Hurricane Approaching Gulf Coast

[cranseiron]

Jay, there's more poverty and lower incomes, generally, in the South due to it's past isolation and agrarian nature. Hence, lots of trailer homes. Also, media sensationalism. When out of town media, especially Northern types, come down to the South they will interview the biggest hick they can find-- makes a better story I suppose. Hicks and trailer homes go together like peas and carrots.

 

[cranseiron]

No offense intended for those living in Mobile homes... you're probably well aware of the media bias.

 

[pappymac]

Jay - mobile homes are more susceptible to damage from high winds. Since they are easily destroyed, that makes them more newsworthy because it easier to show damage.

Cranse Iron, even southern comedians make jokes about the media always interviewing people living in trailer parks.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Jay and other Brits: "Mobile Home" is mostly an oxymoron. They are less mobile than a guy in a wheel chair. Yes, they are hauled to a spot, but then generally set on blocks, wheels removed—if ever there were wheels on it. "Trailer Park" is where most of these houses are found, but there's no way an average Joe can trailer these units.
I don't know if "caravan" equates properly to an "RV", which means "recreational vehicle", which can be anything from a small vehicle geared out to live in, to a large bus also so equipped. Winnebago was among the first to build such specialty vehicles and still make them— a lot of them, but there are dozens of manufacturers now.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Aha Eric, that never occurred to me so thanks. Thinking about it, yes, the media will be attracted to scenes of more devastation so it figures those poor buggers in those aluminium boxes get more attention than the chap whose brick chimney has blown down.
Still, I would be petrified if I had to endure a hurricane living in a caravan. I've taken enough of those things apart to know how flimsily they are built!
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cranseiron]

Pappy, didn't want to offend, especially those outside the South who may not enjoy the same "infamy" :wink:

 

[J. Mayo]

When out of town media, especially Northern types, come down to the South they will interview the biggest hick they can find-- makes a better story I suppose. Hicks and trailer homes go together like peas and carrots.

Absolutely, there's a video circulating of a reporter on the beach somewhere around Corpus doing all he can to stand straight in the wind and rain while delivering his report..... Then out of nowhere a woman runs up from off screen and hands him a 6 pack, screams "here's some beer for you!" Gives him a hug and runs off.
Very friendly people around here, just not the smartest! :rofl:

 

[mawnansmiff]

Here is a typical BBC news story regarding what is going on which pretty much tallies with what Eric said....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41065335
And yes John, I now realise the difference twixt a caravan and a trailer home. One is mobile, the other is not.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[J. Mayo]

Rockport, TX being a beach community does attract a lot of "riff raff / drifter" types if you will, but it's also home to a significant amount of retirees. Rockport country club is a relatively nice golf course for the area and the community is comprised mostly of nicer, high income homes built on it. But like everyone has said above, these homes likely didn't sustain the kind of damage that the lighter weight modular homes did. Therefore they're not as news worthy. You'll find a plethora of trailer parks and low income housing in beach communities up and down the Texas coast. The "free spirits" as my dad would call them in his most politically correct terminology tend to flock to these areas for the lifestyle. This is the majority of what you're seeing in national or worldwide news coverage, the damage to the less permanent homes in the area.

 

[J. Mayo]

The attention has now turned to Houston, TX where catastrophic flooding is taking place. Well beyond any record amount of rainfall (50"+ in some areas). I'd share some before and after pictures of overpasses that are completely underwater to give you an idea of the unbelievable amount of water that has collected, but I haven't found a new method since Photobucket started blocking pictures. Believe me when I tell you that some areas are under 20'-30'+ of water. My sister and brother-in-law live in a suburb of Houston that has been a little more fortunate so far, but the last I heard they were about 2'-3' from having water in their house. I'm on standby with the boat to go pick them up if the water gets much higher. On a lighter note I've seen videos of people water skiing and wakeboarding in the middle of town behind boats and vehicles both. I guess you have to make the best of your situation. It's also awesome to see people of all races and backgrounds coming together to help each other in a time of need. With all the racial division currently happening in this country, I'm proud to say that Texas has been setting an AMAZING example for the rest of the nation through this storm.

 

[balkisobrains]

I've been watching the Coast Guard and DPS effect helicopter and boat rescues on live news streams as the flooding continues. Civilians with boats are also pulling people to safety, I think that one guy had even shown up from Montana with his boat in tow to help out. People in an area of one town who thought that they were good are now being asked to evacuate tomorrow morning because the Army Engineers have to open a levee, which may cause some of the houses to get flooded out. They are forecasting 50" of rain through Wednesday or Thursday for some areas. The initial winds were crazy, but the flooding is probably shaping up to be even more destructive. Those winds looked fairly evil, though. I'm pretty sure that there have never been hurricane winds like that hitting mainland USA since Andrew, or Texas since some time in the 60's.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

It's also awesome to see people of all races and backgrounds coming together to help each other in a time of need. With all the racial division currently happening in this country, I'm proud to say that Texas has been setting an AMAZING example for the rest of the nation through this storm.

Unfortunately, I don't believe I've heard anything from the media regarding this... I suppose it doesn't fly with what they're trying to force down our throats. Not to mention, this is Texas where the media would love to believe we're all just racist bigots, although this couldn't be further from truth. Stay safe John.

 

[J. Mayo]

No, it doesn't fit the underlying narrative they're trying to push so they don't paint it that way. It truly is unfortunate.

 

[tbradsim1]

Yep, I just put down the phone asking my Neighbors a middle aged Black couple with a ranch house that flooded last flood we had. Told the wife, if you have to evacuate I'm high and dry. She thanked me profusely . Tired of the Scum bag Northern Media painting us with a Broad brush. I really don't have the available Curse words for them.

 

[pappymac]

Cranse Iron - It's hard to offend people living in trailer homes because they know why they live in them. I just have little respect for the media because they are truly what we used to call "blood and guts" journalist. I worked Coast Guard Public Affairs for almost 20 years and the media was always disappointed to arrive on scene and not see a major disaster they could put on video.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

those ranchers and farmers in the Houston area are facing really hard time evacuating their livestock,may God be with them,

 

[deathmetal]

They pick on trailer homes because of the notion that people in them have less money, so it fits with the media narrative of Texans as dumb, "uneducated" hicks living in the sticks and clinging to their guns and religion.
I saw that picture on every major media source so far. Reality is as usual more nuanced.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4825186/Homeowner-shoots-intruder-Texas-hurricane.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/28/us/obama-houston-photo-debunk-trnd/index.html

http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/28/fact-check-is-looting-happening-in-houston/

http://abc13.com/houston-police-focus-on-saving-lives-battling-looters/2350439/

http://wgno.com/2017/08/28/cajun-navy-coming-up-with-new-plan-after-looters-shoot-at-boats-try-to-steal-them/
Flooded streets map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Nzjiw9FHdJPHgNJiVMSHWhBQQd0&hl=en&ll=29.811999577559668%2C-95.08025405000001&z=10
Weather maps:

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/houston-tx/77002/weather-radar/351197

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/national/weather-forecast-maps
Map of power outages:

http://gis.centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker/
MSO489's comments on floods are 100% true:

http://floodsafety.com/national/life/statistics.htm