During Rita, back in 2005, the population estimate for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA was 5.2 million.
The current population for the MSA is 6.9 million.
That’s a lot of growth in 12 years.
@saillakeerie
“I think it would make more sense to ask if there are areas where multitudes of people simply shouldn’t live.”
Yup. There is only so much infrastructure can do if you live in a flood zone, tornado alley, or on a major fault line and you-know-what hits the fan. (Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t beef up our crumbling infrastructure, but I know that’s not what you meant either.)
Try to evacuate millions of people out of any city in the US. There is no way, even if you started days in advance, and even if it were done in some kind of organized, orderly fashion (and do we believe that would be possible). Most large cities have terrible traffic problems on normal volume days. I don’t think people realize what would happen on the highways if you tried to evacuate millions of people quickly. It’s just not a realistic notion.
Since this is CC, does anyone know how Rice University, UT Houston other universities in the area are faring? I saw photos of students walking through flooded parking lots at Rice, but it’s difficult to know from the media if all of Houston is affected, or if they are focusing cameras only on certain communities.
If this kind of event will be recurring, it would be helpful to know how vulnerable the universities are, and if their emergency plans are effective.
I want to say 2 things.
First, in my H’s job they do emergency preparedness and have evacuation plans in place. The federal government has regulatory agencies and they are good. They have plans on top of plans and try to plan for every eventualities. Unfortunately, they can not be fool proof but make no mistake, there are people who do this on a full time basis. Especially after Katrina, hurricane evaluation plans are being worked on with the infrastructure that is available.
Second, and I hear griping about this all the time. If you have mandatory flood insurance, pay it. Yes I know it’s expensive and unnecessary. But as you can see in Houston things that have never been flooded are and those who have insurance have got to be relieved.
Prayers to all who are affected. And to the Cajun navy, bless them. I feel and hope that we have learned something from Katrina
“I think it would make more sense to ask if there are areas where multitudes of people simply shouldn’t live.”
So…
No one should live ~100 miles from the coast on the eastern seaboard or Gulf coast.
No one should live in tornado alley.
No one should live in earthquake zones, especially California.
No one should live near a major river or lake.
That doesn’t leave much in terms of “liveable area.” 
@stardustmom Rice’s Facebook page has frequent, detailed updates. Looks like they are doing okay.
@ShrimpBurrito When “multitudes” gets twisted into “no one” I know there isn’t a possibility of a rational discussion on the subject.
So who decides who gets to or has to live to certain areas?
How about restricting rebuilding in an area after it’s been substantially storm damaged twice or more?
@ShrimpBurrito Don’t forget the entire city of New Orleans, why have a city that is built BELOW sea level! (yes I realize it’s well within your 100 miles from the coast but thought it needed special mention for it’s unique level of un- livability ;-))
D has a good friend at Rice. They are sheltered in place and seem to be OK although I think some buildings have taken on water. And friend lives on the top floor of the dorm and has had leaks.
How about if you live in a highly flood prone area like Houston (six hundred year storms in the last 28 years), you can’t build in floodplains and wetlands. Just like new buildings in earthquake prone areas are required to be built to standards, it sounds like a no brainer to me. It won’t stop Mother Nature from creating devastating storms, but it can help lessen the risk.
Sometimes the environmentalists are right.
Imagine trying to evacuate the Seattle metro area. One north-south road and a few passes over the mountains. It wouldn’t happen. Every area has it’s issues and limitations.
I’m pretty sure you can’t build in wetlands anymore but what do you do about houses that are already there? Tear them down.
There are already rules on these things but there haven’t always been.
And the people have voted in an administration that doesn’t believe in regulation, Texas supports that party.
I understand you want to argue this @busdriver11 but many of the things you are for are already in place. To regulate more would limit growth and cost prohibitive amounts that no one wants to pay for.
I dunno. Staggering numbers of people drove to Oregon within a few days just to view the eclipse, and it went pretty well. Sometimes the point isn’t to evacuate everyone, but to get people out of the more hazardous areas, so you have less people to rescue. And in Seattle, with several days notice, you’d get people backpacking and biking out.
But regardless, if you know you can’t get people out, maybe you should consider lessening the impact. Even if this storm did a 180 degree turn and never came close, there will always be the next one. This doesn’t sound like it was a mystery. I suspect if they follow the money, there will be plenty of people to blame.
I was one of the people who evacuated from Houston to Austin in 2005. What would normally have taken 2-1/2 hours took about 9 hours. There was no gas at all along the route, it was over 100 degrees, and no places open along the route to stop to go to get food or go to the bathroom. It was a nightmare and many, many cars were abandoned along the side of the road as they ran out of gas. It was a nightmare. And that’s not to mention how a city can effectively evacuate the medically frail, indigent and elderly.
If anyone likes dogs, check out this great story about a resourceful German Shepherd taking matters into his own paws.
“Staggering numbers of people drove to Oregon within a few days just to view the eclipse”
I don’t think the eclipse volume is a good indicator of a full evacuation. Plus, you have to consider that many people in urban areas don’t have vehicles or the money and resources to seek alternatives.
I don’t see the eclipse as at all comparable. And how far can people really bike or hike with pets or valuables if they knew they might never come home? I spent 5 hours trying to make a 2 hours drive home from Seattle multiple times. Remember ONE interstate.