Incredible account in KHOU-Forums -Chambers County. 3 People washed up from Galveston- alive!

[chill_wind]

Wayne Dolcefino (the reporter who confronted Gov Perry about restricted media access to parts of Galveston/Bolivar Peninsula post-Ike) was eventually able to tour Bolivar.

In which he writes:

Some of what's left of Bolivar has now blown north into Chambers County.

"We're out, starting today, we're out looking for victims and I know we will find some," said Chambers County Judge Jimmy Silva.

Grim task begins in Bolivar
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 11:15 PM

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=weather/hurricane&id=6393943

I've been reading the accounts of residents in the KHOU forums for a couple days, but mostly of those getting the most attention in the media reports.

I decided to check if there were any Chambers County discussions in the KHOU forums to see if there was any confirmation of what Dolcefino was suggesting and was startled to read this--- it's from the Chambers County's Website:

http://www.co.chambers.tx.us/

We just today were able to get email access going. I will try to send out these Daily Situation
Reports every day.

First of all, Ike was pretty much an equal opportunity disaster. In other words, destruction
happened from one end of the county to the other. What we do see, is much more
destruction in the lower lying areas like Oak Island and Smith Point, . For certain, Oak Island
is the community which we have seen the most extensive damage, and by that I mean the
entire community was almost completely destroyed. Most of the houses are completely gone
and by that I mean they actually are not THERE.

Right now, the state focus is still search and rescue. Three persons were found alive
yesterday that washed ashore into Chambers County from Galveston Co (Bolivar, Crystal
Beach, etc.). Today, 3 more persons were found alive. This is incredible. We have spoken to
them and they have amazing stories. However, there are also some who were not so
fortunate. So, just so you will understand, the state is trying to save as many lives as they
can right now, before it is too late. When they complete that, they will shift into full-blown
recovery

.

http://www.co.chambers.tx.us/eoc.pdf

(bold emphasis mine)

Here's the forum post: http://www.khou.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28682


More discussion confirming washed up debris from Bolivar and Galveston:

Along the bay front properties several miles down the road from hospital and Ollie Cove toward Oak Island the surge inundated some homes and barns. THe damage to their homes and property is extensive because of all the DEBRIS from Bolivar and Galveston that washed across the bay and is now sitting on these bay front properties. THey will be needing great assistance to clean up and keep health hazards from these people???? THere are dead cows, pigs, propane bottles, family belongings and many live snakes along with all of the wood debris etc. on these families property stacked 3 ft high in some 20 yard plus swaths all across the bay front. The surge probably was 20 as someone said Jimmy stated.
The ends of the new strong piers along here are gone and many older ones completely destroyed. The clean up needs are huge!!!!!

http://www.khou.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23604&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30


Edit to add-- this account of washed ashore survivors was written on Monday.

[Waiting For Everyman]

1. Video of overflights of the aftermath. Crystal Beach & Bolivar

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x193881

[efhmc]

2. Thanks for the info. It nice to get it from somewhere.

[guruoo]

3. Washed up ALIVE????

Floating on debris, or what?

[chill_wind]

5. They didn't give further details-- this was from their EOC webpage

But that was on Monday. Their daily updates:

http://www.co.chambers.tx.us/StormInfo.html

[lastliberalintexas]

4. God, that's incredible

Earlier in the week there was also a story of a man who survived the storm while floating through the bay while it hit. How he survived is beyond me, but I certainly hope we hear more of these kinds of stories.


on edit- I found a link to the earlier story.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=weather/hurricane&id=6402621

[chill_wind]

6. Thanks for that link. Wow-- the stuff of unfathomable nightmares...

[lastliberalintexas]

7. You're welcome

And I just re-read my post, and what I meant was that I hope we hear more stories of survival. I certainly could do without hearing about people suffering through harrowing experiences, just prefer to hear they are alive. :)

[chill_wind]

8. I knew that :-) These stories just blow my mind.

Your whole life literally flashing before your eyes, and then throw in the cruelest perverse terror on top of all that--- alligators and snakes. I would not have survived, or if I had, I would be a total catatonic the rest of my life...

[lastliberalintexas]

10. You and me both

I guess you never know your own survival instinct until it is challenged, but I admit that I am too much of a wimp to have endured what these people must have faced. :(


And I'm glad you understood what I meant. With some thinking that people want to see dead bodies, I just wanted it clearer that I did not want people to endure bad things just so I could read about it. Have to be extra careful these days.

[chill_wind]

11. I just found the account from the people who rescued him on the other side--

Fred Anderson in Chambers County-- talks about hearing and finding him in the video


http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=9014250

[targetpractice]

9. For days, I've been watching KHOU from NYC...

My family is in SE Houston without power, and I've been watching the KHOU video stream constantly since IKE made landfall.

Ike reminds me of the Tsunami rather than Katrina... I think victims were swept away, and the bodies will be found far from where they died (if ever).

A few days ago... I recall the mayor of Chambers county talking by phone to the KHOU anchors... And, he kept saying that whatever was left of Bolivar, Crystal Beach, and Gilchrist was now in "his county", and therefore a health crisis was looming... I don't think the anchors understood what he was saying at the time.

According to news today... they are beginning to search the massive debris pushed into the bay.

[chill_wind]

12. I hope your family is safe and coping OK.

We were without power for 3 days in NE Ohio-- in retrospect, that seems like nothing. Getting back online after a several day blackout from the internet and TV and to slowly try to grok the conditions in Texas---- I can't imagine the whole larger spectrum of hardship and loss people in the Gulf are having to endure. I think victims were swept away, too, and any real accounting will probably be a long time from now.