Galveston Resort Turns Into Storm Central

A motley crew rode out Hurricane Ike at Galveston’s San Luis Resort, Spa, & Conference Center, Joel Achenbach writes for the Washington Post. Up to 800 people were there, among them the mayor, cops and firefighters, along with storm chasers and drenched refugees holed up as the wind roared and TV newscasts forecast doom. “I am afraid we may be in danger. I am afraid for everyone here,” one mother wrote in her journal.

Guests at a neighboring Holiday Inn fled to the San Luis when hotel lawyers asked them to sign papers that would hold the chain blameless in the event of a catastrophe. Young men seeking beer and food decided to go to a friend’s house. A baker who intended to ride out the storm at home arrived, after fleeing his house by boat. “I prayed the whole way over here,” he said. (More Galveston stories.)