Galveston Officials Say Everyone Who Needed to Evacuate Got Out

Last Edited: Friday, 12 Sep 2008, 3:17 PM CDT
Created: Friday, 12 Sep 2008, 11:16 AM CDT

Hurricane Ike

Galveston officials say everyone who needed to get out was boarded on the last bus that left at 11 p.m. Thursday and arrived in Austin at 3 a.m. Friday.

However, those who have made a personal decision to stay behind and chose to ignore the mandatory evacuation order to leave the island will have to remain under a curfew, or else, pay the price.

Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas issued the evacuation curfew order through Sept. 14.

The curfew will take place from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Friday, Sep. 12, Saturday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 14.

Curfew violators will be subject to arrest and/or a fine in the amount of $2,000.

The Galveston Emergency Operations Center is using the San Luis Resort on Seawall Boulevard as its base, along with the Emergency Operations Team, and will continue to operate from that location throughout the duration of the Hurricane Ike.

911 and EOC operations are now in operation at the San Luis. Residents who choose to stay on the Island are reminded that city services will be suspended during the storm surge. In the event of emergency, call 409- 765-3710.

The City of Galveston has disconnected water and sewer connections on the west end of the island from the end of the Seawall west, Pelican Island and from First Street east. Water service will be restored when bacteriological tests permit.

Texas Department of Transportation will allow the Galveston Causeway to remain open until further notice, but it is not recommended to travel along the causeway when tropical storm winds prevail.

The Island is experiencing flooding city wide due to tidal surge. Residents are asked to d to shelter in place. It is anticipated that there will be power outages and that flooding will increase.

Price gauging will be monitored by authorities and will be subject to penalty by the State of Texas.


http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pa...Y&pageId=1.1.1