09L: Hurricane Ike

[Steve Miller TX]

I can't really add anything to what David wrote up. It really is an eye-opener being there and then seeing how the media was hyping things up. The exception of course is the western end of the island. Anyway, I've got some preliminary photos of our experiences out of the nearly 400 I took. I'll eventually get an entire photo album up soon.

 

[Jay McCoy]

I agree. But look out - here come those who would legislate for you and me. I do not know which is worse sometimes; the terrible storm and following devastation - OR those who would legislate measured devastation to our freedoms. People have the right to stay with their homes in the same way storm chasers have the right to risk their own lives by getting within dangers grasp. Drawing the lines inside freedom's no man's land is sure to be accepted by some, but draw criticism from others.

I agree people have the "right" to remain in their homes when told to evacuate. I think most peoples problems and mine for sure is that after they choose to exercise that right and the storm hits they suddenly grow brains and realize their mistake and start calling 911 for help. I feel if they choose to remain then they do so knowing that they also give up their right to call screaming for help during or after the event. Why should us 1st responders risk our lives and spend the money to go rescue people who were told by officials to get out in the 1st place. they chose their path so let them walk it.

I have the same argument for people who ride motorcycles without helmets. Fine let the wind blow in your hair and enjoy your freedom of choice but when you wipe out and suffer head trauma and need lifetime medical care dont expect the government to pay for it. People depend way to much on government handouts to help cover their stupid choices and lifestyles but thats a whole seperate thread we could do all day.


BTY great pics Steve.. Wish I could have gone but work..work ..work..

 

[Robert Dewey]

Speaking of Ike... winds are still gusting up in the 65-75MPH range in IN/OH. Incredible.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Back safely in Pensacola.

Chase in Glavestion was a major success.

Thanks to all the chasers I met along the way for information, etc.

Law enforcement in Galvestion were professional and handled the press in an excellent manner. My offer to form a chase group to "taser" looters was approved... lol... but quickly revoked by the police in good humor... at least for them. Seriously, it really makes me sick to see homes and businesses looted after those responsible citizens and business owners evacuated for their own safety. The most upsetting moment was when the popular sea shell shop was coming apart and looters began helping themselves, including kids who's parents looked on. This, despite the mega waves breaking over them, filled with debris. I have this on video and I'm going to wait a few days to watch it as I'm still quite pi$$ed.

As for the evacuation discussion: I think it's critical for our personal freedoms to have the right to protect/and or stay on our own property and not be forced out. Forcing people out puts us on the dangerous path of losing all such freedoms, not just for bad weather, but whenever the goverment wants us out. Not good. With the exceptions of the elderly, disabled and children, let them stay and die -- as long as they have been informed and warned. The warnings were clear and the projected path was known days in advance. I spoke to several of the idiots who stuck around, and I must say the Darwin theory apples to this situation.

It might be a good idea to start billing them for the rescues if they do not leave, like the "stupid driver" law we have in Arizona for drivers who get stuck in flash-flooded dips.

Warren

 

[Randy Denzer]

I agree people have the "right" to remain in their homes when told to evacuate. I think most peoples problems and mine for sure is that after they choose to exercise that right and the storm hits they suddenly grow brains and realize their mistake and start calling 911 for help. I feel if they choose to remain then they do so knowing that they also give up their right to call screaming for help during or after the event. Why should us 1st responders risk our lives and spend the money to go rescue people who were told by officials to get out in the 1st place. they chose their path so let them walk it.

I have the same argument for people who ride motorcycles without helmets. Fine let the wind blow in your hair and enjoy your freedom of choice but when you wipe out and suffer head trauma and need lifetime medical care dont expect the government to pay for it. People depend way to much on government handouts to help cover their stupid choices and lifestyles but thats a whole seperate thread we could do all day.


BTY great pics Steve.. Wish I could have gone but work..work ..work..

Jay,
No one was risking there lives to save anyone who called 911 Friday night. TXTF 1 shut down ops at about 1800 and did not emerge until the storm was over. The Local Galveston guys stopped working around 2000 and hunkered down until things were safer to work. The people who stayed were well informed of the dangers and given the option. They were also told they would not get help until well after the storm was over. This is exactly how it played out.

Socialism only makes things worse.....

Warren,
They are charging for those types of calls here in Texas also.

 

[Jay McCoy]

Jay,
No one was risking there lives to save anyone who called 911 Friday night. TXTF 1 shut down ops at about 1800 and did not emerge until the storm was over. The Local Galveston guys stopped working around 2000 and hunkered down until things were safer to work. The people who stayed were well informed of the dangers and given the option. They were also told they would not get help after the storm hit. This is exactly how it played out.

You do not have to make a socialist society to fix things...

I said they didnt respond during the event as is the case in all hurricanes but that didnt stop hundreds from calling 911 that night asking to be rescued. Once winds hit 50mph all operations ceased. The rescuers are out NOW dealing with debris, water, sewage, etc.. to rescue people who were too stupid to leave. Over 2000 rescues so far. That all costs $$ and puts responders in jeopardy for no reason. They should either leave them to their fortune or charge them for the service. Thats not a socialist society. Its a society of personal responsibility which many people have forgotten. But I know how the system works and yes when called I will respond and help idiots like this even though I dont agree with it. Its what I do.

And Warren if you caught these looting jackasses on video I suggest giving a copy to the local PD just in case they regognize any them as locals they have dealt with before. It could help them and the business owner deal with these jerks and give a bit more credit to chasers

Glad you had some fun.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

The safety factor for EMS personnel still comes into major play when they have to risk themselves and others by rescuing the boneheads who choose not to leave when warned and then cry out for help. It may be their jobs to help, but they should not be subjected to the stupidity of others when they were warned about the possible dangers and risks.

Jay,
No one was risking there lives to save anyone who called 911 Friday night. TXTF 1 shut down ops at about 1800 and did not emerge until the storm was over. The Local Galveston guys stopped working around 2000 and hunkered down until things were safer to work. The people who stayed were well informed of the dangers and given the option. They were also told they would not get help after the storm hit. This is exactly how it played out.

You do not have to make a socialist society to fix things...

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

"....And Warren if you caught these looting jackasses on video I suggest giving a copy to the local PD just in case they regognize any them as locals they have dealt with before. It could help them and the business owner deal with these jerks and give a bit more credit to chasers..." -Jay McCoy

Sure would be a good idea. The ONLY thing the film needs is a time/date stanp on that recording to be admissible in court - by most courts - anyway. I'm not quite sure if the SMPTE time code shows date. Does it?

Are ther any ACCURATE damage assesments at this point? Not to be macabre, but are there any confirmed death reports published either? WHo has the BEST official published info? Houston Chronicle?

 

[Jim Saueressig]

My Opinion:

It should always be our right to stay put and ignore an evacuation.

If you stay then you are on your own, no money or efforts should be made to save your ass anytime during or after the event when you could have done so yourself before the event.

No federal money should be spent on any recovery, cleanup or rebuilding areas like NO that is under the sea level in the first place, or a flood area or even a coastal area.... You know the risks of staying there so deal with it. The cities should be responsible for all cleanup, they should raise taxes or whatever to make sure they can fund all clean up.

We should never have our insurance premiums (in unrelated areas) rise because of these situations. People in those areas should foot all costs associated with living there.

Looters should be shot and killed on sight.

 

[Chris Strahan]

My Opinion:

It should always be our right to stay put and ignore an evacuation.

If you stay then you are on your own, no money or efforts should be made to save your ass anytime during or after the event when you could have done so yourself before the event.

No federal money should be spent on any recovery, cleanup or rebuilding areas like NO that is under the sea level in the first place, or a flood area or even a coastal area.... You know the risks of staying there so deal with it. The cities should be responsible for all cleanup, they should raise taxes or whatever to make sure they can fund all clean up.

We should never have our insurance premiums (in unrelated areas) rise because of these situations. People in those areas should foot all costs associated with living there.

Looters should be shot and killed on sight.

Yup yup!!! X2!!

That was kind of my point, just could not word it quite right! Thanks Jim S.!

 

[Jeff Snyder]

OK, I found a pretty brutal picture of Crystal Beach... I think the "before" picture is of the correct neighborhood, and I tried to line up the view in Google Earth correctly to reflect the picture.

BEFORE:

IMAGE CREDIT: GOOGLE EARTH
AFTER:

IMAGE CREDIT: SMILEY N. POOL: CHRONICLE
(Image 25 at http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Ike_blasts_Houston_Galveston.html)

 

[Simon Brewer]

Report:
Juston Drake and I rode out Hurricane Ike in the Hotel Galvez parking Garage on Galveston Island. The parking garage was 3 stories with an open roof north of most of the media at the San Luis Hotel. Tough to tell the exact storm surge at that location due to large waves. Witnessed numerous structures claimed by the sea as the eyewall hit. Saw the shape of the moon through a cirrus canopy in the eye, which was cool.

We recorded a minimum pressure in the eye of 954mb, but I rounded up a mb when I calibrated the barometer and there is a 1mb error with the device we used, plus we didn't stare at the barometer the whole time in the eye, so our barometer could have measured a lower pressure when we weren't looking. With those factors in mind the pressure could have been in the range of 952-954mb from data we collected. NHC officially pegged the central pressure of 952mb at landfall, so I'm happy with our data.

Also, we measured wind gusts on the top of the parking garage with a handheld sonic annemometer in the 120-130mph range in the front eyewall. I'm suspicious of these values, but we were at the top of the parking garage much higher than ground level (~40 ft above sea level) and the winds were not blocked by the Hotel Galvez, so these values could easily be correct. Highest sustained wind speed measured was approximately 90mph, but this has massive errors due to the annemometer being held by my hand which had difficulty holding the annemometer in position. I should have connected the sonic annemometer to my tripod and duct taped the tripod to a light pole on the roof of the parking garage to eliminate errors due to the lack of steadiness by my hand.

Had difficulty getting off the island; even with media passes some police officers could not get off their power trip. I don't want to talk smack about all police, because a majority of police officers I have encountered during hurricane chases have been awesome, but there are some who are on major power trips! Every hurricane I have chased confirms to me as a storm chaser/meteorologist/photographer that the police are more dangerous than the hurricane, but that is because I have taken every possible precaution for the hurricane, but there is only so much I can do to protect myself from crazy police. The hurricane is of course more dangerous to the average person that knows little about the hurricane, but I've never been in the position that I've felt in danger from the effects of a hurricane.

Another thing: if people can afford beach front property, then they can afford to build a steel reinforced concrete house. Much easier to sweep out debris, spray off the floors and walls than to gut out and redo the interior and exterior of a house...

Simon Brewer

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Had difficulty getting off the island; even with media passes some police officers could not get off their power trip. I don't want to talk smack about all police, because a majority of police officers I have encountered during hurricane chases have been awesome, but there are some who are on major power trips! Every hurricane I have chased confirms to me as a storm chaser/meteorologist/photographer that the police are more dangerous than the hurricane, but that is because I have taken every possible precaution for the hurricane, but there is only so much I can do to protect myself from crazy police.

Are you saying that because the police officers not letting you go north on I-45 is their being on a power trip? I think your comments are unjustified. David and I encountered possibly the same female police officer you who may have encountered told us to retreat back to Broadway avenue. Did it ever occur to you that there was a serious and legitimate reason for her to tell you that?

From what David and I saw later that afternoon (around 4:30 pm) when we could finally head north on I-45 was that there had been some serious debris in the northbound lane which made it impassable. I strongly suspect that there was a major sense of urgency to clear the highway on the northbound side so that emergency first responders could reach Galveston. I'm certain that they did not want vehicles to travel north and become trapped by the blocked highway causing further headaches and delayes to clear the road. I'd say the police officer was doing their job and doing it well. David and I had no problem whatsoever in obeying her orders and did our damned best not to interfere in any way any of the law enforcement officers there. We too have "media passes".

David and I both have not once encountered any problems from law enforcement. We realize that they have a serious responsibility and duty to perform, and often times a thankless one. Being in the middle of a major disaster like this only adds to their stress not only from the dire situation at hand, but the long hours they have to put in. Put yourself in their situation for a moment.

As a member of the media, such comments or attitudes such as this could just as well give the police officers reason to accuse us has having a
"power trip" just as easily. David and I both have found that treating them with the respect that is owed to them and the position of authority they represent goes a LONG ways in never having a problem with them.

 

[Chris Hayes]

The remnant winds of Ike have been causing a lot of havoc around Canton, Ohio today. There are countless trees and wires down all over. Lots of people are without power, as well as some minor structural damage from trees on houses and buildings. This is deffinately one of the most intense windstorms I can remember.

 

[Randy Denzer]

Steve,
Amen brother..... I was in reliance center when they first found out about the debris field on the causeway and they were indicating concerns about the northbound side ALSO being blocked by those leaving the island. Communications were in tact and I would bet that the officers were ordered to not allow northbound traffic until the TXTF response teams were in place.

Chris,
My parents just got a 59 mph gust outside of Marion, Ohio