Apologies for the rec request. I posted this yesterday and got less than 5 responses and this is all pretty important. If it gets ignored, what can I say toher than I'll be very disappointed in this community.
I will not be updating as frequently, but I will try to update as often as I can.
However, something came up in another diary last night and the more I look into it, the more I am concerned. Namely, how did Guantanamo Bay do in Hurricane Ike?
The answer is: Not much of an idea.
Here is the closest we can get. One single line in one single news article:
At Guantanamo Bay Naval Base on Cuba's southeastern tip, rain was dying down at mid-morning Monday, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Lamb told CNN by telephone.
"I think we fared pretty well down here," Lamb said.
UPDATED: People have posted a few other articles below. They seem to conflict somewhat and there is little outside confirmation. It is unclear how much damage the naval base took, but the area was pretty ravaged.
http://www.upi.com/...
However- there are no other reports whatsoever, no photos, no assurances, nothing in the media at all other than that paragraph and quote. Slate wrote an article before the hurricane that said it may not do so well: http://www.slate.com/...
I think confirmation is needed badly.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Now, here are the news updates as of this morning:
• Current official Texas body count: 22
• 100 additional police officers from across the state have arrived in Houston. There are no reports of looting or rioting, so I'm not sure why.
• Forty nine off-shore oil or national gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed, some of which may not be re-built.
• Nearly a full week after Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas, wreaking havoc throughout the region for millions of families, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will open the first Disaster Recovery Center at Ellington Field.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is tracking more than 26 contaminant spills causing fish and in affected coastal areas. The department is also is participating in a multi-agency, state/federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment effort planning to set up incident command in Clear Lake.
The department is asking people in affected coastal areas who encounter dead or dying fish and wildlife or pollution that is threatening fish and wildlife or human health to please contact TPWD’s 24-Hour Law Enforcement Communication Center in Houston at (281) 842-8100.
• Centerpoint: 1.2 million still without power.
• AT&T Cellular service has been restored for all of Galveston Island.
• Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services strongly advises residents not to swim, bathe or play in ditches, bayous, creeks or lakes because of these health risks. In addition, residents are reminded that they should never enter waters that you cannot see through, that may have a swift undercurrent or may contain debris.
• The Harris County Flood Control District has received a number of calls from residents reporting the dumping of tree limbs and other debris in area bayous, creeks and tributaries. Discarding debris into area bayous and creeks can obstruct the flow of storm water, impede drainage, cause flooding and deteriorate water quality.
Older news can be found here: http://www.dailykos.com/...
I'm going to end this diary by quoting important information for people in the Houston/Galveston area:
*Donate to the Hurricane Ike Recovery Fund* 4550 Post Oak Place Suite 100 77027
GALVESTON COUNTY MISSING PERSONS HOTLINE (866) 898-5723
FEMA CLAIM HOTLINE (800) 621-3362
REPORT PRICE GOUGING IN THE AREA (713) 755-2648
Other FEMA info here: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Although there is a national media brownout about Ike's aftermath, you can monitor local news here: http://abclocal.go.com/...
You can see photos of damage here: http://jakeabby.com/...
If you are looking for friends and loved ones, please go to the person locator at http://www.abc13.com
Urgent call for relief volunteers- http://blogs.chron.com/...