Galveston, TX, one of the nation’s most vulnerable cities, disregarded a key White House recommendation — despite a city-wide mandatory evacuation order and news media and forecaster predictions of “certain death” for those remaining in Galveston for Hurricane Ike.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Galveston officials are mum on the reason for not evacuating the county prison with about 1,000 prisoners.  The online jail roster was unavailable Saturday night as Ike hit the TX coast.  For an idea of the proximity of the jail to the water follow this link.

The reason for not evacuating the prisoners is a security issue and cannot be discussed, sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said.

Maj. Tuttoilmondo reveals that the jail “was specially designed to withstand hurricanes,” but he would not “discuss measures the Sheriff’s Office would take to make sure the prisoners and jail staff remained safe if a storm surge floods the jail.”

Blatant disregard of White House post-Katrina recommendations without explanation underscores the need for the Disaster Accountability Project to make sure post-Katrina recommendations are at least considered.

From the Disaster Accountability Project’s website and post-Katrina White House Lessons Learned Report (2/23/06):

Rec #127 Public Safety and Security: Criminal Justice Lessons Learned Recommendation #55, Page 104 DOJ, in coordination with DHS, should establish a program to provide oversight and technical assistance for States’ emergency plans for evacuating prisoners in the event of a disaster. Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS DOJ )