Inmates Still at Galveston Jail as Hurricane Ike Nears; Gas Prices Spike
Despite a mandatory evacuation order for Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike was about to strike, there’s one group of residents that, as of 10 a.m. today, hadn’t yet complied—about 1,000 prisoners at the Galveston County Jail on Galveston Island.
However, their safety and well-being is paramount, and “will be handled,” a spokesman for sheriff’s office tells the Houston Chronicle. For security reasons, the office does not inform the media about prisoner transfer plans, he notes.
Although the jail was designed to withstand hurricanes, a predicted storm would likely flood the island, the newspaper points out.
The inmates still remained at the jail this afternoon, according to a subsequent Austin American-Statesman article.
Meanwhile, gas prices have shot up at some stations in Texas and surrounding states, as thousands flee the storm, according to numerous media reports, including this Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
Officials are threatening to pursue cases against gas-gouging, but meanwhile customers have little choice but to pay. “Some stations said gas could cost $5 a gallon by the end of the day,” the newspaper reports.
Additional coverage:
Associated Press: “Hurricane Ike makes economic landfall”
Times-News: “NC activates anti-gouging law as gas prices spike”
Carroll County News (Arkansas): “Gov. Beebe declares state of emergency to help prevent and fight gas price gouging”
ABAJournal.com: “Courts, Prosecutor Offices, Law Schools Close for Hurricane Ike”
Updated at 4:15 p.m. to include information from Austin American-Statesman and at 4:30 p.m. to include news coverage about reported gas gouging.
