Galveston was unprepared for the onslaught of people that showed up today. The roads aren't all clear there yet. With all the residents coming in, it held up many of those who are working on recovery. There's only one way onto the island and they looked like they had only one or two lanes open on the causeway. It blocked trucks with supplies from getting in. I know they're frustrated, I would be, too. Seabrook was closed to residents, too, until Monday morning. However, some parts of Seabrook are still closed. I'm not sure if residents are allowed a "look and see" in those areas.
Hurricane Ike - Aftermath
- Thread starter TxDsnyGrl74
- Start date
TxDsnyGrl74
Everybody should believe in something; I believe I
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2007
- Messages
- 579
I was so frustrated this weekend watching the coverage from FL. All the media kept showing was the Galveston seawall, downtown Houston, and a few other spots.
The media finally said that they were being prevented by government to go into the West End of Galveston and the Bolivar Area. They had issued a no fly zone over these areas to media helicopters. The first pictures I saw of Bolivar were taken from a small personal plane. They said they needed it for the search and rescue helicopters (which I do understand). Personally I think that they didnt want Katrina like images broadcast all over the world in an election year, and after the colossal failings of FEMA.
TxDsnyGrl74
Everybody should believe in something; I believe I
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2007
- Messages
- 579
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5heieqmTrYWZZb5DWtXg0LrYvhuDgD937LNI00
I wondered when I saw the footage of Bolivar how they got that tractor onto the island. It's basically only accesable by water or air now. After reading this story, I now know.
Man stricken with loss when rescue never came
By ALLEN G. BREED – 1 hour ago
GILCHRIST, Texas (AP) — Shell-shocked, hungry and still reeling from the loss of a woman who'd clung to rafters with him against the full fury of Hurricane Ike, Bobby Anderson limped off ravaged Bolivar Peninsula in a pickup truck reclaimed from the gulf.
"I'm hoping they find her alive or well," a dazed Anderson said Monday night after emerging from the darkness across the debris-littered road that led past rows of beach houses scoured clean by the storm.
Anderson refused to identify the woman swept away before his eyes when Ike raked this barrier island Saturday, except to say she was the girlfriend of a former employee. But he showed no such restraint when it came to his bitterness over a rescue that never happened and post-storm help that never came.
"What assistance?" the 56-year-old home designer and builder said from the cab of his battered black Chevy. "I mean, there's helicopters landing there every day. They don't bring food OR water. I mean, you know, old Gov. Rick (Perry) dropped the ball on this one."
For the past three days, Anderson and about 20 others "scattered here, there and yonder" in the communities of Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar have been sharing food and comfort, holding fast to what remains of their lives.
Anderson said he had every intention of leaving after the National Weather Service warned that people who lived on the fragile chain of barrier islands along the Texas coast faced "certain death" from Ike's massive storm surge.
Despite all the coverage, Anderson said he and his friend were caught off guard. When they tried to leave Friday, they encountered waters up to 4 feet deep engulfing the road to Gilchrist.
They retreated to Crystal Beach, and Anderson said a friend told him he could call for a helicopter rescue. He said he made the first call at 1 p.m. and told the dispatcher where they were. "OK," the dispatcher responded. "We'll come and get you."
When help had not arrived by 2 p.m., Anderson called again and got the same response. At 3 p.m., the same.
Finally, at 3:30 p.m. the dispatcher told him: "It's too late. We're not flying anymore."
Anderson said he and his friend had gone to a building that was under construction "because we felt like it was a good place for a helicopter to land." When asked to describe their ordeal, he refused.
"I'd really rather not," he said.
When search and rescue teams finally arrived on the island, Anderson told them about his friend and asked them to search for her. But there were no reports of her — alive or dead.
Rescuers asked him to leave with them. He refused.
Miraculously, one of Anderson's three homes on the island survived the storm. Anderson said he didn't want to leave his valuable computer and drafting equipment unprotected.
During the next two days, he and others found refuge in wrecked homes, a school and even a Baptist church. They subsisted on whatever they found lying around: boiled shrimp from a freezer, uncooked hot dogs, leftover pizza and cashews.
Anderson lost two vehicles in the storm, but he thought he could get an old pickup running.
"We had to take the starter off and get all the seashells and sand and everything out of it, and basically rebuild it the best we could," he said. Fortunately, one holdout had a battery charger and another had a generator to power it.
As he worked on the truck, he said he watched as search teams broke into storage sheds and "hot-wired" whatever equipment they could find. He said a man came up to him and threatened to commandeer the truck.
"They said they had the authority from President Bush to do what they want to do, to take anything they needed to get the job done," he said. "I didn't think it was supposed to be like this."
Anderson said he was able to keep the truck by telling searchers it wouldn't run.
At dusk Monday, Anderson hopped in the truck and set out for the mainland. Around 9 p.m., he encountered a state wildlife official escorting a group of reporters through Gilchrist's ruins.
Aaron Reed, a spokesman for Texas Parks and Wildlife, had seen the tearful Anderson the day after the storm. He gave the grizzled, disheveled survivor a case of water Monday night and told him of a place on nearby High Island where fellow holdouts were grilling food.
Anderson was planning to spend the night there before making his way to Beaumont.
As he slurped a proffered plastic cup of mandarin oranges, Anderson gazed at the Stonehenge-like remains of a once gorgeous stilt home. He'd worked on some of these homes; he thought they could withstand a storm.
But, Anderson said, "this was an out-of-the-ordinary storm."
I wondered when I saw the footage of Bolivar how they got that tractor onto the island. It's basically only accesable by water or air now. After reading this story, I now know.
Man stricken with loss when rescue never came
By ALLEN G. BREED – 1 hour ago
GILCHRIST, Texas (AP) — Shell-shocked, hungry and still reeling from the loss of a woman who'd clung to rafters with him against the full fury of Hurricane Ike, Bobby Anderson limped off ravaged Bolivar Peninsula in a pickup truck reclaimed from the gulf.
"I'm hoping they find her alive or well," a dazed Anderson said Monday night after emerging from the darkness across the debris-littered road that led past rows of beach houses scoured clean by the storm.
Anderson refused to identify the woman swept away before his eyes when Ike raked this barrier island Saturday, except to say she was the girlfriend of a former employee. But he showed no such restraint when it came to his bitterness over a rescue that never happened and post-storm help that never came.
"What assistance?" the 56-year-old home designer and builder said from the cab of his battered black Chevy. "I mean, there's helicopters landing there every day. They don't bring food OR water. I mean, you know, old Gov. Rick (Perry) dropped the ball on this one."
For the past three days, Anderson and about 20 others "scattered here, there and yonder" in the communities of Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar have been sharing food and comfort, holding fast to what remains of their lives.
Anderson said he had every intention of leaving after the National Weather Service warned that people who lived on the fragile chain of barrier islands along the Texas coast faced "certain death" from Ike's massive storm surge.
Despite all the coverage, Anderson said he and his friend were caught off guard. When they tried to leave Friday, they encountered waters up to 4 feet deep engulfing the road to Gilchrist.
They retreated to Crystal Beach, and Anderson said a friend told him he could call for a helicopter rescue. He said he made the first call at 1 p.m. and told the dispatcher where they were. "OK," the dispatcher responded. "We'll come and get you."
When help had not arrived by 2 p.m., Anderson called again and got the same response. At 3 p.m., the same.
Finally, at 3:30 p.m. the dispatcher told him: "It's too late. We're not flying anymore."
Anderson said he and his friend had gone to a building that was under construction "because we felt like it was a good place for a helicopter to land." When asked to describe their ordeal, he refused.
"I'd really rather not," he said.
When search and rescue teams finally arrived on the island, Anderson told them about his friend and asked them to search for her. But there were no reports of her — alive or dead.
Rescuers asked him to leave with them. He refused.
Miraculously, one of Anderson's three homes on the island survived the storm. Anderson said he didn't want to leave his valuable computer and drafting equipment unprotected.
During the next two days, he and others found refuge in wrecked homes, a school and even a Baptist church. They subsisted on whatever they found lying around: boiled shrimp from a freezer, uncooked hot dogs, leftover pizza and cashews.
Anderson lost two vehicles in the storm, but he thought he could get an old pickup running.
"We had to take the starter off and get all the seashells and sand and everything out of it, and basically rebuild it the best we could," he said. Fortunately, one holdout had a battery charger and another had a generator to power it.
As he worked on the truck, he said he watched as search teams broke into storage sheds and "hot-wired" whatever equipment they could find. He said a man came up to him and threatened to commandeer the truck.
"They said they had the authority from President Bush to do what they want to do, to take anything they needed to get the job done," he said. "I didn't think it was supposed to be like this."
Anderson said he was able to keep the truck by telling searchers it wouldn't run.
At dusk Monday, Anderson hopped in the truck and set out for the mainland. Around 9 p.m., he encountered a state wildlife official escorting a group of reporters through Gilchrist's ruins.
Aaron Reed, a spokesman for Texas Parks and Wildlife, had seen the tearful Anderson the day after the storm. He gave the grizzled, disheveled survivor a case of water Monday night and told him of a place on nearby High Island where fellow holdouts were grilling food.
Anderson was planning to spend the night there before making his way to Beaumont.
As he slurped a proffered plastic cup of mandarin oranges, Anderson gazed at the Stonehenge-like remains of a once gorgeous stilt home. He'd worked on some of these homes; he thought they could withstand a storm.
But, Anderson said, "this was an out-of-the-ordinary storm."
4greatboys
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2002
- Messages
- 26,815
Are you kidding me?? You should have seen the line at Taco Bell on Eglin Blvd in Fort Walton Beach when they opened after Erin...luckily, husband and I beat that traffic!
A manager was out re-routing drive thru customers out of traffic!
To those of you who made it through....bless you. I just cannot believe the damage Ike did as a Cat 2...Ivan didn't do NEAR the damage here in the panhandle and he was a Cat 3. Wow.
The storm was only 1 mph under a Cat 3 and the size of the storm made the storm surge that of a Cat 4.
4greatboys
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2002
- Messages
- 26,815
Those pictures I posted are from Friendswood.
gm- did all of Spring Tx get there power back on? My friend lives there and they told her 2-4 weeks with no power??
She said they had a tornado go over her house but no damage...thank good. She has no sewer and they were opening the man holes to helo with the back up.. they have enough water in tubs to last them a while but they are running low on perishables and milk and juice for the kids....thankfully they got gas for the generator
She said they had a tornado go over her house but no damage...thank good. She has no sewer and they were opening the man holes to helo with the back up.. they have enough water in tubs to last them a while but they are running low on perishables and milk and juice for the kids....thankfully they got gas for the generator
Juliegirl1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2006
- Messages
- 737
I live in the Jersey Village are and we still don't have power. and I know Meyerland doesn't have power either. I had to return to work yesterday and have been bringing my son with me. Luckily I work in an office in the Galleria and we have full power and we can get a hot meal for lunch.
I fared well and so did most of my family and friends - flooding, no power, trees down and sheet rock and roof damage but at least the roofs are still there. Bolivar is more or less gone. I am sad about Galveston - we actually had planned to rent a house in Crystal beach for a weekend in October.
It was a scary hurricane and I am amazed and grateful that the loss of life was not worse than what is being reported.
I fared well and so did most of my family and friends - flooding, no power, trees down and sheet rock and roof damage but at least the roofs are still there. Bolivar is more or less gone. I am sad about Galveston - we actually had planned to rent a house in Crystal beach for a weekend in October.
It was a scary hurricane and I am amazed and grateful that the loss of life was not worse than what is being reported.
Um, I'm pretty sure Katrina hit before Wilma did.
I hope all the DISers who were impacted by Ike are ok.
From my experience in the aftermath of Katrina, the baptist churches were the best sources of aid for items like food, water, clothing, toiletries, etc. FEMA was a mess and the Red Cross was overwhelmed.
VirtuallyMe
<font color=darkorchid>I had a snail named, Ralph<
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2005
- Messages
- 2,751
The damage is extensive... and devastating to see.
My family were all lucky in the Lake Charles area- even my grandmother who lives near the lake stayed dry- and my sister is in between a bayou and the lake and her street all stayed dry while others around them went under several feet of water.
Most of our area never lost power- there are pockets still without but for the most part all is well- luckily we didn't have the wind damage and downed trees to contend with like we did in the aftermath of Rita
Cameron Parish to our immediate south- is basically wiped out- there are a few structures with minimal damage- which is a big difference from Rita- where even the slabs were washed away. They just passed a ruling that to have a trailer in cameron parish if it is in upper cameron it must be able to stand Cat 1 hurricane winds and if in lower cameron it must withstand cat 2 winds and be elevated. They did have several new beach front elevated homes that appeared to survive in the fly over- there are areas no one has been in on foot yet because there is no way to get there.
They did a look and leave yesterday and our doctor got stuck- they had a 1 hour time limit in am and again in the evening- where a bridge is opened- if they missed the pontoon bridge they were stuck there.
They discussed the Cameron Schools- all took some damage- but one will be up and running before the others- one they hope to get cleaned enough to have another use their school too- and still another will probablly have to have their students attend schools in our area. They have no estimated date to get the cameron parish schools back open. Two calcasieu parish schools couldn't open yet due to damage- but they say it isn't too bad at those two schools. For Rita our kids were out for 6 weeks of school before they could open- and power was out of most of our area for 3-4 weeks- longer in others.
I know our phlebotomist does DNA testing and she is doing tests on bodies- but they were dead before the storm and washed out of grave yards- they are trying to identify them to make sure they can be reclaimed by the family.
My boss is from Beaumont- his wife is a nurse and during the storm she was sheltered in her hospital- while there- the windows blew in in the lobby and water came in, a ventilator patients bed caught on fire and she put it out while a coworker rescued the patient, and she delivered a baby in the cafeteria of the hospital...
The damage is extensive in southeast Texas there are many nursing homes that were completely destroyed and still under water- that is lots of people who need specialized care with no place to go- who are confused and disoriented already- it is really sad.
I still can't believe people stayed on the barrier islands in Texas- that had to be terrifying- they underestimated the strength of the storm- and didn't get out when they had time and then were stuck...
My family were all lucky in the Lake Charles area- even my grandmother who lives near the lake stayed dry- and my sister is in between a bayou and the lake and her street all stayed dry while others around them went under several feet of water.
Most of our area never lost power- there are pockets still without but for the most part all is well- luckily we didn't have the wind damage and downed trees to contend with like we did in the aftermath of Rita
Cameron Parish to our immediate south- is basically wiped out- there are a few structures with minimal damage- which is a big difference from Rita- where even the slabs were washed away. They just passed a ruling that to have a trailer in cameron parish if it is in upper cameron it must be able to stand Cat 1 hurricane winds and if in lower cameron it must withstand cat 2 winds and be elevated. They did have several new beach front elevated homes that appeared to survive in the fly over- there are areas no one has been in on foot yet because there is no way to get there.
They did a look and leave yesterday and our doctor got stuck- they had a 1 hour time limit in am and again in the evening- where a bridge is opened- if they missed the pontoon bridge they were stuck there.
They discussed the Cameron Schools- all took some damage- but one will be up and running before the others- one they hope to get cleaned enough to have another use their school too- and still another will probablly have to have their students attend schools in our area. They have no estimated date to get the cameron parish schools back open. Two calcasieu parish schools couldn't open yet due to damage- but they say it isn't too bad at those two schools. For Rita our kids were out for 6 weeks of school before they could open- and power was out of most of our area for 3-4 weeks- longer in others.
I know our phlebotomist does DNA testing and she is doing tests on bodies- but they were dead before the storm and washed out of grave yards- they are trying to identify them to make sure they can be reclaimed by the family.
My boss is from Beaumont- his wife is a nurse and during the storm she was sheltered in her hospital- while there- the windows blew in in the lobby and water came in, a ventilator patients bed caught on fire and she put it out while a coworker rescued the patient, and she delivered a baby in the cafeteria of the hospital...
The damage is extensive in southeast Texas there are many nursing homes that were completely destroyed and still under water- that is lots of people who need specialized care with no place to go- who are confused and disoriented already- it is really sad.
I still can't believe people stayed on the barrier islands in Texas- that had to be terrifying- they underestimated the strength of the storm- and didn't get out when they had time and then were stuck...
I do think the people on the barrier island (Bolivar and Crystal Beach area) did underestimate the strength of the storm. My husband was working on Bolivar last Tuesday and the people on the island were talking about evacuations then. There are only 2 ways off of there, the ferry and one road. It was announced early on when the last ferries would run. (Some time on Thurs, I believe) Some chose to wait until midday Friday to leave, when the storm was "expected" around midnight. Why they thought that'd be enough time is beyond me. Some storms come early. Several helicopter rescues were made from there, but couldn't go in after 3:00 or so. People were given plenty of warning, in my opinion. I didn't want to leave my home either, but my home and its things can be replaced. I do feel sorry for what those people went through, I'm not trying to sound callous, but I also think people need to take some personal responsibility here. We have 2 friends that lost houses on Crystal Beach. They lived there full time. One friend said he has 3 pairs of shorts, 3 pairs of underwear, and his flip flops. That's about it. He also earned his living selling to the businesses in that area, they're all gone, too.
I also think part of the reason they were hesitant to show parts of the beaches, initially, was that they were afraid there might be bodies floating there.
I also think part of the reason they were hesitant to show parts of the beaches, initially, was that they were afraid there might be bodies floating there.
Planogirl
I feel the nerd in me stirring
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
- Messages
- 49,780
I'm always amazed that people move back to Bolivar. People think that New Orleans is vulnerable? It's nothing compared to the Bolivar Peninsula.
I saw pictures and it looks like the lighthouse is fine. Not much else is though.
I saw pictures and it looks like the lighthouse is fine. Not much else is though.
DisneyMommyMichelle
A Maelstromer From Way Back...
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2005
- Messages
- 29,351
HI all! Can anyone tell me where Tyler, Tx is in relation to all this? Thanks so much and my prayers are with you all.
Talking Hands
<font color=purple><b>|,,|/</b> DEAF DISNEY LOVER<
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2002
- Messages
- 9,711
Honestly anyone living on a barrier island like Bolivar or Galveston takes their life in their hands if they do not evacuate for any hurricane. These are very vunerable properties.
I know it seems terrible now and the idea of no electricity for weeks or more is daunting but people will survive. Salvation Army and Red Cross provides food and people should have had food and water for a few days available if they prepared. It takes that much time to get things set up which why we are told to do this.
We survived hurricane Andrew. No electricity for 3 weeks, no phone service for 2 1/2 months, and no cable for a full year. Btw we were lucky. It took my neighbors across the street 6 weeks before they got electricity. We were on a trunk for the school on our side of the street and their side was not.
I know it seems terrible now and the idea of no electricity for weeks or more is daunting but people will survive. Salvation Army and Red Cross provides food and people should have had food and water for a few days available if they prepared. It takes that much time to get things set up which why we are told to do this.
We survived hurricane Andrew. No electricity for 3 weeks, no phone service for 2 1/2 months, and no cable for a full year. Btw we were lucky. It took my neighbors across the street 6 weeks before they got electricity. We were on a trunk for the school on our side of the street and their side was not.
Feralpeg
Living and Loving Windermere!
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2000
- Messages
- 19,390
The pictures out of Texas break my heart. The pictures of the people with homes flooded out on the east coast of Florida also break my heart. Sadly, there have been so many natural disasters lately. From the fires in California to the fires in Florida, the damage caused by Dolly, Fay, Gustav and now, Ike, it is just too much for most people to take in. I don't think it is because people are not sensitive to the need of these folks, there just are too many in need and people don't know what to do to help.
I really don't think we will see the out pouring of money to help the folks hurt by Ike the way we did with Katrina for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that the money raised for the Katrina victims was not used effectively. People remember this. The most important reason I don't think people will give is because too many people are hurting financially right now. As much as they'd like to give, they just can't. Personally, I am putting together clothing items to take to the Salvation Army. I hope the items go to help folks in need.
Just yesterday, they were talking about how the food pantries in Florida are empty. One out of twenty people in Florida are out of work. It is a sad situation.
I hope the government thinks a little out of the box on this one and comes up with a plan that will allow people who have lost their homes and their places of employment to work and get paid to rebuild the storm damaged areas.
I really don't think we will see the out pouring of money to help the folks hurt by Ike the way we did with Katrina for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that the money raised for the Katrina victims was not used effectively. People remember this. The most important reason I don't think people will give is because too many people are hurting financially right now. As much as they'd like to give, they just can't. Personally, I am putting together clothing items to take to the Salvation Army. I hope the items go to help folks in need.
Just yesterday, they were talking about how the food pantries in Florida are empty. One out of twenty people in Florida are out of work. It is a sad situation.
I hope the government thinks a little out of the box on this one and comes up with a plan that will allow people who have lost their homes and their places of employment to work and get paid to rebuild the storm damaged areas.
4greatboys
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2002
- Messages
- 26,815
Tyler is about 5 hours NE of Houston (a little to the East of Dallas).
Planogirl
I feel the nerd in me stirring
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
- Messages
- 49,780
It looked like Tyler got some good rain from this but they appeared to on the "dry" side of the storm. I haven't heard about any flooding out of East Texas and I have some family further east than Tyler.
ilovejack02
<font color=peach>what do you all think?<br><font
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2006
- Messages
- 7,837
My thoughts and prayers go out to all hit by Ike.
We just got back from Disney last night and didnt watch much news while we were there, but we did see was heartbreaking.
My best friend is in Texas now, his mom lives in Galveston about a block from the beach. He is hoping to get in and try to salvage something. Havent heard from him in a day and we are hoping he is safe. His mom evacuated here thank God, but didnt get much out besides clothes. From what I understand she has no plans to return and will start life over here
We just got back from Disney last night and didnt watch much news while we were there, but we did see was heartbreaking.
My best friend is in Texas now, his mom lives in Galveston about a block from the beach. He is hoping to get in and try to salvage something. Havent heard from him in a day and we are hoping he is safe. His mom evacuated here thank God, but didnt get much out besides clothes. From what I understand she has no plans to return and will start life over here
DisneyMommyMichelle
A Maelstromer From Way Back...
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2005
- Messages
- 29,351
Thank you so much.
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