"Why didn't Abbot/Trump order a mandatory evacuation?" is a question we are likely to hear. Apart from the likelihood of deaths from that many people suddenly filling the roadways going west (being in a flooded, blocked roadway is not necessarily safe), people evacuating the coast would also be blocked by the traffic (note, Houston is about 50 miles from the coast).
First, once you leave the Houston metropolitan area, the interstates narrow to 2-3 lanes in each direction.
Second, where would the people go? How many hotel rooms are available along I-45, Hwy-59, and I-10 eastbound?
I can imagine the backups just from people thinking they are far enough away and trying to exit the freeways, only to find all the hotel rooms occupied by those ahead of them on the road. They have to get back on the freeway and keep trying.
I just don't think there are a million hotel rooms between Houston and Dallas. People would have to keep driving all the way to Oklahoma to find a place to stay.
-PJ
Well prior to landfall, Abbott wanted more evacs, no? Local pols shot it down?