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highplainsdem

(61,065 posts)

36. Gov. Abbott knew two days ago that evacuation plans for Houston would've had to start a day earlier.

Sun Aug 27, 2017, 02:14 PM

Aug 2017

He KNEW that the Houston evacuation plans needed a minimum of 60 hours before landfall. And it would have had to be coordinated with the state government, because a state fleet of buses was needed to start the evacuation.

He KNEW that without that time and coordination, there would likely be chaos and gridlock and probably more loss of life.

This was CYA from Abbott, at the expense of the mayor of Houston.

Editing to add a link to my thread about the evacuation plans and the time required:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029521532

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Were There Evacuation Orders for Houston before the Storm? [View all] MineralMan Aug 2017 OP

they have only been predicting 4 ft of rain there for 3 days virtualobserver Aug 2017 #1

Asshole is planning a visit Warpy Aug 2017 #52

I've seen that instant nausea inducing photo virtualobserver Aug 2017 #75

No, there were not LeftInTX Aug 2017 #2

That's what I thought. That was a mistake, I think. MineralMan Aug 2017 #5

So instead of sitting in their homes they would be sitting on the road in their cars? LisaL Aug 2017 #29

Actually yes. Many would be taken in, have help... defacto7 Aug 2017 #47

What are you talking about? Taken in by whom? LisaL Aug 2017 #62

Who's going to dredge them from 8'6" of water depth now in Houston? defacto7 Aug 2017 #71

No, there wasn't enough time for an evacuation. X_Digger Aug 2017 #53

disagree angel823 Aug 2017 #88

I live in Houston and I think you're missing something tibbir Aug 2017 #96

Yep, local officials were afraid of 2005 and didn't want people to get stuck and drown in their cars dalton99a Aug 2017 #6

Exactly, 107 people died just trying to evacuate during Rita. Cattledog Aug 2017 #77

There were no evacuation orders in Houston. dalton99a Aug 2017 #3

No malaise Aug 2017 #4

Where would 6 million people go? KatyMan Aug 2017 #7

7 million if you count the outlying areas elehhhhna Aug 2017 #10

Scary thought, that last. I wouldn't blame FEMA or the National Guard Hortensis Aug 2017 #35

We need then now for high water rescues , people are on the roofs elehhhhna Aug 2017 #91

Of course. But this is a few thousand, not a few million. Hortensis Aug 2017 #95

Where are they going to go now? MineralMan Aug 2017 #11

I made my family leave. herding cats Aug 2017 #17

The reason they could leave is because there was no mass evacuations. LisaL Aug 2017 #31

It would be a logistical nightmare. herding cats Aug 2017 #33

Harvey didn't even really gave enough time for mass evacuations. LisaL Aug 2017 #40

Hmmm. About how far ahead did they leave, Herding? Hortensis Aug 2017 #55

They headed up from Houston Friday afternoon. herding cats Aug 2017 #67

Thanks. Wow. Glad to hear some of their homes are still okay. Hortensis Aug 2017 #73

Local shelters LeftInTX Aug 2017 #45

If I recall people actually died in their vehicles while stuck in traffic during Rita herding cats Aug 2017 #14

Sure did. LisaL Aug 2017 #25

Yep. herding cats Aug 2017 #34

Houston has a problem. Which was well known before this. LisaL Aug 2017 #38

North and west uponit7771 Aug 2017 #15

Lane reversal on highways, start 3 or 4 days in advance. bluepen Aug 2017 #18

What state do you live in? KatyMan Aug 2017 #21

I live on the coast of SC and in South FL. bluepen Aug 2017 #22

They tried evacuating Houston during hurricane Rita. All these people just got stuck on the roads. LisaL Aug 2017 #26

That's what officials were worried about in S. FL. bluepen Aug 2017 #30

Yep, it can take 3 hours just to get from one side of town to the other durig rush hours. trof Aug 2017 #46

I doubt short of having Star Trek transporters KatyMan Aug 2017 #41

I live in Florida as well GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #72

Thanks for that spot on observation. Cattledog Aug 2017 #78

Houston doesn't have official zoning laws. tammywammy Aug 2017 #83

So Houston does not. Thanks for the correction GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #84

Houston does have a lot of land-use laws tammywammy Aug 2017 #85

And a lot of green space. People don't know what they're talking about. elehhhhna Aug 2017 #97

They didn't know this was coming 4 days in advance mcar Aug 2017 #86

No. See model intensity guidance for 22 Aug. bluepen Aug 2017 #87

I choose to listen to the people actually there mcar Aug 2017 #89

I choose to listen to scientists. bluepen Aug 2017 #90

Corsicana, Texarkana, and Las Vegas are places we ran to Nevernose Aug 2017 #69

The Houston mayor discouraged evacuations Not Ruth Aug 2017 #8

Link to Current Houston Area Traffic Map MineralMan Aug 2017 #9

And if there was an evacuation notice, these people would be sitting on the roads in their cars. LisaL Aug 2017 #24

People must think Houston is KatyMan Aug 2017 #42

Too many people, too few roads out. LisaL Aug 2017 #43

Prayers to all benld74 Aug 2017 #12

Plans but no order. See this thread as to why it was too late: highplainsdem Aug 2017 #13

No - and the RW are raging hard against the Mayor of Houston oberliner Aug 2017 #16

There wasn't time mcar Aug 2017 #19

Abbott ordered rvac but has no authrity Gothmog Aug 2017 #20

You can't evacuate Houston on that short a notice. LisaL Aug 2017 #23

How do you evacuate 10 million people? B2G Aug 2017 #27

Exactly, roads aren't equipped for it and other areas can only absorb so many people. There is also RKP5637 Aug 2017 #56

I mentioned this just this morning to the hubby. But also pointed out the lack of sandbags in images kydo Aug 2017 #28

That's rich KatyMan Aug 2017 #48

People in Houston have no idea what an ice storm is all about Phoenix61 Aug 2017 #80

I live in the orlando fl area kydo Aug 2017 #81

Turns out that's a bit of a problem - RandomAccess Aug 2017 #32

Gov. Abbott knew two days ago that evacuation plans for Houston would've had to start a day earlier. highplainsdem Aug 2017 #36

Excellent addition to the discussion. Thanks for posting. RandomAccess Aug 2017 #39

+1 uponit7771 Aug 2017 #60

It is a problem. Houston is a sitting duck for a hurricane. LisaL Aug 2017 #37

No. Because 100 people in Houston died during the mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Rita -- pnwmom Aug 2017 #44

I don't think he downplayed at all KatyMan Aug 2017 #49

We must be talking about different meteorologists. pnwmom Aug 2017 #54

I'm going to have to review but KatyMan Aug 2017 #64

I have relatives in Houston (who are at a previously planned family event in another city now) pnwmom Aug 2017 #74

That would have been a tough call because the Hurricane didn't hit Houston Quixote1818 Aug 2017 #50

Frank Brock was confirmed as FEMA head in June B2G Aug 2017 #59

NOAA still has no leader in place. Thats a fact Quixote1818 Aug 2017 #76

Unreasonable and unrealistic Lotusflower70 Aug 2017 #51

They have a plan, if the area was to be hit with a CAT 5 then they would have to implement plan uponit7771 Aug 2017 #61

You might tell yourself that, but it was obvious to me a long time ago LisaL Aug 2017 #65

Then clearly they don't have a plan Lotusflower70 Aug 2017 #68

My best wishes to everyone in Texas steve2470 Aug 2017 #57

What sort of emergency preparedness does the area have? Retrograde Aug 2017 #58

+1 uponit7771 Aug 2017 #63

The Houston area is as ready for this as KatyMan Aug 2017 #66

Thanks. No one can prepare for every possibility Retrograde Aug 2017 #93

90% would have called evacuation orders "FAKE NEWS" and done nothing. BamaRefugee Aug 2017 #70

2.3 million people on short notice? RandySF Aug 2017 #79

I know of one issued on Thursday Evening. aka-chmeee Aug 2017 #82

As someone who experienced the eclipse traffic out of Oregon, I disagree. hunter Aug 2017 #92

No. They were told to shelter in place. Horse with no Name Aug 2017 #94