Friday, September 19, 2008
Hurricane Ike Part VI (Stay or Go?)
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
Should I Stay or Should I Go? - The Clash
But in a bid to avoid the panicked response to Hurricane Rita in 2005, in which 110 people were killed in the evacuation compared to only nine in the storm, Houstonians were told to board up their windows, clear their rooms of furniture and stock up on food and water.
Hurricane Ike: Houston residents ordered not to evacuate as deadly storm hits
I live in an area that was not under a mandatory evacuation order. In fact, we were requested to not evacuate to keep the roads clear for those in low lying areas (the mandatory evacuation areas). Isn't that insane? Don't evacuate? Actually, it is a very reasoned, thoughtful approach:
Authorities confirmed a total of nine deaths in the Houston metropolitan area, all from post-storm debris-clearing work, house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning by generator use.
Ike's US Toll Hits 51
On the other hand many people in low lying areas that were subject to storm surge that were under a mandatory evacuation order chose to stay put:
After hurricane Ike pushed churning floodwaters 30 miles onto the so-called "Cajun prairie" of southwest Louisiana, National Guard and other rescue crews fought the elements for three days before reaching some 200 oil rig roughnecks, fishermen, and cattle farmers who ignored evacuation orders.
What rescuers found is an image that will confound and concern emergency managers everywhere after a historic storm where an estimated 140,000 people ignored dire warnings of "certain death" in the storm's path.
Defying Ike: Why 140,000 stayed behind
I think the Houston area approach towards evacuation was pretty good but we need to improve at getting people to leave (or get help to leave if that is what is needed) in mandatory evacuation areas and we need to get better at keeping people from killing themselves with generators and power tools after the storm.
Labels: Hurricane Ike
