Posted on Aug 29, 2017
After Pressure Mounts, Joel Osteen Says His Houston Megachurch Is Open To Evacuees
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via npr: After Pressure Mounts, Joel Osteen Says His Houston Megachurch Is Open To Evacuees
After Pressure Mounts, Joel Osteen Says His Houston Megachurch Is Open To Evacuees
Posted from n.pr
Houston
Church
Meteorology
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 5
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I don't know, that stretch of highway (I drive past it every day for work) does flood incredibly easily (has flooded during every major rain event of the past 2 years or so). It is not hard for me to believe that the highway leading to his church was flooded like they claim it was.
I know the water in certain areas (mine, specifically) has receded overnight, and that area does drain quickly in my experience. It is not hard for me to believe that it truly was inaccessible earlier on, but is accessible at this time.
Also, unsubstantiated side note: I had heard that the neighborhood that Osteen's mansion is in had to be evacuated because of high water.
I know the water in certain areas (mine, specifically) has receded overnight, and that area does drain quickly in my experience. It is not hard for me to believe that it truly was inaccessible earlier on, but is accessible at this time.
Also, unsubstantiated side note: I had heard that the neighborhood that Osteen's mansion is in had to be evacuated because of high water.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
A 10.6 million dollar mansion does not have pumps to keep his castle high and dry?? You would think after the last time he would have put water barricades up and put pumps in. The shot from the news chopper looked like it was nice and dry... just saying... GOD will make that determination in his own good time.
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PFC Jim Wheeler
His home was on the news, PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM? Either way, I don't know about his home. However, I don't think homes out here have pumps because we don't have basements down here.
I also recently saw some pictures of the highway that his church is on (US-59) and the flood waters had moved the concrete barriers into the lanes, which would make it hard to get anywhere (depending on where you are coming from).
I am just not as quick as some to jump to conclusions because there are a lot of things that could have kept them from being at the church, and, to top that off, the Lakewood church has always done a lot for the Houston communities during disaster events.
I also recently saw some pictures of the highway that his church is on (US-59) and the flood waters had moved the concrete barriers into the lanes, which would make it hard to get anywhere (depending on where you are coming from).
I am just not as quick as some to jump to conclusions because there are a lot of things that could have kept them from being at the church, and, to top that off, the Lakewood church has always done a lot for the Houston communities during disaster events.
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I am not an Osteen fan or church member, but this is getting ridiculous. I live near there and at the beginning of the storm, you COULD NOT GET THERE BECAUSE IT WAS FLOODED WITH 4-5 FEET OF WATER!!! He was told by the mayor they didn't want to open up a church shelter until later. They wanted to use the convention center as everything was pre-positioned there. As soon as the storm started, Osteen and the church were sending supplies and personnel to the convention center to help where they could. Once the center was filled, and the flood waters around them receded, the Osteen's opened up the church.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
This is the same Mayor who was telling everyone to stay put, Shelter in Place while the Governor was telling everyone to get the hell out before it is too late??
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PFC Jim Wheeler
PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM, the Mayor made the right call.
You cannot just evacuate 6.5 million people in that short of a time frame.
When Houston last tried evacuation (2005, Hurricane Rita) there were only 2.5 million (estimated) people who attempted to evacuate. It took those people 23 hours in some cases to make what is usually a 3 hour trip out of Houston. Over 100 people died just from the evacuation. The highways were deadlocked, cars stalled, people fighting in traffic, etc. To make it worse, Houston was never hit.
Now almost triple that number (plus those already evacuating from Rockport, Port Arthur, Corpus, and Aransas) on highways that were completely flooded 24 hours after the governor recommended evacuation? The death toll would have been unimaginable.
I have said this before, but it is very easy to criticize the decision when you don't have to deal with the repercussions of being the person who makes it. So far, even with catastrophic flooding, fewer people have lost their lives than just the evacuation in 2005 caused. I would call that a win, all things considered.
You cannot just evacuate 6.5 million people in that short of a time frame.
When Houston last tried evacuation (2005, Hurricane Rita) there were only 2.5 million (estimated) people who attempted to evacuate. It took those people 23 hours in some cases to make what is usually a 3 hour trip out of Houston. Over 100 people died just from the evacuation. The highways were deadlocked, cars stalled, people fighting in traffic, etc. To make it worse, Houston was never hit.
Now almost triple that number (plus those already evacuating from Rockport, Port Arthur, Corpus, and Aransas) on highways that were completely flooded 24 hours after the governor recommended evacuation? The death toll would have been unimaginable.
I have said this before, but it is very easy to criticize the decision when you don't have to deal with the repercussions of being the person who makes it. So far, even with catastrophic flooding, fewer people have lost their lives than just the evacuation in 2005 caused. I would call that a win, all things considered.
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