Kerry, Edwards Blast Bush Over Relief Effort

[Psycho4Bud]

September 8, 2000 marks the 100-year anniversary of the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. On that day back in 1900, a Category 4 hurricane with winds roaring at close to 145 mph slammed into Galveston, Texas.

The low-lying three-mile wide barrier island offered no protection against the fierce winds and powerful waves and surge. At least 8,000 people were swept to their deaths, along with several thousand homes. But with the destruction came an invaluable lesson in vulnerability.

After the storm, Galveston began one of the most monumental engineering feats in history - a 16-foot high, 17-foot wide seawall was erected in 1904. Since then, it has been extended several times, and now forms a protective barrier across 10 miles of shoreline. Behind the wall, 2,200 structures were raised an average of five feet.

But was it enough? Today city managers and emergency officials ponder the possibility of another severe hurricane strike. The last major hurricane to hit Galveston and its neighbor to the north, Houston, was Hurricane Alicia back in 1983. The storm virtually cut off communication to Galveston Island and left Houston with close to $1 billion in damage.

Galveston, Texas
Hurricane Strikes
1900 Galveston Hurricane
- Category 4
- Winds near 145 mph
- At least 8,000 deaths
1959 Hurricane Debra
- Category 1

1963 Hurricane Cindy
- Category 4

1983 Hurricane Alicia
- Category 3
- $2 billion in damage

1989 Hurricane Jerry
- Category 1


Since Alicia, the population in Galveston County has grown considerably. Most residents have never lived through a major hurricane, and have no idea of the damage one can cause.

The greatest danger to low-lying Galveston Island, says Steve Lyons, Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel, is the surge. "The reason for that is a very gentle slope of the beach under water that causes the water level to rise dramatically when onshore winds occur," Lyons explains.

Many of the island's beaches are eroding at a rate of 10-15 feet per year, shortening the distance from the sea to beachfront properties. Flooding from a hurricane surge becomes a frighteningly real scenario.

"Our biggest concerns are evacuation before the event (hurricane)," says Tesa Duffey, Emergency Manager for Galveston County. "Getting people notified and warned in time so they can secure their properties and evacuate mainly from low-lying areas. Most importantly, there is an early evacuation time that has to be determined in order to get those folks out before the tides and water come in and cut off their evacuation route."

New building codes, and beach restoration efforts such as an experimental project to construct artificial sand dunes, are all attempts to re-nourish the beaches before the next hurricane can hit.

In addition, local emergency officials and meteorologists in Galveston and neighboring Houston have launched a massive counterattack in the form of public information. They infiltrate town meetings and stage workshops, disseminate brochures and pamphlets, and encourage the media to get the word out about preparedness at the beginning of every hurricane season.

"We need to go out there and we need to re-educate the public almost on a daily basis," says Corina Love, Emergency Manager for the city of Houston. "We have to do this once a year at the start of hurricane season and make sure we have a very aggressive campaign to educate our citizens that this is a major threat to our area."
http://www.weather.com/newscenter/sp...galveston.html

Last time I looked at weather channel Galveston looked to be in the center of the path. I hope these people follow some sort of plan....just in case!

[F L E S H]

Bush ADMITS responsibility himself, in public, and yet you still defend him... Incredible!

[Psycho4Bud]

Bush ADMITS responsibility himself, in public, and yet you still defend him... Incredible!

What do you expect? Every damn dem. in the country is stating about where the buck stops. Sure he took responsibility. And it STILL pissed people off!
As for myself, I'm a forgiving sort of guy.

Unless your French of course!!!