Hurricane Ike and Texas Prisoners, Did the State Prepare for an Emergency?

When hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, it devastated a group of people that were not able to help themselves, the inmates. Many of the parish prisons did not evacuate their inmates, and when the water started rising, some of the guards abandoned the inmates and left them there to die. According to Human Rights News "Prisoners were abandoned in their cells without food or water for days as floodwaters rose toward the ceiling." Many inmates were not evacuated for days.

With Hurricane Ike moving closer to Houston and expecting to be a major hurricane, did the state of Texas prepare to evacuate the necessary prison units that were predicated to be in the path of Ike? Did they make sure there were enough supplies, of medicine, food and water? Texas is a state with a high incarceration rate, and a state with over 100 prison units. A state with a lot of prisoners.

According to The Houston Chronicle as a precaution "State prison officials early today ordered evacuation of prisons that are considered vulnerable to Hurricane Ike," and also evacuated some prisoners with medical problems, on dialysis machines. But despite evacuation orders, Galveston jail was not evacuated, and over 1000 inmates and staff remained.

What happened to the inmates that were evacuated? It was said on a prison group by relatives of inmates that some were evacuated into other units and placed in a two man cell with two bunks, bringing the number of men per cell to three or even four, forcing the evacuees to sleep on the floor.

Some were moved to gyms in other units where they are sleeping on concrete floors. I called the Ike Prison hotline at 936-437-6127, and after numerous busy signals I was able to speak with an operator who informed me they were issues blankets. But because of the high number of inmates that were evacuated, I am wondering if they had enough blankets for all of them Also, a woolen blanket in a unit with no air conditioning and very little ventilation would make it extremely hot.

Also, these inmates that were placed in a gym encounter other problems. For one thing, if they need to use the bathroom, they must ask for permission to go, they are not allowed to just get up and go. They will be without a shower or change of clothes. They will remain there with the clothes on their back for days.

Food

The inmates are eating what they call a "John Henry bag" which consists of a boiled egg, peanut butter sandwich, box of raisins and bottle of water, issued in a paper bag. They are receiving this 3 times a day, and will be on this diet for at least a week, according to reports from citizens in Texas who have spoken to guards, and from past emergencies. The bag is called a John Henry bag, after a former slave John Henry who would go to the aid of prisoners and give them bags of food.

Electricity and Running water

Because of the loss of power, and electric needed to run the pumps to lift water to the water towers most units will be without enough pressure to shower or flush toilets. There is enough water to cook with, but not to maintain a sanitary living condition. This could very well cause a health hazard. This situation could remain like this for weeks and maybe even longer since most units are in isolated areas where the power lines to them have suffered much damage, and are long. The units do have generators, but they are used for security equipment and the inmates will not have fans and radios.

Medical attention

Inmates with medical problems may face problems with being treated. There may not be enough supplies to treat the number of sick inmates. Some who were evacuated will have to be tracked down in order to be treated. Those who have diabetes, HIV and Hepatitis, etc., could face medical emergencies. The heat and lack of sanitary conditions could cause the other inmates medical problems.

Mail and Visitation

Most units have stopped visitation until further notice, and mail is backed up and classified as non emergency.

This situation could last for weeks. I was told that in the smaller cities outside of Houston people are also without water, food, power, ice, etc. One women who rode out the storm with her neighbors in a town called Trinity. reported no pressure of water in their homes, and no power. She also reported that FEMA was issuing one bag of ice, and one gallon of water, per car. So if you don't own a car, you were unable to receive water and ice. She reported a young couple who needed water to tend to their small baby, and were without clean water. These will be the people who suffer the most, along with the inmates.

Source:

Ray Hill: Producer, Host

The Prison Show

KPFT-90-FM

Through conversations on the phone

Citizens and relatives of Texas inmates

Conversations on the phone, group postings

Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5993609.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5997765.html
Human Rights News
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/22/usdom11773.htm