Galveston Update

Galveston remains nearly uninhabitable, three days after Hurricane Ike rolled through and obliterated parts of the island altogether. Local officials are considering how to remove the last remaining holdouts who refuse to leave, as they cannot guarantee basic sanitation, power or even food and water for these people. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas had instituted a "look and leave" policy whereby residents could return for a short time to assess damage to their property, but the program has been suspended after a massive traffic jam resulted on I-45, the primary point of access onto the island. The death toll has risen, and there are concerns that it could rise more as rescue personnel begin their searches of neighborhoods that were annihilated by the storm.

UPDATE: See TWM's newest update on the situation in Galveston here.