Galveston County orders mandatory evacuations

[Lisa0825]

By TJ Aulds
The Daily News

Published September 20, 2005 - Updated 13 minutes ago

Officials have called for mandatory evacuations ahead of Hurricane Rita. The order is for every one living in Galveston County.

People in medical centers and nursing homes to start at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Residential evacuations start at 6 p.m. The county's evacuation plan calls for the evacuation of residents in phases.

People in medical care and other facilities needing special help are scheduled to begin evacuations at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Zone A of the evacuation plan which includes the southern portions of the county including Galveston Island, Tiki Island and Bayou Vista begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Zone B of the plan which includes the central portions of the county's mainland as well as the bay front communities of Kemah, San Leon and Bacliff are to start evacuation at 2 a.m. Thursday.

Zone C which is the northern reaches of the county including League City and Friendswood will start evacuation at 12 p.m. Thursday.

Tropical force winds from Hurricane Rita are expected to hit the county by early Friday.

EVACUATION ZONES

ZONE A – 6 PM Wednesday, Sept. 21

Galveston Island (I-45)
Jamaica Beach (I-45)
Tiki Island (I-45)
Bayou Vista (Hwy. 6)
Clear Lake Shores (Hwy. 146)
Kemah (Hwy. 146)
San Leon-Bacliff-Bayview (Hwy. 146)
Bolivar Peninsula (Hwy. 87 and Hwy. 124)

ZONE B – 2 AM Thursday, Sept. 22

Texas City (Hwy. 146)
La Marque (I-45)
Hitchcock (Hwy. 6)
Dickinson (I-45)

ZONE C – 12 NOON Thursday, Sept. 22
(Use Highway 6)

League City (I-45, Hwy. 146)
Friendswood (I-45)
Santa Fe (Hwy. 6)

[babylonsister]

1. Just heard on CNN at 4pm; by this time tomorrow, Rita

is expected to be at a Cat. 4. Time to flee!

[Duer 157099]

2. It'll be interesting to see what 100% looks like

Boy the pressure must be intense. 80% isn't good enough, they've got to get 100% or they're in trouble.

[CitySky]

3. Thanks for posting this important info. n/t

[Wilber_Stool]

4. So

their going to shut down Galveston for about a week. That's going to cost some real big bucks. Considering Rita was a dud in south Florida, no damage, no reason to evacuate, I wonder how people will feel the next time there's a mandatory evacuation? Will they leave? These unneeded evacuations are what desensitized people to evacuations in the first place. Looks like we're repeating the same old mistakes.

[sonias]

5. Good luck to all our Texans in Rita's path

Please find safe ground.

Sonia

[tavalon]

6. Now, that's the way an evacuation is supposed to go.

I guess this state being Bush's adopted state, he's allowing fema et al to behave appropriately rather than genocidally. Nice change.

[Bridget Burke]

7. Where did you see "FEMA" in the OP?

Evacuations & other preparation are being handled by local authorities--from the Counties & Cities affected.

I'm sure there were already plans, but recent events convinced everybody not to wait for Austin or DC to help.

[tammywammy]

8. You're exactly right

FEMA isn't ordering the evacuations, it's the local government.

[tavalon]

10. Mea Culpa

I read that this morning after I had finished a grueling 12 hour shift. Obviously, my reading comprehension skills weren't up to snuff.

[tammywammy]

12. That's okay

:)

[merci_me]

11. Our locals have been nothing short of fantastic......

Mayor Bill White is a treasure and I have to admit, even Republican County Commissioner Robert Eckles has been great. The two of them seem to really have a lot of respect for and genuinely like each other. Bi-partisan, minus ego when the chips are down, is really something we can appreciate.

I'm thinking Mayor Bill for Lt. Gov. though I'd hate to lose him as mayor. Of course, I assume he's going to be re-elected in November. Since Katrina, he has canceled every campaign event and there hasn't been a single fund raiser. The man is focused!

BTW, for those who don't know, Bill White use to be the chair of the State Democratic Party and then Under Secretary of Energy under Clinton.

Mary

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Sweetie, are you OK?

What about your foster kitties? We have a guest room for you if you need it, and I'm sure we could find room for the kitties.

Please be safe!
FSC