What's the deal with Ike? Information blackout?

[targetpractice]

I'm not seeing much on DU or elsewhere about the real aftermath of Ike beyond Galveston... Is that because 4 million people in the Houston area don't have power, and therefore nobody is posting about it?

I live in NYC and my family lives in Pearland, TX (an exception to the mandatory evacuation order)... I've only been able to talk to them twice today by cell phone after many disconnected attempts. Unfortunately, I haven't owned a TV for a few months, and I am therefore relying on web news sources for all my information.

According to CenterPoint energy (one of several Houston area power companies).... 99% of their customers do not have power, and it will take weeks to restore residential service... I can't imagine how so many people over such a wide area will be able to cope with no electricity for such a long period of time.

Anyone else have family or friends there? How are you keeping informed (other than khou.com or chron.com) about the situation?

I'm very suspicious about the bizarre low-key news coverage of the situation.

[Stand and Fight]

1. Then you're not paying attention. n/t

[targetpractice]

8. Gee, thanks...

Perhaps, you can offer a suggestion or hint... or at least a little more than sarcasm since I have family involved.

There's lots of news coverage and dramatic video... but very little information regarding the actual scale and scope of the situation. And, nobody seems to be discussing how the area population is going to cope without power for several weeks.

[barbtries]

2. i think quite possibly

check out this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3487314

here's a link to a site that streams the local news stations. http://www.maroonspoon.com/wx/ike.html

[stray cat]

3. I thought the same - I think its hard to get good info but its weird

I wonder if it wasn't tragic enough for coverage based on the number dying? Loss of power isn't a winning story line?

[villager]

4. It does seem very bizarre, and one wonders when it's time to pick up the tinfoil...

As if we're to believe it was just shrugged off, after all, nothing to see here, etc...

[malaise]

9. I picked mine up ages ago

After Jim Cantore said several people were missing and after they announced a ban on flyovers in Galveston Bay.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3993434

[readmoreoften]

5. Especially after two apartment buildings in Galveston collapsing.

So 40% of Galveston stays, most of those who stay behind are poor/workingclass/small business owners... many of whom would be the sort of folks who live in apartments, yet there are no deaths?

I'm a little confused at the big sighs of relief since whole populated areas are still unreachable and underwater according to some news quotes I've read. Or maybe those who stayed didn't live on the island proper but far enough inland that nothing really happened.

6 feet of water hits in the pitch black and no casualities? I'm weirded out too.

[Seeking Serenity]

6. He's come to visit us in Arkansas.

No offense, there, Ikey ol' boy, but make it a short visit, mm-k?



On edit: Looks like a bit of nasty business in NE Mexico.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Here ya go

http://news.google.com/news?um=1&hl=en&tab=in&nolr=1&q=hurricane+ike+houston+photos&btnG=Search+News

[stranger_with_candy]

10. Are you serious?

It's been on the cable news networks all day, all sorts of stories and photos on news sites, and numerous threads about it on DU. Where exactly are you looking?

[targetpractice]

11. I'm not stupid, thank you very much.

As I said in my original post... I don't have a TV (it died months ago and I haven't replaced it) and therefore I can't watch cable news.

I am monitoring chron.com, weather.com, khou.com, cnn.com, etc.... but the coverage is really focused on a few locations... Galveston, downtown Houston, or wherever a news crew happened to hunker down to capture dramatic stuff.

Consider that 99% of CenterPoint Energy's 2.1 million customers are without power... plus the other 3 million without power in the Houston area... Who is covering that situation?

The big story is not storm damage... it's the power outage.

Oh and BTW, Strangers with Candy is awesome... so I suspect we aren't totally on separate pages.

[northernlights]

12. they honestly don't know

Easy people. There have been lots of articles, all a day old with some updates. I've noticed a dearth of actual news too.

From what I've read, they closed Galveston. It was too stormy to get in and start search and rescue until midday. They went in by boat and high-water vehicles and rescued a few hundred people, but that's a drop in the bucket. They know some are on rooftops. They've seen lots of dead pelicans. They had to stop searching at dark because with downed powerlines and roads impassable in places, it's too dangerous.

And yes, several million without power and not expected to return for 18 days. I can't imagine being in a city, especially one of those high rises, without power.

[TexasObserver]

13. They don't want to talk about it because it doesn't fit their narrative.

Gustav had the message: See how good these GOP governors are at solving hurricane problems?

Now that message won't sell, because power is out for a region about 200 miles wide and 200 miles long. It's not just Galveston and Houston. It's for 150 miles or more north of Houston, too.

Galveston is closed, no access to it.