Galveston County Health Authority Dr. Mark Guidry toured the Bolivar Peninsula on Wednesday.

"Today we did for the first time a public health and environmental assessment, an initial assessment, of Bolivar Peninsula, and we went as far as we could," Dr. Guidry said. "We took a boat to the ferry landing and from there took vehicles, trucks, throughout the peninsula as far as we could go."
Guidry said that the tour was limited to Highway 87 because of water and sand that made further exploration difficult.
"Overall there is a great deal of destruction, most particularly, of course, in Gilchrist where I think there was only one structure, a house, that existed. The other houses just seem to have disappeared and blown away."

Guidry said the destruction extends throughout the peninsula.
"One point is that the roads are unsafe. There are several areas on 87 where the road has eroded away."
He said the bridge at Rollover pass is "very much degraded." More than one half of the bridge is gone and it is very hazardous to cross. Because of the erosion and sand on the roadway some vehicles have gotten stuck.

"We did not see a large number of people still staying there," Guidry said. "We ran into one group that was on the way out toward High Island. There were two individuals we ran across at Crenshaw Elementary that showed intent to stay, however they do have some social needs that need to be taken care of and they did say they would consider moving off if there was a place that they could take care of things like their dog and get some of their personal property. "Guidry said the peninsula is not a place that is safe or healthy to inhabit at this point.He also talked about health issues for Galveston County residents in general.

The Galveston County Health District will open the 4Cs Clinic in Texas City on Thursday, if electricity is restored, and all citizens may utilize the service. It is hoped that the clinic will be open from 8 to 5 on Thursday, and will have extended hours in the future if there is a need.
"If our doctors are the doctors of the citizen, then we could manage the refills (of prescriptions) by phone call, but if we have never seen you before then we need to see you in the clinic."

Call (409) 938-2401 for information on the 4Cs Clinic.