The fucking idjit mayor of Galveston...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

The Texas Department of Transportation said today that relief workers were having trouble entering Galveston because Interstate 45 was blocked by residents trying to return home.

"Our resources are not able to get through," said TxDOT spokeswoman Raquelle Lewis. "We have National Guard sitting in traffic, we have our crews sitting in traffic, we have FEMA resources sitting in traffic."

Shortly before noon, the line of cars stretched two miles north from a checkpoint at Texas 519 in La Marque, where non-essential traffic was being diverted, Lewis said.

The flood apparently was prompted when Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas made an exception to the ban on entering Galveston, she said. Those who can prove residency may make a "look and leave" visit to the island from noon to 6 p.m. to inspect damage to their homes, but must leave afterward, Lewis said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/6004648.html

There is no reason anybody except relief workers should be entering Galveston right now. What a mess.

[maddezmom]

1. she really seems clueless

:eyes:

[tannybogus]

2. Okay! Move her to the top of the morans handling the disaster. It's a long list. nt

[CoffeeCat]

3. This is the same mayor...

...who told the Galveston residents that they weren't under a mandatory evacuation--that they
could leave, but they didn't have to.

There is a DUer from Galveston (JeffWilliamson, I think) who was watching her on tv, and reporting
that this Mayor, Lyda Ann Thomas told residents of Galveston to hunker down and ride out the storm
in their homes.

DUer's convinced Jeff to leave, and luckily he did.

Who is this mayor and what in the hell is she thinking?

[EFerrari]

11. Not exactly. Ike changed course and came in early.

Here's a good story that clarifies what happened:

GALVESTON — Hurricane Ike's erratic course ruined Galveston's carefully laid evacuation plans and delayed the mandatory evacuation order made today by Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, a city spokeswoman said.

"Everybody is trying to act like this is a mistake, but what we are trying to do is the best for everyone," said Mary Jo Naschke, spokeswoman for the mayor.

Naschke said as late as Wednesday city officials were convinced that a mandatory evacuation would not be necessary because of Ike's predicted path.

When Thomas said Wednesday that the window for ordering an evacuation had passed, she was referring to Galveston's plan to order a mandatory evacuation 72 hours before landfall, Naschke said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5996000.html

[CoffeeCat]

15. I'm a bit confused...

...because I followed the path and the National Weather Service reports on CNN.

They didn't know where Ike would hit, but it was apparent days ahead--that Galveston
was a major target.

It was headed straight toward that area.

As it approached land, it started "wobbling" as one meteorologist said. However, I don't
think there was any doubt, that Galveston was very vulnerable.

I am not in the area, so I don't have first hand information. However, I remember DUer
Jeff Williamson saying that on the day Ike was supposed to hit--that the Mayor of Galveston was telling
people to stay put. Ike was scheduled to hit later that evening, and there was a huge
thread of concerned DUers telling him to get out of there.

Maybe she was telling people to stay put, because a mass evacuation at that point, was
impossible. I don't know.

[EFerrari]

16. I remember that thread. It was clear that Galveston was vulnerable

but maybe not clear they would be ground zero.

I tried to find a report of her telling people to stay put but couldn't or, haven't yet, anyway. :hi:

ETA: I can't get into Galveston Daily News, but find a 9/11 article posted at 6:14 pm:

"GALVESTON — Officials have called a mandatory evacuation for all of Galveston Island."

[RoyGBiv]

46. You won't find it ...

She didn't tell anyone to stay put.

The mayor of Houston and Harris County Judge told people in Houston/Harris County to stay put.

I believe people have conflated the three.

[EFerrari]

49. You're probably right but I thought I'd check anyway.

Now I remember hearing that some parts of Houston were told to stay put -- I started watching the live hurricane feed during Gustav and never turned it off so caught that.

[RoyGBiv]

40. People get confused around here ...

We have so many communities and so many mayors and judges and different people responsible for different things.

The mandatory evacuation of Galveston was ordered Thursday, which was, as was noted, inside the 72-hour time period required for the evac plans as they were laid out. The mayor of *Galveston* wasn't telling people to stay put. She was telling people to get out.

The mayor of *Houston* was telling people to stay put *in Houston*.

But they're both on television at almost the same time, and people watching or listening and often those carrying the information to others get confused about who is saying what.

I don't know that this is what caused the confusion in this case, but I was watching coverage all day Thursday and Friday and never once saw or heard the Galveston mayor tell people to "hunker down." The Houston mayor said that, and the Harris county judge said that for *some* areas, but not Galveston.

[fed_up_mother]

26. This is bull. They were in the projected cone. NO ONE knows exactly

where a hurricane is going to land.

I am not impressed with Miss Small Town Mayor. She sure is no Mayor White in a skirt. :)

[EFerrari]

30. We're dealing with media spin here. Notice: We're supposed to believe

that she did a bad job AND that there were like 3 casualties.

:shrug:

[fed_up_mother]

33. When I heard with my own ears that she didn't want to scare anyone

about the dangers of the storm (when folks could have still evacuated) - believe me - I knew that she was out of her realm. She may be a very nice woman. I'm sure there's a reason she was elected mayor, but in a crisis, the city of Galveston needs someone like Mayor White, imo.

[EFerrari]

34. Who is Mayor White? I'm way out here in San Francisco.

:)

[Samurai_Writer]

37. White is the Mayor of Houston -nt-

[EFerrari]

44. Thank you. n/t

[countryjake]

51. She told them that when the eye was predicted to make landfall at Corpus Christi...

by Wednesday night, meteorologists had shifted the target North to around Freeport, then by Thursday, Galveston became the bull's eye, which is when the mandatory evacuation for the entire island was carried out. By Friday morning, tidal levels were already bringing in six feet or more of pre-surge waters and low-lying areas were being flooded, on both Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. Right before Hurricane Ike made landfall, it once again shifted to the North, which put the Bolivar Peninsula in that "certain death" danger zone and spared much of Galveston from being "wiped off the map" as happened up on the Peninsula.

Are you forgetting the disastrous "evacuation plan" that occurred before Hurricane Rita even made landfall?

[Wickerman]

4. Lyda Ann Thomas - remember the name

She may run as a Republican VP candidate in, say 2016.

[marshall]

20. She'd have to switch parties first

She's a Democrat.

[Wickerman]

55. the rest of this thread has been very enlightening

my apologies to her and her family.

[EFerrari]

56. It is continually surprising to me how the RW media uses

LW literacy against us. Imho, that's happening now.

[tannybogus]

5. Is it the Love Boat????

<snip>
Because of the unsanitary conditions on Galveston Island, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said she had hired a cruise ship to come to the city and to house people assisting with the recovery.
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/16cnd-ike.html?hp

My imagination is running wild at what will appear. Could be the "SS Minnow." :popcorn:

[malaise]

6. Sorry I disagree

You have no idea how important it is for hurricane victims to see the level of destruction of their homes and businesses. With proper directions both can be achieved.

[tannybogus]

7. "With proper directions." That's the kicker. nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

8. Earlier people were complaining that everyone was being kept out

How is the poor woman supposed to win? She's trying to let people see their own property.

Anyone can toss a touchdown pass on Monday morning.

[cobalt1999]

14. I have to stick up for her also.

Having once been denied re-entry after voluntarily evacuating, it's EXTREMELY important to be able to return. If she didn't do that, the number of people willing to evacuate next time would go way down.

Coordination needs some work though.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

24. That's more important than getting relief to people in a place with no running water...

...no electricity, no sanitation services, no functioning police infrastructure? Bullshit. In these situations you have to prioritize and helping those stranded in Galveston far outweighs the psychological needs of the evacuees to see their homes. There is absolutely no point in risking fucking up both priorities A and B in order to attempt to satisfy priority B. First fucking day of Management 101. This is bullshit.

[cobalt1999]

50. Well, in management 101 they also teach how to look at the long-term results

Short term, yes, allowing the people back in early causes additional headaches. However, if they don't allow people back from an evacuated area, then those people are less likely to leave next time.

So, next time, not only are they dealing with the same infrastructure problems, but they could also be cleaning up a lot of additional dead bodies.

You can't only focus on solving a short term problem if it is going to create a larger long term problem.

[EFerrari]

52. You mean the FEMA that is late delivering to Houston? That FEMA?

This lady isn't holding them up. That's just spin.

[malaise]

53. That's only if Management 101 leaves the most important

element out of the formula. People from Galveston who are away from home as just as 'stranded'.

Any 101 plan would begin with fulfilling both needs and if you think evacuees only have psychological needs then I hope you're not part of the planning team.

[cobalt1999]

57. Thank you.

These "expert" posters probably have never experienced an evacuation, have never experienced a hurricane, have never experienced being forcibly kept from a home you don't know the fate of. However, it doesn't seem to stop them from having better judgment that those people ACTUALLY on the ground.

[malaise]

61. Bottom line

What is the real state of the property. Can anything be salvaged? What about family and neighbours close by.

What is the state of the kids' schools

Should they try renting in Houston or close by and move quickly since others face the same problems.

Should they find job, etc.

The psychological side of this is merely one element but home is home and people need to see their homes and their neighbors - it helps to clarify things and is a critical step to moving forward.

[countryjake]

66. The "fucking idjits" are the ones who expect evacuees...

to set up camp, buy new of everything needed for everyday living, when all they want is to pick up that stuff from their houses, to then wait reasonably elsewhere, til it's safe to go home.

Galveston Island has been "Closed" and anyone who rode out the storm to find themselves "stranded" had been ordered off the island.

The entire premise of your post is "bullshit" and you obviously don't know a thing about evacuations.

[EFerrari]

9. Unlike most government officials, she has seemed the most genuinely

concerned about her people. Is she getting bad press here?

[maddezmom]

10. I think the problem is the lack of coordination between officials

perhaps one or the other should have happened. Either the look see or the supplies, etc.

[EFerrari]

12. It must be very chaotic, for sure. You'd think it's a traffic control problem

that could be straightened out. By now, though, people are tired and grumpy and there's no end in sight. :(

[ColbertWatcher]

13. A quick peek at Thomas' Wikip*dia page tells you why she's a pariah ...

... she's a Dem!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyda_Ann_Thomas

Come on guys, we all have the same internets.

A spokesmodel for a GOP state government whining and complaining after THEY FUCKED UP! Who else are they going to blame? Themselves? FEMA? The all-powerful GOP-run Homeland Stassi? I bet in a few days, proof is going to come out showing that she probably got permission from someone at the state to allow people in.

Watch.

[EFerrari]

17. I'm sure FEMA and Gov. Perry are going ALL OUT to help her.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Exactly. I can't believe anyone on DU would miss that considering ...

... it's almost an exact repeat of what happened after Katrina.

How soon some forget.

[EFerrari]

19. Some of us got the visual over the weekend when Perry and Skeletor

were trying to shut her up at the press conference.

People aren't used to being skeptical of the print press yet, maybe.

[ColbertWatcher]

21. Oh. Was she the mayor everyone was talking about?

I thought they meant the mayor of Houston!

This actually makes more sense.

[EFerrari]

22. Yes, it was her. They flanked her when on camera and when asked she said

"I'm not in the position to complain, am I?" -- as if she was a hostage. No kidding.

Colbert has to get her on his show. I'm sure she'll have stories.

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Someone was looking for the video of that press conference.

I doubt anyone was able to find it.

[EFerrari]

27. KHOU was probably ordered to burn their tape.

It was pretty naked.

[WolverineDG]

35. No fake

If she wanted the help from FEMA, she couldn't complain about them at the presser.

dg

[EFerrari]

38. Exactly. n/t

[fed_up_mother]

36. No, the mayor of Houston is also a democrat, and he's fantastic

[EFerrari]

47. But wasn't it just reported this morning that there was a 4 mile long line

for food and water in Houston?

[fed_up_mother]

48. Because FEMA is taking forever to bring in supplies

[EFerrari]

54. So, if FEMA isn't there yet, what does this look and leave permission hurt?

It sure looks to me like this lady is being singled out as a fall guy. But, I'm not there.

[Igel]

68. Exzcept they ran out, and resupply was late.

FEMA+Houston had one distribution set up Sunday evening, a dozen Monday mornong, 5 dozen today.

But the problems get attention.

BTW, areas with power are scattered widely in Houston, with places like grocery stores and delis open and packed. I didn't go to a FEMA site today--I went to a grocery store, had one person in front of me in line, and paid using a debit card. Not all here is hell. Outside the flooded/storm-surge areas, it's inconvenient

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

28. Ah, yes. Katrina.

Another instance of an idiot may who failed to evacuate his or her city. In NOLA's defense, at least Nagin had the excuse of the city being enormous, relatively poor, and the track of the hurricane was less clear. What the fuck excuse does the government of Galveston have for failing to evacuate nearly half of their meager population of 60,000 when they had days and days and days of notice?

[EFerrari]

31. So, why is she an idiot, in your opinion?

Because of the huge reported death toll?

Because, why?

Why don't you take a break from inhaling the whore media reports and see what Galveston has to say?

[RoyGBiv]

32. Ummm ...

They didn't have days and days and days of notice.

I've got some pretty harsh criticism of Galveston officials saved up, but that's the wrong track to take. When I went to bed Wednesday night, we all thought Ike was going well to the south. When I got up on Thursday, *some* of the models had shifted north, but it was an iffy thing. It wasn't until the models run mid-day Thursday that we were fairly certain it was coming through Galveston/Houston, and there was still speculation among meteorologists as late as Friday afternoon about whether it would turn north sooner than it did.

Let's not re-write history. Ike was a bizarre storm that all the models were failing to predict with any accuracy more than 24 hours at a time right up to the end.

Also, regarding Galveston's size. It may be relatively small in and of itself, but there's basically one way out of there, and it goes straight through the 4th largest city in the nation on a highway that is being used by everyone else trying to get out of its way. It's not as easy to empty the place as some people are trying to make out.

[fed_up_mother]

39. Galveston was in the possible projected cone

If you're in the cone of possible landfall, you're suppose to act as if you know it's coming. That's the number one rule of staying safe during a hurricane.

Everybody around here knows that but the mayor of Galveston, apparently. :(

[EFerrari]

41. But she did issue an evacuation order. And people did evacuate

and some people who were planning to leave go caught when the storm came in earlier than predicted.

Short of standing out on the seawall with an American flag to scare off the storm like that freeper did, what else could she have done?

[RoyGBiv]

42. The Cone

As of Thursday, the cone went from Corpus Christi to Port Arthur.

Show me the plan to get all those people out.

[ColbertWatcher]

45. If everyone knew, then doesn't that also mean the people of Galveston also knew?

Why dump on just the mayor, if everyone knew?

[malaise]

43. I disagree - the people of Galveston are being allowed

to return and see their homes and have not been carted out all over the US.

It's not half as bad as Katrina. Where I agree with you is in relation to the distribution of food, water and ice. Also they should have had gas on stand by for distribution from before Ike hit land.

[ColbertWatcher]

62. I'm sorry, yes, that's what I meant. The emergency supplies. n/t

[malaise]

65. Cool

:hi:

[Xenotime]

25. Why is it all these people on the gulf coast seem to have their heads up their asses...

when it comes to disasters? You don't hear about these problems elsewhere.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Who knows. But, where ever disaster strikes, the GOP is sure to close behind ...

... looking for a way to profit off people's misery.

[EFerrari]

58. Because you are reading the right wing owned press?

:shrug:

It's not like we can just read any more. We have to be detectives and sort out the facts from the spin, imho.

These are the same people that told us Saddam was behind 9/11.

[fed_up_mother]

59. Unfortunately the poster is right to a great degree

Not counting the poor, elderly, and disabled, many more people could have been more prepared if they gave it just the least bit of effort.

[EFerrari]

60. I tend not to believe that. People usually do as well as they can

and this whole "the government will take care of me because I'm irresponsible" idea is from the right wing -- although, it is being broadcast all over us like rice at a wedding.

Nobody does as well with unexpected events as they do with their everyday routine. We're creatures of habit.

Again, are we to believe there were only four casualties on Galveston or are we to believe the mayor screwed up?

It's been more than 72 hours. If people are in need NOW, FEMA is supposed to be there to manage the crisis.

[malaise]

63. You can be as prepared as we are hurricane warning after

hurricane warning. Today is Tuesday and if the hurricane hit wherever on Friday night, you have no ice today. Sure we always have enough food but by today you're cleaning out the fridge and your ice is finished.

[Igel]

69. Yes, but unless you've been flooded out, you should have drinking water.

That's not hard to do, yet people were out of drinking water Saturday night, 18 hours after landfall.

*That* is irresponsible.

[fed_up_mother]

71. Fill tubs, sinks, all large pots, bowls, other large containers, cleaning buckets

pitchers, etc. We never ran out of water. As a matter of fact, I had to throw water down the sink.

[countryjake]

64. The entire island has been "closed"...

and any survivors, who were there after Ike hit, were ordered off the island...the place is not livable, no utilities, no public services, and residents have been told it will be many weeks before the island can support a normal functioning community. There were buses yesterday loading survivors to take them to shelters off island.

Of the thousands who evacuated, it has been practically one full week of worry and wonder about their friends and neighbors and homes (many of which are still standing and NOT damaged).

The mayor of Galveston is doing the exact thing any intelligent city leader would be expected to do, in the event that it may be months before citizens will be allowed to resume living in their hometown. Sitting helpless in shelters, scattered about the state, is an unreasonable expectation to make on those who need things from their houses, in order to comfortably "survive" this extended "leave", and make decent plans to stay elsewhere, until they can return to their own houses.

The "idjits" are the ones who expect people to set up camp, buy new of everything needed for everyday living, when all they want is to pick up that stuff from their houses, to then wait reasonably elsewhere, til it's safe to go home.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

70. Well, apparently the government of Galveston disagrees with you.

They've now cancelled the program:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6006236.html

[fed_up_mother]

72. Not to be obtuse, but if the houses flooded, they ARE damaged

And terribly so, I might add, and I think everything on the island flooded.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

74. Not everyone apparently.

There was a guy on here earlier posting his phone who managed to get into his house in Galveston and found it basically untouched. Most of his friends weren't so lucky.

[EFerrari]

67. Last kick. While we were cursing the Democratic mayor of Galveston for no reason,

Mr. Conyers held a hearing to question Mueller about the anthrax investigation. Mueller said, I'll get back to you.

:woohoo:

[raccoon]

73. You're doin a heck of a job, Lyda Ann. nt