I also feel the mayor and country judge could have thrown some water on the fire Thursday morning by stating the evac orders only applied to specific areas and by clearly explaining they didn't apply to Houston proper (except the areas near the ship channel). [One exception: If someone knows they live in a serious flood plain, I don't blame them for leaving]. My hope is there is a lesson learned in all of this about evacuating: Overhyping fear in such a large city has a serious downside. Next time, I bet public officials and the media are more measured, precise and factual with less hype.
Who the hell wants to stay when there's no power...no A/C??? Second-guess all you will...my 40 year old home in Houston ain't holding up surrounded by 40 year old oaks if a Cat 5 strikes. That doesn't even take into account tornadoes. Sorry...but it ain't just me. With little kids...i have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. Question all you want...second-guess all you want. With that kind of threat, I'm getting my ass out every freaking time.
Fair enough with your kids. Most women I know freaked out and left, also. But would you have bailed if you lived by yourself?
hmm...harder to say. i was saying over and over that it it were cat 4 or higher, i'd get out. that i didn't want to stay in my old house in a cat 4, taking a direct hit.
No a/c for a week is hot whether you're single or married. Part of me right now wishes we would've stayed, but that will change the second that power goes out. We spent a whole night about a month ago without a/c and it was one of the worst nights I've spent. This was still with fans and it was unbearable. I see nothing fun about sticking around and suffering through that when we had ample time to get out of the city and was able to do so without being stuck in traffic for more than 10 hours.
The "New" Levee just collapsed and New Orleans is being flooded once again. How soon people forget about Allison, and that wasn't even a Hurricane. It is supposed to rain in Houston for the next 4 days. Expect MAJOR flooding once again. Let's see who will be laughing then.
Reminds me of this quote from the movie "the shipping news" Though after Katrina i'm not so quick to dismiss these dire predictions. Keep safe y'all. We'll be wishing you and yours the best from dryer places. Those webcams of the deserted streets are certainly surreal.
I'm pretty sure he knows that. But why would you purposely deprive yourself of something like that when you have ample means of avoiding it?
I'm guessing that for some people, the inconvenience of the traffic and leaving behind your home is greater than the inconvenience of not having utilities for a while.
