Hurricane Ike // Current

FEMA official says agency response slow after Ike

A top official of the Federal Emergency Management Agency admits that the agency was sluggish in its response to Texans affected... more

BuddyP
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48 Days Later

Hurricane Ike smashed into the Texas coastline on September the 13th, 2008. 48 days later, We drove down to Clear Lake Shores and... more

Mikel_Fair
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Texas officials say FEMA 'insensitive' after Ike

Texas officials accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency of slow response and insensitivity on Monday, saying the agency... more

Apocalipstick
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Hurricane Ike yields fossil in yard

CAPLEN, Texas (AP) -- A paleontologist whose beachfront home in Texas was destroyed during Hurricane Ike has found a football-size... more

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AP Investigation: Ike environmental toll apparent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

In the days before and after the deadly storm, companies and residents reported at least 448 releases of oil, gasoline and dozens of other substances into the air and water and onto the ground in Louisiana and Texas. The hardest hit places were industrial centers near Houston and Port Arthur, Texas, as well as oil production facilities off Louisiana's coast, according to the AP's analysis.

"We are dealing with a multitude of different types of pollution here ... everything from diesel in the water to gasoline to things like household chemicals," said Larry Chambers, a petty officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Command Center in Pasadena, Texas.

The Coast Guard, with the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies, has responded to more than 3,000 pollution reports associated with the storm and its surge along the upper Texas coast. Most callers complain about abandoned propane tanks, paint cans and other hazardous materials containers turning up in marshes, backyards and other places.

No major oil spills or hazardous materials releases have been identified, but nearly 1,500 sites still need to be cleaned up.

The Coast Guard's National Response Center in Washington collects information on oil spills and chemical and biological releases and passes it to agencies working on the ground. The AP analyzed all reports received by the center from Sept. 11 through Sept. 18 for Louisiana and Texas, providing an early snapshot of Ike's environmental toll.

With the storm approaching, refineries and chemical plants shut down as a precaution, burning off hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic compounds and toxic chemicals. In other cases, power failures sent chemicals such as ammonia directly into the atmosphere. Such accidental releases probably will not result in penalties by regulators because the releases are being blamed on the storm.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry also suspended all rules, including environmental ones, that would inhibit or prevent companies preparing for or responding to Ike.

Power outages also caused sewage pipes to stop flowing. Elsewhere, the storm's surge dredged up smelly and oxygen-deprived marsh mud, which killed fish and caused residents to complain of nausea and headaches from the odor.

At times, a new spill or release was reported to the Coast Guard every five minutes to 10 minutes. Some were extremely detailed, such as this report from Sept. 14: "Caller is making a report of a 6-by-4-foot container that was found floating in the Houston Ship Channel. Caller states the container was also labeled 'UM 3264,' which is a corrosive material." The caller most likely meant UN3264, an industrial coding that refers to a variety of different acids.WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured... more

ivxx
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1 month ago

Islanders who insisted on staying died in Ike

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- The final hours brought the awful realization to victims of Hurricane Ike that they had waited too long.... more

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1 month ago

Houston woman is first charged with Ike FEMA fraud

A Houston woman appeared in court today after being charged with filing multiple fraudulent claims for federal disaster assistance during hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.

Phyllis Ann Taylor, 28, is the first person charged in the area with fraud in connection with Hurricane Ike and the 86th charged in connection with hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

When U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley asked Taylor during Tuesday's hearing if she understood the accusations against her, Taylor cried and answered, "Yes, sir."

Botley ordered Taylor to remain in jail, where she has been since her arrest Monday afternoon at her Houston home. She is scheduled to appear in court for a detention hearing and arraignment at 10 a.m. Friday.

Agents from the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General and Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General arrested Taylor. A federal grand jury indicted Taylor last week.

The 16-count indictment charges Taylor with filing a false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane Ike assistance on Sept. 13 — the day Ike made landfall. The indictment says Taylor falsely claimed a damaged residence on Pruitt Street in Galveston was her primary residence.

In one of the counts, Taylor is believed to be the first person charged under a new federal statute dealing with emergency disaster relief. If convicted of the charge, Taylor faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The federal indictment also alleges that in September 2005, Taylor filed a claim with FEMA for Katrina disaster assistance listing her actual primary residence at a public housing project in Marerro, La., even though Katrina did not damage that residence. Taylor then allegedly filed at least six more claims with FEMA for Katrina assistance, listing slight variations of her name, Social Security numbers belonging to others and false primary residences in New Orleans, many of which did not exist.

Taylor also is accused of filing five claims with FEMA following Hurricane Rita by listing variations of her name and others' Social Security numbers and false primary residences in Lake Charles, La., many of which do not exist. She stands accused of obtaining multiple residences in the Houston area by filing applications with hurricane housing programs using different Social Security numbers and using those different Houston-area residences as the mailing addresses for the FEMA claims.

Taylor faces eight counts of mail fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft in connection with the allegedly false Katrina and Rita claims.A Houston woman appeared in court today after being charged with filing multiple fraudulent claims for federal disaster assistance... more

TravG73
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2 months ago

Groups ask Texas Gov. Rick Perry to extend voter deadline for Ike victims

AUSTIN — Several citizen groups are asking Gov. Rick Perry to extend Texas' Oct. 6 voter registration deadline by one... more

BuddyP
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2 months ago

NASA Delays Atlantis Mission to Hubble Telescope

NASA is delaying next month's shuttle launch to the Hubble Space Telescope because of problems stemming from Hurricane Ike... more

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2 months ago

Galveston residents make smooth return from Ike exile

Twelve days after Hurricane Ike began an assault that left their city in shambles, thousands of Galveston residents made their way back home this morning to take stock and begin the long recovery.

Officials have warned residents that Galveston Island remains a devastated place with few trappings of civilization and many serious health hazards, but the miles-long traffic jam that formed before dawn today on the Gulf Freeway attested to the desire many had to return home despite everything.

Wednesday afternoon, Galveston remained calm after thousands of residents drove in to check out their damaged homes, officials said.

There were no reports of crime or car accidents since the checkpoint to the island was lifted.

"From a law enforcement perspective, it couldn't be any better,'' said Police Chief Charles Wiley. "People are in good spirits, they're cooperating, and they're working together."

At one point, the line of vehicles backed up about 14 miles from the only causeway leading to the island, Galveston police said. State troopers and Galveston County sheriff's deputies kept a close eye on traffic, which moved smoothly and with few problems.

By about 8 a.m., there was no sign of a traffic jam and police dismantled the checkpoint they have maintained near the mainland end of the causeway.

Once they had crossed onto the island, drivers were given fliers from the city of Galveston and information packets from the Federal Emergency Management Agency before moving on to get their first glimpse of their homes and businesses since Ike came ashore late on Sept. 12.

One shelter for 100 people has been opened at the Island Community Center at 4700 Broadway, but officials expect it to fill quickly. There are no other shelter options on the island right now, and many hotels are full.

City Manager Steve LeBlanc said housing needs remain critical. He has requested that FEMA extend the deadline for temporary housing assistance in hotels past Oct. 14. He is also discussing long-term needs with FEMA, including the possibility of putting trailers on the island so people can live in them while cleaning and repairing their homes.Twelve days after Hurricane Ike began an assault that left their city in shambles, thousands of Galveston residents made their way... more