How a Real Governor Handle an Approaching Storm

[carpro]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092000202_pf.html

Rita Upgraded to Category One Hurricane
Tens of Thousands of Key West-Area Residents Remain in Region


"If you've not left the Keys already," Gov. Jeb Bush said, "don't leave now," as winds and rain were already picking up to dangerous levels, with branches and some debris blowing across highways.

"This is a very serious storm that is about to hit our state," noting that Rita's storm bands extend about 120 miles outward from the storm's center.

Bush said shelters had been set up across the affected area and that at least three hospitals have been evacuated. He said he had mobilized 2400 National Guardsmen with another 2500 placed on alert.

Search and rescue units, he said, are also being mobilized.

 

[TexasSky]

I'm rather proud of how Rick Perry is handling it in Texas too.

He contacted other cities, asked them to prepare food and shelter for citizens of Galveston and Houston, called back the national guard and told them to be on stand by, and told the citizens of Galveston and Houston, a week in advance, to get enough supplies and food and gas to get out of town or to contact people who could help them get out of town.

 

[El_Guero]

I am glad some men have stepped up and said what needs to be said.

Get out of town, is always the best advise.

 

[fromtheright]

carpro,

Maybe a little off topic but I've been thinking that Jeb has got to be more than a little ticked off to realize that Florida did as much as they did on their own after Andrew but that because of the idiots and corruption running N'awlins they will probably get much more, both absolutely and comparatively, than Florida did.


TS,

You're absolutely right about your governor. I have been VERY impressed with his reaction and response. We've got a good one here in Alabama, but you guys should really be proud of Perry. Just another reason I love Texas.

 

[El_Guero]

FTRight,

If you start listing the reasons you love Texas, you might get done in time for the Second Coming ...

 

[fromtheright]

EG,

You're probably right. As I've said elsewhere, I worked there a couple of summers while in college many years ago, one in San Antonion/New Braunfels, the other in Amarillo and just fell in love with the state. It is truly a state of mind. I was and am still amazed at how much of the true small town feeling/atmosphere remains (or at least did 25+ years ago) in the small towns. Also, I suppose illegal immigration was a problem even then but my memories of the Hispanics there is especially pleasant--hard-working, decent folks.

You know, I was thinking about Texas for some reason last night, actually, and thought that, of the various states I've been to (23 if my count is correct), Texas is my favorite (even including Hawaii, which I really enjoyed), due to both the geography and the people that I met.

 

[mcdirector]

I'm not in Texas now -- but spent most of my childhood in Houston/El Paso/Ft Worth. I'm very impressed with what the state of Texas stepped up to and took on with Katrina and I continue to be impressed with Rita approaching.

 

[mcdirector]

I like how Jeb Bush is handling things too -- Got a bit nostalgic there!

 

[Bro. James Reed]

Katrina evacuees in the dome and the convention center have been flown from Ellington field to Arkansas ahead of Rita.

I went to Walmart after work, talk about a madhouse. Gas has not gone up yet, so I'll be filling up tonight or in the morning.

Bought lots of supplies as suggested by our leaders.

My pastor and his family will probably be coming here as they live only about 5 miles from the coast. As the crow flies, my house is 60 miles from the Gulf and 45 miles from the Bay. Still, I am fairly certain we will all be okay here. If not, there is a PB church opening its doors in Madisonville, about 90 miles north, for us if we need it.

I am very impressed with the response of our leaders and also the citizens. Many people took off early today to buy supplies, and many people are already leaving town. Galveston county is currently under voluntary evacuations, providing buses to help people get out, and all of the coastal counties, including Harris (where I am in Houston) have been urged to evacuate nursing homes and hospitals ahead of an impending mandatory evacuation of those facilities.

One draw back, the roads are absolutely packed with folks trying to leave. There are 3 evacuation routes that run within 1 mile of my house, so there is no shortage of traffic.

I'll keep everyone posted on my wellbeing as the days go by, or at least as long as I have power.

Please pray.

Bro. James

 

[poncho]

FEMA's City of Anxiety in Florida

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2005; Page A01

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- "Someone killed my dog," sputtered Royaltee Forman, still livid two weeks later.

"They just threw him out the window and hung him with his own leash," he said, convinced that someone broke into his home while he was out. "I mean, what kind of place has this become?"

About 1,500 people who lost their homes or were already homeless still live in a makeshift mobile home/trailer park run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Charlotte County, Fla., since Hurricane Charley struck last year. (By Marc S. Kaufman -- The Washington Post)

Forman's place is FEMA City, a dusty, baking, treeless collection of almost 500 trailers that was set up by the federal emergency agency last fall to house more than 1,500 people made homeless by Hurricane Charley, one of the most destructive storms in recent Florida history. The free shelter was welcomed by thankful survivors back then; almost a year later, most are still there -- angry, frustrated, depressed and increasingly desperate.

"FEMA City is now a socioeconomic time bomb just waiting to blow up," said Bob Hebert, director of recovery for Charlotte County, where most FEMA City residents used to live. "You throw together all these very different people under already tremendous stress, and bad things will happen. And this is the really difficult part: In our county, there's no other place for many of them to go."

MORE HERE

 

[msinave]

Bro. James, you keep saying you are 60 miles from the coast. I don't know which direction but PLEASE be aware that people in Mississippi who live MORE than 60 miles from the coast still suffered extreme damage and there were several deaths as far north as 90 miles. Leave. NOW.

 

[TexasSky]

I have always admired Alabama in general.

Thank you for the compliments on Rick. Interestingly enough, this whole storm stuff can make or break his career. I've know Governor Perry for years, and during the first few years as Governor he wasn't very popular. He's a pretty quiet man, and even though the real fiscal power in Texas is with the Lt. Governor, Rick gets blamed for anything that people don't like when it comes to money.

He's really shined during all this storm business though, and Texans like a leader, so it will be interesting to see what happens when the elections roll around.

 

[TexasSky]

I saw people in the Florida Keys standing on sea-walls watching the surges. Are they insane?

 

[RebelBaptist]

You have to understand Key West and their so-called "conch culture." They are rather foolish, taking pride in being bold in the face of such dangers as hurricanes, all the while downing various forms of alcohol and being obsessed with Hemingway and having a good time partying.

But hey, they are part of my state, so I will cut them some slack. If they want to be swept out to sea, it's still a free nation. Just don't expect the Coast Guard to come in and save their sorry behinds.

Rebel [><]

 

[fromtheright]

TS,

Hey, if he's a Democrat and you guys have rules like Illinois, send me a ballot, I'll vote for him! Actually, I don't know why I'm picking on IL; LBJ managed to scare up a few votes from the graveyards in West Texas, didn't he?

I saw people in the Florida Keys standing on sea-walls watching the surges. Are they insane?

I think they've developed an immunity (or maybe it is insanity; Jimmy Buffett would proudly tell you it's the latter) down there.

 

[carpro]

I'm not a huge fan of Perry , but he's gettin' it done both in helping our neighbor Louisiana and in protecting his own people.

The Governors of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas are making Blanco look exactly like the incompetent fool she is.

[ September 21, 2005, 10:52 AM: Message edited by: carpro ]

 

[fromtheright]

Need I point out that the others are all Republicans (actually I don't know about Perry)?

 

[El_Guero]

Perry is a Republican I believe ... I actually should remember that.

 

[carpro]

Perry is indeed a Republican, but I believe the idiocy of Blanco transcends political parties. At least I certainly hope so.

 

[fromtheright]

For the sake of the many good Dem voters out there, I do too.