Hanna, Ike and Josephine. Hurricanes of the Week

@Izzie,

I'm doing well, thanks Izzie. My sister and her family finally got their power back on Saturday. They went 15 days without power, poor things.

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@JPB,

JPB wrote:

I was not intending on posting this tonight but I'm trying to put some perspective to this thing.

The 11:00 update indicates that Ike is still "officially" a Cat 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 110mph. Cat 3 storms are those with sustained wind speeds of 111mph - 130mph, so this is as strong a Cat 2 as a Cat 2 can be.

Hurricane Hunters are returning readings of 950mb which is a pressure reading typically observed in a high Cat 3 storm.

Storm surge estimates of 12' - 30' are generally seen in strong Cat 4 - weak Cat 5 storms.

Part of the problem with the heavy emphasis on the Saffir-Simpson scale is that folks make life and death decisions based solely on the SS Category. As we are seeing, the severity of a storm comes from much more than just it's wind speed. People choose to ride out a Cat 2 storm because the last Cat 2 storm wasn't that harsh. Well, this is not your every day Cat 2 storm. The NHC needs to consider other mechanisms of categorizing storms that do not entirely depend on maximum sustained wind speed.

<end of editorial>

To follow up on these thoughts... there is now some serious discussion regarding the classification of storms that involve more than wind speed. I don't know where it will lead (if anywhere) but one thought is to classified the Saffir-Simpson category by wind speed (as is currently done) while a storm is off-shore and then switch to discussion of category at landfall based on a combination of wind speed and surge potential. Here is the full description of the SS-Scale as posted on the NHC website

Quote:

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline, in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.

Category One Hurricane:
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricane Lili of 2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. Hurricane Gaston of 2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast.

Category Two Hurricane:
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Frances of 2004 made landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida as a Category Two hurricane. Hurricane Isabel of 2003 made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane.

Category Three Hurricane:
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan of 2004 were Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Florida and in Alabama, respectively.

Category Four Hurricane:
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. Hurricane Dennis (pdf) of 2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.

Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Katrina (pdf), a category 5 storm over the Gulf of Mexico, was still responsible for at least 81 billion dollars of property damage when it struck the U.S. Gulf Coast as a category 3. It is by far the costliest hurricane to ever strike the United States. In addition, Hurricane Wilma (pdf) of 2005 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 882 mb.

Ike was a Category 2 storm based on wind speed. The mindset of "It's only a Cat-2 storm" was pervasive in the media and in the official statements given by local authorities. The projected surge of Ike was upwards of 20' prior to landfall. We will never know the actual peak surge because the four buoys in the center of the surge were taken out by the storm. The marginal buoys (those closest to the surge center that were still functioning during the storm) showed peaks of 14' which is a cat-4 storm surge. It is still possible that the center of the surge area surpassed 18' making Ike a cat-5 surge storm.

Had the public discussion (media and local authorities) moved to discussing the potential severity of the storm in terms of the SS-scale based on potential surge at landfall (Cat 4 or 5) then perhaps more people would have chosen to leave.

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@JPB,

I couldn't agree more that the Saffir-Simpson scale is completely inadequate for surge warnings. But the solution isn't to incorporate surges into it... because that would slant the scale to the surge's, even to the majority in most locations that are unlikely to be effected by the surge itself. This would have the effect of crying (bigger) wolf at every hurricane in the gulf. It would be far better to establish a second scale that attempts to predict the storm's surge. Perhaps, as an example, the warning could read, "We are predicting a Cat-2 Storm with a Surge Factor of Cat-4. (Of course; that's pretty much what they do now.)

The ocean floor topography is the main factor in determining how wind speeds will build a surge. This is just another reason Galveston is a time bomb. Due to the ocean topography leading up to Galveston, the enormous surge that accompanied this relatively weak storm was no anomaly. Had this storm grew to its full potential (and it could have); the surge would have been absolutely horrific... and this is imminently predictable.

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@OCCOM BILL,

But they didn't do that in the case of Ike.

Surge is already incorporated in the SS scale. But the category discussed in landfall decision making doesn't focus on it. The SS scale as used by the NHC is posted above. The wind speed of Ike was a Cat 2 storm. The surge potential of Ike was a cat 4-5. If the focus of the discussion in the local media had switched from talking about Ike in terms of it's wind speed to that of it's surge potential at landfall for those in coastal regions then more of them may have chosen to evacuate.

I know there are many factors that influence someone's decision to evacuate (pets, elderly residents, not being able to return in a timely manner, etc) but if a realistic emphasis is placed on the surge then the decision to remain to protect property and pets vs "certain death" may be better disseminated by the local media and local government authorities.

The NHC and many "hobbyists" were talking about the surge days before Ike hit. The local media and local authorities didn't take it seriously until it was too late for everyone to evacuate who needed to get out. SLOSH graphs which predicted storm surge of 20 - 30 feet were available by Wednesday. One local weatherman, when looking at ariel coverage of the devastation on the Bolivar peninsula stated, "Wow, that must be from tornadoes!" No, it was from surge! If the local media and the local authorities don't understand and then send the proper warning messages the folks on the ground will never get it.

Houston was affected by a strong Cat 2 storm. Galveston and the surrounding coastal areas were hit by a strong Cat 4-5. I'm curious how many of the folks who decided to ride out the storm (vs those who decided to leave but couldn't because the warnings came too late) would have made a different decision if they were told they should expect a Cat 4-5 at landfall based on the surge.

There's no telling how many of the still-missing from the Bolivar peninsula (still over 300) wanted to get out but couldn't vs those who chose to stay but the stories from those who survived are mixed between the two groups.

1 Reply

@JPB,

JPB wrote:

But they didn't do that in the case of Ike.

Surge is already incorporated in the SS scale.

This isn't really true. An arbitrary surge guestimate is included in the scale's description; but the scale itself is determined by wind speed alone.

JPB wrote:

But the category discussed in landfall decision making doesn't focus on it. The SS scale as used by the NHC is posted above. The wind speed of Ike was a Cat 2 storm. The surge potential of Ike was a cat 4-5. If the focus of the discussion in the local media had switched from talking about Ike in terms of it's wind speed to that of it's surge potential at landfall for those in coastal regions then more of them may have chosen to evacuate.

The National Hurricane Center advised that those living in single family and 2 story dwellings in the storm surge area may face "CERTAIN DEATH." Also that "WATER LEVELS MAY EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND."(NHC shouting, not me) I don't know how they could have been clearer than that. That the local authorities exhibited such gross incompetence is as incomprehensible as it was reprehensible.

Ultimately though, those who ignored the NHC are responsible for their own stupid decision. That many paid the ultimate price doesn't negate personal responsibility. I can hardly see how anyone could live on Galveston Island and not know its horrific hurricane history. Nor can I see how anyone with half a brain living on the coast could not be listening for surge information with a hurricane bearing down on them.

I agree wholeheartedly that authorities should take greater steps to inform people of danger... but none of that absolves people of the responsibility to look out for themselves. You and I commented extensively on the dangers of the potential storm surge from the Midwest. Those living in the path of the beast had every opportunity to learn what we did and more.

I still think anyone who stayed behind with kids on those islands should be charged with a serious crime.

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@OCCOM BILL,

I mostly agree with you, Bill, and I appreciate the discussion. I think the dilemma comes with mixed signals from multiple sources of information. I'm still hearing stories from people who were put between a rock and a hard place from the lack of accurate information given by local authorities.

One such story was from a woman who lives on the western end of Galveston Island and was under a mandatory evacuation as of Wednesday night. She works in the city of Galveston which was under a voluntary evacuation at the time and was pushed by her employer to 1) come to work on Thursday and leave on Friday (which was too late for the western end of Galveston Island) and 2) evacuate to Galveston where she could get her work done on Thursday and Friday because they were going to hunker down like the Mayor had told them to.

One of the differences in Texas between a mandatory evacuation and a voluntary evacuation is the potential impact on one's employment. Texas statute dictates that an employer cannot fire someone for not showing up for work when they are under a mandatory evacuation. The same does not hold for a voluntary evacuation. I'm still bugdust over the Mayor's decision to wait until after the start of the workday on Thursday before calling for a mandatory evacuation of Galveston to be implemented by mid-day Friday. The surge started flooding the roads from the west end prior to 10:00 am Friday.

After the storm, local weathermen were saying, "We simply weren't prepared for the surge." That's what is inexcusable to me. If the local government depends on the local weather "authorities" for their information then those people should know what the hell they're talking about.

Also, if what I think is true is true -- that the local government officials made their recommendations based on the economic impact of calling for a mandatory evacuation then those officials should be held criminally accountable. It can't be proven, of course, what someone's thoughts were but the press conference tapes are quite clear in how they were couching their announcements.

I consider myself a weather hobbiest, perhaps you are too. Lots and lots of folks depend on the media and local authorities to give them accurate information and to have their best interests at heart. I think that's naive and want to do my own research and make my decisions based on data that I'm able to evaluate for myself. But, everyone isn't able to do that be it from lack of access or lack of knowledge base. I agree the folks who live along the coast know what risks they're taking as the take them and that decisions made which impact the lives of others are foolish (and perhaps criminal) but we need a system of information gathering/dispensing that gives people making personal decisions accurate information based on facts not politics.

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@JPB,

You hit it, there is no one the public can trust. Officials have sometimes cried wolf, sometimes not communicated the full extent of the danger, but rarely can one look back and say that the guidance given was wise and measured. Officials almost never get it right. Ideally the NWS would be the go to source, but they have been hit with wave upon wave of budget cuts, they no longer have the ability to gather the weather danger info and pass it along to the public. every state and city now tries to cobble together some ad hoc system, there is no organized national effort to get the job done.

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@JPB,

I'm sorry, darlin, I thought I answered this already. I know I wrote one. I always enjoy chatting with you.

JPB wrote:

Also, if what I think is true is true -- that the local government officials made their recommendations based on the economic impact of calling for a mandatory evacuation then those officials should be held criminally accountable. It can't be proven, of course, what someone's thoughts were but the press conference tapes are quite clear in how they were couching their announcements.

I'm inclined to agree with you completely. I don't know how a mayor of Gaveston, of all places, could possibly not call for a mandatory evacuation early. Frankly, I think she should have asked the State and Feds for help to force people out. To not be privy to the NHC's reports is too grossly incompetent to be believed (by me at least.) I think she's guilty of "Depraved Indifference" or "Conduct Regardless of Life"... or whatever Texas calls it down there.

JPB wrote:

I consider myself a weather hobbiest, perhaps you are too. Lots and lots of folks depend on the media and local authorities to give them accurate information and to have their best interests at heart. I think that's naive and want to do my own research and make my decisions based on data that I'm able to evaluate for myself. But, everyone isn't able to do that be it from lack of access or lack of knowledge base. I agree the folks who live along the coast know what risks they're taking as the take them and that decisions made which impact the lives of others are foolish (and perhaps criminal) but we need a system of information gathering/dispensing that gives people making personal decisions accurate information based on facts not politics.

I'm no hobbyist; just a nerd with a decent instinct for self preservation, who used to live on the water. I know first hand that a decent percentage of people act really stupidly during these events. I actually attended a beach house party when Hurricane Floyd (the finger of God) was still pointed at Palm Beach. (I left when the storm didn't turn as soon as predicted. It did eventually turn, or it would have killed every last one of them.) As a weather hobbyist; you either remember this storm or you'd be fascinated by it. Here's a pic:

http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens1999939module9666094photo_1212196300667px-Hurricane_Floyd_1999-09-14_enlar.jpg

At the time this pic was taken; Floyd was making the infamous Andrew look like a sissy. Floyd struck the Bahamas with a 20 foot storm surge and 50 foot waves (can you even imagine what that would have done to Florida?) On the barrier islands; Police literally went door to door demanding people leave, just as they should have in Galveston. It was reported as the biggest peacetime evacuation in history. Imagine a Cat-5 the size of Texas (literally) bearing down on you. And still, some morons hid instead of leaving. There is no limit to human stupidity.

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Harris County has posted the surge map for Ike showing a surge of up to 15' on the east side of Houston.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/ike08/images/IkeStormSurge_HarrisCounty.JPG

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@JPB,

I wonder if that will change the evacuation zones?

http://www.houstontx.gov/oem/images/2008evacmap.jpg

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@mac11,

That map is obviously based on decreasing wind strength at landfall. I think they will still tier the coastal areas first so that they don't get blocked behind folks trying to evacuate from further inland.

How are things where you are now, mac? Are repairs happening?

If anyone is interested, a grassroots group that I'm working with is delivering another load of supplies to Bridge City and Chambers County. They left Charleston, SC yesterday and are scheduled to arrive in Bridge City tonight. They have a "live cam" if you want to watch... they're approaching Lake Charles now.

http://portlight.camstreams.com/

There's a great story about a "bum" from Bolivar who wants to get back to the island. I'll see if I can get permission to post it here (kleenex required).

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@JPB,

This is Billy's story... The folks on the truck are planning on meeting him tomorrow and driving him back to the pennisula.

Quote:

billybadbird 7:33 PM GMT on October 20, 2008
this is billybadbird and i speak to dr. masters and the weatherunderground community. all of you know my love of storms. when you live where i live you have no choice but to love them or leave them - i am sure that many of you have not known much about galveston and it's surrounding islands except for allison - a tropical storm with little wind that came across and stalled and dumped flooding rains for many consecutive days over houston. i would say from allison until 2005 we had maybe 10 waves or depressions or tropical systems come across our shore.
it's a common thing -not an if but a when
and: i would say at the risk of upsetting others that life was frankly pretty boring since hurricane alicia - my first real hurricane in my daredevil years of storm
chasing. alicia did major damage- but i played in the streets- i surfed in the gulf - i had a garage sale on the highway with dishes that would fly like a frisbee angering those who were fleeing to safety angering them further when i dropped my prices to " half off - everything must go" - some people just have no humor! some people would call the police who would say "raney, do you just like pissing everyone off?" people called me billybadass back then - but i have since cleaned up my act and my name for the sake of my family who might meet someone and hear - oh, you're billy badass's father - or mother! my poor parents- but they raised me on an island that was once as it is today- unpopulated- undeveloped - 1 little store and 1 little restaurant and 1 school where i proudly graduated the top 5 in my class of 6! i grew up playing in the ocean - swimming with dolphins porpises and seagulls who swam with me as i swam with them. then the people came- my desolate island made way to million dollar homes and tourist who litter my part of the earth and fisherman whose broken string was tossed into the ocean with their beer bottles and sode cans and
into the wings of the birds i swam with before i began to rescue the ones who could be saved and said my prayers to god before i wrang the necks of the ones who could not. i have cried wails of tears many a day and night over each and every bird whose life was taken at the hands of man. i believe each tear i shed was to god and his creatures and i was blessed beyond blessings for not one tear being a tear of pity or a why me - until the day came that i was blessed with my house directly on the ocean and directly besides my birds who came to know my house as a
safe haven where they were fed on china plates - upside down rice rice- simply cooked rice - then cooled - then turned upside down plopped onto the plate in the form of a beautiful cake. there once was seagulls then pigeons then grackle - and with god's blessings i would feed each and every bird to keep them away from the elements of man. nothing more - nothing less - billybadass turned bird - a simply boring- non existant existance - why me lord- what have i ever done TO DESERVE EVEN 1 OF THE BLESSINGS I HAVE. then came christmas - snow on christmas day - a miracle and a post on my underground blog that i will never ever change because i love god and i can go to my underground blog to see a miracle- or a present - sent to me from heaven. when i post things- as today - i come here - to dr masters or auburn or storm junkie and vortex - my friends who have done among all the many things one thing that keeps my heart pure- tell me that i am one of their own...i am just now learning and reading the well wishes and prayers being said to and for me while i was on the balcony trapped in a storm that was a tad bit more dangerous than rita and humberto and edourdo that i just finished playing in before gustav threated with nothing more than a disappointing 50 mile wind with no rain----back to back to back all of them- 7 feet storm surges that were nothing - the nothing that led me to stay for a 12 foot surge- what's another 5 feet- except the ten feet of water which submerged the island before the 12 feet came. we all know the story after that- i thought i was going to die - i thought i was going to live- then die then live- and live i did - and the memories will never fail me - and the courage only strengthened and come the next storm will only come another burst of adrenaline. that is me - that is my life - that is what everyone knows- - i am sorry to those who died - i know the lady gayle who washed up 50 miles away - and i know the lady they haven't found - who lived a life as simple as mine- rode her bike
to the store for dog food while i
rode mine for bread so i could make bread balls and throw them into the air to the seagulls who had a broken leg or were missing a leg and could not land and eat rice with the other birds because they could not stand. if there were a bread ball league i would have a trophy - maybe 20 - 1 for each season i was a champion
breadball quarterback. i am sorry for those birds too. none survived. i am sorry for the ones who did survive but were trapped in the bushes with broken wings unable for me to rescue for the water was too high. i am sorry for leaving them against my will being forced off the island by the military and texas rangers the coast guard the blackhawks and the police and into a city where i know nothing and no one - actually my third city now- being
the same bum i have always been - just not in the location where it is okay to be the bum that i am. i know that my heart is pure - i know that i am blessed - and i know that when someone has a job to do - they do it - and my job was to be the best bum on the beach- and it's the best job in the world to have - it requires nothing more than the love of god..............which brings me here today- to
say thank you to dr. masters who sent money from his pocket to get me through this city living- the horns - the pollution- the trains- the noise - the hurried people who have time for nothing but stress and more stress. his money was used to get me to my doggy- sammy, a 14 year old chihuahua who was sent to florida with my sister to save him from my foolishness- he has played with me in all the storms and i almost kept him for ike and if i would we would both be dead- on my way to the fort i never reached i let go first the gallon of milk i was drinking in my right hand- then i let go of my bike - then my boots - and if
i had my doggy i would never have let him go - i would have simply gone with him to the end - yet we are together and we are both extremely unhappy in the city together until this friday where vortex and storm junkie and auburn and robbi- saddlegait have come together to take me home where i am happy - where i can live on my island that still has no water or lights. an island that has peace- tranquility - beautiful sunrises and sunsets and moon rises and moonsets that speak to me and my heart and the birds who are my company with my peace. all of the people just mentioned- in a community where i am considered one of their own along with the the fellows at Portlight
have come together to take me home. but not just me - they have come together to bring a whole community back home- a community that is not populated enough to be remembered when people help people. my island has never fully recovered from rita- high island has never fully recovered from humberto and gilchrist had not even began to try to recover from edourdo and will never recover as ike has swept the beach away where the highway and the ocean meet. there are still people there- the diehards- the hardheads - the people who are only these things because they do not have the resources to be anywhere but where they are. the people like me who are more happy with sunsets than money. i am going home to be with them again- i won't be near them in any way but heart and spirit - but i will know they are there and they will know they aren't forgotten when Portlight
arrives this weekend with a relief truck full of supplies to help them through this journey - i hope i speak for Portlight - that they are committed not to let one itty bitty island who is not even on the map be forgotten when it already was before the storm- i know however, that i speak for my island- it won't be the supplies - it won't be the food or the water the things that are needed and will be so greatly appreciated when they come that will touch the hearts of my people - it will be the people themselves who came that will touch their heart more. it will be the hugs and the handshaking and the sorry's and the thank you's and the knowing that they - like me - my people who are there will have just met another community where they are one of our own! just one favor storm and vortex- if you will- have alot of kleenex tissue with you when you come. god bless you all- and: if anyone is interested in some dishes- i have them- i never made a dime off that garage sale. this is billy bad bird- but i ain't really no bad bird that's just my name

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@JPB,

J_B wrote:

How are things where you are now, mac? Are repairs happening?

It's hard to believe that it's been six weeks since Ike. There have been no repairs on my apartment building yet - lots of blue tarps in place. But I'm high and dry (and lucky), so no problems.

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@mac11,

That always reminds me of Sonny Landreth's song Blue Tarp Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpxkQXX7Q6g

Glad you're doing as well as can be expected. I'm sure the entire area is overwhelmed with work to do and not enough folks to do it.

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@JPB,

Live cam is running now. We expect to reach Bolivar in about 15 minutes.

http://www.stormjunkie.com/portlight.php

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@JPB,

Here's today's schedule. We're bringing a pizza party to everyone on the peninsula who can get to Crystal Beach. One of the things that surprised me about yesterday's trip was the amount of traffic on the peninsula. It seems that there are plenty of vehicles around. We're planning on around 300 people.

We didn't have time to get to billybird's old place yesterday because there's a 6:00 pm curfew on the peninsula and they needed to get his tent set up at his dad's place.

Here are some shots from yesterday.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/223.jpg

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/219.jpg

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/218.jpg

10-25-08
Tentative schedule for today (give or take 30 minutes)

Arrive to pick pizza up around 11:15.

11:30-45 begin trip out to Bolivar

12:30-2:00 Hand out Pizza

1:30-2:00 Tour of Bolivar (Will head down to billybadbirds old house, or I should say land).

This is a tentative schedule for today (give or take 30 minutes on anything)

1 Reply

@JPB,

More pics from yesterday. We picked Billy up first and then he joined in in dropping off supplies in Winnie and Crystal Beach before heading over to his dad's place.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/217.jpg

Some of the supplies inside the tent

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/221.jpg

Billy's dad's house

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/220.jpg

One of the many smiling faces who welcomed the guys into Bridge City on Thursday afternoon. Half of the supplies were dropped off there and the rest were divided between Winnie and Crystal Beach.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/216.jpg

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Quote:

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News
Published October 25, 2008

BOLIVAR PENINSULA " Hurricane Ike left about 2,000 houses standing on Bolivar Peninsula, and county engineers will be in Crystal Beach today and Sunday to help residents sort through the permitting process.

Meanwhile, it could be a couple of weeks before the Texas General Land Office marks the peninsula’s vegetation line, which could govern where property owners would be allowed to rebuild.

County Engineer Mike Fitzgerald said county employees would hand out information on the permitting process and issue permits only to owners whose houses sustained what the county deems as less than substantial damage " substantial being more than 50 percent of the value.

Homes that sustained potentially substantial damage must be inspected before the county issues permits, Fitzgerald said.

“We’ve looked at every house on the peninsula,” Fitzgerald said. “And 3,400 are gone.”

Ike’s Sept. 13 landfall on Galveston caused severe flooding and damaged much of the upper Texas Coast. The storm surge swept many homes from their pilings in Gilchrist and Crystal Beach.

Residents wanting to rebuild the 2,000 or so homes that remain will need a building permit issued by the county engineering department, which moved to the County Annex at 174 Calder Road in League City.

Those seeking a permit can call 409-770-5552 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to seek assistance or to have paperwork faxed to them, Fitzgerald said.

Elizabeth Robertson and Tammy Pilsener of the engineering department will hand out information and issue permits for homes that didn’t have substantial damage at 1987 Matt St. near the Crystal Beach U.S. Post Office today and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Texas General Land Office could decide within two weeks where the vegetation line would be.

The 4½-foot elevation from the beach could be the deciding factor on whether the county issues permits to build on property.

Jim Suydam, spokesman for the land office, said the agency will use a standard of 4½ feet to determine where the vegetation line would likely return, since it was wiped away by the storm surge.

Suydam said the decision to rebuild anywhere between the 4½-foot elevation and the water would be a permitting process decided by the county.

1 Reply

@JPB,

pics and thoughts from yesterday...

The pizza party was a huge success. 82 hot pizzas and assorted soft drinks were provided to residents of the Bolivar peninsula who had been eating cold food or MREs for the past 5 weeks. Billy came on the chat near the end of the party and said, yep -- his people had cried from the joy at being remembered and cared about. Smiles and tears from those of us glued to our monitors for the second straight day.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/230.jpg

Some friends stop by Billy's dad's house and help repair the deck and clean the yard.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/228.jpg

Billy sees what's left of his house on the south end of Bolivar.

http://icons-pe.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/StormJunkie/227.jpg

Billy's parents have decided not to return to Bolivar. We saw the same thing post-Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. The older generation said no to coming back while the younger generations begin to pick of the pieces. Inside Billy's parent's house and a few things Billy was able to salvage from the kitchen -

edit -- inside and kitchen pics not posting. Will try to capture them later...

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/texaspirate_2008/?action=view%C2%A4t=Bolivar046-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/texaspirate_2008/?action=view%C2%A4t=Bolivar047.jpg

And one of the very few things that Billy was able to hold on to as he road out the storm. This picture of his mom and dad.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/texaspirate_2008/Bolivar059-1.jpg

On the GOOD NEWS front. Power has been restored to the peninsula and water lines should be in place next week. The ferry still isn't running so the only access is through the far north end in Chambers County. Speaking of Chambers County... We had a few words yesterday from the head of the Chambers County CoC telling us that the south end of Bolivar is in Galveston County but they can't get there from the south end so Chambers County officials have been supporting the entire peninsula. Kudos to Chambers County!

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@JPB,

JPB - it is awesome what you are doing. (((JPB)))

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