General Discussion

LisaL

(47,380 posts)

38. Houston has a problem. Which was well known before this.

Sun Aug 27, 2017, 02:17 PM

Aug 2017

But TX didn't do much to address it. And I don't think Harvey even qualifies as the "perfect storm" since it didn't go for Houston directly.

"Still, scientists say, Houston’s perfect storm is coming — and it’s not a matter of if but when. The city has dodged it for decades, but the likelihood it will happen in any given year is nothing to scoff at; it’s much higher than your chance of dying in a car crash or in a firearm assault, and 2,400 times as high as your chance of being struck by lightning."

http://grist.org/climate-energy/houston-is-a-sitting-duck-for-the-next-big-hurricane-why-isnt-texas-ready/

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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