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For immediate release: May 25, 2005
When Category 5 Hurricane Carly hit South Padre Island in September destruction was its fortitude.
Fortunately for Island and South Texas residents, it was a computer-simulated hurricane produced by The University of Texas to demonstrate the likely impact here, and the presentation’s impact on attendees at Tuesday’s hurricane preparedness meeting at the SPI Convention Centre was starkly apparent.
Hurricane Carly left the 34-mile long Island, 2 2/2 miles at its widest point, inundated with only patches of land breaking through several feet of water. Its storm surge left the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport under more than 15 feet of water with scattered inland flooding throughout South Texas reaching as far as San Antonio.
The unreal hurricane could easily become reality with the National Weather Service predicting nine to 12 tropical systems, seven to nine of them being classified as hurricanes.
Some of them have the potential to be deemed Category 4 or greater, according to the NWS.
Although SPI Fire Chief Clifford Rowell’s words seemed harsh, the more than 200 audience members didn’t offer scowl looks, but rather, soaked in the information and took notes.
Rowell gave the Hurricane Carly presentation. The simulated disaster resulted in nine counties affected consisting of about 1.3 million people. For Cameron County alone, about 385,000 households were affected and about 23,000 homes could be destroyed– the financial impact, almost $10 billion.
It can happen here, Rowell reiterated.
“If it’s a (Category) 4 or 5, I’d get as far north as I can,” he said.
Evacuation routes are being updated and will be available soon at Cameron County and Texas Department of Transportation offices, said Remi Garza, executive assistant to County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa.
“South Padre Island, unfortunately, is a barometer for the rest of the county,” Garza said.
SPI Mayor Bob Pinkerton is the emergency management director and has the authority to evacuate the Island.
“This is probably the largest attendance we’ve had,” Pinkerton said of the preparedness event.
He said residents should acquire their hurricane identification stickers to the Island. Proof of residency or business ownership/employment and an ID is required to obtain a hurricane identification sticker. Residents are entitled to two stickers per family, and business owners may have up to four stickers with a limited basis for employees. Stickers are available at the SPI Fire Department.
Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
NWS Meteorologist Andy Patrick, Sgt. Felipe Escobedo with the Department of Public Safety and professional loss consultant Charles H. Dale with Jansen International, LLC were also on hand to offer additional preparation information.
Melissa A. Zamora
Communications Coordinator
Town of South Padre Island
(956) 761-3005
(956) 433-1231 (cell)
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