The last men on the island

I do not understand this.

About 1,000 prisoners and a full jail staff remained in the Galveston County Jail on Galveston Island this morning, even as the island began to be battered by the onslaught of Hurricane Ike.

The reason for not evacuating the prisoners is a security issue and cannot be discussed, sheriff's spokesman Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said.

"The prisoners and their safety and well-being are paramount and it will be handled," Tuttoilmondo said.

Any decision to move the prisoners would be kept secret for security reasons, as happened before Hurricane Rita in 2005, he said.

"We did this during Rita and no one knew until it was absolutely done," Tuttoilmondo said.

The prisoners were in the jail as of 10 a.m. today, leaving little time to transfer them to the mainland. Hurricane-force winds are expected to strike the island later today, making exit across the causeway to the mainland difficult.

Tuttoilmondo declined to say how many deputies were at the jail, but said a full jail staff and relief shifts remained on duty at the lockup at 57th Street and Broadway.

He also declined to discuss measures the Sheriff's Office would take to make sure the prisoners and jail staff remained safe if a storm surge floods the jail.

The subject came up in today's SciGuy chat. Barring an unlikely sharp turn east, the entire island is going to be under water. Even if the jail can withstand the wind and the storm surge, there will be no power for the foreseeable future, there may be no potable water, and there may be no way to get food and other supplies in for days, if not longer. I understand the security concerns, and I certainly don't envy these guys the task, but how is it possible this is a good idea? I can only say that I hope they did get out while they still could.

Now, according to Tom, some 25-40% of Galveston's residents (10-20,000 people) did not heed the mandatory evacuation order and have remained on the now-almost completely flooded island. If so, that's certainly a bad idea, one I cannot understand, as well. But at least some of those folks likely had a choice in the matter. The inmates did not. I just hope this all works out for them.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 12, 2008 to Hurricane Katrina