2008 — Sep 12-14,[1] Hurricane Ike, AR, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, OH, PA, TN, esp. TX — >92

Note: Any item highlighted in yellow below indicates it is one higher than we have been able to verify and not used due to one or more concerns addressed in footnotes.

 Internationally:

—   195  103 direct, 92 direct in U.S. Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba. Wikipedia.[2]

—   103  (Direct deaths, U.S. Gulf Coast, Hispaniola, Cuba). Berg. Hurricane Ike. 2010, p. 8.[3]

 

United States:

—   122  Blanchard tally using Brown/Berg (2010) for TX and Blanchard tally of other states.[4]

—   115  Blanchard tally using Zane, et al. for TX (D/I/P) and Blanchard tally of other states.[5]

—   112  NOAA, Nat. Climatic Data Cen.. Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters. 6-17-2011.[6]

—   112  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.[7]

—   103  Bedient & Sebastian. “An Introduction to Gulf Coast Severe Storms…” 2012, p. 15.[8]

—   100  Blanchard tally using Zane, et al. for TX (D and I); Blanchard tally of other states.[9]

— >100  US GAO. Small Business Administration. Additional Steps Should… July 2009, 23.[10]

–91-92  Blanchard tally based on identifiable State and local breakouts below.[11]

—   <84  Brown, et al. “Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2008.” MWR, 138/5, May 2010.[12]

—     84  Roth, David (NWS). Texas Hurricane History.  Jan 17, 2010 update, pp. 73-74.

—   <84  Texas House of Reps. House Select Committee on Hurricane Ike… 2-10-2009, p. 1.[13]

–82-83  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.[14]

—     79  Elliott. “FEMA ‘Insensitive’…Victims TX Officials Say.” Houston Chronicle, 10-27-08

—     72  AP.  “Body Found on Island Pushes Ike Death Toll to 72.”  Oct 7, 2008.

—     70  NBC Nightly News. Oct 5, 2008.

—     67  Drabek, Thomas E.  The Human Side of Disaster. CRC Press, 2010, 213.

—     67  Rhor (AP).  “3 More Hurricane Ike Victims Raises Toll to 67.”  Sep 29, 2008.

—     51  Associated Press. “Ike’s U.S. Death Toll Climbs to 51.” 9-17-2008.

—     50  CBS News. “Ike Death Toll Rises as Does Victim’s Pain.” 2-11-2009.

—  >48  Berg, Robbie (NHC). Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Ike…2008, 2010, p. 9, 11.

—     35  Langford, Oct 4, 2008.

—     33  NPR, Oct 3, 2008.

—     30  Minnesota Public Radio. “Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest.” 9-13-08.

—   >28  IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, OH, PA, TN. Berg. Tropical…Hurricane Ike…2008, 2010, p.11.

—     20  AR, LA, TX. Berg, Robbie (NHC). Tropical Cyclone…Hurricane Ike…2008, 2010, p.9.

—   ~20  Brown, et al. “Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2008.” MWR, 138/5, May 2010, “Intro.”[15]

Other States than Texas

— 41  Blanchard Tally based on State and Locality breakouts below.

 

Arkansas        (   1)

–1  Fisher, Poinsett County, Sep 14. Tree fall on mobile home kills man, 29.[16]

 

Illinois             (   1)

— 2  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 1-21-2014 update.[17]

— 1  Oak Lawn, Cook County, Sep 14. Drowning; man, 83, falls into flooded backyard well.[18]

 

Indiana           (  7)

–7  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.[19]

–7  RTV6ABC, The Indy Channel. “7 Indiana Deaths Blamed on Wicked Weather.” 9-15-2008.

–1  Charleston, Clark County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills man (Francis Eickholtz), 62, outdoors.[20]

–1  Chesterton, Porter Co., Sep 14. Drowning; male, 48, sucked into culvert in rescue attempt.[21]

–1  Chesterton, Porter Co., Sep 14. Drowning; male, 74, sucked into culvert in rescue attempt.[22]

–1  Milltown, Crawford County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman (Karen Pevlor Duke[23]), 27[24].[25]

–1  Memphis, Clark County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman (Amy L. Rader), 36.[26]

–1  Ohio County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman, aged 60.[27]

–1  Perry County, Sep 14. Tree branch hits man (Travis Cronin), 22 in clean-up effort.[28]

 

Kansas            (  2)

— 1  Argonia vic. Chikaskia Riv., Summer Co, Sep 13. Drowning; volunteer fireman, 47, rescue effort.[29]

— 1  Sedgwick vic., Sedgwick Co., Sep 12. Drowning; man, 64[30], drives SUV in deep water.[31]

 

Kentucky       (   4)

— 4  State. KY Public Service Commission. Ike and Ice. 11-19-2009, p. i.

— 1  Louisville. Carbon monoxide poisoning, portable generator inside home, woman.[32]

— 1  Louisville, Sep 19. Electrocution; FL utility worker, restoring power, man (McMath), 28.[33]

— 1  Louisville. Fire; flammable on electric stove catches fire upon power restoration, woman.[34]

— 1  Simpsonville, Shelby Co., Sep 14. Tree limb fall; boy (Wilson), 10, outdoors, high wind.[35]

 

Louisiana       (  9)

— 9  Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.

— 8  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.

— 5  Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals. “Press Release,” 9-17-2008.

— 2  State. Electrocution; contractors, apparently restoring power. (Assoc. Press, 9-20-2008)[36]

— 1  Bayou Dularge, Terrebonne Parish, Sep 13. Drowning; male, 16.[37]

— 1  Houma, Terrebonne County. Trauma; man, 57, breaks neck in fall caused by wind gust.[38]

— 1  Iberville Parish, Interstate 10. Two SUVs collide; Lake Charles evacuees, man 53.[39]

— 1  Iberville Parish, Interstate 10. Two SUVs collide; Lake Charles evacuees, woman, 83.[40]

— 2  Jefferson Davis Parish, ~Sep 13-14. Natural causes.[41]

— 1  Terrebonne Parish. Natural causes, confirmed  Sep 15. LA DHH, 9-17-2008.[42]

 

Michigan        (   2)

—  1  Auburn. Drowning; stormwater-filled ditch, 20-month-old boy.[43]

—  1  ATV Crash; young man, 15, drives ATV into stormwater created hidden ravine.[44]

 

Missouri         (  4)

— 4  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

— 3  Minnesota Public Radio. “Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest.” 9-13-2008.

— 1  Columbia, Boone Co., Sep 14. Drowning. Woman (Michelle Runkie), 20, rescue attempt.[45]

— 1  Ladue, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Tree limb fall kills woman.[46]

— 1  University City, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Drowning; woman (Louise Bryant), 64.[47]

— 1  University City, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Drowning; man (Willie Johnson), 81.

 

Ohio                (  7)

–7  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–7  Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.

–1  Delaware, Scioto Juvenile Correctional Fac., Delaware Co. Sep 15. Electrocution, man, 59.[48]

–1  Hueston Woods State Park ~Oxford. Tree fall kills man (T. Bobinger), 29 on motorcycle.[49]

–1  Hueston Woods State Park ~Oxford. Tree fall kills woman (Bobinger), 29, on motorcycle.[50]

–1  Lancaster vicinity, Fairfield County, Sep 14. Tree fall outside home kills man, 55.[51]

–1  Lorain, Lorain County, Sep 14. Tree limb fall kills boy (Zachary Gott), 12, on bike.[52]

–1  Mount Healthy, Hamilton Co., Sep 14. Tree falls on home killing woman (C.L. Jones), 47.[53]

–1  St. Bernard, Hamilton Co., Sep 14. Fire, candle, house without power; female (Cushard), 20.[54]

 

Pennsylvania  (     2)

—  1  Delaware Twp. Mercer Co., Sep 16. Electrocution; utility worker, man (Lempke), 43.[55]

—  1  Oil City, Venango Co., Sep 14. Tree limb fall; man, 46, helping remove tree from house.[56]

 

Tennessee       (      2)

— 2  Minnesota Public Radio. “Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest.” 9-13-2008.

— 1  Hermitage, Davidson County, Sep 14. Tree fall, strong wind, at golf course, man, 32.[57]

— 1  Hermitage, Davidson County, Sep 14. Tree fall, strong wind, at golf course, man, 63.[58]

 

Texas              (50-51)

—   >81  State. Brown, et al.[59] “Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2008.” MWR, 138/5, May 2010.[60]

—     74  State. Choudhary, et al. “Evaluation of active mortality surveillance…” 2012, p. 1.[61]

—     74  State. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[62]

—     59  State. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[63]

—     58  State. Choudhary, et al. “Evaluation of active mortality surveillance…” 2012, p. 396.[64]

–50-51     “   Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.[65]

—     48     “   Houston Chronicle. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28.” 9-23-2008.

—     48     “   Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.

—     43     “   Horswell. “DNA reveals Ike victim’s identity.” Houston Chronicle, 1-4-2010.[66]

—     38     “   Farag. “Evaluation of the American Red Cross Disaster-Related…” 12-7-2012.

—     37     “   Record, Orange Co., Tx. “Five years of recovery since Hurricane Ike.” 9-12-2013.

—     37     “   Wikipedia. “Effects of Hurricane Ike in Texas.” 12-27-2008.

—     32  Houston area. Houston Chronicle. “Discovery of three bodies brings…” 9-29-08.[67]

 

–47  Injuries. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 24.

3  Burns (2 indirect, 1 “possible”). Zane, et al. “Tracking…Ike…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

13  CO deaths. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.[68]

8  Drowning. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 25.

1  Electrocution. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

2  Falls. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

3  Firearms (indirect). Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.[69]

2  Ingestion of drug or substance (indirect). Zane. “Tracking deaths…Ike…” 2011, 25.

(5  Suicide. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011,0 25.)

1  Inhalation of fumes/smoke/dust. Zane. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” 2011, 25.

1  Pedestrian/bicyclist struck. Zane. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

1  Suffocation. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

1  Traffic accident. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

7  Tree falls (2 direct and 5 indirect). Zane, et al. “Tracking…Ike…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 25.

4  Other. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

–23  Illness.  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 24.

12  Cardiovascular failure. Zane. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 24.

1  GI and endocrine. Zane. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

2  Renal failure. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

3  Respiratory failure. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

3  Other Illness. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

2  Unknown. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

— 4  Undetermined. Zane. “Tracking deaths related to…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

 

County Breakouts:

Angelina County:      (  ?)

— 1  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011. [70]

 

Brazoria County:      (  1)[71]

— 1  Pearland, Houston area, Sep 15. Heart attack after storm clean-up, man (Nguyen), 40.[72]

— 1  Brazoria County. CBS News. “Ike Death Toll Rises as Does Victim’s Pain.” 2-11-2009.[73]

 

Chambers County:   (  1)

— 1  Anahuac, Chambers Co., Sep 12. Electrocution; prepping roof before storm, man, 52.[74]

 

Dallas County:          (  1)

— 3  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 26.[75]

— 1  Dallas, Sep 14. Wandering 17 months male, Houston evacuee family, hit by SUV.[76]

 

Fort Bend County:    (  3)

—  1  Houston (SW), Fort Bend County, Sep 18. CO poisoning; woman (R. D. Hopkins), 35.[77]

—  1  Houston (SW), Fort Bend Co., Sep 18. CO poisoning; man (Kaven David Randle), 43.[78]

—  1  Houston (SW), Fort Bend County, Sep 18. CO poisoning; man (Rogers Smith III), 29.[79]

 

Galveston County:    (23)

—  23  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.[80]

—>22  Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011

—  20  Galveston…News. “Yet Another…Ike Victim…Goat Isl. Unidentified.” 12-25-2008[81]

—  17 Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, p. 24.

Locality breakouts:

— 1  Crystal Beach, Galveston Co. (found Sep 8, 2009). Apparent drowning; man (Bingham), 61.[82]

— 1  Crystal Beach, Galveston Co., Sep 29 (found). Apparent drowning, woman (Shealy), 51.[83]

— 1  Galveston, Sep 20 (found). Heart complications, refused to evacuate, man (R. Dort), 75.[84]

— 1  Galveston, Sep 13. No power for breathing machine; woman (Martha Ferguson), 69.[85]

— 1  Galveston, Galveston Co., Sep 12. Drowning; drove truck into water, man (Helmond), 72.[86]

— 1  Galveston (found Sep 27 on Goat Island). Drowning; man (Herman Moseley), 48.[87]

— 1  Galveston, Sep 23 (found). Pre-existing health condition; man (Ruben Ramos), 60.[88]

— 1  Galveston, Sandpiper Motel, Sep 14 (found). Untreated natural causes; man (Y.S. Teo), 49.[89]

— 1  Gilchrist, Galveston Co. (last seen Sep 11). Apparent drowning; woman (G. Dunn), 70.[90]

— 1  Gilchrist, Bolivar Peninsula, Sep 23 (found). Apparent drowning; woman (Ettenger), 58.[91]

— 1  Gilchrist (found Nov 2, Chambers Co. debris field). Drowning; woman (McLemore), 50.[92]

— 1  Gilchrist (missing Sep 12), Galveston Co. Apparent drowning; woman (Walton), 54.[93]

— 1  League City,[94] Houston, Sep 23 (found). Pre-existing health condition, man (Bailey), 64.[95]

— 1  League City, Galveston Co, Sep 15. Health issues complicated by evacuation, man (Lively), 79.[96]

— 1  League City, Galveston Co., Sep 15. Renal failure, lack of dialysis, man (Manley), 66.[97]

— 1  League City, Galveston Co., Sep 15. Renal failure, lack of dialysis, woman (Williams), 64[98]

— 1  Port Bolivar. (found Dec 22, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning; woman (Arrambide), 78.[99]

— 1  Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., (found Oct 6, Goat Isl.). Drowning; woman (Brookshire), 70.[100]

— 1  Port Bolivar, Galveston Co. (found Oct 25, Bolivar Pen.). Drowning, man (W. Fisher), 70.[101]

— 1  Port Bolivar, Galveston Co. (found Oct 6, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning, man (Garrett), 42.[102]

— 1  Port Bolivar (found Nov 20, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning, woman (M. Strickland), 49.[103]

— 1  Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., (found Oct 6, Goat Island). Drowning, man (S. Williams), 33.[104]

— 1  San Leon, Galveston Co., Sep 13. Drowning; refused to evacuate, man (J. B. Devine), 76.[105]

 

Grimes County:        (  ?)

— 1  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[106]

 

Harris County:          (  9)[107]

–28  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[108]

–11  Harris Co. Beck Disaster Recovery, Inc. Harris Co. Hurricane Ike After Action Rpt. 2009, p. v. [109]

–11  Harris Co. Homeland Sec. & Emer. Mgmt. Hurricane Ike Five Years Later, Sep 2013.[110]

—  9  Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. 2008 Hurricane Ike. 2-5-2009 update.[111]

—  9  Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.[112]

—  9  Houston Chronicle. “Discovery of three bodies brings local Ike death toll to 32.” 9-29-2008

—  0  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database, Harris County, TX.

Harris County Hurricane Ike Related Fatalities Breakout:

— 1  Houston, Harris County, Sep 13. CO poisoning, gas generator in house, boy (Aguirre), 4.[113]

— 1  Houston area, Harris Co., Sep 13. CO poisoning; man (Jorge Luis Rosas Davalos), 18.[114]

— 1  Houston, Harris Co., Sep 15. CO poisoning, gas generator; man (Francisco Javier Garcia), 20.[115]

— 1  Houston, Harris Co., Sep 13. CO poisoning, generator in garage, man (Paulo Mares), 54.[116]

— 1  Houston, Harris Co., Sep 15. CO poisoning, gas generator; man (German Garcia Rojas), 32.[117]

— 1  Houston, Harris Co., Sep 14, 12:30am. House fire; multiple candles, no power, woman, 53.[118]

— 1  Houston, Harris Co., Sep 20. Man (Batiste[119]), 47, cutting tree, hit by limb, falls to ground.[120]

— 1  Tomball, Harris County, Sep 13. House fire, candles (no power), woman (Weaver), 58.[121]

— 1  Willis, Houston-area, Harris County, Sep 15. Fall from ladder, man (W. Finlay), 61.[122]

 

Jefferson County:     (  1)

— 3  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[123]

— 1? Beaumont, Orange County, Sep 13. Elderly woman hit and killed by neighbor’s car.[124]

— 1  Port Arthur, Jefferson Co., Sep 17. Fire; refueling generator, home without power, woman, 19.[125]

 

Montgomery County🙁  5)

—  1  Montgomery Co., Sep 15. Hit by tree limb while clearing tree from road, man (Keen), 59.[126]

—  1  Lake Conroe vic., Sep 17. Removing tree across electric line; man (M. Ramirez), 22.[127]

—  1  Magnolia, Montgomery Co., Sep 12. Tree fall; being cut in storm prep, boy (Smith), 10.[128]

—  1  Pinehurst, W. Montgomery Co., Sep 13. Tree fall on home killing woman (E. Garza), 39.[129]

—  1  Porter, E. Montgomery Co., Oct 14. Man (J. Wells), 52, with storm debris truck crushed.[130]

 

Nacogdoches:             (  1)

— 1  Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co., Sep 20. Tree clearing fall (Sep 18); man (Guerrero), 26.[131]

 

Nueces County:         (  1)

—  1  Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Sep 12. Drowning, man (M. Moxley[132]), 19, swept off jetty.[133]

 

Orange County:        (  1)[134]

— 4  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[135]

— 3  Orange County, found Sep 29. Apparent drownings.[136]

— 1  Orange. Co. Beaumont vicinity (Beaumont is in Jefferson Co.), Drowning; storm surge.[137]

— 1  Bridge City, (missing Sep 13, found Sep 28, Orange Co.[138]). Drowning; man (Walker), 47.[139]

 

San Augustine County (?)

— 1  Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008,” (Fig. 2), p. 26.[140]

 

Tarrant County:       (  ?)

— 1  Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008,” (Fig. 2), p. 26.[141]

 

Trinity County:         (  1)

— Lake Livingston, Sep 12. Drowning; fall from a boat, man (Lee Standridge), 23.[142]

 

Walker County:        (  2)

— 5  Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011. [143]

— 1  Huntsville, Walker County, Sep 13. Tree falls onto house kills woman (S. L. Tykol), 66.[144]

— 1  Huntsville, Walker County, Sep 13. House fire kills woman (Sheila C. Wood), 76.[145]

 

Unidentified County (  1)

— 1  TX. Sep 16. Unidentified location, gender, age, person, type of CO poisoning.[146]

 

Cause of Death Summary:

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: (9-10)

Drownings:                             (    28)

Electrocution:                          (      6)

Falls:                                        (      2)

Fires:                                       (      6)

Natural Causes:                       (    12)

Tree/Limb Falls/Strikes:         (    23)

Vehicle Accidents:                 (      5)

            Total                            91-92

 

Cause of Death Detail:

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: (9-10)[147]

—   13  TX. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011.[148]

–9-10  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below (not using what we cannot identify).

—     8  TX. Texas Department of Insurance. “Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!” 10-8-2012.

—     7  TX. CDC. “Carbon Monoxide…Texas…” MMWR, V58/N31, 14 Aug 2009, 845-849.

Locality Breakouts:

–1  KY. Louisville. Carbon monoxide poisoning, portable generator inside home, woman.

–1  TX. Sep 16. Unidentified location, gender, age, person, type of CO poisoning.[149]

–1  TX. SW Houston, Fort Bend County, Sep 18. CO poisoning; woman (R. D. Hopkins), 35.

–1  TX. SW Houston, Fort Bend Co., Sep 18. CO poisoning; man (Kaven David Randle), 43.

–1  TX. SW Houston, Fort Bend County, Sep 18. CO poisoning; man (Rogers Smith III), 29.

–1  TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 13. CO poisoning, gas generator in house, boy (Aguirre), 4.

–1  TX. Houston area, Harris Co., Sep 13. CO poisoning; man (Jorge Luis Rosas Davalos), 18.

–1  TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 15. CO poisoning, gas generator; man (Francisco J. Garcia), 20.

–1  TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 13. CO poisoning, generator in garage, man (Paulo Mares), 54

–1  TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 15. CO poisoning, gas generator; man (German G. Rojas), 32.

 

Drownings:                            (28)    

–1 IL. Oak Lawn, Cook County, Sep 14. Drowning; man, 83, falls into flooded backyard well.

–1 IN. Chesterton, Porter Co., Sep 14. Drowning; male, 48, sucked into culvert, rescue attempt.

–1 IN. Chesterton, Porter Co., Sep 14. Drowning; male, 74, sucked into culvert, rescue attempt.

–1 KS. Argonia vic. Chikaskia Riv., Summer Co, Sep 13. Drowning; vol. fireman, 47, rescue effort

–1 KS. Sedgwick vic., Sedgwick Co., Sep 12. Drowning; man, 64, drives SUV into deep water.

–1 LA. Bayou Dularge, Terrebonne Parish, Sep 13. Drowning; male, 16.

–1 MI. Auburn. Drowning; stormwater-filled ditch, 20-month-old boy.

–1 Mo. Columbia, Boone Co., Sep 14. Drowning. Woman (Michelle Runkie), 20, rescue attempt

–1 MO. University City, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Drowning; woman (Louise Bryant), 64.

–1 MO. University City, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Drowning; man (Willie Johnson), 81.

–1 TX. Bridge City, (missing Sep 13, found Sep 28, Orange Co.). Drowning; man (Walker), 47.

–1 TX. Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Sep 12. Drowning, man (M. Moxley), 19, swept off jetty.

–1 TX. Crystal Beach, Galveston Co. (found Sep 8, ‘09). Apparent drowning; man (Bingham), 61.

–1 TX. Crystal Beach, Galveston Co., Sep 29 (found). Apparent drowning, woman (Shealy), 51.

–1 TX. Galveston, Sep 12. Drowning; drove truck into water, man (Helmond), 72.

–1 TX. Galveston (found Sep 27 on Goat Island). Drowning; man (Herman Moseley), 48.

–1 TX. Gilchrist, Galveston Co. (last seen Sep 11). Apparent drowning; woman (G. Dunn), 70.

–1 TX. Gilchrist, Bolivar Peninsula, Sep 23 (found). Apparent drowning; woman (Ettenger), 58.

–1 TX. Gilchrist (found Nov 2, Chambers Co. debris field). Drowning; woman (McLemore), 50.

–1 TX. Gilchrist (missing Sep 12), Galveston Co. Apparent drowning; woman (Walton), 54.

–1 TX. Port Bolivar. (found Dec 22, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning; woman (Arrambide), 78.

–1 TX. Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., (found Oct 6, Goat Isl.). Drowning; woman (Brookshire), 70.

–1 TX. Port Bolivar, Galveston Co. (found Oct 25, Bolivar Pen.). Drowning, man (W. Fisher), 70.

–1 TX. Port Bolivar, Galveston Co. (found Oct 6, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning, man (Garrett), 42

–1 TX. Port Bolivar (found Nov 20, Goat Isl.). Apparent drowning, woman (M. Strickland), 49.

–1 TX. Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., (found Oct 6, Goat Island). Drowning, man (Williams), 33.

–1 TX. San Leon, Galveston Co., Sep 13. Drowning; man (J. B. Devine), 76, refused to evacuate.

–1 TX. Lake Livingston, Trinity Co., Sep 12. Drowning; fall from boat, man (Lee Standridge), 22

 

Electrocution:                        (  6)

–1 KY. Louisville, Sep 19. Electrocution; FL utility worker, restoring power, man (McMath), 28

–2 LA. Electrocution; contractors, apparently restoring power. (Assoc. Press, 9-20-3008.)

–1 OH. Delaware, Scioto Juvenile Correctional Fac., Delaware Co. Sep 15. Man, 59.

–1 PA.  Delaware Twp. Mercer Co., Sep 16. Electrocution; utility worker, man (Lempke), 43.

–1 TX. Anahuac, Chambers Co., Sep 12. Electrocution; prepping roof before storm, man, 52.

 

Falls:                                       (  2)

–1 LA. Houma, Terrebonne County. Trauma; man, 57, breaks neck in fall caused by wind gust.

–1 TX. Willis, Houston-area, Harris County, Sep 15. Fall from ladder, man (W. Finlay), 61.

 

Fires:                                      (  6)

–1 KY. Louisville. Fire; flammable on electric stove catches fire upon power restoration, woman

–1 OH. St. Bernard, Hamilton Co., Sep 14. Fire, candle, house, no power; woman (Cushard), 20.

–1 TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 14, 12:30am. House fire; multiple candles, no power, woman, 53

–1 TX. Huntsville, Walker County, Sep 13. House fire kills woman (Sheila C. Wood), 76

–1 TX. Port Arthur, Jefferson Co., Sep 17. Fire; refueling generator, home without power, woman, 19.

–1 TX. Tomball, Harris County, Sep 13. House fire, candles (no power) kills woman (Weaver), 58

 

Natural Causes:                     (12)

–2 LA. Jefferson Davis Parish, ~Sep 13-14. Natural causes.

–1 LA. Terrebonne Parish. Natural causes, confirmed  Sep 15. LA DHH, 9-17-2008.

–1 TX. Galveston, Sep 20 (found). Heart complications, man (R. Dort), 75, refused to evacuate.

–1 TX. Galveston, Sep 13. No power for breathing machine; woman (Martha Ferguson), 69.

–1 TX. Galveston, Sep 23 (found). Pre-existing health condition; man (Ruben Ramos), 60.

–1 TX. Galveston, Sandpiper Motel, Sep 14 (found). Untreated natural causes; man (Y.S. Teo), 49.

–1 TX. League City, Houston, Sep 23 (found). Pre-existing health condition, man (Bailey), 64.

–1 TX. League City, Sep 15. Health issues complicated by evacuation, man (Lively), 79

–1 TX. League City, Galveston Co., Sep 15. Renal failure, lack of dialysis, man (Manley), 66.

–1 TX. League City, Galveston Co., Sep 15. Renal failure, lack of dialysis, woman (Williams), 64.

–1 TX. Pearland, Houston area, Sep 15. Heart attack after storm clean-up, man (Nguyen), 40.

–23 TX. Illness. Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths related to…Ike, Texas, 2008,”, p. 24.[150]

12  Cardiovascular failure. Zane. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 24.

1  GI and endocrine. Zane. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

2  Renal failure. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

3  Respiratory failure. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

3  Other Illness. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

2  Unknown. Zane, et al. “Tracking deaths related…Ike, Texas…” Dis. Med. 2011, 25.

 

Suicides                                  (  ?)

–5 TX. Apparently 3 from firearms and 2 from ingestion of drug or substance. (Zane, et al.)[151]

 

Tree/Limb Falls/Strikes:       (23)

–1 AR. Fisher, Poinsett County, Sep 14. Tree fall on mobile home kills man, 29.

–1 IN. Charleston, Clark County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills man (Francis Eickholtz), 62, outdoors.

–1 IN. Milltown, Crawford County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman (Karen Pevlor Duke), 27.

–1 IN. Memphis, Clark County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman (Amy L. Rader), 36.

–1 IN. Ohio County, Sep 14. Tree fall kills woman, aged 60.

–1 IN. Perry County, Sep 14. Tree branch hits man (Travis Cronin), 22 in clean-up effort.

–1 KY. Simpsonville, Shelby Co., Sep 14. Tree limb fall; boy (Wilson), 10, outdoors, high wind.

–1 MO. Ladue, St. Louis County, Sep 14. Tree limb fall kills woman.

–1 OH. Hueston Woods State Park ~Oxford. Tree fall; man (T. Bobinger), 29 on motorcycle.

–1 OH. Hueston Woods State Park ~Oxford. Tree fall; woman (Bobinger), 29, on motorcycle.

–1 OH. Lancaster vicinity, Fairfield County, Sep 14. Tree fall outside home kills man, 55.

–1 OH. Lorain, Lorain County, Sep 14. Tree limb fall kills boy (Zachary Gott), 12, on bike.

–1 OH. Mount Healthy, Hamilton Co., Sep 14. Tree falls on home; woman (C. L. Jones), 47.

–1 PA. Oil City, Venango Co., Sep 14. Tree limb fall; man, 46, helping remove tree from house.

–1 TN. Hermitage, Davidson County, Sep 14. Tree fall, strong wind, at golf course, man, 32.

–1 TN. Hermitage, Davidson County, Sep 14. Tree fall, strong wind, at golf course, man, 63.

–1 TX. Houston, Harris Co., Sep 20, 11:48 am. Man, 47, cutting tree, hit by limb, falls to ground

–1 TX. Huntsville, Walker Co., Sep 13. Tree falls onto house kills woman (S. L. Tykol), 66.

–1 TX. Lake Conroe vic., Sep 17. Removing tree across electric line; man (M. Ramirez), 22.

–1 TX. Magnolia, Montgomery Co., Sep 12. Tree fall; being cut in storm prep, boy (Smith), 10.

–1 TX. Montgomery Co., Sep 15. Hit by tree limb while clearing tree from road, man (Keen), 59.

–1 TX. Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co., Sep 20. Tree clearing fall (Sep 18); man (Guerrero), 26

–1 TX. Pinehurst, W. Montgomery Co., Sep 13. Tree fall on home killing woman (E. Garza), 39

 

Vehicle Accidents:                 (  5)

–1 LA. Iberville Parish, Interstate 10. Two SUVs collide; Lake Charles evacuees, man 53.

–1 LA. Iberville Parish, Interstate 10. Two SUVs collide; Lake Charles evacuees, woman, 83.

–1 MI. ATV Crash; young man, 15, drives ATV into stormwater created hidden ravine.

–1 TX. Dallas, Sep 14. Wandering 17 months male, Houston evacuee family, hit by SUV.

–1 TX. Porter, E. Montgomery Co., Oct 14. Man (J. Wells), 52, with storm debris truck crushed.

 

Other Injuries:                      (  ?)

–4 TX. Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths…Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008,” (Fig. 2), p. 26.[152]

 

Undetermined Cause            (  ?)

–4  TX. Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths…Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008,” (Fig. 2), p. 25.[153]

 

Gender

Male                57

Female             29

Not noted          5[154]

91

 

Age

 

1-9       10-19   20-29   30-39   40-49   50-59   60-69   70-79   80-89   Not Noted       Total

3             8        13         6         13        14        13         10         3            8                   91

 

 

Cuba:

— 7  Berg. Hurricane Ike (AL092008) 1-14 September 2008. 1-23-2009, 5-3-2010 revision.[155]

— 7  Tomasz Pierscionek. “Cuba’s Hurricane Season.” London Progressive Journal, 11-21-2008.

 

Dominican Republic:

— 2  Associated Press. “Death toll from 2008 hurricane season.” 9-17-2008.

 

Haiti:

— 74  Berg. Hurricane Ike (AL092008) 1-14 September 2008. 1-23-2009, 5-3-2010 revision.

 

General Narrative

 

Choudhary: “Texas’s active mortality surveillance system successfully identified hurricane-related deaths. Evaluation of the active mortality surveillance system suggested that it is necessary to collect detailed and representative mortality data during a hurricane because vital statistics do not capture sufficient information to identify whether deaths are hurricane-related. The results from this evaluation will help improve active mortality surveillance during hurricanes which, in turn, will enhance preparedness and response plans and identify public health interventions to reduce future hurricane-related mortality rates….

 

Active hurricane-related mortality surveillance provides timely information on the nature and the number of deaths, while it determines the relatedness of the death to the hurricane. To the authors’ knowledge, there are only a few such surveillance systems in the United States (e.g., Florida, Texas, the American Red Cross). The Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) active mortality surveillance system for disasters, called the Disaster-Related Mortality Surveillance (DRMS) system (hereafter called active mortality surveillance), was established in

2007. The active mortality surveillance is integrated into Texas’s incident emergency management system. The DRMS collects statewide data on disaster-related fatalities for a limited time (usually 6-8 weeks) following the precipitating event with the help of regional and local health departments, medical examiners (MEs), justices of the peace (JPs), and other reporting sources (e.g., hospitals). The main objectives of the active mortality surveillance system are to: (1) identify the number of deaths related to the disaster and provide basic mortality information about the deceased for public health and emergency officials in affected jurisdictions; (2) identify high-risk groups that could benefit from immediate public health interventions; (3) evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of the disaster and its human toll in affected communities; and (4) provide information about disaster-related mortality to public health and emergency officials to assist them in future planning and mitigation efforts. This active mortality surveillance system was activated for the first time during Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Category         Definition

 

Directly-related           Any death caused by the physical forces of the hurricane, such as wind, rain, floods, or by direct consequences of these forces, such as structural collapse or flying debris.

 

Indirectly-related        Any death caused by unsafe or unhealthy conditions due to anticipation, or actual occurrence of the hurricane. These conditions include the loss or disruption of usual services (i.e., utilities, transportation, environmental protection, medical care, and police/fire), personal loss, and lifestyle disruption, such as temporary displacement or property damage. Deaths that occurred from natural causes were considered indirectly related if physical or mental stress before, during, or after the storm exacerbated pre-existing medical conditions and contributed to death.[156]

 

Possibly-related           Deaths in the targeted areas in which the cause or manner was undetermined or pending or information indicated that the storm may have caused or exacerbated a situation leading to death.[157]

 

(Choudhary, et al. “Evaluation of active mortality surveillance system date for monitoring hurricane-related deaths, Texas, 2008.” Prehospital and Disaster Med., V27/N4, 2012, 392-393.)

 

Harris County, Texas, HS & EM: “Hurricane Ike was the third-most costly tropical system to strike the United States in 150 years. As the ninth named storm of the active 2008 hurricane season, Hurricane Ike made landfall over Galveston Island at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2008. As a powerful Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph, Hurricane Ike produced a storm surge far greater than a typical Category 2 storm due to its massive size and track over shallow waters. Hurricane Ike also set a record for the highest storm surge along the upper Texas coastline since 1915, which resulted in flooding throughout a significant portion of southeast Harris County…. The flooding of approximately 2,500 homes was due to storm surge, and another 1,200 homes were flooded due to the heavy rainfall….Eleven deaths within Harris County have been attributed to Hurricane Ike.” (Harris County Texas Homeland Security & Emer. Mgmt. Hurricane Ike Five Years Later: A More Resilient Community. Sep 2013, p. 4.)

 

NCDC: “Hurricane Ike September 2008. Category 2 hurricane makes landfall in Texas, causing considerable storm surge in coastal TX and significant wind and flooding damage in TX, LA, AR, TN, IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, MI and PA. Severe gasoline shortages occurred in the southeast US due to damaged oil platforms, storage tanks, pipelines and off-line refineries. Estimate of over $27.0 (28.4) billion in damages/costs; 112 deaths; dozens of people missing.”  (National Climatic Data Center. NOAA. Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters. 6-17-2011.)

 

Roth: “September 12-15th, 2008 (Ike):  A tropical wave left the coast of Africa on August 28th. The system slowly organized, becoming a tropical depression, then a tropical storm by September 1st. The cyclone moved westward for much of its lifetime as the subtropical ridge extended westward to its north. By the 3rd, Ike had become a major hurricane as it rapidly intensified underneath an upper level high. Ike wavered between category 2 and 4 strength as the effect of northerly vertical wind shear and eyewall replacement cycles caused fluctuations in strength. On the 7th, Ike moved through the southeast Bahamas into eastern Cuba. Briefly emerging into the northwest Caribbean, Ike remained a hurricane through its next landfall across western Cuba on the 9th. Land interaction with western Cuba appears to have made Ike a larger cyclone, and after emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, its central pressure fell significantly on the 10th as it moved over the warm waters of the Loop Current. The large system strengthened back into a category 2 hurricane, which moved west-northwest through the Gulf of Mexico around the periphery of the subtropical ridge.

 

“On the 12th, Ike became slightly more compact as it moved into a confluent zone between the subtropical ridge to its east-northeast and upper level troughing across the Plains. This allowed maximum sustained winds to increase despite a relatively constant central pressure. Ike developed a banding-type eye, and moved into Galveston, Texas, and weakened as it moved into through eastern Texas and Arkansas. The system became an extratropical cyclone as it approached the Mid-Mississippi Valley, and rapidly accelerated northeast through southeast Canada on the 14th and 15th.

 

“A large storm surge accompanied Ike, particularly along the western Louisiana and upper Texas coastlines. The worse damage was seen in Galveston and Chambers counties. The communities of Crystal Beach, Gilchrist, and High Island experienced near total destruction of property. The storm knocked out power to 2.6 million people across Texas and Louisiana. There were 20 direct and 64 indirect deaths associated with Ike. Damages totaled $19.3 billion.” (Roth, David (NWS).  Texas Hurricane History.  Jan 17, 2010 update, pp. 73-74.)

 

Media

 

Sep 13:  Chicago (AP) — Losing it’s devastating punch as a major hurricane, Ike nevertheless drubbed the Midwest with powerful winds and floodwaters that are being blamed for at least 15 deaths.  More than a million homes and businesses lost electrical power on Sunday and thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes. Authorities were to continue on Monday to assess damage and map recovery.

 

“The death toll from Ike rose to 30 people in eight states extending from the hurricane-pounded Gulf Coast to the storm-battered Midwest.

 

“Illinois officials said they planned to ask Gov. Rod Blagojevich to issue a disaster declaration for both the city of Chicago and Cook County, a move that would make additional funds available to deal with flood-related costs.  Cook County was placed under a state of emergency as thigh-high water prompted dozens of boat rescues in Chicago. No deaths were reported Sunday in Illinois, but elsewhere in the Midwest the remnants of Ike proved deadly.

 

“Six people died in floodwaters and high winds in Indiana, the state’s Department of Homeland Security said Monday. Among them were a teacher and his father, who were sucked into a culvert and drowned Sunday morning while trying to rescue a 10-year-old boy from a flooded ditch in Chesterton in northwest Indiana, the state officials said. Falling trees were blamed for three deaths in southern Indiana. Another death in the southern part of the state was wind-related, officials said.  “We’ve never had flooding like this,” said Tom DeGiulio, town manager in Munster, Ind. About 40 Indiana National Guard troops were activated Sunday to assist with the evacuation of up to 5,000 residents there.

 

“Three people died in Missouri, including a 21-year-old woman who was likely swept away by rising floodwaters while trying to help another man, authorities said. Two died in the St. Louis area – a woman struck by a tree limb and an elderly man found dead in a home’s flooded backyard. Authorities suspect the man drowned.

 

“Strong winds were blamed for three deaths in Ohio. Two motorcyclists were killed when a tree toppled onto them at a state park in southwest Ohio, said state Department of Natural Resources spokesman Jason Fallon, and a woman was killed when a tree crashed into her home in Hamilton County, just north of Cincinnati.

 

“In Tennessee, two men sitting in a golf cart on the 16th hole of a Nashville golf course were killed when a tree fell over on them Sunday morning, fire department spokesman Ricky Taylor said.

 

“One death was reported in Arkansas, where a 29-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on a mobile home as he was preparing to leave, authorities said.

 

“The remnants of Ike dumped as much as 6 to 8 inches of rain in parts of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, spawned a tornado in Arkansas that damaged several buildings, and delivered hurricane-force winds to Ohio, forcing Cincinnati’s main airport to temporarily shut down. Flooding in Missouri closed the street in front of St. Louis’ famed Gateway Arch.

 

“Power outages darkened more than a million homes and businesses in Ohio and Kentucky.

 

“More than 680,000 Duke Energy customers were without power Sunday night in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky in the biggest outage in the company’s history, said Duke Energy spokeswoman Kathy Meinke.  “It’s going to be quite extensive,” Meinke said. “Over 90 percent of our customers are without service.”

 

“More than 354,000 customers were without power in central Ohio, said American Electric Power spokesman Jeff Rennie. About 310,000 Ohio Edison customers were in the dark in northeast Ohio, said spokeswoman Robin Patton.

 

“In Chicago, Saturday’s rainfall of 6.64 inches at O’Hare International Airport set a record for a single day. The previous record was 6.49 inches, recorded on Aug. 14, 1987.

 

“In Missouri, winds as high as 60 mph and torrential rains of up to 7 inches raised new concerns about swelling rivers. Major flooding was expected along the Mississippi from Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau by late this week, the National Weather Service said.

 

“Strong winds prompted the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to evacuate its control tower and cancel about 40 flights before resuming air traffic, airport spokesman Ted Bushelman said.

 

“Strong gusts ripped off part of the roof from a Delta Airlines hangar and damaged another airport building, Bushelman said. He said winds were up to 74 mph.”  (Minnesota Public Radio. “Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest.” 9-13-2008.)

 

Sep 17: “Hurricane Ike’s death toll in the U.S. climbed past 50 on Wednesday and appeared to level off in Texas, where search teams pulled out of Galveston having searched the entire island for survivors…. Ike’s death toll officially stood at 51, with most of the deaths coming outside of Texas. Authorities may never know if, or how many, people who tried to weather the storm were washed out to sea.”  (Associated Press.  “Ike’s U.S. Death Toll Climbs to 51.” 9-17-2008.)

 

Texas

 

Sep 29: “The number of Houston-area deaths attributed to Hurricane Ike crept to 28 Monday as officials released some of the names of those killed during and after the storm.

 

“Nine Harris County residents died as a result of the storm, and eight deaths were recorded in Galveston County. Eleven other deaths occurred in surrounding counties.

 

“The identities of those whose deaths were caused by carbon-monoxide toxicity, according to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office, are:

 

• Jorge Luis Rosas Davalos, 18…Sept. 13 in his smoke-filled living room next to a gas generator.
• Paulo Mares, 54, was found Sept. 13 in a closed garage next to a gas generator.

 

• Joshua Jacob Aguirre, 4…found Sept. 13 in a bedroom…a gas generator was used in the house.
• Francisco Javier Garcia, 20…Sept. 15, in his bedroom; a gas generator was found in his kitchen.
• German Garcia Rojas, 32…in his bathroom with generator in the same mobile home as Garcia.

 

“Another Harris County storm victim, Warren Finlay, 61, died Sept. 15 after he fell off a ladder while he was cutting branches to clear debris.

 

“Manuel Moreno Jr., 17 months old, died Sept. 14, when he was struck and killed in a parking lot in Dallas, where his family had sought refuge from the storm.

 

“The identities of two other victims remain unconfirmed.

 

“In Galveston, county officials identified eight victims while authorities continue to search for missing residents:

 

• Martha Ferguson, 69, died in Galveston on Sept. 13.
• Charles Lively, 79…Galveston, died…Sept. 15, of pre-existing health conditions.
  •George Helmond, 72, of Galveston, drowned and was found in his truck Sept. 14.
• Yong Seng Teo, 49, manager of the Sand Piper Motel, may have drowned.
• Carolyn Williams, 64, died in League City Sept. 15, unable to access dialysis treatment.
  •John Manley, 66, of Texas City, died Sept. 15 from lack of dialysis treatment.
  •Jim Devine, 76, of San Leon, drowned Sept. 17.
• Robert Dort, 76, of Galveston, died Sept 20. The cause of death remains undetermined.

 

“In Brazoria County, three people were found dead last Thursday inside their home in the 4900 block of Ridgecreek. The two men and one woman, whose names were not released, were using a gas generator in their garage.

 

“Also, a 40-year-old Pearland man suffered a fatal heart attack while cleaning up debris last week.

 

“The number of deaths in Chambers, Walker and Montgomery counties remained at seven Monday.

 

“In Walker County, a resident of Elkins Lake in Huntsville died when a tree fell on her house. A Riverside Harbor woman died in a house fire in northeastern Walker County. Their names have not been released.

 

“A 52-year-old Anahuac man, Gary Schweinle, was electrocuted Sept. 11 while preparing for Ike’s arrival.

 

“Montgomery County officials have reported four Ike-related deaths, including that of Thomas L. Keen, 59, who was struck by a tree limb while cutting trees in his yard after the hurricane.  The other three are: Joel Smith, 10, who died Sept. 12 while his father attempted to remove a dead tree from his yard; Manuel Ramirez, 22, who died when he was removing a tree that had fallen across a Mid-South Synergy electric line south of Lake Conroe; and Elizabeth G. Garza, 39, who died Sept. 13 when a tree fell on her western Montgomery County home during the storm.” (Rosanna Ruiz. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28.” Houston Chronicle. 9-23-2008.)

 

Sep 29:  “The Houston-area death toll from Hurricane Ike has reached 32 with the discovery this weekend of two unidentified bodies along the shore in Galveston County and the body of a Port Neches man found in Orange County….”  (Houston Chronicle, TX.  “Discovery of three bodies brings local Ike death toll to 32.” 9-29-2008.)

 

Oct 27:  “Galveston — Coming over the causeway onto the island, you can smell the mildew.  Then you see the boats strewn every which way. Apparently, a month ago they simply came in on the 14-foot tide and didn’t go out with it. And so they remain, upside down or resting on their keels, in parking lots and on boulevards, in front yards and in esplanades, ruined beyond salvation….

 

“[Galveston] has battled back every time from every storm thrown on its shores in the last century. There was that most famous one in 1900 that killed 6,000 or more. Another in 1915 in which the brand new seawall proved its worth. Then the ferocious Hurricane Carla in 1961 and the equally devastating Alicia in 1983.  I’m not sure it can survive this time. Mostly because, post-Katrina, nobody can be moved to come and look.

 

“This place where I was born and where my parents have lived for many years has picked a bad time to be in trouble. This time, the storm surge was so high and so vast that the north end of the 27-mile-long-by-3-mile-wide island met the south end and the west end met the east.

 

“Best guess is that 75 percent of the homes have flood damage. That only 60 percent of the 60,000 people who lived here on Sept. 13 when Hurricane Ike blew through are back. That the main economic engine of the island will most likely lay off 4,000 workers in the next month, that it already would have if not for the Texas legislature intervening.  I could tell you about the billions in damage. I could tell you that the historic “Wall Street of the South” downtown took on 11 feet of water. That the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital will most likely go from a 600-bed facility to a 200-bed facility when it opens again. That the entire children’s section of the massive public library is gone…. That the wind insurance people say the surge is a water insurance problem and the flood insurance people say the surge is a wind insurance problem and that everybody with either or both is getting… “That because of flood-insurance regulations, half of the homes damaged by floods will be destroyed completely by the city and rebuilt only if on 11-foot stilts. Neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency nor standard insurance will pay for the difference in rebuilding costs, so only the wealthy will be able to rebuild. The rest will simply leave the ruin or the empty lot and the financial chaos behind them.

 

“Seven thousand people here still don’t have power. A lot don’t have land-line phone service or natural gas. You have to wait in line to shop at the Target because not enough people have returned to staff the stores. You can shop at will at Wal-Mart, but there are armed guards watching.

 

“Nobody is dead in the streets but lives are gone, figuratively enough, anyway.  Almost every blade of grass in this town is dead because saltwater is not its natural milieu….

 

“The first wave of trash that went to every curb was copious amounts of wet stuff. Imagine. Everything in the first level of your house in one giant sopping wad. A lot of it represents everything that has ever happened to you or for you or before you were even here and it’s worthless now.  The ‘dozers and the machines with claws and the big trucks came by and gathered that stuff — so far, 1.5 million cubic yards of it — and took it to the mountain of trash to be trucked off the island sometime in the future.  Then the second wave of trash got hauled to the curb. It was the sheetrock and the insulation and appliances and the ductwork and electrical and it was still there as the first month anniversary came around.  Hence the mold spore infestation that seems to be growing in everyone’s lungs….

 

“At the one-month anniversary of Hurricane Ike, there is no ferry service from Galveston to Bolivar Island, where more bodies are likely to be found in coming months. There is no way to know what will be rebuilt. Whether people will ever have the money or the will to try to start over.  The trash, one debris company contractor told the local paper, will probably take two years to scrape off the streets.

 

“An American town, not as glamorous as New Orleans but as interesting in many ways, is going under. Its people are living in makeshift shelters or other people’s extra second-floor bedrooms. Its churches are still feeding hundreds of meals a day, free to anyone who comes by. Its shelters are about to close but are still full.  Its stores — if you don’t count the two big groceries, the Home Depot and the car repair shops — are trying to figure out how to open for a few hours, if at all. Its tourist business is hard to imagine. It has, essentially, no economy to help it off its knees and no press machine to call attention to its woes….”  (Wilson, “The City That Isn’t Coming Back…,” October 27, 2008)

 

Dec 23:  “December 23, 2008:  “Search crews may have found another victim from Hurricane Ike, buried in the debris.  Galveston County office of Emergency Management tells us a search dog alerted to the scent of the remains in a debris pile on Goat Island Sunday. Crews are working to remove the debris to get to the remains.  Crews will continue searching Tuesday and Friday this week. There are still acres of debris scattered all over Goat Island. Officials expect to be on Goat Island another week or two searching for remains.  The Laura Recovery Center still lists more than 50 people as missing since Ike hit on September 13.”  (KTRK-TV Houston (TX), “Local Searchers Find Body of Ike Victim”.)

 

Dec 26:  “December 26, 2008 – Medical examiners will turn to forensic anthropology to identify a body found on Goat Island that is believed to be another victim of Hurricane Ike….” (Stewart 2008)   “A contracted search crew recovered the badly decomposed body of the county’s 29^th victim of Hurricane Ike…Officials have yet to determine the gender, age or identity of the person believed to have died as a result of the storm.”  (Paschenko. “Another Ike Victim Found on Goat Island.” Daily News, Galveston, 12-26-2008.)

 

Feb 10, 2009, Texas House of Representatives: “Hurricane Ike struck the upper Texas Gulf Coast on Friday, September 13, 2008. As the third hurricane to hit Texas in 2008, it was the most devastating and destructive spanning more than 900 miles wide and impacting more than 29 counties.

 

“Ike was rated as a Category 2 hurricane by the National Weather Service and its winds were estimated at 110 miles per hour at landfall.  Officials in areas outside of the Galveston area called for most residents to “shelter in place,” presuming they would be in a better position to stay and ride out the storm.  However, Ike hit harder than many thought and its storm surge reached an unexpected 20 feet, drowning Galveston Island.  Even more devastating was Ike’s wind field which covered 450 miles, causing catastrophic damage to areas miles from the coast.

 

“Hurricane Ike’s death toll reached up to 84 individuals. Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed. Communities on the Bolivar Peninsula were virtually wiped off the map leaving the majority of residents homeless. Debris from buildings and trees buried homes.  Businesses, roads, beaches and the electrical grid were almost completely destroyed.

 

“After the storm passed, the suffering continued.  For those who “sheltered in place,” thousands were left without electricity, water and food.  In some areas, the complete restoration of the electrical service took more than four weeks.  Without electricity, gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, health and human service state offices and other facilities providing essential services to the public were unable to open.  Numerous private and public water utility districts had no generators to keep their systems operating leaving thousands without water and plumbing services.  Thousands of individuals lacking transportation, including children and the elderly were forced to walk to the Points of Distribution Sites (PODs). In some areas PODs were never set up, causing some local elected officials to scramble to provide food and water to their constituents.

 

“Hurricane Ike struck the City of Galveston leaving behind a path of destruction. Many homes were destroyed and the city’s seawall and beaches were significantly damaged. Also, businesses that had catered to the tourist trade were unable to re-open affecting the financial health of the City.

 

“The closure of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, as well as its Level 1 Trauma Center, deprived the region and the State of essential medical and trauma care.  Compounding this loss was the University of Texas Board of Regents decision to lay off UTMB’s workforce in excess of 3,000 people. This tragic decision and its impact continues to unfold for the city and the region.  Even with a collective decision by Galveston city workers to take a three percent pay cut due to significant losses within the city’s budget, the city’s financial well-being remains in question.  With a post-Ike Galveston population that is now two-thirds of its pre-Hurricane Ike numbers, Galveston elected officials and its community remain determined and committed to recover despite the uncertainty which surrounds the community’s difficult financial and economic circumstances….”  [p. 1]

 

“Hurricane Ike may well become known as the “debris” hurricane. Tons of debris filled homes, neighborhoods, roads and highways, beaches, lakes and waterways due to Ike’s storm surge and large wind field. Much of the debris remains.

 

“For weeks after Ike’s landfall, the bodies of those who died in the storm were still being discovered in the mountains of debris across the region.  The debris has kept roads closed, prevented citizens from cleaning up their property and created a health hazard as it attracts rodents and other undesirable wildlife.  Total clean up costs are not exact because the clean up efforts are still ongoing.  The Texas Department of Transportation alone will spend $36.5 million to clean up debris not removed by the Corps of Engineers on its rights of way.  The General Land Office is anticipating it will spend $25 million for debris cleanup by private companies on beaches.

 

“Some of the affected counties have debris fields as long as 30 miles, and Harris County alone may have had as much as 12 million cubic yards of debris from the storm.  Debris removal and clean up is an enormous part of the after storm recovery effort and must be initiated quickly and efficiently to help expedite other recovery and rebuilding efforts.  Also, certain debris can be hazardous to human health if not dealt with quickly and properly….” [p. 28.]

 

“The National Weather Service designated Hurricane Ike as a Category 2 storm.  Its winds were clocked at 110 miles per hour at landfall and its storm surge reached 20 feet.  Many residents in areas along the coast were evacuated safely, unlike the disastrous evacuation from Hurricane Rita in 2005.  However, because Ike was only a Category 2 hurricane, many people decided to ride out the storm.  This turned out to be a mistake as rapidly rising waters cut off many residents on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula and they were unable to leave when they finally realized the severity of the storm.

 

“Many residents outside coastal areas were told to “shelter in place” by local officials. Ike’s vast wind field damaged thousands of homes and businesses far from the coast.  About 95 percent of CenterPoint customers lost their power, some for weeks.  Nearly all of Entergy’s customers were without electricity.  Utility and MUD districts did not have generators, therefore the region’s water and wastewater facilities were shut down. PODs were set up around the region to provide food, water and ice but some people had problems getting to them.  Those who were homebound — the ill, the elderly, those with special needs — were unable to travel to the PODs to get what they had to offer.  Essential services such as gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies were closed for lack of power….” [p. 30.] (Texas House of Representatives. House Select Committee on Hurricane Ike Devastation to the Texas Gulf Coast, Texas House of Representatives Interim Report 2008 – A Report to the House of Representatives, 81^st Texas Legislature.  2-10-2009.)

 

Feb 11, 2009:  “Hurricane Ike’s death toll in the U.S. is up to 50 as authorities on the Texas coast provided more details on fatalities from the storm. Galveston County Medical Examiner Stephen Pustilnik said Wednesday that crews have found the first five victims on Galveston Island and another in Brazoria County. Authorities have said they expected to find bodies in Galveston.  Two of the victims in Galveston were people who needed dialysis treatment but did not leave the island. Another was a woman with cancer whose breathing machine lost power in the storm.  Pustilnik said search teams found another victim drowned in a truck and a fifth was found in a hotel.

“Most people in the fourth-largest U.S. city of Houston remained without power, making it tough to track the latest information on where to pick up supplies. For most, the electricity wasn’t expected back on for at least another week.” (CBS News. “Ike Death Toll Rises as Does Victim’s Pain.” 2-11-2009.)

 

July 2009, GAO: “Three major disaster struck our nation in 2008 that provided a limited test of SBA’s ability to plan for and respond to major disasters and tested improvements stemming from recent disaster reform efforts – the Midwest floods and Hurricanes Ike and Gustav…..

 

“…In early September 2008, a major disaster struck the Gulf Coast states when Hurricane Ike made its way through Texas and Louisiana.  Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Galveston, Texas, on September 7, 2008, and was declared a major disaster by the President on September 13, 2008.  Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to make landfall in the United States and the third major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season; it caused widespread damage to some Gulf Coast areas already trying to recover from Hurricane Gustav, which hit Louisiana on September 1, 2008.  Hurricane Ike was blamed for at least 100 deaths and damages are estimated at approximately $24 billion.” (U. S. Gov. Accountability Office. Small Business Administration. Additional Steps Should Be Taken to Address Reforms to the Disaster Loan Program and Improve the Application Process for Future Disasters (Report to the Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business, House of Rep.).  Washington: July 2009.)

 

March 2011, Zane, et al., Abstract:

Zane: “Background:  On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike, a category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, made landfall near Galveston, Texas. Ike produced a damaging, destructive, and deadly storm surge across the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coasts. Thirty-four Texas counties were declared disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; 15 counties were under mandatory evacuation orders. To describe causes of death associated with this hurricane and identify prevention strategies during the response and recovery phases, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) monitored mortality data in 44 counties throughout the state. This report summarizes Ike-related deaths reported by Texas medical examiners, justices of the peace (coroners), forensic centers, public health officials, and hospitals.

 

“Methods:  Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disaster-related mortality surveillance form, DSHS developed a state-specific 1-page form and collected (optimally daily) data on demographic, date and place of death, and cause and circumstance of deaths. A case was defined as any death that was directly or indirectly related to Ike among evacuees, residents, nonresidents, or rescue personnel in the declared disaster counties, counties along the Texas Gulf coast or counties known to have evacuation shelters occurring September 8, 2008, through October 13, 2008. Analyzed data were shared with the state emergency operation center and the CDC on a daily basis.

 

“Results:  The surveillance identified 74 deaths in Texas as directly (10 [14%]), indirectly (49 [66%]), or possibly (15 [20%]) related to Ike. The majority of deaths (n=57) were reported by medical examiners. Deaths occurred in 16 counties of the 44 counties covered by the surveillance. The majority of deaths occurred in Harris and Galveston (28 [38%] and 17 [23%]), respectively. The deceased ranged in age from younger than 1 year to 85 years, with an average age of 46 years (median 50 years); 70% were male. Of the 74 deaths, 47 (64%) resulted from injuries, 23 (31%) from illnesses, and 4 (5%) were undetermined. Among the injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning (13 [18%]) and drowning (8 [11%]) were the leading causes of injury-related deaths. Cardiovascular failure (12 [16%]) was the leading cause of illness-related deaths.

 

“Conclusions:  Defining the relation of death to hurricane using an active mortality surveillance system is possible. The active mortality surveillance form used in Ike provided valuable daily information to DSHS, state emergency management officials, and the CDC regarding the characteristics of deaths in the state. Most of the Ike-related deaths were caused by injury (direct and indirectly related) such as carbon monoxide poisonings and drowning and may have been preventable by educating the public.” (Zane, D. F., et al. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008.” Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 5/1, March 2011, 23-28.)

 

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RTV6ABC, The Indy Channel. “7 Indiana Deaths Blamed on Wicked Weather.” 9-15-2008. At: http://www.theindychannel.com/weather/7-indiana-deaths-blamed-on-wicked-weather

 

Sanchez, Luis A., MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, Houston, TX. 2008 Hurricane Ike Related Cases, 9-25-2008. Accessed 1-29-2014 at: http://www.harriscountytx.gov/cmpdocuments/21/hurricanes/ike02.pdf

 

Standridge, Sarah Terry (Compiler). Hurricane Ike: The Life Stories of the Residents of the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas. September 13, 2008: The Day that Changed Our Lives Forever! Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2010. Google preview accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=R3iovslVAoMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Steffen, Bill. “More on Hurricane Ike, WOOD TV8, Grand Rapids, MI, 9-17-2008. Accessed 1-26-2014 at: http://blogs.woodtv.com/2008/09/17/more-on-hurricane-ike/

 

Storm2k.org. “Ike-Related Deaths,” (citing Associated Press), posted 9-14-2008. Accessed at: http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=102847&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=13300

 

Tennissen, Marilyn. “PA [Port Arthur] woman killed by misuse of generator.” Southeast Texas Record, 9-18-2008. At: http://setexasrecord.com/news/214869-pa-woman-killed-by-misuse-of-generator

 

Texas Department of Insurance. “Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!” 10-8-2012. Accessed 1-30-2014 at: http://www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/fmcanefiresafe.html

 

Texas House of Representatives.  House Select Committee on Hurricane Ike Devastation to the Texas Gulf Coast, Texas House of Representatives Interim Report 2008 – A Report to the House of Representatives, 81^st Texas Legislature. 2-10-2009. Accessed at:  http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ae/report.pdf — and at:  http://www.fbcoem.org/external/content/document/1528/253752/1/House%20Select%20Comm%20Report-%20Ike.pdf

 

Thacker, Matt. “Floyd, Clark counties cleaning up after wind damage.” News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, IN. 9-16-2008. Accessed at: http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/x519384402/Floyd-Clark-counties-cleaning-up-after-wind-damage

 

Topix Simpsonville. “Boy Killed While Mowing Family Lawn.” 9-15-2008. Accessed at: http://www.topix.com/forum/city/simpsonville-ky/T8M14MP44BAFU2NH4

 

Tributes.com. “Stephanie Bobinger.” Accessed 1-23-2014 at: http://www.tributes.com/show/Stephanie-Marie-Bobinger-84183683

 

Trinity Standard. “Area cleaning up following storm. Sep 2008. Accessed 1-26-2014 at: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:jQ82LVxVdJUJ:www.easttexasnews.com/Trinity/News/Ind/September2008/story8.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Civil Action No. 10-5380 and No. 10-5426, undated. Accessed 1-26-2014 at: http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/11D0966P.pdf

 

United States Government Accountability Office.  Small Business Administration. Additional Steps Should Be Taken to Address Reforms to the Disaster Loan Program and Improve the Application Process for Future Disasters (Report to the Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business, House of Representatives). Washington, DC: GAO-09-755,  July 2009. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=67i2GjFKECoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Washington Times-Herald. “6 deaths blamed on weather in Indiana,” 9-15-2008. Accessed at: http://www.washtimesherald.com/local/x1155960217/6-deaths-blamed-on-weather-in-Indiana/print

 

Wikipedia. “Effects of Hurricane Ike in inland North America.” 1-28-2012 modification. Accessed 5-31-2012:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Ike_in_inland_North_America

 

WBNS-10TV, Columbus OH. “Hilliard Man Electrocuted While Fixing Generator.” 9-15-2008. Accessed at: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2008/09/15/story_hilliard.html

 

Weather Channel. “Hurricane Ike Notes, Stats, Facts.” 9-9-2009 update. Accessed 1-26-2014 at: http://www.weather.com/newscenter/topstories/hurricaneike_news.html

 

When Trees Attack (blogspot). “Tennessee golfers killed when tree lands on cart.” Accessed 1-23-2014 at: http://whentreesattack.blogspot.com/

 

Wikipedia. “Bridge City, Texas.” 11-16-2013 modification. Accessed 1-26-2014 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_City,_Texas#cite_note-WCVB67-10

 

Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike

 

Wikipedia. “Talk: Hurricane Ike,” 12-8-2013 modification. Accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AHurricane_Ike#Calculating_the_death_toll

 

WPXI.com, Pittsburgh, “Viewing Today for Man Killed by Falling Tree Branch,” 9-17-2008. At: http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/viewing-today-for-man-killed-by-falling-tree-branc/nGZnL/

 

Zane, D. F., T.M. Bayleyegn, J. Hellsten, R. Beal, C. Beasley, T. Haywood, C. Wiltz-Beckham, and A. F. Wolkin. “Tracking deaths related to Hurricane Ike, Texas, 2008” Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Vol. 5., No. 1, March 2011, pp. 23-28.  Accessed at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdshs.state.tx.us%2Fcommprep%2Fdisasterepi%2Fcasper%2FIkeMortalityDMPHPJournal2011.doc&ei=oRfpUuLXLvSksQTR6YGoBg&usg=AFQjCNGWjUFhNnWIOMCGSmqCV3WJkdIpXA&bvm=bv.60157871,d.cWc  > Abstract at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21402823

 

Additional Reading:

 

Carlile, Bryan. After Ike: Aerial Views from the No-Fly Zone. China: Everbest Printing Co., 2009. Google preview at: http://books.google.com/books?id=a5nXDOEJKaEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Edge, Billy, and Lesley Ewing (Eds.). Hurricane Ike Field Investigation: A Report of Field Observations on October 3-6, 2008. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2013. Google preview accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=pSc2x89imNsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, United States Department of Homeland Security. Hurricane Ike Impact Report. Special Needs Populations Impact Assessment Source Document White Paper (DE 1791-TX Hurricane Ike). Washington, DC: DHS, October 2008.  Accessed 5-19-2016 at: https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=687750

 

[1] NWS has Ike’s life as Sep 1-14. We use Sep 12-14 in that the storm was off Texas coast on the 12^th when deaths started occurring, making landfall the morning of Sep 13. The storm remnants moved up through the Midwest and easterly into southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada leading to direct loss of life due to flooding and high-wind tree/branch fall deaths through the 14^th. Brown, et al. “Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2008,” MWR, 5-2010.

[2] Wikipedia. “Hurricane Ike.” 5-27-2012 modification.

[3] “Ike is directly responsible for 103 deaths across Hispaniola, Cuba, and parts of the [US] Gulf Coast…. Additional deaths…occurred across parts of the Ohio Valley and southeastern Canada…” Berg. Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Ike (AL092008) 1-14 Sep 2008. Miami: National Hurricane Center, 1-23-2009, 5-3-2010 rev.

[4] Robbie Berg wrote the fatality section of the Brown, et al. Tropical Cyclone Report, which comes up, at one point, with 81 Hurricane Ike-related fatalities in Texas (see footnote to this report in Texas section below). Blanchard tally of Hurricane Ike-related fatalities in other States than Texas is 41. (81+41=122)

[5] Zane et al. show 74 TX deaths (10 direct, 49 indirect and 15 possible). We show 41 for other states (74+41=115). A problem might be that the reporting period Zane, et al. note in their article is from Sep 23 to Oct 13. We list in the Texas section 5 bodies found after this reporting period (Wells/Oct 14, Fisher/Oct 25, McLemore/Nov 2, Strickland/Nov 20, and Arrambide/Dec 22. These might well not be included in the Zane et al. article, nor the two females who went missing from Galveston area on September 13 and are presumed dead.

[6] No indication of the sourcing for this number, which is exactly the same as Wikipedia number – cannot validate.

[7] Number is in sidebar table “Fatalities by country.” No citation provided. Tally of fatality notations by State within the article, however, totals 83, though the narrative states 82. Also noted that there were also 34 missing in the U.S.  (In the narrative section it states “23 are still missing” (citing Berg) and notes “there are 202 missing” at another.) Cannot use the number 112 – fully 22 people more than we have been able to identify; not credible.

[8] The in-text reference is to “(NOAA 2010).” We note that Berg (National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NOAA, that year modified a previous report and noted 103 “direct” deaths along the United States Gulf Coast, Hispaniola and Cuba. The Bedient and Sebastian account reads as though the 103 deaths were in Texas  “…the costliest and most damaging storm to hit the Texas coast since the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 made landfall at Galveston, Texas on September 13, 2008. Hurricane Ike made landfall as a category 2… The resulting high water and wind caused over $24.9 billion damages and claimed at least 103 lives (NOAA 2010).” Several pages later (p. 20) it is noted that as the remnant moved northeast “it caused flooding in 11 states and resulted in over 20 deaths.” We note below approximately 30 U.S. deaths outside of Texas and Louisiana.

[9] Zane, et al. report 10 direct and 49 indirect Hurricane Ike-related deaths in TX (59). Add to 41 other states =100.

[10] No source citation. It can only be assumed that the reference to “at least 100 deaths” is to the U.S. alone. Without source citation and without clarity as to reference just to the U.S, we cannot justify reliance on this number.

[11] Range is explained by inclusion of an unidentified carbon monoxide poisoning death reported on the 16^th somewhere in Texas by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

[12] Brown, et al. note at one point that there were 20 direct deaths in TX, LA and AR. Later they write “as many as 64 indirect deaths were reported in Texas due to factors such as electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, and preexisting medical complications.” There is no citation for numbers. In response to Blanchard email inquiry to the NHC/NWS/NOAA, Robbie Berg, a co-author who compiled the fatality data, emailed on 2-5-2014 that it appeared he had access to “some version” of the Zane report, which would explain how he got to “as many as 64 additional deaths.”

[13] As written, one could get the impression that the notation of a death toll of “up to 84 individuals,” was in reference to Texas, given the context of the narrative. However, in that this figure is significantly higher than other estimates of Ike deaths, we assume it is a reference to Ike-attributable deaths in the U.S.

[14] From text section entitled “United States,” which does not agree with the 112 fatalities noted in the same article in the “Fatalities by country” sidebar table. With another 23, 34 or 202 missing (variously noted in the article).

[15] “In the United States, 41 deaths are directly attributed to the 2008 tropical cyclones, with nearly half of the deaths resulting from Hurricane Ike.”

[16] AP. “Hurricane Ike Latest.” WRDW-TV, Augusta, 9-14-2008; AP. “1 dead from Ike when tree falls on mobile home,” KFSM-TV, 9-14-2008’ MN Public Radio. “Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest,” 9-15-2008.

[17] Have only been able to verify one Ike-related death. It appears that another drowning death which occurred in Arlington Heights on Sep 13, due to flooding from the remnants of tropical storm Lowell, has been included. This was the death of a 28 year-old man who attempted to swim across a flooded retention basin near the Sunset Meadows Park in Arlington Heights, Cook County. (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database.) No help from State OEM in attempt to determine if this theory was correct.

[18] “After heavy rain and flash flooding across much of southern Cook County from the early morning through the afternoon of September 13^th [from remnants of tropical storm Lowell], flooding continued across many locations through the evening hours and into the early morning hours of September 14th, when another wave of heavy rain moved across the area. A elderly man fell head first into a flooded window well and drowned in Oak Lawn. He was trying to clear a plugged drain in the window well.” National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database.

[19] One of the deaths, Rader in Memphis, Clark Co., might not be included in some tallies. According to one article, “Maj. Chuck Adams of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department said Rader’s death was a ‘freak accident’ and not directly related to the storm. She was at a friend’s home…[who] had just cut down a tree when another tree that was partially dead fell and struck her.” Same article cites IN Dept. of Homeland Security as reporting six storm-related fatalities. (Thacker. “Floyd, Clark counties cleaning up…” News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, IN. 9-16-2008.

[20] Thacker. “Floyd, Clark counties cleaning up…wind damage.” News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, IN. 9-16-2008.

[21] Mark Thanos. (Washington Times-Herald. “6 deaths blamed on weather in Indiana,” 9-15-2008.)

[22] John Thanos. (Washington Times-Herald. “6 deaths blamed on weather in Indiana,” 9-15-2008.)

[23] Clarion News, Corydon, IN. “Sunday’s wind storm claims life of Milltown woman,” 9-17-2008. Cited is Harrison County Chief Deputy Coroner Malcom McMakin. “McMakin said that Duke had stepped out on her patio to bring in her dog when a strong gust of wind brought the tree down on her.

[24] Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY. “Milltown woman killed in windstorm,” 9-16-2008.

[25] RTV6ABC, The Indy Channel. “7 Indiana Deaths Blamed on Wicked Weather.” 9-15-2008; AP. “4:53 p.m. Update: Flooding, winds kill 7 in Indiana,” Herald Bulletin, 9-15-2008; house was on German St. (Blanchard phone conversation with meteorologist, National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Louisville, KY, 1-27-2014.)

[26] Thacker. “Floyd, Clark counties cleaning up after wind damage.” News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, 9-16-2008.

[27] Blanchard phone conv. with meteorologist, National Weather Ser. Forecast Office, Wilmington, OH, 1-27-2014.

[28] RTV6ABC, The Indy Channel. “7 Indiana Deaths Blamed on Wicked Weather.” 9-15-2008.

[29] “Raging water along the Chikaskia River caused 5 teenagers to become trapped as they were rafting down the river. The water rescue that followed lead to 3 emergency workers…in the water along with the stranded teenagers. A volunteer firefighter…attempted…an individual rescue, but lost his balance, and was swept under by the strong current. The man later died from injuries sustained during the rescue.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database.

[30] “Moisture plume from…[SW US] spread northeast towards the plains and interacted with a stationary boundary to produce a deluge of rainfall across Central and South Central Kansas….Widespread heavy rains of 8 to 10 inches caused flooding of numerous county roads across Northern Sedgwick County. One fatality occurred to the south of the town of Sedgwick, near the 11200 block of North West, when a stalled motorist apparently attempted to flee his vehicle and was swept into the ditch by the fast moving water and drowned.” Notes that a male, aged 64, was driving a vehicle with a towed trailer. (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database.)

[31] Storm2k.org. “Ike-Related Deaths,” (citing Associated Press), posted 9-14-2008.

[32] KY Pub. Ser. Com.. Ike and Ice. 11-19-2009, p.20; AP. “Ike-related…deaths…by state,” Seattle Times, 9-20-08.

[33] Associated Press. “Texas powering up,” 9-20-2008 (At Powerlineman.com, Linework Forum, “Hurricane Ike, p.4; Cain Burdeau/Angela K. Brown (AP). “Ike evacuees jump gun, sneak back onto island. USA Today, 9-20-2008; identification from: AP, “Utility Worker Killed,” WCTV TV, Tallahassee, FL, 9-21-2008, noting that McMath was from Vero Beach, FL, and worked for Advanced Utilities Services, Melbourne, FL.

[34] KY Public Service Commission. Ike and Ice. 11-19-2009, p. 20.

[35] Frederick Wilson. (Beverly Fortune and Jennifer Hewlett. “Remnants of Ike power through Kentucky; Richmond Road tree falls on driver.” 9-15-2008.) Topix Simpsonville. “Boy Killed While Mowing Family Lawn.” 9-15-2008; KY Public Service Commission. Ike and Ice. 11-19-2009, p. 20.

[36] Accessed at: Powerlineman.com. Linework Forum, “Hurricane Ike.” Sent email 1-30-2014 to LA OEM PIO Mike Steele and LA DPH PIO Christina Stephens seeking additional detail. Ms. Stephens indicated she would check. Wikipedia, “Hurricane Ike,” article writes that “two energy-company contractors from Oklahoma were electrocuted.” Cited are two sources with dead links: (1) Associated Press, “Ike-related storm deaths state by state,” 9-16-2008, and (2) Lexington Herald-Leader, retrieved 9-16-2008. The AP reports we have read with the title above, note only that two of the deaths in LA were from electrocution and did not mention a home state. Thus the OK info must have derived from the Lexington Herald-Leader source.

[37] AP. “Officials: Two Die From Hurricane Ike in Texas, Louisiana,” KTVN2 News, 9-12-2008; Berg. 5-3-2010, p.9. This account notes that the young man fell out of a fishing boat. The next source writes that the “boy drowned in his house…when he fell through wooden pallets used as flooring and floodwaters rose, Terrebonne Parish coroner senior investigator Gary Alford said.” (M. Kunzelman (AP). “Ike leaves 2 dead in Louisiana floods,” 9-13-2008.)

[38] M. Kunzelman (AP). “Ike leaves 2 dead in Louisiana floods,” 9-13-2008; Berg. Hurricane Ike, 5-3-2010 rev., 9.

[39] Warren Rideau. (Storm2k.org. “Ike-Related Deaths,” cites AP); Weather Channel. “Hurricane Ike Notes, Stats, Facts.” 9-9-2009; Wikipedia. “Talk: Hurricane Ike,” 12-8-2013 mod. (broken link to KATC.com. Lafayette, LA.)

[40] Marie L. Bonhomme. (Storm2k.org. “Ike-Related Deaths,” posted 9-14-2008.)

[41] Emergency.Louisiana.Gov. “Press Release. First fatalities from Hurricane Ike confirmed today.” 9-14-2008. Sent email 1-30-2014 to LA OEM PIO Mike Steele and LA DPH PIO Christina Stephens seeking additional detail. Ms. Stephens indicated she would check.

[42] “One additional fatality was confirmed today…Ike. A Terrebonne Parish resident died of natural causes…”

[43] CBS News/AP. “Millions Still in Dark Over Ike Recovery.” 8-18-2008; Bill Steffen. “More on Hurricane Ike, WOOD TV8, Grand Rapids, MI, 9-17-2008; AP. “Ike-related storm deaths state by state,” Seattle Times, 9-20-2008.

[44] CBS News/AP. “Millions Still in Dark Over Ike Recovery.” 8-18-2008.

[45] Andrew Denney. “Drowning victim’s family sues city, Links. Woman was trying to rescue motorist.” Columbia Daily Tribune, MO. 10-19-2011.

[46] Gillerman. “Temporary bridge led to flooding, homeowners say. Lawsuit claims span built for…construction vehicles acted as a dam during heavy rain, forcing water into homes.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1-12-2009. Limb fell when tree hit by lightning. (MO Emergency Management Agency. Annex B. Riverine Flooding. Dec. 2012, p. B-6.)

[47] Both Bryant and Johnson were in a home backyard when swept away by floodwater from River Des Peres. (Insurance Journal. “Drowning Death During Flash Flood.” 12-17-2008.)

[48] Fred Caceres, owner of Mid-State Generator Sales & Service, was killed while working on a generator at the facility which had lost power “after strong winds knocked out a generator on Sunday [Sep 14].” WBNS-10TV, Columbus OH. “Hilliard Man Electrocuted While Fixing Generator.” 9-15-2008.

[49] Tom Bobinger. “The motorcycle riders were participating in a fund-raising ride for Fairfield families of military personnel who have died in Iraq…” Cincinnati.com. “Three killed by falling trees.” 9-15-2008.

[50] Stephanie Bobinger. Cincinnati.com. “Three killed by falling trees.” 9-15-2008; Tributes.com. “Stephanie Bobinger.”

[51] National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database.

[52] Ellen Kleinerman. “Tens of thousands…without power after gusty night.” Plain Dealer, Cleveland, 9-15-2008.

[53] Cindy L. Jones. Cincinnati.com. “Storm’s toll: 5 lives,” 9-15-2008; NCDC, NOAA. Storm Event Database.

[54] Amanda Cushard. (Eileen Kelly and Sheila McLaughlin. “Region struggling with life in the dark.” Cincinnati.com, 9-16-2008.)

[55] Notes that Robert Lempke was repairing power lines and stepped on live wire. KWTX-TV News 10, Waco, TX. “Hurricane Death Toll Climbs to 50.” 9-17-2008. Mr. Lempke was from Columbia, NJ. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Civil Action No. 10-5380 and No. 10-5426. p. 3.)

[56] Brendon Beck; helping father-in-law remove downed tree. Paul Revere rd/st, Cornplanter Township, by holding floodlight; tree branch on another property fell on him. (WPXI.com, Pittsburgh, “Viewing Today for Man Killed by Falling Tree Branch,” 9-17-2008.) KWTX-TV News 10, Waco, TX. “Hurricane Death Toll Climbs to 50.” 9-17-2008.

[57] Jason Proffitt. When Trees Attack. “Tennessee golfers killed when tree lands on cart.” Accessed 1-23-2014.

[58] Joseph Carter. When Trees Attack. “Tennessee golfers killed when tree lands on cart.” Accessed 1-23-2014.

[59] In response to Blanchard email to Edward Rappaport, Deputy Director, NWS National Hurricane Center, seeking an email address for Dan Brown, also at the NHC, received response, 2-4-2014, stating that Robbie Berg, Hurricane Specialist at the NWS NHC, was the author of the Hurricane Ike fatality section of the report. Attached was an email from Robbie Berg to Ed Rappaport, 2-4-2014, which included some of the material from which his section was based and noting that he couldn’t “guarantee the ultimate accuracy of these numbers because the situation was so fluid at the time with bodies still being recovered.” Part of what he provide was a version of the David Zane, et al. article that was published in 2011 – he notes that he may have had access to an earlier version.

[60] Our tally based on: “Twelve fatalities were reported in Galveston and Chambers Counties, Texas, where the worst storm surge occurred, and several bodies were found within debris fields on the bay side of the Bolivar Peninsula, on Goat Island, and on the north side of Galveston Bay in Chambers County. Three other drowning deaths were reported across Texas—one person drowned in the waters off Corpus Christi, one from storm surge in Orange County near Beaumont, and one after falling off a boat on Lake Livingston in Trinity County. In addition, one death in Montgomery County and one in Walker County resulted from trees falling onto the roofs of occupied houses…. In addition to the direct deaths, as many as 64 indirect deaths were reported in Texas due to factors such as electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, and preexisting medical complications.” (No source citations given; however in response to a Blanchard email, it was noted on 2-4-2014 that a version of the Zane, et al. article was used for the “as many as 64 indirect deaths” statement.

[61] “From September 8 through October 13, 2008, medical examiners (MEs) and Justices of the Peace (JPs) in 44 affected counties reported deaths daily by using a one-page, standardized mortality form. The active mortality surveillance system identified 74 hurricane-related deaths, whereas a review of vital statistics data revealed only four deaths that were hurricane-related. The average time of reporting a death by active mortality surveillance and vital statistics was 14 days and 16 days, respectively.” Breakout: 10 direct, 48 indirect, and 16 possible.

[62] 10 direct deaths, 49 indirect, and 15 possibly related to Ike. We view the “Possible” category, with its 15 fatalities as very problematical. Five of the 15 are suicides, but no explanation is provided as to why it might be thought that a suicide was related to the Hurricane – that would certainly not come from a death certificate. Report “Background” narrative notes that “the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) monitored mortality data in 44 counties throughout the state. This report summarizes Ike-related deaths reported by Texas medical examiners, justices of the peace (coroners), forensic centers, public health officials, and hospitals.” The “Methods” narrative notes: “Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disaster-related mortality surveillance form, DSHS developed a state-specific 1-page form and collected (optimally daily) data on demographic, date and place of death, and cause and circumstance of deaths. A case was defined as any death that was directly or indirectly related to Ike among evacuees, residents, nonresidents, or rescue personnel in the declared disaster counties, counties along the Texas Gulf coast or counties known to have evacuation shelters occurring September 8, 2008, through October 13, 2008….”. The “Results” section notes: “Deaths occurred in 16 counties of the 44 counties covered by the surveillance. The majority of deaths occurred in Harris and Galveston (28 [38%] and 17 [23%]), respectively. The deceased ranged in age from younger than 1 year to 85 years, with an average age of 46 years (median 50 years); 70% were male. Of the 74 deaths, 47 (64%) resulted from injuries, 23 (31%) from illnesses, and 4 (5%) were undetermined…. Carbon monoxide poisoning (18%), drowning (11%), and hit by falling tree (9%) were the leading causes of injury-related deaths. Cardiovascular failure (16%) was the leading cause of illness-related deaths. Regarding the manner of death of the 74 deaths, 33 (45%) were classified as resulting from unintentional injuries (accident), 20 (27%) from natural causes, 5 (7%) from suicide, 12 (16%) pending, and 4 (5%) undetermined. Emailed David Zane 1-27-2014 who noted that he could not share confidential death certificate information. Not using in that the number cannot be verified or otherwise validated. In the law enforcement realm think if every report of “suspicious” activity to the police were reported out by them as a “crime.”

[63] This is a combination of 10 direct and 49 indirect deaths, and does not include the 15 “possible” deaths noted.

[64] Represents 10 direct and 48 indirect deaths (later category includes those wherein “physical or mental stress before, during, or after the storm exacerbated pre-existing medical conditions and contributed to death”).

[65] Based on fatalities we have identified by place, date, and cause. The range is explained by inclusion of an unidentified carbon monoxide poisoning death reported on the 16^th somewhere in the state by the TDSHS.

[66] Listing two other Bolivar women still missing – Sandy Walton and Glennis Dunn.

[67] In this case the “Houston-area” reaches down to Galveston.

[68] “…these were most often related to the inappropriate use of gas generators or use of charcoal grills (for cooking) inside a residence.”

[69] Since it is noted that there were five suicide deaths, we assume these three deaths were suicides.

[70] From map of Texas (Figure 1) showing counties and the number of Ike-related deaths within each county. We have not been able to determine what this is in reference to. Sent email to Angelina Co. OEM 1-30-2014. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information.

[71] We have seen reports of five Brazoria Co. deaths. Three appear to be to CO deaths in adjacent Fort Bend County, southwest Houston. The deaths were in a house on Ridgecreek road and both counties, have a Ridgecreek. One death was determined by medical examiner’s office to have been due to natural causes, and one was determined to be a probable homicide of a woman just prior to the hurricane, whose body was placed in an oilfield.

[72] Dung Duc Nguyen. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) Most of Pearland is in Brazoria County. Portions, however, are in Fort Bend and Harris Counties. We are guessing that this Pearland death was in Brazoria County.

[73] This might be a reference to the Pearland death. See Brazoria County footnote.

[74] Gary Schweinle was securing his metal roof when his electric drill nicked a utility line, electrifying roof and “Schweinle when he grabbed an antenna to steady himself in a gust of wind.” Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.

[75] Figure 1, TX map showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. We have not been able to confirm two of the three deaths noted. Left voice mail msg. at Dallas County Medical Examiners Office, 2-1-2014. In that in 2008 Dallas County MEO covered the work of Walker County (which did not have a MEO), need info on Walker.

[76] Manuel Moreno Jr. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.)

[77] Rekesha DeUnshay Hopkins. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) The CO fumes were from a gas generator in an attached garage with garage door shut. (Cindy Horswell. “Houston-area storm-related deaths up to 29,” Houston Chronicle, 9-25-2008.)

[78] Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.

[79] Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.

[80] At last check on the Laura Recovery Center’s Hurricane Ike webpage (1-31-2014) there were 12 people still listed as missing from Galveston vicinity: Reynaldo Capote, 42; Norman Green, 53; Jacqueline Johnson, 53; Mary Joliet, 55; Dessie Martin, 42; Ali Patel, 56; Ramon Ramos, 59; Ernand Ruiz, 33, Cecilia Site, 65; Larry Smith (no age noted); and Dorlene Wiseman, 37, all from Galveston, and Laurie Mitchel, 40, of LaMarque, Galveston County.

[81] “The Laura Recovery Center in Friendswood at last count listed 10 people still missing from the peninsula.”

[82] Harry Bingham, found in Chambers debris field. Paschenko. “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” 1-6-2011.

[83] Chris Paschenko (The Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, Houston, 1-6-2011. Later reports indicated that Ms. Shealy, who was found on Pelican Island, was identified “through DNA comparison with a relative in South Carolina,” KLVI AM 560, Beaumont, TX. “Hurricane Victim Identified.” No date. Standridge has the age as 52. Another report notes that she and Harry Bingham, another fatality, were “inseparable in life…” (Moore. “2 women still missing from Bolivar Peninsula after…Ike.” Beaumont Enterprise, TX, 8-1-2011.)

[84] Robert Frederick Dort. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[85] Chris Paschenko (The Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, Houston, 1-6-2011; Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[86] George Helmond. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[87] Chris Paschenko (The Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, Houston, 1-6-2011; Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[88] Chris Paschenko (The Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, Houston, 1-6-2011; Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[89] Yong Seng Teo, manager of motel on seawall. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam…victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) “Couldn’t reach hospital in time.” (Paschenko. “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[90] “Glennis Dunn, 70, was last seen at her Gilchrist home the Thursday before Ike roared ashore when someone came to pick her up. They had room for her, but not her dog. Dunn planned to leave the next day, but didn’t make it.” (Moore. “2 women still missing from Bolivar Peninsula after Hurricane Ike.” Beaumont Enterprise, 8-1-2011.)

[91] Chris Paschenko (The Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, Houston, 1-6-2011. Article notes that body was found near a Chambers County debris field. Also, Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia). Standridge spells name as Ettinger.

[92] Jennifer McLemore. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.) Had been missing since Sep 13. Refused to evacuate. House, which had been remodeled after Hurricane Rita, was washed away. (Houston Chronicle. “Body in Ike debris ID’d; and another woman’s body found.” 11-25-2008); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia). According to Standridge, Jennifer McLemore was 58, not 50. (p. xi).

[93] “Gilchrist resident Sandy D. Walton, 54, was last seen clinging to the rafters of a Bolivar Peninsula golf course pro shop the night of the storm.” (Moore. “2 women still missing…Bolivar…” Beaumont Enterprise, TX, 8-1-2011); also, Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island…” 12-25-2008.

[94] League City is between Houston and Galveston and is partly in Harris County and partly in Galveston County.

[95] Eddie Bailey. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.) League City is in both Harris and Galveston counties. Mr. Bailey lived in the Galveston County side. (Chris Paschenko (Daily News). “Ike remains are from Crystal Beach Man,” KHOU.com, Houston, TX, 1-2-2010.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[96] Charles Skiles Lively died “from complications from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases” (Galveston Co. Med. Exam. Of.), after evacuation from Galveston. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam…the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) League City is in both Harris and Galveston counties. Mr. Lively lived in the Galveston County side. (Chris Paschenko (Daily News). “Ike remains are from Crystal Beach Man,” KHOU.com, Houston, TX, 1-2-2010.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[97] John A. Manley. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) League City is in both Harris and Galveston counties. Houston Chronicle (“Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28.” 9-23-2008.) lists his death as one that Galveston county officials had identified, and notes he was from Texas City; Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[98] Carolyn Williams. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) League City is in both Harris and Galveston counties. Carolyn Williams lived in the Galveston County side. Also: Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[99] Marion Violet Arrambide. (Paschenko. “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.) Arrambide, M. Strickland and Shane Williams were related (mother, daughter and grandson). Standridge 2010, xi.

[100] Rose Brookshire. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.) According to Standridge (2010, p. xi), Rose Delores Brookshire was 72, not 70. Standridge also notes that Brookshire and Charles Allen Garrett were mother and son.

[101] Walter Fisher. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[102] Charles A. Garrett. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.)

[103] Magdalena Strickland. (Paschenko. “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011.)

[104] Shane Williams. (Paschenko (Daily News). “DNA fails to ID last known Ike victim.” KHOU.com, 1-6-2011); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[105] James B. Devine. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) Another account writes he was found Sep 17 near his home. (Paschenko. “DNA fails to ID last known Ike…” 1-6-2011.); Galveston County Daily News. “Yet Another Hurricane Ike Victim on Goat Island Unidentified.” 12-25-2008 (cites as source for article: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office and Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia).

[106] Figure 1, TX map, showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. We have not been able to determine what this is in reference to. Talked with Co. OEM 1-30-2014 who will look into. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information.

[107] It is possible that our number is less than the reported 9-28 because (1) we have listed a Harris Co. fatality mistakenly in another county, (2) other sources cited are counting Harris Co. fatalities which took place elsewhere, (3) we have not been able to locate and identify other Harris County fatalities.

[108] Figure 1, TX map with counties and Ike-related deaths within each county. We have been able to verify nine. Left phone msg. for Rita Obey, PIO, Harris Co. Public Health & Environmental Services, 1-30-2014. Also left phone msg. at Harris Co. Homeland Security & Emergency Management, 1-30-2014. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information. Communicated with Tricia Rudisill Bentley, M.A., Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Public Information Officer, who in a 2-5-2014 email wrote that “we do not have a list readily available related to hurricane Ike deaths.” Suggested TX Dept. of Vital Statistics and State Health, which I did via 2-5-2014 email.

[109] “Eleven deaths within Harris County have been attributed to Hurricane Ike.” Talked with a representative there on 1-30-2014, who later responded that this number was provided by the Harris County Medical Examiners Office (now named the Institute of Forensic Sciences). In that we have a copy of the Medical Examiner Office report on Ike noting 9 Harris County fatalities and 2 Montgomery County citizens injured there and brought to Harris County hospitals where they died. We prefer to list Montgomery County fatalities there and not in Harris County.

[110] See previous footnote.

[111] Document lists 11 fatalities, but two were Montgomery County patients who died in Harris County hospitals.

[112] At last check on the Laura Recovery Center’s Hurricane Ike webpage (1-31-2014) there were 2 people still listed as missing from Houston vicinity: Kelly McCain, 40, and Janie Parodie, 50.

[113] Joshua Jacob Aguirre. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.)

[114] Cites Harris Co. Med. Exam. Of.. (Houston Chronicle. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area…28.” 9-23-2008.)

[115] Died in mobile home with friend, German Garcia Rojas, after bringing the portable generator inside to prevent its feared theft. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) Found on 15^th. Harris Co. MEO report, 2008 Hurricane Ike writes: “Found in bedroom with gas generator in kitchen.”

[116] Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008. Harris Co. MEO, 2-5-2009.

[117] Died in mobile home with his friend, Francisco Javier Garcia, after bringing the portable generator inside to prevent its theft. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) Found on 15^th. Harris Co. MEO report, 2008 Hurricane Ike writes: “Found in bathroom with gas generator in kitchen.”

[118] Sanchez, Harris Co. Medical Examiner’s Office, Houston, TX. 2008 Hurricane Ike Related Cases, 9-25-2008.

[119] Name is in email attachment to Edward Rappaport (NHC) from Robbie Berg (NOAA), forwarded to Blanchard

[120] Sanchez, Harris Co. Medical Examiner’s Office, Houston, TX. 2008 Hurricane Ike Related Cases, 9-25-2008.

[121] Lisa Ann Weaver. (Cindy Horswell. “Houston-area storm-related deaths up to 29,” Houston Chronicle, 9-25-2008; Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.)

[122] Warren Finlay was clearing branches from home roof and fell Sep 14. Died next day. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) Another account writes that “a large branch snapped, hitting him in the head and knocking him off of the ladder.” (MyTripJournal.com. “Reality of IKE Hits Hard.” 9-15-2008). Have seen an account listing his Houston-area place-of-death in Montgomery Co. Noted as “Another Harris County storm victim…” in: Ruiz. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb…” Houston Chronicle, 9-23-2008. Listed as Harris County “Place of Injury” in Harris Co. MEO report 2008 Hurricane Ike, 2-5-2009 update.

[123] Figure 1, TX map showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. We have verified one of these. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information. Talked with Jefferson County HS&EM Manager who provided contact info for Medical Examiner. Sent email request for additional information, 1-30, 2014.

[124] Port Arthur News, TX. “Woman dead after Beaumont wreck.” 9-14-2008. Article is listed under the title “Hurricane Ike – Latest News,” and notes that emergency medical service was not available and a fire truck was eventually employed to get her to a hospital where she died.

[125] Palestine Herald, TX. “Texas woman dies in Ike-related generator fire.” 9-18-2008. Also: “According to a press release from Southeast Texas Emergency Management at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a house fire at 1913 Neches Ave. A 19-year-old woman was using a candle for light while a man tried to install a new electricity generator inside the home. Vapors ignited as the man poured gasoline into the generator. The man received second-degree burns and the woman was taken to Christus Hospital St. Mary where she was pronounced dead…” (Tennissen. “PA [Port Arthur] woman killed by misuse of generator.” Southeast Texas Record, 9-18-2008.

[126] Detective Thomas L. Keen (Harris Co. Sheriff’s Dept.) was cutting a tree branch obstructing road near his home when limb snapped and hit him in the head Sep 13. Died in hospital two days later. (Officer Down Memorial Page. “Detective Thomas L. ‘Tommy’ Keen.” 5-31-2012 revision; Houston Chronicle. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28.” 9-23-2008.) Berg, of NOAA, has this fatality in Magnolia, in Montgomery County. Harris County Med. Examiner’s Office report on Hurricane Ike notes that the blunt trauma “struck by tree limb” injury took place in Montgomery County and that the death occurred in a Houston, Harris County, hospital on Sep 15 at 1:00 pm.

[127] Manuel Ramirez. (Ruiz. “Ike-related fatalities in Houston area climb to 28.” Houston Chronicle, 9-23-2008.) Date of death from: Madisonville Meteor, TX. “MC [Madison County] man killed in work accident.” 9-24-2008.

[128] Joel Smith, 1^st US Ike victim. The dead tree was being cut down by boy’s father in preparation for the storm. (Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.) The boy was taken to Tomball Hospital in Harris County where he died (or was pronounced dead). (Harris Co. Med. Examiner’s Office report.)

[129] Elizabeth G. Garza. (Harris Co. Homeland Security & Emer. Mgmt./Montgomery Co. Emer. Mgmt. “Press Advisory,” 9-16-2008); David Allen and Allison Flynn. “Facing Ike’s wrath.” The Star, Shelby, NC, 9-14-2008.

[130] Jimmy Ray Wells “was a subcontractor hauling storm debris when he was pinned between the dump bed of his truck and the frame of the trailer.” (Jamie Nash. “Ike claims its fourth county victim.” Observer, East Montgomery County,” 10-16-2008.)

[131] Rosario Guerrero was cutting an Ike-damaged tree on 200 block of West Seale St., having secured himself with a rope to the tree. Part of the tree fell, carrying with it the rope and Guerrero more than 30 feet to the ground. Died in hospital two days later. (KTRE, Pollok, TX. “Hurricane Ike related death.” 9-23-2008.

[132] Michael Page Moxley. (Findagrave.com. “Michael Page Moxley.” 9-23-2008, record #30023620.)

[133] “The Associated Press is reporting…a 19-year-old man was swept off a jetty near Corpus Christi and is presumed dead.” (Ryan Owens, et al. “Ike Swamps Texas, Leaving Widespread Flooding; 3 Million With No Power.” ABC News, Clear Lake, TX, 9-13-2008.); “Corpus Christi — The body of a teen male police suspect to be that of 19-year-old Michael Page Moxley washed ashore early Sunday [Sep 14] near Packery Channel….’We know it’s him,’ said Police Chief Bryan Smith, ‘but we must confirm it with a high standard of certainty.’…Moxley and his friends were among hundreds of area residents drawn to the shore Friday to watch as a storm surge from Hurricane Ike hurled waves against the shoreline. A large swell swept Moxley from the Packery Channel south jetty into the rocks, and officials said witnesses reported that he was unconscious as a riptide pulled him into the water’s undertow…” Baird. “Police think body found near Packery missing teen.” Corpus Christi Caller Times, 9-14-2008.

[134] We have been able to identify one Orange County death. NCDC database shows just one (Bridge City.)

[135] Figure 1, TX map, showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. We have identified one of these. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information. Sent email on 2-1-2014 to Jeff Kelley, Orange County, TX Emergency Management Coordinator, asking if he could provide any information additional to the Bridge City drowning death, or provide contact information on someone else who might be able to assist (in that we have been unable to locate a County Medical Examiner.)

[136] Wikipedia. “Bridge City, Texas.” 11-16-2013 modification. Cites Associated Press. “More Victims Raise Ike’s Death Toll to 67.” WCVB, 9-30-2008 (broken link).

[137] Robbie Berg (NHC). Hurricane Ike (AL092008) 1-14 September 2008. 1-23-2009, 5-3-2010 revision. This could, however, be a reference to Gregory Walker of Port Neches who drowned in the surge at Bridge City.

[138] Adjacent to Jefferson county, across waterway.

[139] Gregory Walker. “Lt. Jimmy LeBoeuf with the Orange County Sheriff’s office said Walker was trapped by rising water while driving back to his home in Port Neches after taking his family to Louisiana…he made a 911 call for help after he got caught in Ike’s storm surge…” KWTX-TV News 10, Waco. “Three More Bodies Found in Hurricane Debris.” 9-29-2008. Walker’s age found at: Broussard’s Mortuary. “Gregory ‘Greg’ Walker.” 1-27-2014. NCDC event narrative: “A storm surge as high as 10 to 12 feet reached Bridge City and downtown Orange. A 40 year old man….trying to drive back to his home in Port Neches….died in Bridge City when his truck was washed off Highway 73 near the Rainbow Bridge.” (National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database.)

[140] Figure 1, TX map, showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. Have not been able to verify. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information. Sent email to San Augustine County Judge Samye Johnson, 2-1-2014, requesting contact information for a coroner or County Medical Officer, or similarly-placed individual who might be in a position to provide information.

[141] Figure 1, TX map showing counties and number of Ike-related deaths within. We have not been able to verify. Communicated with David Zane 1-30-2014; he wrote he could not share confidential death certificate information. Left voice msg. Records Custodian, Tarrant Co. Medical Examiner and Forensic Science Laboratories, 2-3-2014.

[142] “Trinity….One death…attributed to the hurricane, which swept through Trinity County…on Saturday, Sept. 13. The body of Lee Standridge, 22, of Crystal Beach was recovered late Monday afternoon, Sept. 15…the medical examiner has ruled drowning as the cause of death. Standridge and two other men evacuated from Crystal Beach near Galveston and were staying at a home in the Landing Subdivision…northeast of Trinity. All three were on a flat-bottomed boat on Lake Livingston at about midnight on Friday, Sept. 12, as Hurricane Ike began rolling through the region. The winds caused the boat to flip, sending the three into the water…Standridge, who was wearing a lifejacket, did not [survive].” Trinity Standard. “Area cleaning up following storm. Sep 2008. The Trinity Standard article has age as 22; Standridge (2010, xi) has age as 23. Also, Berg. Hurricane Ike, 5-3-2010 revision.

[143] From map of Texas (Figure 1) showing counties and the number of Ike-related deaths within each county. We have been able to identify two of these. On Feb 1, 2014 left phone msg. at Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, in that in 2008 Walker County did not have an MEO and Dallas County MEO covered Walker County. On Feb 3, 2014 left phone msg. for David Anderson, Walker County Emergency Management Assistant.

[144] Saundra Lee Tykol. Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008.

[145] Houston Chronicle. “In Memoriam: Remembering the victims of Ike.” 9-28-2008. Article does not note how the house fire was related to the hurricane, other than noting that it happened “as Ike passed through Walker County.”

[146] The CDC in its report “Carbon Monoxide Exposures After Hurricane Ike – Texas, September 2008,” citing the Texas Department of State Health Services, shows, in Figure “Number of storm-related carbon monoxide exposure/deaths after Hurricane Ike, by date and data source – Texas September 13-26, 2008,” one CO poisoning death on Sep 16 which we have not been able to identify. It does not show any CO poisoning deaths afterwards, including three reported on the 18^th by other sources.

[147] See, for CO poisoning hospital visit increase: Fife, et al. “Dying to play video games: carbon monoxide poisoning from electrical generators used after hurricane Ike.” Pediatrics, Vol. 123, No. 6, June 2009, 1035-1038.

[148] David Zane emailed, in response to Blanchard email, that he could not share confidential information. We have only been able to identify nine (possibly 10) CO poisoning deaths, and there is nothing in the report that allows one to attempt to validate the notation of 13 CO poisoning deaths.

[149] The CDC in its report “Carbon Monoxide Exposures After Hurricane Ike – Texas, September 2008,” citing the Texas Department of State Health Services, shows, in Figure “Number of storm-related carbon monoxide exposure/deaths after Hurricane Ike, by date and data source – Texas September 13-26, 2008,” one CO poisoning death on Sep 16 which we have not been able to identify. It does not show any CO poisoning deaths afterwards, including three reported on the 18^th by other sources.

[150] No information provided to use to confirm these deaths or validate their inclusion as hurricane Ike-related. Independently we have located references to nine hurricane Ike-related natural deaths in TX following the storm.

[151] On page 25 it is written that there were five suicides related to the hurricane. From same page, presumably the three indirect deaths from firearms were suicides. One needs to guess at the other two from the two attributed to “ingestion of drug or substance,” 1 due to “inhalation of fumes/smoke/dust”, and 1 from “suffocation.” I have seen no other references anywhere to suicide deaths in Texas following the storm which were thought to be related to Ike.

[152] As noted before, the report is not written in a way to enable validation/verification of these four “Other” deaths listed under “Injuries.” One does not know in what county, locality, or date to begin a search.

[153] Additional to four “Other” deaths in “Injury” section. Report is not written in a way to enable validation or verification of these four deaths. One does not know in what county, locality, or date to begin a search.

[154] Two electric utility workers electrocuted in LA restoring power, presumably male, two Jefferson Parish, LA “natural causes” deaths, and one Terrebonne Parish, LA “natural causes” death.

[155] Direct deaths. (Robbie Berg. Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Ike (AL092008) 1-14 September 2008. Miami: National Hurricane Center, 1-23-2009, 5-3-2010 revision.)

[156] There can be no doubt that many people feel stress prior to, during and after a disaster event such as a hurricane. There can also be no doubt that in a large population many people with pre-existing medical conditions die virtually on a daily basis. How medical personnel can distinguish between a death that would have occurred when it did regardless of the disaster event, and those who died earlier than they otherwise would is problematical.

[157] Taking the ambiguity referred to in the previous footnote further, who is to say that the death of someone with a serious pre-existing medical condition, was or was not possibly exacerbated by a disaster event. It would be particularly easy to understand how one could lean in the direction of indicating a death possibly exacerbated if the disaster event was Presidentially declared, meaning that in Ike and in other such events, funeral expenses in the thousands of dollars can be paid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to survivors if a doctor, medical examiner, or coroner notes that the death could have been exacerbated by the disaster event.

[158] Cites as sources: Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office, Chambers County Judge Jim Sylvia and Chambers County Sheriff Joe LaRive, Laura Recovery Center