A disgusting, smelly, dead mess

Posted: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 4:31 PM

By Don Teague, NBC News Correspondent

On Clear Lake, Texas – We got a chance to go out on a boat this afternoon to get a view of Hurricane Ike’s destructive path from the angle of the water. It also allowed us to see some places you couldn’t reach by car because so much water and debris has been pushed in from Galveston Bay.

Clear Lake is sort of a protected inlet off Galveston Bay, we got to the mouth of the bay but it was too rough to go out there in the 26-foot motorboat we were in.

We went out on the water to try to get an idea of the environmental impact of Hurricane Ike on Clear Lake and it’s a mess.

Boats line the road in Clear Lake, Texas after Hurricane Ike on Sunday.

We saw thousands of dead fish floating on the surface of the water. It smells terrible. When the wind is blowing, it’s not so bad. But when the wind is calm – the smell of dead fish, raw sewage and gasoline just fills the air and is totally overpowering.

It is all from sewage systems on land, boat sewage systems, plus all of the gasoline. You can see that gasoline slick shine on top of the water in areas – that rainbow look you see when you have petroleum products on the water. It’s turned the water a chocolate brown and it’s killing fish by the thousands.

VIDEO: Texas tormented by the stench, and cost, of Ike's devastation

We saw all these dead fish floating on the surface. We also saw dead animals – what looked like dead otters, rabbits, and lots of dead birds.

The worrisome part is that the birds, ducks, and pelicans are eating the dead fish because it’s easy pickings and they don’t realize that those fish have been poisoned.

So the fear is that all of those birds will soon die as well.

I’m not an environmental expert, so I don’t know what the long term impact is. But in the short term, it’s a disgusting, smelly, dead mess.

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Comments

There is a report of a loose tiger roaming this area and hungry. Did anyone report the livestock, horses, dogs & cats etc roaming reported by others?? This needs attention too!!

Jennifer, Hazel park, MI (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 4:54 PM)

Just an FYI...Clear Lake hasn't been clear for many many years..it is normally brown. No one swims in clear lake..only boating and such...but thanks for the article.

clearlake kid (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 4:56 PM)

My Thought go out to all of you who have suffered loses. I am in Nova Scotia and I saw and heard 3 days befor that storm hit, that every one should leave. WHY
WOULD 90,000 OF YOU NOT LISTEN AND GET OUT.
Again, I am very sorry for all who have suffered.

David Waye, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 4:57 PM)

Is he talking about the mccain campaign, palins alaska political problems or what?
Ohhhh the hurricane, got it, sorry for the mix up...

oldugly atlanta, ga (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:03 PM)

I feel for the people that loses everything, but I don't think theGovernment should allow them to build back in the areas that are hurricane prone like this.
The ones that stayed after they were told to get out should not complain when they are not helped and rescued as fast as they think they should be.

Jerry Pridgen
Whiteville, NC

Jerry Pridgen, Whiteville, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:11 PM)

It's a shame, but very little can be done to protect the environment from all of these polutants. It's not a political problem. Nature must be allowed to correct itself. that will take some time, of course. Meanwhile Galveston and most of the Gulf coast of Texas is uninhabitable for humans as well as animals, fish and fowl.

Jason Largo (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:15 PM)

my family is safe in Midland, TX..my question is how are these people getting their mail and what about the school children. the area my son lives in is Conroe-New Caney area. How bad was that area hit. thanks, judy

judy sherman , Las Vegas, NV (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:36 PM)

I am reading that Houston is also having problems, food shortages, no electricity, no water, and basically little by way of help to resolve these issues.

Are you seeing any type of action by the government, local, state or fed that is addressing what you saw and the problems in Houston?

JHeffner, San Jose, CA (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:42 PM)

Thank you for mentionning the animals.. All too
often, they are the forgotten ones..

What a disaster!

elisabeth schneider Or. (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:47 PM)

What you see are not otters....I bet they are nutrias...I was raised on a bayou in Westlake, La. and can tell you that after a storm, the snakes, nutrias, rats, spiders, etc.etc. come out of the swamps in abundance. God bless those people!

McDonough, GA (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:54 PM)

This is tragic and make me think how fragile our existence is. We are perhaps more dependent on our environment staying intact then our forebears were from centuries past. It made me think if we can barely tolerate a hurricane how much less we could tolerate God forbid anything worse.

We need to calm down, soften the discord, ease the division and realize as a species we truly are in this together.

Natalie Rosen, Framingham, MA (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:07 PM)

Is the gas/petroleum slick from the rigs that broke free and are floating around in the Gulf?

A Newhaller (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:13 PM)

Yes, and that's what overpopulation worldwide is doing
to the natural world. Gasoline doesn't belong in or
near the sea.
Carry on, it will just get worse.

J.C. Rider (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:19 PM)

i'd avoid all houston area long john silver's for a long time if i were me, or you.

Vince Vaugh (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:28 PM)

First person reports are saying that over 1,500 bodies are suspended in trees around Galveston. More bodies are scattered in ditches and marshes. The sad part is the government is doing absolutely nothing to ease the pain.

danny (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:52 PM)

Had the citizens heeded the warnings - perhaps the various people involved in the aftermath of this disaster would actually have time to take care of these situations versus getting people out of there who should have gone in the first place. Time is time - and no one can say no to the safety of the people, but they had a chance to go - and had they heeded the warning time could be spent in other ways now.

Sandra Sandstrom, Aurora CO (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 7:55 PM)

Don Teague,
God love you for the determination to bring the real story back to us, who grapple to fathom the situation there. Your description speaks for itself. It's overwhelming. My heart is broken for any living thing that survived the storm and is now struggling to live. Be very careful in your remaining travels there, which I am sure will shape your thoughts the rest of your life.

Amy Walker, Chattanooga, Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 9:19 PM)

That was a good commentary on the environment in the aftermath of Ike. The reporter described everything so that I could smell the devastation. But his last words separated him from the empathy that I think he was trying to elicit. I think it is more of a sad, smelly, disturbing situation.

Zelda, Baltimore MD (Sent Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:53 PM)

I'm so sorry for these people who lost everything' I praying for every one one you, God will give you back a beeter place, put your on Him, I love you so even in the touhg timr but you overcome this, God bless you all.

Volcan, Chiriqui Panama (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:19 AM)

I think some people assume that just because 90,000 people didn't leave, they must have been some idiotic "thrill seeking lunatics". It's easy to sit back and state that they were crazy for not leaving, but you have to understand the mentality of these people may have had no where else to go. The reality that their house is the only thing that they had in the world. I live in Arlington, TX (right between Dallas and Fort Worth), and let me tell you, if 90,000 people stayed home, I sure couldn't tell. The metroplex where I live was packed with people. So if most of the Texas cities are like this, thanks to people in Louisiana, Alabama, and southern Texas, escaping a hurricane, where do you think those people are going to go? Especially when gas prices are raised another fifty cents? Gee...Aurora, CO?

If you ask me, the oil company wanted to kill those people. That's just my opinion, but it seems pretty obvious, especially considering the unemployment rate here in Texas.

Wes Lisitza, Arlington, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:19 AM)

Each and everyone of you who blames "the government" for storm damage, or, make it a political issue is misguided. Pull together with your neighbors and family and take care of business yourselves. I've taken in 12 people (1/2 family members)for the time being and will help them with their clean up, etc..

Harry Cee - Galveston (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:21 AM)

When the rest of us are inconvenienced when our power is out for only a few hours, one can only try to imagine the helplessness felt by the displaced population. Unless one has experienced this tyoe of situation, a real understanding is not possible. My concern regarding maintaining healthy people and animals withthe sickening conditions present, is that the amenities of living, to which we as the people have become accustomed, have disappeared and the safety of every person and animal will become severely compromised. With lack of "human comforts", people tend to resort to surviving any way they can. This is a horrible situation and needs to take priority over any other issues at present.

Barbara Donahue, Lake Havasu City, AZ (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:22 AM)

The situation in Texas and the losses are horrific. However, our government is partically in the situation it is in because it has been a RESCUER of the world and all of its disasters. It was NOT meant to be. May God help this planet and its people.

toni , massillon ohio (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:34 AM)

Sounds like it's time for a lot of people to grow up. This is a Natural Disaster, beyond anyone's control but God's. No better nor worse than the recent firestorms, last winter's blizzards, recent floods, or even the tsunamis the world has recently gone through. Damage of this type can be rebuilt, and will be, because the American Spirit thrives on adversity. All it takes is time and backbone.

Blake, Boise, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:38 AM)

When the rest of us are inconvenienced when our power is out for only a few hours, one can only try to imagine the helplessness felt by the displaced population. Unless one has experienced this type of situation, a real understanding is not possible. My concern regarding maintaining healthy people and animals withthe sickening conditions present, is that the amenities of living, to which we as the people have become accustomed, have disappeared and the safety of every person and animal will become severely compromised. With lack of "human comforts", people tend to resort to surviving any way they can. This is a horrible situation and needs to take priority over any other issues at present.

Barbara Donahue, Lake Havasu City, AZ (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:39 AM)

I stayed for Ike. I stayed on purpose, I had places to go and people to stay with but no money to get there. So I chose to supply myself as best I could and hang out in my closet. We are now dealing with gas shortages, food shortages and we are lucky if we have running water (that we have to boil anyway) half the time. But I am not complaining because I CHOSE to stay and was ready for this. I still have 2 cases of bottled water and have yet to even attempt to get food from a FEMA pod. If you choose to stay in the face of a storm this big, you should prepare yourself so you are not dependant on governmental resources, as we all know how well THAT works. I have charged my laptop at a friends house, which is good because my cell is still down. The smell here is intense, much like driving past a dump after a holiday when everyone's trash it out. Luckily, we have had an amazing break in the weather so at least it is cooler than normal. The people of Galveston will be recovering for months, possibly years. Houston will be much better much sooner, but please keep us all in mind.

Lily (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:44 AM)

CNN:,Weather Channel:Anderson Cooper all those people trying to get the best shot of the storm, re-load your camera and get back down there! Katrina Ghost named Ike is still around and sounds like it can only get worse if the cameras stop rolling.

lynette, Joppa, MD (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 11:54 AM)

Quoting above - "First person reports are saying that over 1,500 bodies are suspended in trees around Galveston. More bodies are scattered in ditches and marshes. "

Really people, where are you getting this? The last report I heard this morning had death count in the forties. Aren't things bad enough without this kind of hype?

M Brown, Ray, Michigan (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:06 PM)

It is truly sad that the wildlife and the environment are suffering in that region. I have to admit, that there is only so much that can be done in this situation. There is no room for blame in a situation like this, the government or nature can be blamed for this situation. This type of thing should be expected when you live in the delta / ocean front. As for the people, the smart ones left, I think people that decided to stay should be charged for all costs of rescue and medical services. They should have left.....

I feel sorry for anyone having to loose their lives like this, but as for the homes and personal belongings....they are just that...items.....they have their lives.

Dino, Atlanta, GA (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:08 PM)

As a result of Ike, Texas should set the standard for the country by revising building codes to define most areas within 20 miles of the coast as "unbuildable" and largely preserve those same areas as natural habitats with a population density of less than 100 people per square mile.
Actual construction across the country should anticipate the 500-year storm as the event to be survived.

Charles, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:17 PM)

Real scientists will determine what killed the fish, Probably eutrophication from the bottom sediments being stirred up. The oil sheen is most likely from spills from all the boats that have been torn apart.
Yes it is a mess but stirring up folks with poor reporting will not help.

I am afraid real journalists are a rare.

dick merrill, Greeneville, TN (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:23 PM)

JC Ryder because we drill off the Gulf Coast you has gas for your car. or do you want to be more dependant from overseas suppliers?
Jerry Pridgen, you live in NC last time I checked you have Huricanes also and Mine caveins. Should everybody leave NC?
Danny, I lived on the West End of Galveston, now staying in Houston and havn't heard anything close to those numbers. Have heard of about 20 deaths on the Island. I've seen many many pictures but no dead bodies.
People, we chose to live on the coast just as you choose to live where you live accepting all consequcences there in.

Tony Bess (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:27 PM)

It is an absolute mess here and I'm on the west side of Houston (70 miles from the coast). Schools are closed and who knows when they'll reopen. Trees, branches, leaves, and fences are everywhere. It will take months to collect all of the debris. Forget about buying gas. Even as far inland as I am, we are impacted. Fortunately for me there is power and water. I don't plan on leaving my home until I have to. Thank God for telecommuting. Katygal, Katy TX

BA, Katy, Texas (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:36 PM)

I realize that 90,000 people should have left before Ike, but what if they did not have the means to? I mean it takes gas and a working car, and money to travel to leave home for an extended time and the working poor don't have those things and likely wanted to protect what little they had.--Hurting for you in MO

Amers, Joplin, MO (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:37 PM)

History repeates its self. To bad the gov is so greedy that they allow these hurricane areas to be populated. That in its self describes the Gov main concerns and it's not about we the people it's all about money. Why is it that the petro giants can't move the refinaries a few hundred miles inland where the hurricane effects wont be as devestating. Oh... it's the justification of the high fuel prices. I suppose the bottom line is money. One wonders how long till a city is built on the ocean shore at low tide, or a city is built on an active volcano. It's all the same STUPIDITY. Wake up America move the towns and cities a good 50-100 miles away from the shores, and let's save the money spent on these disasters to pay down our national deficit, and help people in need in other parts of America also.

Steve St. Helens, OR (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:40 PM)

I can totally empathize with the whole situation in these States that are affected by Ike, but then again, how many more weeks in advance do these people need warnings to LEAVE!!!? Katrina should have taught alot of these stubborn ones to get out and allow more time to be spent on rebuilding than recovery!!

Ron Pelosi, Burlington, NJ (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:47 PM)

Only humans thinks of things that we create as something that should last forever. Morther nature has created,reclaimed,and recycled since the begining of time.
When we take our concept of permanence and place it in front of nature`s overpowering engines of change; we create not permanence but certent distruction. The modern world knows these locations and we have a good but not total understanting of how these natural forces work. Hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes, and forest fires, without emotion consume all that are in there path. When we build and live faceing them we are only there on borrowed time.
The last few years it has been the gulf coaast and the west seeing the distruction for what we create. The gulf has faced the hurrricane and the west has faced the forest fire. We can not stop these events but we can lesson thier impact.
There are locations where we should not build or live. We should without question have them to enjoy and use, but never to claim as our own. A beach house can bring a lot of joy but we must understand it is going to be taken away at some point in time.
The distruction on the gulf is going to seem pale compared to what will happen when the south east gets all of its coast line raked by a great storm. The massive distruction is not going to be the falt of
of the storm , but our desire to place claim on something that is not within our power to keep.

Al Jewell, Llano, Tx. (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:48 PM)

Thanks so much for covering Clear Lake. I grew up there and am so happy my parents finally moved inland last year. We survived Alicia, which was uncomfortable, but nothing like this. And the earlier commenter was correct - Clear Lake was never clear! Sitting between the Texas City and Baytown refineries and chemical plants, environmental concerns unfortunately have never been a major factor there as I recall.

Susan, Rockville, MD (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:49 PM)

Sorry for all the devastation. Being a Hurricane survivor (Andrew)now everytime a hurricane comes close to us, we are prepared and will evacuate if necessary. You can replace property not your life.

Heidy, Homestead, Florida (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:53 PM)

I spoke to a friend who lives in Conroe, TX- called her cell phone on Sunday morning- they'd only just gotten the ability to get calls that day. She said that there were lines for ice, water, and food. Lines for gas spread back for miles. Debris all over many of the roads. Fortunately her home was spared major damage- apparently they were in the eye of the storm when it passed. She said they were told that they were looking at up to 4 weeks or longer to get electricity back up again- because they were in a smaller area, and bigger places like Houston and such would be the first priority. I was relieved to hear that her family and home were alright, but I know life will be quite difficult for a long time trying to deal with the heat,no power and limited supplies.

Kathryn F., Vancouver, WA (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:04 PM)

I am a survivor of Hurricane Andrew and many other disaster hurricanes, Donna, Gilbert etc. I was raised in Miami, Fla., spent fifty years there, moved to Cape Canaveral, Fla area four years ago. Oone month before Charlie and the other three monsters hit this area. No One can relate until you have been thru a Hurricane like Andrew, and now IKe. The fear itself will never leave one's self. I spend days preparing when I hear of a hurricane coming my way, just like my Mother did over 55 years ago in Miami.
My heart goes out to all the people, the volunteer's and the animals. May you find peace in the small things, that once were all taken for granted, a sunset, a flower in bloom, a rainbow, all the beauties of mother nature. of yes, a cold drink>

CAROL COCOA, FLORIDA (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:07 PM)

Danny,
Don't you think the news media would be telling us if there were hundreds of bodies in trees and ditches? The official body count is more like 50-55. What are your sources for the "first person reports" you refer to?

Nancy, NYC (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:21 PM)

Thank you for taking the time to go, see and write about Galveston. I lived in Galveston for four years, '85-'89, and we left our home each time we were told to leave. I cried every time I left because it is very emotional to leave everything you worked for behind not knowing if you will find anything when you return. Our kids thought of it as a vacation. We did not want to take a chance but many locals got tired of leaving and the hurricane missing the island. Our neighbor, a lawyer,sent his family away but he stayed behind once, and he said he would never do it again. He said he was terrified. Locals were talking even at that time of the possible devastation on the island when the big one will hit and they said it was time for it and there was nothing that could be done to lessen the impact since Galveston is a narrow peace of land. I loved living there, the people were very friendly, the many historic homes beautiful and the fishing was great. It will take a long time for the island to recover but it will be worth it. It was a beautiful place. My heart goes out to all of you living there.

ilona sweo, granada hills, ca. (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:33 PM)

Look at a map....the gulf of Mexico was formed by these storms over thousands of years........why do we indulge in the double folly of trying to live there, then lamenting at the injured when a storm hits??......we appear no brighter than ants sometimes.......many times.....from the commonest citizen to our national leadership......no wonder at all our other messes........sheesh....

Rob, Asheville, NC (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:39 PM)

My heart goes out to all the people who are trying to survive. I live on the Mobile, Al., and have experienced a few hurricanes. I know what it is like having no power and no water. Trying to live off a generator and a grill. Also, the smell the writer describe is true. The small town Coden, AL. (where majority of the shrimping, fishing and oystering is done) was torn apart from Katrina. The town smelled of rotten fish and sewage.
God bless to you all in Texas!

GulfCoast Chick, Mobile, AL (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:43 PM)

Well, anything as devestating as a hurricane is going to leave heart breaking calamity in it's wake. Several issues stick in my mind.
* thousands of dedicated, hard working people are trying to restore water, power, etc.
* people who did not heed "mandatory" evacuation orders have multiplied the problems for first responders beyond comprehension
* FEMA's efforts seem less than smooth for an organization which exists specifically for this type of situation; they seem to be unprepared, untrained and wandering around lost in the moment, trying to figure out how to do their job; their response leaves much to be desired
* Once again, just like in the aftermath of Katrina, heads should roll at FEMA; if they can't handle a situation like this then they have no reason to exist; we can probably do this well just on an ad hoc basis.
* Houston's Mayor & the Harris County Judge seemed to be doing a good job of staying on top of things
* why didn't pretty boy Gov. Rick Perry take a more assertive role by providing state trooper escorts for the relief trucks that were trying their best to get through the traffic jams and debris
* what about pretty boy's promise to have pre-positioned gasoline supplies in place; why isn't there an unbroken line of gasoline deliveries to the service stations that are operating

All in all, the thousands of folks out there doing their best should be complimented. Either get FEMA straightened out or get rid of that useless organization.

Preston Dumas, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:49 PM)

To everyone addressing this issue, this is the way of nature taking it's course but I feel the fustrations of the people only unless your in the situation should you be able to talk negativity, because yes time is precious and the people who chose to stay were scared, scared of losing everything that they've ever worked for look at the outcome how many people had homes, beautiful beaches and not to mention habitat and it's all gone and what do we have know smelly dead fish, homeless people, jobless people and a really bad situation in Galveston, Clear Lake, Orange, and etc. My heart goes out each and every one that suffered from this monster"Ike".........

Yvonne Corpus Christi, Tx (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:52 PM)

to Judy:

New Caney/Conroe was hit pretty hard, especially with trees down. Reports are that they won't get power restored until October in some places around there.

For the person who reported "Fist Person" reports of 1500+ bodies in Galveston in trees, this is NOT accurate according to the local authorities and eyewitness reports in the area. For those who stayed and perished, there are no bodies to be found since they would have been swept out to the Gulf with their houses. Only time will tell how many remain missing.

Stephanie, Humble TX (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:55 PM)

I am sure the "Feds", state and local gov'ts are doing the best they can. I live in the Texas gulf coast area. They tell you to prepare for at least 3 to 4 days of food, supplies, etc. People just don't listen. They tell you to fill up your gas tanks, to be prepared to be without power, etc. I am in the area where Hurricane Dolly hit last month. It hit Wednesday morning, by Thursday afternoon the next day, there were caravans of food, ice and other supplies from who know where. The National Guard was out giving ice and food. I have no complaints - people are just too dependant on the government bailing them out.

M Lopez, Harlingen, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 2:01 PM)

I live about half mile from picture. Galveston is terrible, but Clear Lake area is not that bad (depends on your elevation, if higher than 12 feet). We have water, electricity and gas (about 15 min wait). Grocery stores have reopened. Power companies and government doing execelent job.

David (Clear Lake, Texas) (Sent Wednesday, September 17, 2008 2:07 PM)

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