Some more potential "uh-oh's" for when Rita hits TX

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/092105dntexritaresponse.12766b0e.html


Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said the Houston-Galveston area has a "big hole" in its push to get all public safety officials on the same radio system during a crisis; Houston isn't part of the "Smart Zone" radio system. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast illustrated the need for such capability, he said. "We can patch them in," he said of Houston's first responders, but "it's not the best situation."

<snip>

Mr. Eckels said Katrina interrupted three efforts launched at the start of the hurricane season:
-Coordination. In March, Steve McCraw, Mr. Perry's homeland security director, urged each of the five hurricane evacuation zones in Texas to create a "unified command structure" to plan for and conduct evacuations. The county judges of Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties have discussed it but not signed agreements placing one person in charge. This week, their emergency coordinators will operate from the same Houston command post.

-Evacuation of homebound residents. An effort to create a database of vulnerable people living in private residences began six weeks ago. Small cities, nonprofit groups and neighborhood groups have been asked to help make sure such individuals are assigned drivers. Still, Mr. Eckels said, "I don't think we have all of those people" identified.

-Nursing home transport. In recent weeks, Harris County emergency management workers audited the state-required evacuation plans of dozens of local nursing homes. "Many of them used the same ambulance service, which wouldn't be able to take them all at once," Mr. Eckels said.

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Reason #762 why I'm leaving Brazoria County

I know I can't count on them to help me out.

[Dover]

2. Models show 'massive devastation' in Houston

This is an article from the Houston Chronicle back in February:


Models show 'massive devastation' in Houston
Damages could cost up to $50 billion -- 10 times Allison's cost
By ERIC BERGER

Houston's perfect storm would feed on late summer's warm waters as it barreled northward across the Gulf of Mexico, slamming into the coast near Freeport.

A landfall here would allow its powerful upper-right quadrant, where the waves move in the same direction as the storm, to overflow Galveston Bay. Within an hour or two, a storm surge, topping out at 20 feet or more, would flood the homes of 600,000 people in Harris County. The surge also would block the natural drainage of flooded inland bayous and streams for a day or more.

Coastal residents who ignored warnings to flee would have no hope of escape as waters swelled and winds roiled around their homes. Very likely, hundreds, perhaps even thousands, would die.

Meanwhile, as the storm moved over western Harris County, its most dangerous winds, well in excess of 120 mph even inland, would lash the Interstate 45 corridor, including Clear Lake, the Texas Medical Center and downtown.

Many older buildings could not withstand such winds.

Anything not tied down, from trees to mobile homes to light poles, would become missiles, surreally tumbling and flying through the air, flattening small houses, shattering skyscraper windows and puncturing roofs.

"Unfortunately, we're looking at massive devastation," said Roy Dodson, president of the engineering firm Dodson & Associates, which Harris County asked to model realistic "worst-case scenarios" for a major hurricane hitting the area. ..cont'd

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3046592

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

[Freedomfried]

4. deleted, double post

[Freedomfried]

5. Houston ship channel refineries would be destroyed

Pasadena would be under water.

[Dover]

6. Houston-area refineries say they're prepared

Sept. 21, 2005, 12:05AM

Houston-area refineries say they're prepared
By TOM FOWLER

Hurricane Katrina's visit to New Orleans was bad news for the nation's energy industry. If Hurricane Rita makes a similar visit to Houston it could be even worse.


There are 10 refineries in the Houston area representing as much as 13 percent of the nation's refining capacity. These facilities and countless chemical plants, located on the bays and bayous in Harris and Galveston counties, are at risk from storm surges like those that came with Katrina.

One worst-case scenario modeled by Houston engineering firm Dodson & Associates predicts that a Category 5 storm coming ashore near Freeport could send a wind-driven surge of water up Galveston Bay and into the Ship Channel. Such a storm would swamp many of these facilities, according to the study. The city is home to the nation's largest refinery, Exxon Mobil's Baytown facility, which processes 557,000 barrels a day.

Hurricane Rita may not pack the same punch as the storm envisioned in the study, and Houston is not below sea level like most of New Orleans. But with four refineries still out because of damage from Katrina, any lost capacity could add to high gasoline prices.

But it's been more than 20 years since the Houston-area felt the full brunt of a hurricane.

"People think there was a national impact from Katrina," said Chris Johnson, president of Dodson & Assoc. "But if a storm that size hits here it will be a bigger deal."....cont'd

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/05/rita/3362796

Lot's more info at that link ^

[Dover]

7. dupe post deleted

[tedoll78]

3. I'm in Austin,

and the hospital I just started working for is getting ready for an influx of people from the coast. This should be an interesting weekend; I'll probably be called-in..

[greyl]

8. How many miles is Austin from the coast? nt

[tedoll78]

9. I have no clue.

Isn't that sad?

We're about 2.5 hours from Houston, if that tells you anything. In all probability, Rita will still be a hurricane when/if she passes over us.

[greyl]

10. Haha.

Before I posted my q to you, i was at Wikipedia looking at a map of Austin to figure this out because I have a friend there, but I didn't want to spend the time
I figured I'd take the easy way out and ask you, so I'm at least as sad as you are.

anyway, I've searched more, and I think you're about 200 miles from the coast. ;)