Rita approach sees Texas exodus
and
Texans Fleeing Rita Stalled by Traffic
""This is the worst planning I've ever seen," said Judie Anderson, who covered just 45 miles in 12 hours after setting out from her home in the Houston suburb of LaPorte. "They say we've learned a lot from Hurricane Katrina. Well, you couldn't prove it by me.""
Wait a minute!!!! The Times and this paper found the same person with the same quote.
"The Times and this paper found the same person with the same quote."
I now see both are AP.
what's the over/under on Houston vs. New Orleans in hurricane preparedness? Gotta handicap Houston to make it even.
---"This is the worst planning I've ever seen," said Judie Anderson, who covered just 45 miles in 12 hours after setting out from her home in the Houston suburb of LaPorte. "They say we've learned a lot from Hurricane Katrina. Well, you couldn't prove it by me."---
Well, Judie, you're the planner, you know. Each of us is responsible for our own life.
article also on yahoo as
Texans Flee Rita for Major Traffic Jams
Well, Judie, let me say that you are the worst planner ever.
A city is not supposed to have all 5 million people leave at once. It doesn't work that way. It's called disaster.
In my opinion, it's going pretty good.
HOWEVER, You and I both know that Hurricane was coming at you. We knew it yesterday, the day before that, and maybe the day before that.
If you'd had any sense, you'd have bundled up your family and left then. If one needed to stay on to work -- for whatever reason -- then that one should have had a motorcycle/dirtbike for easy regress from the area NO MATTER the traffic conditions.
Well, some folks should LEARN from past dopey mistakes by others and take responsibility for their actions. Including FLOOD INSURANCE. We live in Western NC, but we had 14" of rain that caused a lot of damage to our dock. The wife and I roped off the dock and kept it and the boat from shooting off a 140 foot spillway.
I understand there is a difference. My point is that PEOPLE need to THINK and PLAN. Iy was three weeks ago with the Katrina disaster. Now... we are unprepared?
FINALLY the media reports what I have been posting since this morning, that Rita would make landfall near Port Arthur. My NOAA friend told me this around 11am CST Thurs morning. He now believes it will mosty likely cool down to a Cat 3 when it hits. I pray he is right. In any case, Galveston will be spared.
Isn't Houston the 4th largest city in the U.S.? And it seems that it has been almost fully evacuated in 2 days. It wasn't totally smooth, but that was millions and millions of people and I've yet to hear about anyone dying or getting killed in the exodus.
I'm inclined to agree. Judie is an idiot who waited too long and is now trying to blame others for her own stupidity. Terrible planning.
Hey Judie; how many different ways are there out of town, and why did you choose the most-crowded?
One particular pain point is that US59 has a road construction project locking it down to only one lane for outflow that could have been addressed and opened up. So in conclusion both the people in Houston and the Texas Department of Transportation have compiled lessons learned.
My prayers for all that are impacted by this storm.
FYI, XM Radio Channel 226 is the Houston weather-traffic station with up to the minute traffic and weather.
The 5 day projected models are very disturbing in that Rita may STALL and not leave Texas FOR DAYS, thus dumping enormous amounts of rain and causing massive long-term flooding all over the eastern half of the state as well as La.
See: http://maps.wunderground.com/data/images/at200518_model.gif
This looks very ominous for the millions of Houston area and other Texas evacuees who may not be able to get home for weeks.
.
I hope the storm does bypass Houston (God Bless them for helping so many Katrina victims) and Galvestan.
