Never mind. On TV they said that all of Houston except the downtown and medical center area have lost power. Not too surprising, I guess.
Hurricane Ike Watch
I have power again. I don't know for how long though. That big branch did come down and water is coming in from the living room ceiling. I'm worried the roof is going to cave in. I also just looked at the radar and it looks like a lot more rain which is exactly what I don't need.
Hope all of you and your family and friends are safe.
I have a question. I have some lights on. If there is water in the attic, and if the attic is exposed, am I risking an electical fire? Does having the lights on make a difference?
DH was an electrician in the past and he says it should makes no difference. Now, if the limb had hit a power line and there were dangling live wires somewhere, that would be dangerous in itself regardless of lights. Otherwise not.
Bless you.... I don't know but don't think there is a fire problem unless the wiring is damaged and then it wouldn't matter if the lights were on. I am so sorry!
I am at a friends house a couple miles from my house
It just keeps going
there will nlbe so much destruction
Well, IKE has arrived and it sounds like he is a bad boy! I can't see out yet but hear trees crashing and limbs hitting the roof. This will not be good as it is just beginning.
Lights haven't gone out yet...
We're still praying for everyone. Please stay safe.
Sharon
Morning!
TWC is reporting 3 million homes in the Houston Area w/o power.
The water will (should) short out any circuits it contacts and create an arc.
This should trip your breakers.
Fire isn't the issue.
Water damage is......
At this point you can't, I assume, get on the roof and cover the hole.
If that can be done from inside though..... it will save some major expense later.
Glad to see some of you popping in to report you're OK.
Be Safe!
Hang on Sloopy!
Ric
From Jacksonville, near Tyler, the wind and rain has begun. The worst of things will not arrive for several hours they say. Will try to keep you posted on this area. I expect the power to go down today. Many evacuees are in the area shelters.
Hope for the best for all.
DD
well it is just starting to sprinkle rain and it is getting to be a lil more then just breezy here
DH just came in from sitting on the back porch and said the clouds are moving at a good clip and the winds are coming from the north east.
Still praying for the safety of all Texans who are in the way of this bad boy. Although born in Florida I had to have a blood transfusion in Houston and my bother and sister were born in Houston so I'm claiming TX rights. Wish I was closer so I could come up with the clean up.
those that can keep posting so we all know how it goes for ya.
Janet
Thanks Linda, Podster and Ric for the electric info. That eases my mind considerably. The wind is still really blowing, and I heard two more heavy things slam against the roof, so I'm not going out there anytime soon. I just hope it holds until I can get up there.
I am still hoping we all get through this OK!
Everyone please stay safe. I just heard on the CNN that it will be weeks before power will be back on. My thoughts and prayers are out for all of you.
Well, it didn't hold. The living room ceiling just collapsed. OMG, something else just hit the roof. When is this going to end?
Please, tell us you are in a secure portion of the house. A strong wall that will protect you...
Elphaba oh Please be careful and safe as possible
what area you that you still have electric?
everything says Houston has the eye overhead and alot of power is out
they say a huge tree is down on a house in the Woodlands now
I made a hurricane bunker in the safest part of the house, so far, so good. I seem to jinx myself when I say that though.
My dogs are asleep! Either they are too exhausted from the stress or the storm to stay awake a minute longer or it 's about over. There I go jinxing myself again!
Ike coverage on 361 says the eye is now just over Conroe and is heading to huntsville area and it is still a hurricane
highest winds and down pours are over the center of Houston and the woodlands will be getting it in the next few minutes...*sigh*
This message was edited Sep 13, 2008 7:37 AM
Oh no Conroe... Moodene our prayers with you too!
Just stepped outside during a break in the rain. Butterfly ginger and Osmanthus have blooms freshly opened and the hummingbirds are going crazy at the feeders. Unreal!
Wow, you left your feeders out? I felt so guilty bringing mine in!
There was just a loud pop and the electricity went out and then came back on. I don't know how much longer I'll have electricity. I heard them say that everyone was without power too, but mine came back on after only two hours. I live near the 610 north loop and 290 in Oak Forest.
Oh my God! I have family in Humble and friends in Conroe, Spring and the Woodlands, I pray that the Lord will keep them safe.
they just showed Judge Emmett in Houston says to stay inside until the entire storm passes.
also said that down town power lines are underground and that is why they still have power
so you are more towards downtown then and not too far from the galleria?
Elphaba the popping is probably arcing of the electric lines.
I assume the popping was from outside.
Probably a tree branch rubbing on the lines.
Stay in your bunker!
I worked tornado clean up here in OH in the 70's.
The greatest 'after' danger is from live downed electric lines.
If you still have power after the main force is over...
be sure to check the lines you can see from inside first.
If you see a downed line.... even if you DON'T have power..... assume it's live.
Wet Ground and downed Pole Lines... not a good mix!!!
I put up a check-in Thread here... just a quick Hi I'm here type of thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/902550/
Modene and ALL!
Good Luck!
Stay Safe!
Ric
I'm not seeing an Eye now on Radar!
Could be clutter and it's FAR from over but....
Winds are now 90 MPH.....
La continues to see spotty Tornados.
Ric
50-70 mph wind gusts here in Bryan right now. I saw my greenhouse just slide about 6 inches but it is still holding. I've got a tree right over my house and I am hoping it stays upright. Everyone in the path keep safe.
Kim
I have the old fashioned telephone lines that are not underground. I'm quite close to the galleria and downtown. I'm in between both and a little bit further north. I cannot believe that I have power. I just looked outside the window and it looks like my giant Willow Oak lost all of its branches. A huge pine in my neighbor's yard has branches just hanging and it looks like its top may have blown off.
It looks like I don't have water except for the water coming in the ceiling!
Good Luck Kim!!
Those winds should be easing off soon.
Anyone having trouble w/ long load times on this Thread?
I'm on a very high speed DSL so can't tell when this becomes an issue.
A new Thread can easily be started.
Ric
Kim, be sure that you pick a safe location in the house that doesn't have tree limbs over it -- if you can. I'm glad I was in my bunker and not where I would usually be on the living room couch which is directly under the cave in. If you're like me, you love your big trees so much and the fact that they hang over the house makes your house prettier. It's sad that the people in new houses, with hurricane windows, no yards, and no trees are better off in this storm than us nature lovers!
Good luck!
Stepped outside for just a bit. It's not going to get as hairy for us here as it is in Houston, but the noise of the wind is definitely scary. The wind picked up as I was taking this so skidaddled back inside.
Anne
Thinking of all of you in Ike's path. My cousin and her family live in Houston. I hope you and they are all safe.
From all of us from north texas we wish every one is safe and well. Jerry
Ditto from all of us in the coastal areas who uderstand that gut wrenching feeling as a storm approaches.
Does anyone know how Cypress Creek fared? Many years ago it overran it's banks causing some major damage so they built a levee to prevent that happening again. I was wondering how it did this time.
I just talked to Marylyn_TX a few minutes ago.
She's in Houston.
She was one of my contacts.
Limbs down, Power out but otherwise OK!
Ric
I was wondering how Marilyn was. Thanks Ric.
My heart goes to all of you guys in Houston and surrounding areas...
Kassia (NE forum)
vossner just called from richmond (houston). she is ok.
Henry...Thanks for the info on Marilyn...she is a special lady to me.
Praying for all of you in the storms path. Jo
We have another, more universal check-in thread on the Weather Forum since many don't read this forum.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/902585/
Glad to know.