Death Toll Rumors Soared around Hurricane Ike

Houston - In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the communities of Galveston, Harris, Brazoria and Jefferson counties are still struggling to recover from the devastation. In the early days after the storm, news reports from every local station played the same song, 20 dead, 30 dead, and 50 dead. The death toll kept rising it seemed, then the citizens, those with power or a battery powered television or radio were told that a mistake had been made, the death toll was only 20 again.

What a relief. Or is it? In individual interviews of community members whom request to be kept anonymous, I learned that the overwhelming majority of people surveyed did not believe the news reports about the death toll. Not a surprise when the numbers fluctuate in the negative direction so greatly from one hour to the next. Some reports have come across my desk that estimates over 1000 deaths just in Galveston County, but these numbers are still unsubstantiated.

One such story comes from an EMS officer, stationed on the island on the week immediately following the storm. For privacy I will not reveal his name, as it is understood that the City of Galveston placed all workers under a gag order. This EMS officer claims to have recovered as many as 200 bodies washing up in and around Bolivar, a small community just east of the main island of Galveston. "Bolivar suffered severe damage during Hurricane Ike, many homes were completely washed away, and it was reported that nearly half of the residents stayed to ride out the storm" said the EMS officer.

Finally a sigh of relief came on Sept. 28, 2008, not because the death toll is confirmed to be low but because the media is finally reporting more realistic and honest accounts. The Houston Chronicle reports more than 400 people still missing from Galveston Island and surrounding communities. Accounts from family members with low expectations of finding loved ones miraculously rescued and safe in a shelter halfway across the state.