Ike made landfall Saturday morning and Galveston and Houston were hit directly. Galveston took the brunt of the storm since it is on the water and was hit by the 12 foot storm surge (wall of water in front of the eye). Most of the damage you see on TV is not from wind, but from the powerful water destroying everything in its path.
Tina asked me this weekend why Ike had so much more damage than Gustav and they were the same strength. I answered they didn't, but the media was camped out in New Orleans, which was spared a direct hit by Gustav. Gustav hit rural areas that were destroyed, but we did not see a lot of that because it was not a metro area. Galveston and Houston make up the 4th largest metro in the country...a perfect setting for great video of damage. By the way, a few reporters were once again testing their luck while covering this storm. Unbelievable.
Anyway, my beef once again are the people who did not evacuate. They feared after Rita last year when people sat in cars for days and did not move that many people would ignore the warnings...that is what happened. Despite MANDATORY evacuations, thousands stayed put. What happened next? What always happens...they are now begging for help. They were lucky to survive the storm but now they have to battle the storm aftermath. High water, no running water or electricity, no gas or food and unsanitary conditions. They are stuck with no place to go since their homes are uninhabitable. Now instead of cleaning up, rescue workers are risking their lives to look for anyone that stayed behind. I may sound cold, but I do not have much sympathy for those who took a chance. I feel bad they have lost everything and that their lives may never be the same, but to not listen to warnings and take on the storm is not very smart...and now thy are begging for help. It just does not make much sense. This was a strong category 2 storm...imagine the devastation from a 4 or 5.
Not only did they stay, they did not have enough supplies. When I did weather talks in Florida I always brought the list of supplies you would need for hurricane season. It amazes me to this day the video of stores running out of supplies before the storm hits...they should have also this stuff before the storm season begins. They needed a gallon of water per person per day for 2 weeks. Enough dried and canned food for two weeks. Batteries (no electricity), gas and money for weeks. No electricity means no ATMs and no money. That is just the beginning...the list is huge, but you have to be prepared. Look at the people down in Texas with nothing and it may take a month to get electricity back. It is best to leave. But then there is the quote..I stayed because I had no other place to go. What? Just get out of town and stay in a hotel away from the 10 to 20 foot wall of water. Anywhere is better than there. I just don't get it and I never will. I said it last week..the people of New Orleans left for Gustav after what happened with Katrina, but history shows us they will not leave for the next threat.
While I am angry at those who did not take the warnings seriously and are now struggling, my thoughts and prayers go out to them and everyone affected by Ike.
