According to a report in the Galveston Daily News, the port of Galveston is unlikely to reopen this week due to flooding in the cruise terminal and damage to the channel itself.
The local newspaper says a federal underwater debris assessment team needs to determine whether the channel itself is clear for ship traffic. In addition, two to three feet of water covered the cruise terminal, and a wall next to the water was torn down in the storm. As the area is no longer secure, it's possible that looting and other damage might occur before the city can erect fencing or get the terminal up and running.
Cruise travelers on Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy who parked their cars at the port are in for some bad news, too. According to a city spokesperson quoted in the article, "cars left in port parking lots by cruise ship passengers are most likely a total loss." The combination of water damage and potential looting means travelers will probably be unable to recover their vehicles.
