Title: "Texans bracing for big hit from Ike: Huge hurricane brings fears of massive waves"

Author: Michael Graczyk, Associated Press

Source: Star Ledger

Page Numbers: Front page, followed on page 7

Date Published: 9/12/08

 

 

Evacuation notices went out and about one million people left Galveston and Houston before the storm hit.  Most people were told to stay home though, as it was said that, “If you lose power and have to leave, you can do that later.” This was done to avoid a repeat of the Hurricane Rita evacuation, in which more people died in the evacuation than in the actual storm.  Oil and gas industries are keeping a close watch on the storm as the Upper Texas coast accounts for one fifth of the U.S. refining capacity. A large storm is expected and when a large storm hits, the waves build higher and the storm stays longer. Officials are expecting a "surge, which will not only flood the streets but invade peoples houses.  Texas has had a history of hurricanes  with many damages due to the low waterline on Texas’ Coast admist other problems.

 

~Michelle Armonda Padavano

 

Title: "You cannot live here now; Texas coast faces long recovery from 'horrendous' damage"

Author: Oren Dorell, Donna Leinwand, Marisol Bello, and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Source: USA TODAY 

Page Numbers: Front page, followed on page 2A 

Date Published: 9/15/08

 

 

Gas prices jumped. 2.5 million people in three states without power. Galveston and the lower part of Huston were hit on September 12. Friday night into Saturday.  28 deaths in three states are linked to Hurricane Ike. Gas prices rocketed as 98 percent of the region’s natural gas and crude production was halted.  The mayor of Galveston, Lyda Ann Thomas, said Sunday,” We are not sure when any of that will be back up and running. Do not come back to Galveston.  You cannot live here right now.” Search and rescue workers were able to save about 2,000 hurricane victims.    Schools closed but people are still working, either from home or at their buildings. Special disaster medical centers are housing special case and chronic needs patients while shelters and some distant hospitals take care of the rest.   There are a few stores open for people to get supplies at.  The storm hit harder than anyone expected.

 

-Michelle Armonda Padavano

 

Title: "On Texas' coast, a scramble for basic needs amid chaos: For those with power and water, many guests: Lives 'turned upside down', and some see recovery taking years"

Author: Donna Leinwand, Marisol Bello, Oren Dorell, and Andrea Stone

Source: USA TODAY

Page Numbers: Front page [Cover Story], followed on page 2A

Date Published: 9/17/08

 

 

 

A woman in Galveston, Texas, has electricity, which has made her house a home for 18 friends, family, and neighbors who were made homeless by Hurricane Ike.   3.9 million people remain without electricity, the death toll is now 47 people in ten states.  In some areas, people found generators and are providing power for general stores and pharmacies.  People are being told to boil water for sanitation purposes.  Of 700 houses in towns of Oak Island and Smith Point, about five remain.  The Oyster Industry is about done, churning of ocean by the hurricane and other factors accounts for the bad harvest.  Three years after Rita, the county was able to receive grants for the restoration of only three houses.  People will  need to collect more money, as the effects of Hurricane Ike will stay for a long time.  In Galveston, University of Texas Medical Branch hospital has been flooded through and needed to evacuate its patients, including 51 babies from the intensive care unit. 450 patients were either evacuated or discharged.  Some doctors, nurses, and other workers are living there right now because their own homes have been destroyed. Though it is not currently operating, there are people staying there to clean it up.

 

-Michelle Armonda Padavano

 

Title: “It’s a public-health emergency: Texas hospitals slammed as post-hurricane conditions deteriorate”

Author: Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY

Source: USA TODAY

Page Numbers: 3A

Date Published: 9/19/08

 Black Hawk helicopters are being used to rescue and transport ill patients.  Hospitals are crowded and the beds in emergency rooms are filled.  Memorial Hermann at Texas Medical Center sees 130 patients on an average every day. Day after the storm, Houston Fire Department fielded 4,700 emergency calls, which is four times the average.  Dialysis patients have to seek help at the ER or special shelters in Dallas.  Starting Wednesday, paramedics told to bring less critical patients  to engineering building of Rice University where the federal government’s Disaster Medical Assistance Teams [DMAT], set up a mobile medical unit.  DMAT treated 650 patients by Thursday night, 9/18/08; 60% of them were flown out by helicopter.  Doctors are seeing more heat and exhaustion related illnesses along with cardiac problems.  They feel there will be more stomach illnesses and rashes as people come in contact more with storm debris, flood water, and everything else that lines Galveston’s streets.  UTMB President David Calendar says, “We’re moving into a high risk phase”, as bacteria has had more time to develop. This statement is also valid because of the fact that there is no clean water sources or sewage filter systems. 

 

-Michelle Armonda Padavano

 

 

Galveston Seeks $2.2 Billion in Storm Relief

James C. McKinley Jr.

New York Times online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/us/23ike.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1222266635-dlRJpNRwBN3mCvRUxgRIRw

Published September 22, 2008

 

     Galveston officials are asking Congress for 2.2 billion in disaster relief.  There are 57,000 residents in Galveston, and the officials are asking for about  $36,800 per resident.  Mayor Lyda Ann Thoma is going to ask the federal goverment on Tuesday, September 23, for 1.1 billion in damage to the city.  Money would go towards restoration of the water, waste, and filteration systems as well as the reconstruction of road signals, streets and bridges.  Federal Emergency Management Agency has given aid for debri clear and clean up.  In addition, officials are seeking money for the rebuilding of the "new" Galveston National Lab and the medical center.  Officials also want 600 acres released from the city's eastern side; known as the East End Flats.  Army Corps of Engineers used to dump dredge material there.  The city wants to build houses there. The area is is by the levees and the sea wall, making it unaffected by the storm.  

 

-Michelle Armonda Padvano

 

Gulf Officials Ask for Help

by The Associated Press

New York Times online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/us/24brfs-GULFOFFICIAL_BRF.html

Published September 24, 2008

 

     Texas is looking for $11.4 billion in damages from Hurricane Ike.  This includes $16 million from damages in Houston.  Galveston damages add up to $2.2 billion. Louisiana  needs $1 billion in damages from Ike and Gustav.  Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans said he needs the $40 million cost of evacuation from Hurricane Gustav reemberssed before he can start any new projects.

-Michelle Armonda Padavano

 

How people are coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike

“Power Is Scarce, but Houston’s Spirit Isn’t Lacking”

James C. McKinley Jr. and Thayer Evans

New York Times online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/us/21houston.html?ref=us

Published September 20, 2008

Date I accessed it was September 21, 2008 at 3:00 PM

Houston has suffered power outages and shortages.  Getting enough food and gas is a major problem.  On the other side people have come together to deal with this horrible situation.  Families with a generator help out their neighbors.  One elderly woman’s roof collapsed and her neighbors found her a place to stay.  Another example is a man who barbeques other people’s meat before it spoils.   Young children are especially impacted because of the lack of milk and no school or activities to keep them occupied.  This article makes the point how such a tragedy requires a lot of patience and corporation. -Callie Corro

 

 

 

 

 

Texas Begins Arduous Recovering From Hurricane Ike     

By: Greg Flakus

Source: Voice of America

September 15, 2008

In the Houston Galveston area people are trying to recover from the hurricane that occurred, a couple of weeks ago.  It caused a shutdown to a couple of facilities and oil.  It caused some gas prices to go up as well.  Some buildings that the hurricane has no electricity, in downtown Houston and it will take a couple of weeks for the power to come back.  The U.S Guard is providing rescue operations, food, and water for people who are in desperate need for it.  A couple of people had to go in shelters because of the damage Ike cause to their homes.  Most of the people in Texas are okay, but are waiting for essential services to be restored and it may take weeks for that to happen.

-Sheila Larose    

More than 1,500 Hurricane Ike evacuees remain in Dallas-Fort Worth Shelter

By: Kim Horner

Source: The Dallas Morning News

September 21, 2008

Over 1,500 people from Texas are having a hard time moving into hotels and motels with their families.  The federal is supposed to help them, but that is not turning out according to plan.  The families that are in hotels are spending a fortune to stay there and are only getting one meal a day in some of the hotels.  If they are staying in shelters they have activities for children and provide food, but taking a shower is not an option.  Some people have to stay in the hotels until mid October even if its empties their bank account because they are not able to move into their homes at the moment.

-Sheila Larose

Power Is Scarce, but Houston Spirit Isn’t Lacking

By: James McKinley Jr., Thayer Evans

Source: The New York Times

September 20, 2008

Food is a serious issue in Texas for a lot of families.  There are not a lot of stores that are opened for them to get food for their children or for them to cook.  In some neighborhoods there are stores that are opened and when they are they have barbeques and share their food.  There is nothing in the town for children because schools are closed because there is no electricity.  Some people are surviving from generators for electricity.

-Sheila Larose

Galveston, Texas looks forward to a healing Sunday

September 21, 2008

Source: Boston Herald

By: Associated Press

Churches were opening their doors to those without a home or with a home for some spiritual healing because of the storms.   The city is closed for all people because they are trying to restore the city because they are a lot of things that need to be fixed after the storm.  Yesterday a pastor held a service and afterwards served foods outside of the church because after the storm there wasn’t much left and people decided to attend.

-Sheila Larose                                                                                                    

 

 

Stone Energy says 6 offshore rigs lost to Ike

CNN Associated press September 19, 2008

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/d8fb023a582e4a5cd400db38e3c22536.

           

     Stone Energy Corp claimed to have lost six different oil rigs to hurricane Ike on Friday September 19^th, 2008. These rigs were located off the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Up to today there has been 310 million cubic feet of oil that should have been flowing through, but has not because of this devastating hurricane. On the brighter side the company stated that there was, "minimal production reserves impacted," which means that this did not cripple the company. Also, the stocks haven't dropped a considerable amount since the rigs were lost leaving some investors pleased. 

-Andrew Cohn

Hurricane Sent Astros Into a Spin

New York Times online September 17^th, 2008 (read on September 19th)

by Karen Crouse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/sports/baseball/18astros.html?_r=2&oref=slogin

           

      The Houston Astros started out strong this season winning most of their games and pulling ahead in the post season race. But once Hurricane Ike hit Texas things have started to go down hill for this ball club. With all the power outages toppling over the stress of worrying, this has been a deadly combination ruining the past few weeks for this team. They have also had to play a so called “home” game in the Cub’s stadium because the Astros dome sits in darkness. They have been struck with much adversity not only from this devastating storm but shut-outs, bad pitching, and poor prospects have added to the dismay as well. It seems the Astros will have a lot of work to do even after the hurricane stops if they still want the spot they deserve in the play offs.

-Andrew Cohn

Huge Storm Slams Into Coast of Texas 

New York Times online September 12, 2008 (read on September 20th)

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. and IAN URBINA

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/13ike.html?scp=4&sq=Hurricane%20ike&st=cse

     

       Hurricane Ike hit the hardest in one town on the coast of Texas, Galveston. Fire Chief Mike Varela did his best to help people that really needed it, as he was responding to hundreds of calls at 5:45 am on September 12^th. There was flooding in the city that exceeded 8 to 10 feet and people were advised to leave their homes. Some people listened to this, but at least 27,000 people ignored this and stayed in their homes. This town wasn’t the only one to see the fury of Ike but the Houston ship channel which is the second busiest port in the country had serious flooding. This caused some serious delays on major exports like oil.  The president is trying to coordinate teams as well as deploying the national guard to help people who haven’t already evacuated.

-Andrew Cohn

          

Hurricane Ike rips through Haiti, kills 10 — will strike Cuba and then maybe Florida Keys

Chicago Sun Times online September 7^th, 2008 (read on September 24th)

by Associated Press

http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/1149975,CST-NWS-Ike07.article

     

   Category 4 hurricane Ike tore through Haiti on Sunday September 7^th, 2008 and continued through Cuba and some of the Bahamas. Unfortunately there were five children and five adults that drowned from the increased flooding. The Cuban government began to evacuate people from the Florida keys as well as Inagua which is the Bahamas most habited island, and in the direct path for Ike. The government had no choice but to open over flowing dams which will drown many prominent farms in the Haiti area. But this will help relieve the flooding and save lives so it is a worthy trade off. It will be awhile before people will be able to return safely to what is left of their homes.

-Andrew Cohn

 

 

PNM Resources Donates $50,000 Toward Hurricane Ike Relief

Donation to American Red Cross Targets Gulf Coast Residents Impacted by Storm

Market Watch online September 22^nd 2008

by Associated Press

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/pnm-resources-donates-50000-toward/story.aspx?guid={58C57444-7653-4ED3-BF39-E6C4A2701BAB}&dist=hppr

 

     PNM Resources donated 50,000 dollars to the Red Cross to help provide relief to people who have been displaced because of hurricane Ike. Texas New Mexico Power which is the daughter company to PNM Resources powers over 115,000 homes that are on the Gulf Coast, these were on the direct path of hurricane Ike. PNM resources invests over 3 million dollars in the Texas New Mexico community, so there was an obligation to do everything they could to help bring relief to the victims of this tragedy. So far there has been 700 voluntary members from other utility services along with; 45 linemen, and 27 utility vehicles, they have successfully restored well over 82% of the power for whole community.

-Andrew Cohn

 

 

Galveston seeks $2 billion in aid after Hurricane Ike 

Dallas News online Wednesday September 23nd, 2008

by Associated Press

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ike_23tex.ART.State.Edition1.26d5b13.html

          

     The city of Galveston took the blunt force of Hurricane Ike last week and has forced over 60,000 of it’s residents to shelters across Texas. Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas is going to Washington to ask for approximately $2 billion in aid for the town. This is going to the hospital, and also to help restore water and power to all the houses in this town, as well as help repair damages from the hurricane. Currently there are shuttles bringing people from the shelters to their homes during the day to give people the chance of starting to clean up their areas. People are supposed to be out of the shelters by Wednesday but many people don’t have homes to return too. 

-Andrew Cohn

 

Optimism Meets Shocking Reality When Galveston Residents Return

September 25, 2008

Juan A. Lozano

This occurred in Galveston, Texas and residences were surprised when they arrived to go home.  They walked in everything was wrecked.  Pictures, furniture, and clothing were all gone.   Their things went under four feet of water some eight feet.  They were really disappointed that this happened to their things.  Federal Emergency Management Agency are providing trailers for them to live in while they are repairing their homes.  About 62 people died and 27 from Texas, and it has been terrible because there are still more people missing from hurricane Ike.

-Sheila Larose

After Hurricane Ike, gasoline prices are tight in North Texas

For the past 5 days the prices for gas was a little too much.  Also, there were times when gas stations didn’t have gas; there was a lot of shortage.  In Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas all had problems with gas.  Some gas stations are desperate and some only have premium.  They need money so they charge more for gas.

-Sheila Larose  

Clean up Spurs need Undocumented workers will be linchpin in efforts

By: Jenalia Moreno and Susan Carroll

September 25, 2008

As we know Texas was ruined by the Hurricane Ike and it needs to be repaired.  The government says they should use Mexican immigrants to help fix this problem.  They have no papers to be here and they should do this because they are here illegally.  Even the Mexican consul also thinks that they should do the rebuilding because there is a enormous amount of them in Texas.

-Sheila Larose

Residents Return to Galveston

September 24, 2008

By: Thayer Evans

Residences were allowed to go home on Wednesday, but for 78 year old Nadine did not expect so much damage to her home.  She walked in her home with her eyes covered and when she saw her home she started to cry.  Some homes didn’t have electricity and natural gas and they might not have for another month from now.  It is going to be hard for them to manage without natural gas and electricity.

-Sheila Larose