FEMA is a miserable failure, we can agree on that. houston only got a glancing blow, but int the days prior to landfall houston/galveston was under the gun. millions fled. rita killed more than alicia, the last big one to hit houston. except-30 people were killed prior to the storm trying to flee. in alicia 23 died in the storm. a friend on mine fled a day prior to the storm's expected landfall. he, like so many, faced heat stroke or worse. on his way back in the 100 plus degree he bring's us this story of his experience. one I feel deserves attention, and there is plenty like it. more on the flip....
From:
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On Sunday evening as I snaked my way along I-20, I spotted a group of FEMA volunteers gathering at the 59 junction. I stopped my car, stumbled towards them and explained that I was nearly out of gas and quickly succumbing to heat exhaustion. Despite my pleas, these "emergency relief" idiots literally turned their backs on me in order to watch their "leader" place cones to block the entrance to 59-South. Had it not been for my beloved dog who helped me to a nearby bayou, I believe I would have fallen victim not only to dehydration but also to FEMA's stupidity.
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I wonder if my city would have been spared some deaths if:
1.) In place in city shelters were set up where people were comfortable enough to stay the night so they were not alone in the sotrm and at least secure.
2.)we in houston, and in other cities, need to form more communa ties ties to our next door neighbors. hooks together as a unit so after the sotrm we have others to rely on .
3.contraflow must be set up prior to the mandatory evac ordrs for some 1 mil plus people. waiting until the morning after many of these orders are issued abetted the traffic jams and some wont live to tell us of it. gov. rick perry failed to open contraflow soon enough.
perhaps these are no brainers, but its better than nothing. now most I know wont leave again if a sotrm comes due to their nightmare experiences. there were no real plans for the sick and old. just get ont he frwy and drive. that is not enough. Im infuriated..