For all of those in the path of IKE. It struck home this morning when I got an email from my friend Shirley who lives in Houston with her husband and two cats. I haven't been able to sleep since, I am so worried about them. If you remember the wallet story,
http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2008/03/wallet-story.html Shirley is the friend that drove me back to Denver from Boulder because she trusted my instincts. I know a lot of you also know Shirley and some, like me, have also met her husband, Stan. In addition we have at least two regular posters that live in Texas, Symply and Kaye. Please send good thoughts, good vibes, prayers, anything you can muster for Shirley, her family, her pets, Symply, Kaye, and all those in the wake of IKE. Here is Shirley's chilling email:
Hi,
It's about 5:20 a.m. and we have had little sleep. The downtown area of Houston has received some of the biggest winds and it is totally frightening. We are 1 mile from downtown. We went to bed at 10 and the major storm rolled in after midnight. It sounds like a freight train and our house shudders at times. We finally got up at 3. The wind was out of the northwest for a while and has now shifted to the west. Since that time we have experienced water coming in around windows and under doors. The power of the rain blowing horizontally is just awful. We still have power by some miracle although the lights have gone off and on quickly at times. We doubt our sons do. They live amid trees and regular poles providing power. We have underground power and, so far, we are holding on. Downtown still has power too. We still have many hours to go as the winds shift. The eye came just east of downtown so we have been given no relief. This will go on until 6 this afternoon. It is such a huge, broad, storm. They say that if you hear something that sounds like a freight train, get into a closet. Well, all night it has sounded like a freight train. We are weary and scared. We believe our house will hold up ok but the leaks and water coming in on the carpet and wood floor is really disturbing. I've run out of spare towels and I had a ton to start with. The cats are totally freaked so we shut them into the guest bedroom because Foxy kept opening the shutters to look outside to see what all of that racket is. Zachary just kept running around with his tail down. He'd jump every time a huge gust occurred. The metal weather stripping around doors is acting like a reed in a woodwind instrument and all of the doors are creating a micabre concert.
I'll sign off for now. Keep praying for Houston. Over 2 million are now without power and it may be weeks getting it restored, according to the t.v. reporters. One of my friends in Baton Rouge, LA, lost power in Gustav 14 days ago and still does not have power. That is dreadful.
Love to all,
Shirley
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16 comments:
Hello Bill -- Austin is is good shape. Symply may get some rain, but nothing damaging. When Ike turned North before hitting land, that took us out of the danger zone. We were prepared for 60-70 mph winds and several inches of rain. We even arranged for several generators at the office that would keep the computer room and security equipment up if we lost power. I'm hoping they're are freeing up those generators so they can go where they are really needed now.
I have a (ex)sister-in-law (old BFs from 20 years ago sister who I still keep in touch with) who lives just North of Houston in Kingwood. They made it to the Austin area yesterday morning and are staying with one of her sisters. Another (ex)sister-in-law (my brothers ex-wife) who's sister lives in Houston, is here staying with her. So those I know are safe. News reports look bad, tho.
They were liking Ike to Carla that hit Houston in 1961. I have vivid memories of Carla. People didn't evacuate then, you just hunkered down and prayed for the best. As a kid, I didin't fear a thing except that the boogie man was hiding beind the bathroom door when I had to take a bath by candle light. We were always lucky, only loosing power for a week or so. Very little water damage.
I am sending prayers to your close friend, Bill. May they stay safe and recover quickly.
Prayers for all involved. It is a terrible situation. I really feel for the folks who must do the rescue and response too.
Hi Kaye
Thank for reporting in and letting us know you are all right and Austin is in good shape.
I'm glad the sister in law is safe and with her1 sister.
Thanks for the prayers I just in the last hour got a message that she was safe!
Bill
Hi Kim
Yes definitely lets pray for the emergency workers, they work so hard, and risk their lives every day. The rescue and response workers have a really hard job.
Bill
Kaye, so glad to know Austin is fine and you and Symply are doing okay and that all your family was out of harm's way. All of your prayers helped, as Shirley has reported into us and is doing okay. Since they had underground utilities, they even have power, so the d-i-l and grandson are with them now.
Our internet was down for over 24 hours and I was gnashing my teeth, wondering what was going on with Ike's path and Shirley and all. It looks grim in Houston. Like the rest of you, my heart goes out to the rescue teams and emergency responders, who have a major job ahead of them. IMHO, these are the folks who ought to be making the big bucks and considered celebrities, becasue they're in the trenches and on the job in some of the most challenging situations and circumstances imaginable. Maybe we could start a campaign to encourage them to be the ones to get big bucks promoting products -- rather than celebrities -- and the chosen "hero" could share the wealth with his units!
I suspect we need to keep those in the path of Ike in our thoughts and prayers for more than a little. Reports are it may take as much as six weeks to get everyone back on electricity and goodness knows what the damage estimates may be complete.
Hi DR
Thanks for the report on Shirley, I am glad she still has her power and can provide a safe place for her sons and their family.
If anyone knows about hurricanes it is you!
Thanks for the nice post.
Bill
>> If anyone knows about hurricanes it is you!
Well, yeah, been there, done that, just like Pat and earthquakes and I'm sure Kaye's had her share. The only advantage to hurricanes is you know they're coming and, if you're smart and have lived in hurricane territory any period of time, you're prepared to either hunker down or get the heck out. Much easier than the tornadoes of my childhood!
Maybe my 12 years on the two coasts of Florida "color" my attitude toward ignoring evacuation warnings and my attitude to the emergency responders. We have a friend who, at the age of 72, (a ham radio operator and trained as an EMT when he was 65) is still an ER in Florida.
I'm very glad to hear Shirley and her family are okay, and how great that they still have power! That would be the worst thing, for me, being without power and a/c down there. Ugh. Thanks for the update, and I've waving at you, Shirley, if you happen to check in here to read!
Hi Dr
I think in my life I've been in a couple of earthquakes, a volcano erruption, a flood, a really high windstrom (100 mph), and some helicious electrical storms. I can handle it lol.
I'm with you on people who ignore evacuation orders, they put an amazing unnecesary strain on emergency works. We should say here that Shirley was told not to evacuate because where was they thought the would be safe and they told her not to plug up the roads for those that had to evacuate.
Bill
Hi Mary
When I first moved to Portland we would lose our power for a week at a time due to ice storms. Fortunately we haven't had anything but short term power outages for the last ten years.
When we lost the power for a week we would cook on a wood stove and heat the house with the wood stove. Most restaurants in the area didn't have power either. We survived but I'm glad we havne't had to do that for a while.
Bill
Yes, Shirley is fortuante to have power and she's sharing it, not only with family but with others. Among other things, she says they can provide less fortunate with a hot cup of coffee, half an hour or so of air-conditioning and the ability to recharge cell phones. Sounds just like Shirley (grin).
Bill, you've certainly had your share of "adventures." We'd lose power in AK, when high winds would blow the lines coming down from Snetisham. We moved from that to FL hurricanes to SC ice storms. 'Course, I grew up in the midwest with tornadoes. There's something, no matter where you go. The RV generator has saved our bacon (and chicken and chops)on more than occasion here, by providing power to the refrigerators. Push come to shove, we can always camp out in the driveway, since the rig has gas stove and refrig and water heater.
Hi DR
You make me want to get a motor home. Seems like it would save a lot of heartache in a power outage!
Bill
Hi Bill and Kaye,
We made it through okay. Hardly any rain or wind. My sister and her two grandson's are up here staying with me though due to being without electricity. Their town lost the structural towers and transformers via Entergy and it will be two weeks or more before they have it back on.
My daughter Sarah and her husband Mark and the two boys are staying with Lauren and BJ because they live in Beaumont and they lost a power and had damage but at least they are well. Finally got to see my latest Grandson!!! They came over for a visit last night.
My prayers to your friend, Bill.
Hi Symply
Thanks for checking in.
I'm so glad that your sister and her two grandson's have a nice place to stay and I hope they get their power back on soon!
I hope Sarah's family are able to move back home soon.
Boy did you have a lot of family members in the way of IKE. Hugs and prayers.
I'm so glad that there was a great momment for you during the turmoil, how exciting it must have been to see your grandson for the first time!
My friend is doing well but like a lot of families their two sons, wifes, and family staying with them due to power outages.
Bill
Hi All,
I want to thank you for your prayers and positive vibes regarding hurricane Ike. My family and I are doing well. We had 2 sons, their wives, 3 dogs, and a 20-month-old grandson living with us for several days. All left today to return to homes where power has been restored. Through all of this we deepened our family commitment to one another. We bonded in ways we had not had an opportunity to do before. I cooked more the past 5 days than I've cooked in the last 5 years!! Over 1.3 million people in the Houston area still are without power even now. This hurricane really wiped out much of Galveston and the other beach communities in that area of Southeast TX. Houston is a huge mess and it's been tough getting basic necessities. We were prepared, thankfully. People who do not heed warnings never cease to amaze me. Then they say, "well, I didn't think it would be that bad." The media does cause a lot of hype but my philosophy is to be safe rather than sorry.
I want to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I strongly believe in the power of prayer! Your prayers were strong and they worked! Please continue to pray for those who are still in need of electric services and other basic life needs.
Peace and blessings, Shirley
Hi Shirley
I am so glad to see you report here on how you and your family are doing!! We have all be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
I'm glad your family is able to return to their homes today and that there was some family bonding! At least some good will come out of this tragedy!
Hugs.
Bill
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