Preparing for a disaster

(Crossposted from The Mark Up)

With the course of Ike moving very slightly to the east (out over Galveston Bay, as of 9:30 a.m.), it looks like our hometown of Pearland will barely, just barely, be on the less bad side of the storm. Having said that, we're going lose power, almost certainly, and I'm really worried about us losing windows and having problems with the roof. I've already kissed the satellite dish goodbye.

Now, this is child's play compared to what the people in Galveston are already dealing with. Towns like Kemah, Surfside Beach, Dickinson, Texas City and Clear Lake are going to hit by a massive storm surge. We're 16 hours out and the waves are already flying over the seawall in Galveston and I've seen indications that it's happening elsewhere too.

Some people, who left for Rita, have decided to stay. This may well be suicide. One woman in Galveston, with kids aged 5 and 7, are riding it out in the flood area in a one-story home. I would say it is highly likely that they are in the final 24 hours of their lives, and it hurts badly to say that because it's not hyperbole.

Galveston will be devastated by the storm surge. Places on the other side of the bay, like Port Arthur, Winnie and Beaumont, are being largely ignored right now but are going to get absolutely slammed. I'm afraid a lot of those people didn't get out.

Due to the utter incompetence of the Galveston County Judge and the mayor of the city of Galveston, a lot of people in the bull's eye have not recognized the danger they face and have stayed. It's estimated that half of Galveston's population of 60,000 have stayed. The surge that might hit Galveston could wipe out a lot of those people...as the city itself is already flooded.

ABC-13 is reporting that rescue teams tried to get some people in Surfside Beach whose house is already surrounded by water to leave. They refused. There's very little chance those people will get to change their minds. The authorities looked at each other, shook their heads and asked for their names and social security numbers to inform their next of kin.

Katrina is about to get some company, if not get knocked firmly to the sidelines. This will be a disaster of incredible proportions.