Galveston still too bruised for residents' return

[uppityperson]

Source: AP

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — There's a grocery store open for business on Galveston Island. Cell phone towers are connecting calls. More lights are coming back on at night. But for all the little signs of recovery in this barrier island community thrashed by Hurricane Ike nearly a week ago, Galveston just "isn't ready" for residents to return. Not even for a quick look around at their battered homes and businesses, officials said Thursday as they pleaded for tens of thousands to wait at least another week before trying to come home.

"By staying away and being patient, you are making it possible for us to get you home in a week or so, instead of the months it would take if the city's infrastructure were more overwhelmed at this point," Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said.

The roughly 45,000 people who fled Galveston Island are among the more than 1 million who evacuated the Texas coast as Ike steamed across the Gulf of Mexico. Gov. Rick Perry said 22,000 people are still living in more than 200 shelters, and he joined Thomas on Thursday in asking for patience. "I absolutely understand they want to get back to their homes ... I'd like to get back to the mansion," said Perry, who's been living in temporary quarters since his official residence burned down in June.

Galveston Island remained closed, as did the worse-off Bolivar Peninsula, where the storm's surge washed entire neighborhoods into the sea. Search teams pulled out of both areas this week after sweeping every house, authorities said.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jG1m4XT341oCKXPMIZlKffdhP9vwD939C6H80

[ananda]

1. Translation.

You are making it possible for us to finish
the cover up of how many bodies we have had
to pick up and dispose of, and the other
serious problems we have had to take care of
regarding toxins and dangerous bio weapons.

[glowing]

2. No one care's about Gov. Perry and which mansion he's living in this week

or next.. most living in hotels and in shelters would like their lives back and would like to STOP sharing living quarters with strangers.. What an asshole to put in his inconvenience.. like it even compares to what these displaced people are going thru.

[uppityperson]

"I'd like to get back to the mansion" is quite a quote.

[texastoast]

3. It's not Bolivar Peninsula anymore

There are three islands now. There was a major breach and I heard they are not sure if it will be a peninsula again. I need to verify that, though.

[texastoast]

4. I listened to the Mayor

I think it was day before yesterday. One of the reasons no one can come back is that there are some seriously overworked toilets everywhere. She instituted a "go and hold" policy for the folks that did get a peak at their property earlier this week: "Go to the bathroom before you get there and hold it while you are there." PEE ON THE MAINLAND! The Look and Leave has been suspended because it turned into an absolute traffic nightmare and they had trouble getting everyone out before curfew.

[EFerrari]

5. She didn't say a word about the search today. n/t

[Feron]

6. Crap like this is why I'm hesitant..

to ever evacuate for a hurricane again. Dumbass officials that hem and haw about letting people in to at least view their property.

Jefferson parish had no services, but allowed residents to come back and view their properties after Katrina. I don't see how the searched and passable areas of Galveston are any different.

Be honest about the lack of services and risk, add some porta-johns if necessary, and do a tiered look and leave by address. The longer the wait, the more likely mold or looters will take away whatever you had left.