An interesting article about the history of flooding in Houston, with maps: https://projects.propublica.org/houston-cypress/
The public pressure seems to have gotten to Osteen. It appears as though they’re going to open the mega church.
Good.
My parents live in Austin. They’ve gotten a lot of rain and some wind, but it hasn’t been too bad. Unfortunately, a tree fell on a power line close to their house and they’ve been without electricity for almost 48 hours! The power company left a message tonight that the power was back on, but when my parents got home, it wasn’t. 
Of more concern is their vacation condo on Mustang Island, which is in the city limits of Corpus Christi. The CMU building is still standing, but their unit is on the first floor. No one has been able to get onto the property yet to access damages. My parents have insurance, but it would still hurt if the inside has been gutted. They spent a lot of time and energy fixing everything up.
The daughter of some close friends lives in Houston and had to be evacuated by boat (along with her husband and puppy). I’m glad they got out!
Joel Osteen is acting like a selfish jerk.
@jym626 - Acting like?
Maybe someone showed him the New Testament. Hey, the Gospels, have you seen them, Joel? Have ya heard about this Jesus fellow?
CF- I shared the Osteen story with the quote: “No stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler.” Job 31:32
(Yes, I recognize Job is OT but I’ve always liked the quote.)
@sherpa- just wanted to be sure to stay within the TOS and not call him names directly
Everything I’ve seen on the weather channel has people being warned: If you’re currently safe, don’t evacuate.
Lurker here, but I’ll come out for this…Diapers are not part of disaster relief services. Here is another place to donate.
Texas diaper bank.
https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life
Cajun Navy is also accepting donations,
Not a big Joel Osteen fan, but he did have a point in his response to the initial criticism. Is it better to send people to his big empty partially flooded church or to direct them to a place set up as a shelter, with medical personnel and supplies, stocks of food and water and government representatives? Remember what happened in the Astrodome when people were left without enough water and proper sanitation?
It appears the church is now being offered as an additional shelter and that supports are being put in place to make it a place where people can safely stay for the next few days.
I hope everyone is staying safe and that the recovery won’t be too rough. There will be a lot of work ahead.
In addition to all of the costs to humans, we are probably going to learn about large scale death and devastation to animal life.
This is just heartbreaking.
Re: San Antonio…I know it’s not raining or flooding there. But would travel there now be advisable?
The church is not flooded at all. He claimed it was. I believe he used an old picture. Other people quickly rebutted him by posting a dry street in front. By dry, I mean not flooded. Other shelters are filling up. One shelter had 7,000 people at 5,000 max capacity. Should they have turned 2,000 away because they don’t have enough cots? His chuch can hold 17,000. What he needs to do if he doesn’t have supplies, bring them in not shut the door. Furniture stores are opening their doors. I doubt they have food, medicine, water, etc.
Can we get some first-hand reports or confirmation before we condemn Joel Osteen? Also, is housing people in an auditorium feasible if there are other options? Yes, the old Compaq center has 17,000 SEATS. Can the seats be stored to make floor space available for cots/mattresses? If there are classrooms etc. at the church I hope Pastor Osteen opens them to refugees from the flood.
In Baton Rouge last summer, the biggest shelter was a movie studio which opened up as a shelter on just a few hours notice. Lots of places open up and figure it out as they go.
I’m not going to defend the late opening of the church…but last night it was said that they bought a lot of air mattresses, food, linens, etc…and we’re opening.a
Don’t post this on facebook if it isn’t true:
“Dear Houstonians! Lakewood Church is inaccessible due to severe flooding! We want to help make sure you are safe. Please see the list below for safe shelters around our city, and please share this with those in need!”
The church wasn’t inaccessible. Glad they finally stepped up but they could have done that initially without lying first.
Most churches have armies of volunteers that are constantly finding opportunities to help others. Church ladies, that’s what they do. And men who go out and fix things for people. Sounds sexist, but that’s how it often works. So where are these people in his church, and why aren’t they starting to organize caregiving activities already?
The Red Cross did some disaster training in my area and some churches that wanted to be certified as gathering sites for people displaced by disaster didn’t qualify because they didn’t have adequate shower facilities, or for other reasons like that. Since enough other places had those things, people just figured out where to house people and those places that couldn’t house people could still make volunteers available.