Should I go see my family in Louisiana this summer, or should I stay here in Texas because I think it's safer?

Question

Like they do every year, Mom is planning a trip to Morgan City, LA this July, and my teen sister is hoping it'll last all month. I, on the other hand, am dreading it for many reasons, and among them is the fact that we're in hurricane season and Morgan City is at/below sea level according to this Google Earth map.

You see, I am currently in the southeast Houston area, and the elevation of this house is 31 feet, according to this. Where Dad lives, it's 35 feet, and he's even further west of Galveston Bay. (Morgan City's one advantage over where we live is that it's further inland due to the inability to build on the coast.)

I know this all sounds paranoid, since we've never had hurricane problems while in Morgan City, but should I worry that I am in danger because of the low elevation? Should I go with my mom and sister, or should I stay with Dad here in Texas? We didn't leave for Rita in 05 (lost power for a day but not much else), so is it safer in Houston than it is over there?

Answer 1

The chances that you will encounter a hurricane during your visit are rare and technology today is able to give you a little warning if one is expected. BUT!! are you really worried about a storm or are you looking for an excuse not to go??

If you want to go but are worried about the weather then make travel plans to get there if they are at different times or by different modes than the others thats ok. do what you are comfortable most with.  

but if you would rather miss it this year then say so.  Just tell them you can't make it but will call them.  if they need a reason why... just tell them you have other commitments or just aren't up to it.  telling them you are worried about the weather will just make them tease you.  (although hurricanes would make me think twice too!!)

Answer 2

You will have adequate warning to evacuate if there is a hurricane coming, so I'd go and not worry about it.

Answer 3

It is probably safer hurricane wise to stay in Houston but you can't worry about everything. I would go. Enjoy your vacation. Sure you might be at a slight hurricane risk but maybe you'll have less thunderstorms or less crime in Morgan city. Live your life and go. That's what I would say.

Answer 4

Nah, it's probably pretty safe. Hurricane season is a bell curve thing, so while it's "started" it doesn't really get going until August and isn't much of a season after about the start of October - even though it lasts until nearly December.

Furthermore , the idea of a season is just a common idea, it's more common in summer, but you can check about 2 weeks in advance, just check the satellite photos over Western Africa west of Mali and Morocco, if there are not alot of storms there, there will not probably be alot of storms in the Caribbean.

Not to mention that after Katrina and Rita, you can be sure that most folks are much more attentive to these things.

Houston, BTW, is not "much" safer, had Katrina hit over Galveston, Houston would have been nearly as badly hit, but it's important to understand that New Orleans and the surrounding areas should have been

A. MUCH better engineered than they are.

B. The people were seriously under-prepared , as was the local and state government, so the fiasco was part of the "charm" that was New Orleans politics and old-style of doing business.

My understanding is that 5 years on, things aren't that much improved.

Answer 5

I don't believe you are any safer staying where you live.  As I recall, Texas is subjected to tornados, flooding, and hurricanes.  And there have been no hurricanes in La. since Katrina.  I live in Florida and would rather face a hurricane than a tornado.  Hurricanes are more predictable than tornados in their movement and you can prpare better, if you heed the warnings.