The Galveston County Daily News

GALVESTON — Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas pleaded with the estimated 15,000 to 20,000 residents still on Galveston island to leave and not come back until further notice, saying conditions on the island were reaching a public health crisis.

“There is nothing here to stay for,” Thomas said. “Please leave.”

City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the city can’t accommodate its population.

“We don’t have a working, functioning hospital, and people are getting sick,” LeBlanc said.

The University of Texas Medical Branch, which got 4 feet of water in its bottom floor, is only operating as a critical care triage station.

However, the West Isle Urgent Care Clinic, 2027 61st St., opened and was giving free medical care, including tetanus shots, vaccinations, stitching lacerations and whatever else staff can manage.

“We’ll do this until we run out of supplies,” clinic director Dr. Edward Zompa said.

Zompa said as soon as the mayor allows air traffic into Galveston, he would use a personal airplane to fly in additional supplies.

“I can (get) everything UTMB can,” Zompa said.

LeBlanc said there are still ways for people to get off the island.

“People are resilient and they want to stay,” he said. “That’s exactly what we want to discourage. Our system is stressed. We would go in a downward spiral if people came back.”

Since Hurricane Ike came ashore Friday, at least 3,000 people who rode out the storm had been evacuated off the island. Residents had been bused to Austin and San Antonio and more buses were awaiting more evacuees at the Island Convention Center.

LeBlanc said he didn’t know when water, sewer, electricity and gas would be in operation again. Partial water services would be restored from the Ninth Street pump station, which is feeding into the San Luis Hotel, where city workers and emergency personnel are stationed. Gas service won’t be restored until workers can go house to house and shut off every meter to ensure fires won’t start once gas is restored. That could take days, LeBlanc said.

McAllen city officials brought extra sewer workers, back-hoes and generators to help with recovery efforts. LeBlanc said the city has asked Galveston County for mosquito control.

“Stay away,” LeBlanc said. “It’s unbelievable how much work has to be done.”