Ike - "Certain Death"

[Doreen Peri]

I just heard on the news that there are still approximately 20,000 people in Galveston who haven't yet evacuated, despite the warnings of "certain death" if they don't leave. What's the matter with people? Are they stupid?

I don't know whether the weather reports are exaggerating the intensity of this storm but they are saying that the national weather service has NEVER used the term "certain death" to describe what would happen to people who did not evacuate during a mandatory evacuation.

This is frightening!

I hope the storm is milder than expected and if it's not, I pray those people get out of there quickly! It's supposed to hit later tonight.

[hester_prynne]

Yes it's weirder than heck. It's like an attack is coming.
Some folks believe that Hurricanes are now man-driven and power increased via man. Do you think so? There are a few websites with convincing evidence that hurrican manipulations have been going on since the 50's, and that they are actually considered weapons. Or maybe election distractions.....??????

Have Hurricanes gotten worse or am I just becoming more aware?
All you Texans out there, beeeeee careful.
Lrod, Stilltruck, are you guys on safe ground? Stock up on food, candles, stuff you need...make a boat connection....
Very scary stuff.
H

[Doreen Peri]

I only think they're man-driven in that man has contributed a great deal to global warming. Yeah they're getting worse. Well at least in my memory!

Oh and also.... the news reporting and storm/weather tracking is far superior now than it's ever been because of technology so we hear more about these storms now than we used to.

Stay safe texans!

If you're anywhere near Galveston or Houston, get the heck outa there!

[Artguy]

Ike Turner returns..for more destruction.

[mtmynd]

"Certain Death" was used by officials in the Houston area... not sure who the officials worked for, but it apparently was not an exaggeration - Galveston began flooding hours ago, this afternoon, and Ike had not even gotten close... it was the results of the storm's surge.

In watching live pictures of this huge storm, the newspeople have commented on the large amounts of folks that are sight-seeing right next to these tremendous waves crashing against Galveston's sea wall. In one interview a weatherman interviewed a woman with her two young girls and another woman. Asked why she had not evacuated she said she was a native Galvestonian that lived her whole life there. She couldn't leave her kids and pets behind. (What! Take your kids with you before it's too late. Are you friggin' nutsz???) Yes, there are stupid people. Several reported not evacuating then phoning the Coast Guard to rescue them because the flooding was worse that they expected... despite the enormous amount of press coverage the storm has been getting for several days. It's truly unbelievable how many folks ignore the warnings.

(We're 750 miles west of the storm.)

[Doreen Peri]

I heard on the news that the officials who said "Certain Death" were referring to the Galveston area .... they were officials from the National Weather Service.

Anyway, those people are really really stupid!!! I totally agree!

I'm glad you're nowhere near the storm!

What an era we live in where you can watch natural disasters live on TV. sighh..... i was watching earlier as Galveston was starting to flood and i had to stop watching it.
But I'm going to go back and catch up soon.

I hope there are no lives lost!!!

[stilltrucking]

The Galveston hurricane remains the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
The big one: 108 years ago, the nation's worst natural disaster nearly destroyed Galveston

Some Galveston historians believe that the death toll estimate of 6,000 is woefully low. An estimated 37,000 people were on the island when the storm struck. Weeks later, 12,000 of them were still missing. Many families simply packed up what little they had and left.


http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/893953.html

LETHAL WEAPON: WAVES AND WINDS CRUSHED MOST OF THE CITY.
DATE: SEPTEMBER 8TH-9TH, 1900
DEATH TOLL: ABOUT ONE OF EVERY SIX GALVESTON RESIDENTS KILLED.

http://www.qsl.net/w5www/hurricane.html

[Doreen Peri]

Yeah they played some film footage of that 1900 storm earlier today. Way tragic! They didn't have a clue it was even coming!

....

i've got the TV on now and what I don't get is why those idiot reporters are standing right there smack dab in the middle of the storm!

If they're trying to convince people it's dangerous, why would they stand right in it like that?

That's really not too bright if you ask me.

I hope none of them gets hurt!

[Artguy]

We will be getting Ike's hangover tonight with a forecasted 40cm (approximately 12" ) of rain...