Schools Close, and Evacuations Begin (Houston/Galveston)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 20, 2005 | KEVIN MORAN

[anymouse]

Galveston may no longer be the most likely target for Hurricane Rita, but the island remains well within the danger zone. The city and county have begun a voluntary evacuation, with a mandatory evacuation set for Wednesday. Brazoria County is planning a voluntary evacuation.

Galveston city officials said today that they have have set the city's first-ever mandatory evacuation for 6 p.m. Wednesday and a state of emergency was declared this evening. Evacuation buses are to begin rolling out of town Wednesday morning, with hundreds or even thousands of people on board as shelters open to Galveston evacuees in Huntsville.

"You may and should begin to leave the island now," Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said shortly after 11 a.m.

Galveston County officials announced a countywide voluntary evacuation starting this afternoon. Mandatory evacuation of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities is set to begin at 6 a.m. Wednesday, with a mandatory evaucation of all county residents beginning at 6 p.m.

Brazoria County, just south of Galveston County, called for a voluntary evacuation at 2 p.m. today and will consider the latest forecasts before deciding on a mandatory evacuation for some areas on Wednesday.

To give families time to evacuate before the storm hits Texas Friday night, the Galveston Independent School District has called off classes for the rest of the week, as have the Clear Creek, Pasadena, La Porte, Deer Park, Hitchcock, Anahuac, Alvin, Brazosport, Brazoria, Angleton, Columbia-Brazoria and Sweeny districts.

Authorities said those living near the coast or in low-lying areas are better off evacuating now than later. Those who leave right away can take any route they choose, but once mandatory evacuation begins, some routes will be restricted.

In Galveston County's case, residents of the city and the north part of the island will be forced to stick to the evacuation route on I-45 North. Residents of Santa Fe and other west side towns in northern Galveston County will have to take Highway 6 toward College Station. In Brazoria County, some roads would be closed to funnel traffic north on Texas 36 or Texas 288.

As of 4 p.m. today, the National Hurricane Center forecast that the storm's center would come ashore just north of Matagorda Bay. The center's estimates of sustained winds at landfall have risen, with Rita expected to grow into 135 mph, Category 4 storm. Landfall is estimated to come sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Meteorologists caution that predictions remain unreliable.

Long-range forecasts such as this are typically off by hundreds of miles, and different computer models call for different landfalls. Morever, the overnight course shift is small, so preparations continue in the danger zone from northern Mexico to Lake Charles, La.

"We're definitely not out of the woods yet," said Kent Prochazka, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in League City.

If Rita does in fact hit closer to Matagorda than Galveston as a Category 3 hurricane, the Houston area would be in for high winds, heavy rain and possibly tornadoes, but that wouldn't be as dangerous for Houston as a direct hit on Galveston, Prochazka said.

Instead of devastating Galveston and then moving over downtown Houston still packing the 100 mph winds of a Category 2 hurricane, a hurricane making landfall near Matagorda would to be expected to roll over Houston with tropical force winds in the 70 mph range.

"The difference between that and making landfall in Galveston is huge," Prochazka said.

But Galveston and Brazoria counties remain at high risk.

This morning, Galveston officials moved up the timetable for evacuations because Rita was speeding up, gaining strength and still taking aim at Texas' central coast.

By midday, Rita had passed just south of Florida's Keys. The storm reached top sustained winds of 100 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane. It's expected to be a Category 3 hurricane by the time it hits the Gulf Coast Friday, with its outer bands reaching Texas' coastal waters by Thursday morning and spreading inland Thursday evening. By Friday morning, tropical-storm-force winds could be lashing the coast.

As Rita headed into the Gulf of Mexico, emergency operations centers along the Texas Coast have swung into action. Placed on high alert, Texas' Division of Emergency Management has begun moving water, food and other supplies to Dallas, Fort Forth and San Antonio in preparation for evacuees.

Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the state is making plans to move out Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Houston "to make room for Texans," but authorities were discouraging Galveston evacuees from trying to stay in Houston, which is vulnerable itself and has few available hotel rooms because of Katrina.

On Monday night, officials offered "re-evacuation" options to the nearly 1,500 Katrina evacuees remaining in Houston's two largest shelters, with the goal of clearing those facilities by this evening. Stressing that neither Houston nor the two shelters, the George R. Brown Convention Center and Reliant Arena, are safe to ride out a storm of Rita's predicted size, officials offered flights and buses to Fort Chaffee, Ark., as well as continued one-way airline tickets to other points in the country or transfers to smaller area shelters.

Galveston has made arrangements for shelters with about 1,000 beds to open their doors to island residents Wednesday morning in Huntsville, and Galveston officials expect to ask for more beds. Signs in Montgomery County north of Houston are to direct Galveston evacuees to the shelters.

After watching Hurricane Katrina destroy so much of Louisiana's and Mississippi's coasts, many in Galveston were heeding the call to evacuate. At Galveston City Hall, a steady stream of residents arrived today to get the car windshield stickers that people need to get back into the city after an evacuation.

Some merchants and residents across the city already were boarding up businesses and homes even before evacuation officially began.

At the 333-unit Victorian Condo-Hotel on Seawall Boulevard, general manager Buzz Elton said his staff was battening down.

"We're requesting all of our guests to leave the island,'' said Elton, whose company also manages 250 rental homes in the city. "We're contacting all the people in those rental homes to see if they need transportation.''

In the city's emergency operations center, volunteers were taking calls from residents hoping to get on evacuation buses the city has secured for people who have no transportation of their own.

By this morning, close to 800 people had signed up for seats on the city, school and Houston Metro buses, which can carry 2,300. More buses are available from the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority if needed, Galveston officials said.

The bus evacuation is set to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Island Community Center at 4700 Broadway.

Galveston's LeBlanc warned that those who stay behind won't have any police or fire services if a hurricane hits, but he said police won't drag off those who insist on staying even if there's a mandatory evacuation.

"If there are people who are unwilling to leave, we're not going to go pry them out of their households," he said.

Galveston's University of Texas Medical Branch, which has 500 patients, doesn't plan to evacuate unless there's a mandatory order. Hospital officials said they have already begun sending home patients who don't need to stay. If evacuation were to become necessary, adult patients would be taken the Univeristy of Texas Health Center at Tyler, and children would go to Children's Hospital of Austin.

State and local officials urged coastal residents to make early storm preparations, including stocking up on nonperishable food and water, gassing up vehicles and getting cash in case ATMs are not working.

Coastal residents lined up outside a Home Depot in Texas City, just north of Galveston, at 5:30 a.m. to buy plywood and other supplies. Generators priced at more than $500 apiece were selling out quickly, and trucks were delivering plywood every two hours, said assistant manager Joe Valentin.

Beau Shirali stocked up last night on canned food and water and stood in line for plywood early today.

"There is only so much you can do,'' he said. "The rest is up to the hurricane and God.''

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services said it is ready to ensure water and ice distribution if a hurricane hits the coast, while the Texas Department of State Health Services said it is prepared to help communities evacuate hospitals and provide vaccines, medications and ambulances. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has recalled emergency personnel assisting with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

[anymouse]

Saddle up!

[clee1]

The difference in the handling of storm warnings between Texas officials and the Blanco/Nagin comedy team is telling.

[neverhome]

Just think how those poor folks must feel...

those who fled the southeastern gulf coast for the "safety" of Houston!

Can't help but feel bad for them.

[Zacs Mom]

I am preparing for 6 evacuees to arrive here late tomorrow. I just now spoke with a friend who is driving into Houston on I-35 ~ he is still north of Huntsville a bit but says the traffic heading north has been unbelievable. He likened it to traveling during peek hours on a holiday weekend.

I know Galveston will be putting a contraflow traffic plan into effect once the actual mandatory evacuation begins and that will probably mean it will be as difficult to get onto the island as it will be to get off.

I pray Galveston doesn't take a direct hit ..... I am hoping Rita will move further west, lose strength and eventually make landfall in one of the lessor populated areas. *sigh*

[MEG33]

I am here..N of Houston making plans for a probable drive north...I am going from one home to another, familiar settings, with my loved ones around ...

I agree that those who fled Katrina must be in shock...Prayers for them and all in harms way.

[fabriclady]

Let Pray

[Paleo Conservative]

Hurricane RITA Strike Probabilities

000
WTNT73 KNHC 210230
SPFAT3
HURRICANE RITA PROBABILITIES NUMBER 14
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT TUE SEP 20 2005

PROBABILITIES FOR GUIDANCE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION
PLANNING BY GOVERNMENT AND DISASTER OFFICIALS

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 24.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 83.2 WEST

CHANCES OF CENTER OF THE HURRICANE PASSING WITHIN 65 NAUTICAL MILES
OF LISTED LOCATIONS THROUGH 8PM EDT FRI SEP 23 2005

LOCATION A B C D E LOCATION A B C D E
24.4N 87.5W 45 X X X 45 NEW IBERIA LA X X 2 10 12
24.6N 89.4W 13 14 X 1 28 PORT ARTHUR TX X X X 12 12
25.1N 91.4W X 14 7 1 22 GALVESTON TX X X 1 12 13
MUHA 230N 824W 99 X X X 99 FREEPORT TX X X X 13 13
MUAN 219N 850W 1 1 X X 2 PORT O CONNOR TX X X X 13 13
MMSO 238N 982W X X X 6 6 CORPUSCHRISTI TX X X X 11 11
MMTM 222N 979W X X X 3 3 BROWNSVILLE TX X X X 11 11
MMMD 210N 897W X 1 1 X 2 GULF 29N 85W X 1 X 1 2
KEY WEST FL 99 X X X 99 GULF 29N 87W X 3 4 2 9
APALACHICOLA FL X X 1 1 2 GULF 28N 89W 1 9 5 2 17
PANAMA CITY FL X X 1 1 2 GULF 28N 91W X 3 11 4 18
PENSACOLA FL X X 1 3 4 GULF 28N 93W X X 8 9 17
MOBILE AL X X 1 5 6 GULF 28N 95W X X 2 13 15
GULFPORT MS X X 2 6 8 GULF 27N 96W X X 1 13 14
BURAS LA X 1 6 5 12 GULF 25N 96W X X 2 10 12
NEW ORLEANS LA X X 3 8 11

COLUMN DEFINITION PROBABILITIES IN PERCENT
A IS PROBABILITY FROM NOW TO 8PM WED
FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL PROBABILITIES
B FROM 8PM WED TO 8AM THU
C FROM 8AM THU TO 8PM THU
D FROM 8PM THU TO 8PM FRI
E IS TOTAL PROBABILITY FROM NOW TO 8PM FRI
X MEANS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT

FORECASTER STEWART


$$

Well, looks like I'll be evacuating.

[fabriclady]

Lets Pray for every family in the path of the storm.

[PAR35]

a friend who is driving into Houston on I-35 ~ he is still north of Huntsville a bit

If you talk to your friend again, tell him he is pretty badly lost if he thinks he is driving to Houston on I-35. If he stays on I-35, tell him to turn east on I-10 at San Antonio and he'll eventually get where he wants to go.

[Zacs Mom]

LOL -you're right!!!



I guess I'm tired and a bit stressed this evening!
He's on I-45, of course!
You know, the one with all the constuction!!

[Zacs Mom]

constuction = construction!
Sheesh

[Westlander]

From a weather buf..for what's it worth..Matagorda is my prediction for the eye. Good Wishes, stay safe.

[neverhome]

[...I am going from one home to another]

If the need arises...

Calvary Baptist Church, Fairfield, TX:
I-45 North to exit 197 (US 84)-
Turn right (east) and go into town -
cross SR 75, continue east to court house -
at east side of court house, turn left 1 blk to Main st -
Turn right on Main, Calvary is on the left in next block.

They took in several New Orleans families. They're all out now, and many have elected to stay in Fairfield. It's a pretty nice little town (even without me!).

Anyhow, if you need to stay somewhere overnight, just get the number from 411 and give'em a call. They great folks. I was a member there when I lived in TX.

[PAR35]

construction

They've been working on it at least 15 years. I-20 is about as bad. Half the time, I just take US80 to Mineola or Gladewater. I haven't found a work around for I-45.

[neverhome]

[I haven't found a work around for I-45.]

Depends of course on where you are and where you're going.

Above Huntsville, old US 75 is still in use. Nice drive, light traffic, all the way up to Streetman (I45 exit 213).

For farther north (the construction near Corsicana/Ennis), US 287 is a viable option even though it adds miles. It can still save time. You can jump on US 84 east at Fairfield (exit 197), take it into town, and just past the courthouse bear left on FM 488. Follow it 19 miles to 287 and turn left to continue north. A lot of people use this route to avoid the jams on I-45.

287 will put you on I-35, US 67, I-20 and a couple of other routes, depending upon where you're bound.

Hope this is helpful. :)

[ntnychik]

Here's the latest on Galveston evac plans. See Zacs Mom's post #4. Windshield sticker needed to re-enter Galveston after evacuation.

[weegee]

That's because Karl Rove is feeding Governor Rick Perry the coordinates of the weather making machine.

[MEG33]

I have my house in Waco to go to with my daughter and her husband..Thank you for the offer, though..

[Zacs Mom]

neverhome ~ Thanks for the off-the main path tips - I printed them out as they might be helpful for my people driving up tomorrow. The last time I made the drive north from Houston to Dallas I remember the construction areas were really a pain. I'm sure that any chance to avoid at least some of them would be welcomed by the weary folks headed this way.

PAR35 ~ I know what you mean about the unending construction. I've come to the conclusion that there are certain highways that will always be "under construction"!! I-45 is one, 635 in Dallas is another and I-5 out in Washington, Oregon & California is absolutely one!!

[Nauta]

Just about two weeks ago was the 105th anniversary of the Galveston Flood (Sept 8, 1900), which killed 8,000, after Galveston was hit by a category 4 hurricane.