A grocery store is beginning to do business again. People are starting to make mobile phones calls again, but these two hopeful signs are still not enough for Galveston to fully return to normal.
For now, authorities are urging weary and oftentimes frustrated residents to be patient. Galveston mayor Lyda Ann Thomas told homesick residents that “By staying away and being patient, you are making it possible for us to get you home in a week or so instead of the months (that) it would take if the city's infrastructure (which isn't fully operational yet) were more overwhelmed at this point. It's more confusing. We want to try to get everyone home and we'll try to do it next week”.
Meanwhile, Governor Rick Perry, whose mansion burned down in June, appears to understand residents' frustration and urgency to get home as soon as possible: “I absolutely understand (that) they want to get back to their homes…I'd like to get back to the mansion”. OK, so the Texas governor's mansion in Austin burned down in June, well before hurricanes Gustav and Ike tore through the heart of Texas, but angry residents don't want to hear this right now.
Meanwhile, one place that is still feeling the wrath of Gustav and Ike is Houston's Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. According to Dr. James McCarthy, however, most of these injuries could have been avoided if residents didn't take so much of the massive cleanup effort required into their own hands when it is clear that they are incapable of doing so: “Patients keep coming. Falling off roofs, tree cutting injuries, people getting hit with branches. People who have no business operating a chain saw decided (that) this was their time to learn and are injuring themselves”. In other words, McCarthy seems to be angry and exasperated because many of these injuries could have been avoided.
According to Texas Housing Department Secretary Steve Preston, “A lot of times, after a disaster, people come back (and) they have expenses (that) they didn't count on (having to incur). We want to make sure (that) they have breathing room before they have to worry about mortgages (that) will become an additional challenge for them”.
According to Galveston County medical examiner Steven Pustilnik, “It's (i.e. the rescue operation) is very much unknown. There are large parts of the county that haven't been searched. Just like in Katrina and Rita, debris has to be sifted through”.
According to Richard Crook, rapid response manager for Best Friends animal society, “Today, we needed to get a feel for the area and see if there is any hope left for the animals here”.
Finally, according to Galveston Police chief Charles Wiley, looting has been “phenomenally low” adding that “It's probably some young people who've been left on the island or have been located on the island”.
So, there we have it. Ike is certainly not leaving quietly. Texas residents are desperate to get home. Authorities are holding them back, saying “Not yet. The threat of flooding is still imminent”. Finally, the storm itself just refuses to let up and go away.
