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Thursday, September 22, 2005A mandatory evacuation order for all of Galveston County kicked in at 6 p.m. Hospitals and nursing homes were required to begin evacuating patients 12 hours earlier. The story makes it sound as if they're only being aggressive about evacuations because of the recent New Orleans disaster, but evacuations like that take planning. And yet, if this story (registration is required) is accurate, at least one Louisiana town perilously close to the hurricane's path, doesn't seem to have learned anything. Despite being in the storm's path and being below sea level, they're only thinking about evacuating: MORGAN CITY, LA. - From low land behind the levee, Mayor Tim Matte watched the Gulf of Mexico fretfully Wednesday, knowing that Hurricane Rita could turn his town into a mini-New Orleans if the powerful storm veers its way. The topography of this town of shrimpers and offshore oil riggers is much the same as that of its much larger neighbor to the east -- a city where hundreds died and most of the residents remain evacuated after being swamped by Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29. Like New Orleans, Morgan City is a bowl, with levees and seawalls holding out the surrounding waters. Much of the populace of both communities lives below sea level. New Orleans has Lake Pontchartrain to the north, and Morgan City has Lake Palourde. New Orleans is bounded by the Mississippi River, Morgan City by the Atchafalaya. ....Local officials watched the course of Rita closely. Evacuation would include taking care of evacuees from Katrina who are still living in their communities. ....Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency and told residents of her state to pray that Rita stays away. Maybe they should pray and evacuate. posted by Sydney on 9/22/2005 07:58:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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