Ask anyone in TX that evacuated during Hurricane Rita if they would ever do it again. Dozens more people died in the evacuation than in the storm, including a bus load of nursing home patients from Houston heading to Dallas in a Mexican bus that caught fire, killing them.
The city’s behavior during the Rita evacuation was a deliberate clusterf***.
Mr. Mayor didn’t get out of bed or on the media until the highways had already been choked for 8 hours. 7am was get up and get to work time and that was when the city FINALLY began to get on the mic.
And then then dumbass mayor told people to keep getting on the highways. Even in rush hour there is a system to stop traffic from entering already overcrowded highways.
And then the small towns along the highway shut their towns off to visiting traffic seeking gasoline.
And the drivers stopped their cars on the highway to walk the dog, take a dump, and to walk to McDonald’s.
There was no presence from public safety officers.
The mayor, the judge, and the governor all got on the radio and lied when they said (A) that gasoline was heading down 290 to restock the gas stations along 290 and that after that happened (B) 290 would be opened up (contraflow) to expand the number of north bound lanes.
Lie upon lie upon lie.
Mayor White sucked. On numerous occasions as mayor and especially that day.
Rita was an extreme over-reaction to Katrina. Plus Rita was a moving target that kept changing course. Consequently almost the entire Texas coast was evacuated in the greatest cluster-frak in modern history.
OTOH, New Orleans clearly should have been evacuated before Katrina hit. Everyone knew it was coming and that most of New Orleans was below sea level.
Same thing with Harvey. For days ahead of time it was predicted that Harvey would park over the coast and dump 50 inches of rain on the Houston area. The Governor was absolutely correct in calling for people in low lying areas to evacuate. The Houston Democrat mayor is arguing that you could not evacuate all of Houston, but no one ever suggested that you do.
If you are in the direct path of an oncoming hurricane or if you are in an area that is prone to flooding and a hurricane is coming your way GET THE FRAK OUT OF THE WAY. If you are not in the direct path of the hurricane or in an area prone to flooding then stock up on reserves, board up your house, and ride it out.
So if city council knew it would be be bad with possible 50 inches of rain..but couldnt have people panic like Rita...so downplayed severity
Should they get blame for not telling residents reality
That’s what I would be worried about too. Being stuck on a highway somewhere with a minimal amount of survival gear, water and food. Unless my home is completely flooded, my options are better there.
Something about the early bird...