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The Impact of IKE

2008 Sep 12 Posted by Marion

Just yesterday, the Division of Emergency Management in Florida brought their Operations Center from a level 2 to a level 3 after 26 days of response and recovery to Hanna, which made 4 separate landfalls in Florida. Now Texas, is facing Hurricane IKE, whose outer bands reach out 900 miles. Landfall is at least 12 hours away– expected to be on Saturday but the flooding has already begun in TX and LA. Surrounding states and the federal government are mobilizing to respond and to help with recovery efforts. Rescue and Recovery teams are now streaming into forward positions but the flooding will likely be the worst Texas has ever seen.

Remain alert, after all we have just passed the midway point of hurricane season. Out hearts and prayers go out to our fellow first reponders, emergency workers and the citizens of Texas and all affected by IKE as IKE will also impact many other states. Here is NOAAs website: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ Thoughts? Marian

September 12, 2008 | Filed under: Uncategorized
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3 Responses to “The Impact of IKE”

R. A. Belflower Says:

As a result of the increased hurricane activity in Florida and the Gulf Coast the past several years, more and more of people are purchasing generators. While generators can be great when you lose your power, they can also be deadly. Entergy, the electric company that services portions of east Texas and western Louisiana, provides these safety tips for proper generator use:

http://www.entergy-louisiana.com/your_home/storm_center/generator.aspx

Rob

September 12th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

JOHN TARR Says:

Considering these life streaking situation on the gulf coast. I believe we can save life and property by developing a conprehensive and praticular rescure plan at the local and federal level.

September 15th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Marion Says:

Rob and John,
You both make excellent points! Rob, as you likely know the Florida Division of Emergency Management worked and is still engaged with local government and school officials to install generators at selected school sites that have been determine to be an emergency shelter. This of course in the long run may pose problems if the recovery process is slow–then schools can not reopen because evacutees are still located at the school. And John, Florida after 2004 and 2005 did set up very effective regional search and rescue teams but if they become overwhelmed then other teams would have to response. My experience has shown local teams–know the area–but you are so right federal agencies may want to rethink the state needs of search and rescue. States have been very active in developing state to state partnerships in search and rescue but is the disaster is overwhelming a sister state may not be able to help. Thank you both for your thoughts and great ideas! Thoughts anyone?

September 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm

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