Oh wow. God bless them..live and learn. Reading what his 19 yr-old said ..so awful
It’s just so hard to even get an idea how many others were in his position..
Another Darwin Award Nominee from KHOU:
GALVESTON — John Benge has seen plenty of hurricanes strike Galveston Island. At 91 years old, he’s experienced every major storm to ever hit the island, except for the 1900 Storm and the Storm of 1915.
He stared down Carla, and he just scoffed at Alicia. That experience, the Galveston resident figured, gave him every right to stay at home — even as Hurricane Ike flooded the streets of the island early Friday.
He was among the estimated 40 percent of Galveston residents who stayed behind after a mandatory evacuation order was issued. Benge boarded up his home tight, stocked up on provisions and prepared for a long night, even as his family pushed him to seek shelter on the mainland.
As Ike pounded the island Friday night, Benge was taking the storm in stride.
“I’m fine, there hasn’t been anything major yet,” said Benge from his Avenue R home in central Galveston. “You can quote me, though. It’s been one heck of a blow.”
So, how does Ike compare to Carla and Alicia?
“Oh, I’d say they are all about the same,” chuckled Benge.
Then again, he made the comparison hours before Ike’s strongest winds – and storm surge – paid Galveston a visit.