Government causing chaos in Galveston
GALVESTON, Texas - Residents trying to get back to this hurricane-ravaged city Wednesday spent hours fuming in gridlocked traffic, only to be turned away at the bridge by officials worried that the crippled island can’t accommodate that many people.
Traffic backed up for 20 miles along Interstate 45, the one route onto Galveston Island, with residents jockeying for position with utility workers, repair crews and police trying to begin repairs to the city wrecked by Hurricane Ike five days ago.
The city announced Tuesday that people could briefly return under a new “look and leave” plan, causing evacuees all over the state to pack up and head for the coast.
Hours later, it abruptly halted the policy, but some in the long line Wednesday angrily complained they’d never heard the policy was rescinded.