Ike Holdouts Will Be Forced From Home

Residents On Bolivar Peninsula Must Leave So Crews Can Begin Recovery Effort, Officials Say

(CBS/AP)  About 250 people who withstood Hurricane Ike on a coastal sliver of land will be forced off it so crews can begin the recovery effort, authorities said Tuesday, vowing to invoke emergency powers to make it happen.

County Judge Jim Yarbrough, the top elected official in Galveston County, said those who defied warnings that they would be killed if they rode out the storm on the Bolivar Peninsula are a "hardy bunch" and there are some "old timers who aren't going to want to leave."

The Texas attorney general's office is trying to figure out how legally to force the holdouts to leave, Yarbrough said. Local authorities are prepared to do whatever it takes to get residents to a safer place.

The peninsula is too damaged for residents to stay, and with no gas, no power and no running water, there is also concern about spread of disease, officials said.

"I don't want to do it," Yarbrough said. "I'm doing it because it's in their best interests."

Speaking to reporters in Houston, President Bush also asked frustrated people who were displaced by the storm "to listen to state and local authorities before you come back." Many areas remain without power and are dangerous because of unstable buildings.
"It is their considered judgment which is important for you," said Bush.

Bush also urged Americans to donate money to help the recovery effort, warning against letting "disaster fatigue" set in and slow contributions.

Authorities may never know if people who tried to weather the storm were washed out to sea. So far, there are no confirmed fatalities, but Yarbrough and other officials said he didn't think that would hold.

"I'm not Pollyana. I think we will find some," he said.

A couple of the residents who rode out the storm told CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann that a rescue helicopter that was promised never came. For three days, those stranded lived like scavengers - eating leftover pizza and uncooked hot dogs.

Late Monday, rescuers finally removed 60 shell-shocked survivors. No one is sure who's still missing, reports Strassmann.

Ike's death toll officially stood at 48 Tuesday, with most of the deaths coming outside of Texas.

Authorities confirmed a total of nine deaths in the Houston metropolitan area, all from post-storm debris-clearing work, house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning by generator use. Dozens of others had been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, health officials said.

The majority of Houston was still without power late Tuesday, with CenterPoint Energy projecting most would be without electricity for another week. Residents again waited in line for hours on end at the 22 supply distribution centers set up in Houston to hand out food, water and ice.

The mayor of the nation's fourth-largest city complained the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn't bringing in the supplies fast enough. Mayor Bill White also asked that a federal supervisor at a distribution center be fired for telling the drivers of two trucks - one filled with ice and other with food - to turn around. The supervisor thought the site was stocked, but it wasn't.

"That is not going to happen again," White said, adding that other distribution centers were also not getting supplies quickly enough and most were running out of ice.

FEMA spokesman Marty Bahamonde said he was not aware of the situation White described, but said Judge Ed Emmett - the top elected official in Harris County - was now personally coordinating the efforts to hand out relief supplies.

"As the requests come in, we're really starting to refine the system," Bahamonde said. "We've set up a distribution system to deliver millions of meals and water in literally a 24-hour period. There were glitches along the way. But by the end of the day, we had refined some of those glitches and we'll see that progress more."

White eased the city's curfew, now from midnight to 6 a.m., but urged motorists to stay off the streets after dark. So far, about 100 people have been cited for curfew violations and 94 arrested for looting, authorities said.

Rhonda Clayburn, who lives in a trailer park in the Houston suburb of Klein, said she's been told her water service could take up to six weeks to restore. Her family's been using an aquarium to flush the toilet.

"We have a lot of people in here. It's going to get nasty with no toilets," she said. "How do we live without a toilet for a month?"

Bahamonde said FEMA will begin paying for 30 days of hotel expenses for homeowners whose houses are uninhabitable. Information will be posted on the agency's Web site, and FEMA plans to reimburse the hotels directly.

There were still long lines snaking out of gas stations across the city. White said some stations were still without power, rendering their pumps useless. Others had electricity but were out of gas.

Some residents are hoarding gas - filling up their vehicles and portable cans - leaving little for the people behind them in line, White said.

Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, under pressure from frustrated residents eager to check their homes, opened the island during daylight hours so residents can "look and leave." Security was tight, and checkpoints would block anyone but Galveston residents from coming in.

Hours later, Thomas suspended the "look and leave" policy altogether, after thousands of residents rushed to return - creating a traffic jam that stretched for miles.

Thomas also said officials want the estimated 15,000 people still living on Galveston Island to leave, since the city has only limited water and sewer service, and no electricity.

Dogs, cats and cattle were freely roaming Galveston's mostly deserted streets. Many of the elderly huddled in damaged houses, walking or using bikes when they had to leave because cars were destroyed or damaged. Some pushed salvaged shopping carts down Seawall Boulevard filled with crates of bottled water and plastic brown pouches holding MREs obtained from relief centers.

A lion was trapped in the sanctuary of a Baptist church in Crystal Beach, and a tiger was on the loose after getting free from an exotic pet sanctuary. An official with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the tidal surge from Ike left a "sheen" of oil on the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, potentially endangering rare species of birds and other animals.

Shortages also were being felt in smaller communities. Hand-written cardboard signs warned travelers in a remote area near Webster "Help No Power" and "No Power, Water Well, And Septic is Down, Please Don't Forget."

York and Teresa Linebarger, who live near the signs, said a neighbor put them up to remind people about the three weeks the community endured without power after Hurricane Alicia in 1983.

"This area is so secluded, most people don't' even know it's here," said Teresa Linebarger, 60.

Her husband noted that compared to the people on the Bolivar Peninsula, "we're in pretty doggone good shape."

It's an opinion shared by Willis Turner, 58, who rode out the storm in Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula.

"You watch the TV and you listen to those guys getting mad up in Houston because they can't get water. Or they can't go to the grocery store shopping," he said. "They don't know what disaster is ... they ought to be here. They'd know what disaster is."

Meanwhile, just a few months after near-record flooding in the Midwest, authorities in towns along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers fear a soggy repeat following heavy rain from the remnants of Ike.

[nantx]

No transportation or gas? Transportation was offered and available. No money for hotel? Shelters were and are available- all paid for by tax dollars. Putting their lives and lives of rescuers at risk is stupid and being stubborn. Tax dollars can not give you back your life lost as you washed out to sea or had a building collapse or burned to the ground because there was no fire dept. These are individuals who either were ignorant, or believed in their own immortality or believed that someone, anyone, would come to their rescue under any circumstances. Foolishness and a severe lack of common sense is not Texan, being stubborn is not Texan. These are individuals who thought no farther than the moment they were in.

[nantx]

Perspective- lives are more important than property. Loss of property is devastating these losses catastrophic, why put your life at further risk? If you have no concern for yourselves, think of your family and loved ones who worry for you. W/o food, water and other basic necessities how long do you think you can manage before illness or worse sets in? Without an infrastructure to provide the most basic of needs and medical attention how long will you survive? A simple cut under these circumstances can become dangerously infected, there are many health issues to consider. Those checking on you, bringing you food and water, wouldn''t their time and effort be better spent getting the area ready for so that you have something to come back too? No one wants to give up or give in to devastation, stubbornness is not the answer. Homes can be rebuilt, items lost replaced, lives cannot. The humanity in us requires we render assistance, those helping do it because they have chosen careers or have volunteered to do something for others even at the cost of their own safety. The thousands of people working towards getting the areas ready for your safe return- the electricians, those who clean and repair streets, those working on the water and sewage systems, medical providers, they have nothing to gain but yet there they are helping. Have compassion for those in need of it but for those who are in these situations please use reason and common sense when making decisions.

[barnes311b]

I was raised in south east Texas. My heart is still there. This whole, "make people leave their homes for their own good" disgusts me. If I had stayed, I would not leave either. The last time I checked you pay for your home so you should be able to say when it is bulldozed away. The government is taking away so many of their rights it is horrifying! Haven''t these people lost enough? Now they want to take ALL that they have left. What a country Bush AND FEMA have made for us. Who''s to say what is important to people, maybe they don''t want to come back six months from now to find all they had left in a big pile with their neighbors stuff and belongings from hundreds of other families. They didn''t do this in New Orleans, and at least we built on the beach and not in a bowl that is costing millions to rebuild. Kicking people who are down, our governments newest "poke in the eye of the American people"?

[txpatriot4us]

FEMA should be stepping in already and supplying temporary homes for those who have lost theirs and have no where else to go.
Posted by yongamerica
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The problem is that FEMA buys Poisoned Trailers with No Bid Contracts and gives them out. Bad Idea

[ralan40]

no one forced anyone to live by the ocean. This isn''t the first hurricane to strike the area and it won''t be the last. We have plenty of Cities in the Midwest that have been abandoned by people who chose to live closer to Hurricanes. Yeah, we got some serious wind and lost power from this but widespread natural disasters are nowhere near the frequency that the Gulf coast gets. Barrier Islands are temporary real estate and have been since time began.
I just can''t feel bad for people who choose to live in these statistically hazardous areas.

[thevicar1]

Now THIS is what we elect prosecutors for!
To THROW PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES!

[kenammons]

so many outrages in one week from our evil corrupt government. more big bailouts with taxpayer money and now planning to force people from there own homes. the evil bush junta knows no shame. it will take decades of special prosecutors and grand juries to unravel all the evil these people are doing

[mskld1]

If a person chooses to remain in a dangerous situation they should be albe to accept all of the consequences. We should not be spending tax dollars and putting the rescue workers in danger to help people who chose not to help themselves. We are told before these storms to be able to remain self sufficient for several days. We should be thankful for any help and support we receive and not demand and/or expect it. The government should not be expected to help those who choose not to help themselves.

[bob5ford]

I''ve lived in Florida and survived hurricanes for over 50 years. No one should EVER be forced to leave their home or property. If you stay, you accept the risk. If you die, so be it. To put people who survived the storm out so the "government", that knows what''s best for them can bulldoze their homes after the fact is beyond belief. Even in New Orleans this was not done. Seems live a major civil rights violation to me. Along with a violation of several parts of the Constitution. I hope those removed by force sue the government and elected officials and win big! Amendment four: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated", what part of that do people not understand???????????

[pirmin3]

Throw the people out of their homes, seize the land under eminent domain and sell it to well connected GOP developers for pennies on the dollar. The American dream.

[gop_will_win]

Liberals want to force them from their land! Stop the liberals!

[yongamerica]

Because many residents who stayed had no better place to escape than a gym crowed with hundreds if not thousands of other refugees decided living in wreckage was a better quality of life doesn''t make them ignorant of the dangers they faced. Now the storm is over, FEMA should be stepping in already and supplying temporary homes for those who have lost theirs and have no where else to go.

[anitaymoore]

("A couple of the residents who rode out the storm told CBS News")

Those people in Galveston who stayed regardless just **** me off!!! I''m sorry but I have NO PITY for these people who were told to leave or face almost certain death and chose to stay anyway. It''s not as if they weren''t given adequate warning, it''s not as if they weren''t provided with transportation out with areas to go to, and it''s not as if they weren''t told HOW severe this storm was going to be. The words "CERTAIN DEATH" are pretty damned clear.

They CHOSE to stay regardless, they should simply be glad to be alive...able to eat leftover pizza and uncooked hot dogs. They CHOSE to stay, knowing a catastrophic hurricane was on the way...and now they have the nerve to whine about a rescue helicopter not coming to save them!? As I recall prior to the storm residents of Galveston were told not to expect to be saved (I do remember a story on that, it was on the news...in the papers, on the internet etc.) The recovery/rescue efforts need to be concentrated on getting people back into their homes as quickly as possible, rebuilding, restoring electricity, providing food/water and supplies for areas who were not told to evacuate, for the people who DID evacuate and do as they were told...not taking care of selfish people who were warned ahead of time, very clearly...and who chose to ignore the warnings.

[lewiston14]

%u201CLet them stay and help in the recovery!!!!!!!!!!! ------

Posted by Bob5ford at 08:57 AM : Sep 17, 2008

Help how this has gone way above a few chain saws they are using bull dozers the size of houses to push everything out of the way.

[bozworth4]

The people who are driving the forced evacuation are ***local*** authorities. The County Judge, Yarbrough, is a Democrat, not one of "Dubya''''s people". President Bush is urging residents to listen to local authorities - you think that''''s a bad thing?
Another example of BDR - Bush Derangement Syndrome.


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Posted by oldone60

I''m from the gov. I''m here to help you. LOL. The new world order is just around the corner! Be ready. No democrats or Republicans, only politicians that would pimp their mother for a euro, yen or dollar.

[lewiston14]

%u201CIs the local government going to be responsible for these peoples valuables and homesteads and safeguard them? %u201C

Bob your being to optimistic. When a rescue team come and gets you your old high school photos are the last thing on their minds. Consider them dust in the wind. They want to come home alive to. Valuables? Most that had any were long gone. I don%u2019t think they are going to put a six pack of beer or a bottle of jack in an armored car waiting for a person to return. Given the temptures and water im sure the bugs are as big as small WW2 bombers by now.

[tootall10142]

You are forced to leave your home without a court order when the water rises and turns your *walls into a electric avenue for fire.

[slim1h2o]

Let them stay and help in the recovery!!!!!!!!!!!


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Posted by Bob5ford at 08:57 AM : Sep 17, 2008


I agree, and if they''re concerned with sanitation issues, they can always bring in port-a-pottys''.

But eitherway, if they survived the storm, they ceratinly can survive the aftermath.

[lewiston14]

The good news is that transportation required will be given free of charge to somewhere else until they figure out how to turn things like electric, gas, water ,sewer back on. That stuff was damaged and it will take time to fix. You may not like the menu but its better then nothing.

[bob5ford]

Is the local government going to be responsible for these peoples valuables and homesteads and safeguard them? Or will they come back to find them looted? Let them stay and help in the recovery!!!!!!!!!!!