America’s storm labeled as ‘unsurvivable’

As Hurricane Laura moved without pause toward the coast of the Gulf of Mexico some forecasters applied the maximum label: “unsurvivable storm surge.”

The major Category 4 storm produced a surge of water, high as 15 to 20 feet in places, and lived up to its designation by Thursday.

The forecasters warned that “large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage” to the roughly 150-mile portion of the Gulf Coast from Sea Rim State Park in Texas to Intracoastal City, La.

The hurricane arrived during the Republican presidential convention, the week after the Democrats’ nationwide assembly.

As of Thursday, America’s Coronavirus cases had totaled 6,602,176, with a death toll of 183,687.

The pandemic and two hurricanes in the gulf provided a worst case scenario in the midst of the important political actions.

Millions of residents sought refuge beyond the path of the enormous storms. Evacuees filled up hotel rooms in San Antonio and Austin.

Floyd Graham, a ship welder originally from Jamaica, said he evacuated every time there was the threat of a hurricane.

“You can’t fight nature,” he said.

“Don’t try to fight it. Get out of the way.”

Port Arthur, Texas, which has about 50,000 residents, was in Hurricane Laura’s predicted path, prompting the city’s mayor to issue a mandatory evacuation order that went into effect on Tuesday morning.

Even as thousands of residents fled the city on Wednesday, some health workers volunteered to stay behind.

Many living in Laura’s path, particularly those vulnerable to the virus or caring for older relatives, have found themselves weighing the risks of riding out the storm against potential exposure to the virus or caring for older relatives.

Others simply don’t have the means to escape, as their livelihoods were eviscerated when the economy cratered.

Although large shelters are being set up throughout the hurricane zone, Gov. Greg Abbot of Texas encouraged evacuees to consider booking rooms in hotels and motels instead of using shelters, as a safer way to isolate themselves from others who might be infected.

Traditional shelters like gymnasiums and convention centers that have hosted hundreds of evacuees in past disasters will be set up to provide “layers of separation” between the occupants.

The shelters and buses will be supplied with hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment like face masks, and state officials plan to dispatch testing teams to the larger shelters.