Here is a liveblog (from local television) of the press conference from Mayor White and Judge Eckels:
White: Please heed the President’s request to stay where you are and not try to return to the area right now if you have left. It’s critical that emergency providers be able to get to people who need their help.
“Judge and I are asking employers” not to require people to return to work for at least Monday and Tuesday.
School officials are conferring and will make announcement within an hour about closings. NO school district will be open on Monday. Officials are discussing dates and times of reopening.
Eckels: Reiterating — Please don’t try to come back. The city isn’t ready yet. Wait until we get power back in the city.
White: No reason to return for fear of security of property. There have been some isolated incidents of misconduct, people arrested, but law enforcement at high level of alert. People’s property is being watched after.
[note from Kevin: I did see a high level of police presence on my trip over to midtown, much higher than normal]
Rick Noriega: [Discussion of safe zones]
White: Emergency convoys en route. People please keep off those routes. I-10 and US 71 in particular. “DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL WORD IS GIVEN BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.” Just because some local authorities have said their cities are safe and secure does not mean you should return. Please wait until state authorities give the word that it’s okay to return.
Paul Bettencourt: [preliminary assessment of damage]. Call 713 881 3100 to report damage for structures only (for damage assessment purposes).
White: Again, NOT the time to return unless you are essential personnel (medical, emergency).
Will be announcements through the day about fuel and METRO service. WAIT for announcements.
Q: Short of setting up roadblocks, how do you stop the flow in?
White: Confident people who hear will hold back. Have requested appropriate traffic control personnel from the state, but statewide resources are stretched thin with storm.
Q: [Unintelligible]
White: Has been touring bayous and watershed. Water is higher than it was this morning. Don’t assume all flooding risk is over. We haven’t seen Allison flooding so far, but there’s still rain. Don’t assume we’ve seen the worst.
Q: [Unintelligible]
White: [couldn’t hear because KTRK stupidly cut away to show the President’s jet taking off. STUPID cutaway! Over to KPRC] Something about refining.
Eckels: [More refinery talk].
Sheila Jackson Lee: [Butts her way in] People should stay in place.
[Kevin: How helpful, Queen. Seriously, why is this buffoon in the way of people who have been handling this matter?]
Q: [Unintelligible]
White: “Several breakins at several sites.” HPD out in force and highly visible. Vigilant. We don’t see the situation that we’ve seen in many cities in this situation.
Next press availability 5 pm.
