Beautiful Musa!
Ric
Hurricane Ike Landfall
acknowledging the fact that there is alot going on with re-building, and clean up- and that loads of us are thankful for what didn't get destroyed- Garden wise, this article in the Houston Chronicle pretty much sums it up for those of use who surveyed the dammage in our gardens and neighborhoods when we ventured out.
Truly- it's remarkable that more structures are not dammaged.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/gardening/features/6001757.html
Checking in for the first time. Ike roared in to our town on Saturday morning.
We only had one tree come down and luckily it didn't fall on any structures.
We left and went to stay with my dd in a nearby town. Here at home we didn't have any power, water, land line, or cells. The storm did major damages to all the power grids throughout deep east Texas.
We left on Sat. morning and just came home tonight. Yea! We have power now and also a home.
Prayers for all those that have been hit so hard by this storm.
Lin
I heard that many in the shelters are impatient to get home even though they're told their areas aren't inhabitable yet. I understand...I'd want to go also if it was me. People want to get back to their lives, even if it's going to be unpleasant. When I was a child we were in a shelter for two days during a hurricane and left, then came back when the flood waters (from heavy rain) came up into the house. It was a local shelter, so going back and forth wasn't such a problem...except for the snakes. I still have memories of those, even though I was just a toddler at the time. I like the snakes here much better.
I was little when Hurrican Carla came through Houston, well young, I don't think I was ever "little" lol. The adults sat around, in the dark of course, telling my sister and I stories. I don't remember being scared, I thought it was just great fun sitting around in the dark being the center of attention, lol. Not so fun for the adults of course, then or now. Shelters here asking for donations of food and money. I'm still off work because the community where I teach is without electricity. They were supposed to get a generator for the city sewage system but it mysteriously "disappeared" before it got there.
Anne
Checking in~ Just got our phone back this evening, no power yet, but a fine generator! Still keeping the freezer going.
I feel very blessed that we didn't have any major damage. That big old pine tree missed the house and fell in the middle of one of my beds, missed the solar lights, knocked the top of the bird bath off - it didn't break! I think the kumquat tree will survive, even though it will probably be a bush from now on (that's o.k. since I can't reach anything, anyway), it got my lion's ear and a smal fig tree. Ironically, the branches are proping up the trunk,giving some of the smaller plants room. I will start the clean-up as soon as we get power. Without power, we have no water, and I'm not going to cover myself with insect repellant without being able to shower!!!!
Has anyone heard from Ceejay?
I forgot. We have (had?) a canal lot in Gilchrist. Rumor has it that it may be condemed. Has any one else been in that situation before? I wonder what to do. I know we won't be able to check it out for a while. And I just paid our property owners association dues, to!
I am sure they are worring about their homes, friends, and the money they aren't making. Bills don't quit accumulating because of a hurricane. If one person per family could board buses and travel into the area for a one day tour to check on things; I think a lot would realize they are lucky to be out of there. They need to take a look for themselves though, I think I would feel the same way.
Sorry Annette....we cross posted. Glad you are safe, sorry for the damage you have experienced. You asked about Ceejay..she did check in on one of the threads, or someone checked in for her. She had a lot of damage, no electricity, etc. but she and family were ok.
This message was edited Sep 18, 2008 11:11 PM
Thanks, Sheila!
I know that when I see pictures of Bolivar, it makes me sick. I really feel blessed. When we were in Huntsville yesterday, I saw a lot of vehicles with their suitcases, and some storage boxes packed among the people. I know that a lot of people were evacuated to there, and what's really sad is that that may be all they have now....a few boxes of memories.
I would hate to have just a day to decide what to take with me and what to leave.
I left information about Ceejay on one of the other threads. Had a phone call from her daughter,
no power at the time, some damage including structural damage to the pool, but otherwise she and family are OK.
Thanks June....too many people to keep up with, just knew she was ok.
I had phone and internet service after the storm, but lost it in the middle of the afternoon on Sunday and I just now got it back. The other side of my street still doesn't have power and we don't have street lights. The light from my porch just seems to disappear into nothingness.
I was so busy clearing the debris from my own home that I didn't go wandering around the neighborhood like everyone else seemed to do. Finally, yesterday, I went to Lowes. I couldn't believe the drive through the neighborhood. The blocks around my house seemed to really take a beating with huge pines and oaks that uprooted and chopped right through homes. I'm feeling really lucky now that I only had two small holes in the roof.
I paid a company from New York twice as much as I usually pay to have the trees on my roof removed. Oh well, it's done. With the cedar gone and my willow oak almost half its size, the sun in the backyard now is amazing. Some plants are going to die. Others will be happier. The squirrels and the birds are extremely unhappy!
Everyday since the storm, the only sounds have been chainsaws, helicopters, and sirens. It's very strange. I hope everyone comes out of this OK.
Bless you all... our hearts go out to you. Elphaba do you still have lights? We will be interested to see how your gardens evolve with the environmental changes ahead. And what are you doing up at that time of morning?
For the folks that want to see what is left of their homes, it is too bad there isn't an online satellite connection that would give them a virtual tour. Many times the conditions just aren't safe to go back in. A young man we know worked in offshore drilling. Their office was in Galveston and is now totally destroyed. He said he flew out with the boss to see what was left of the drilling platforms. He commented on seeing where the floodwaters hadn't receded yet. On all high ground it was crawling with gators and snakes. Folks just don't need to go home yet for their own safety.
We're still holding all of Yall close to our hearts and lifting you up in prayer!!! There is no way to prepare for what the devastion that Gustav and Ike have caused!!!! God be with each of you as you go back!!! May he give you the strength to make it thru the next few weeks!!! Also know that if there is anything we can do, just let us know!!!!
Amen !!
I'm sorry ... I've been watching the wrong thread! I posted over on the weather forum several days ago that araness aka Saint is okay. They just got their power back yesterday ... still no land line but am able to keep in touch with cell. Hopefully she'll be able to post soon. They had no damage to their home, thank the Lord. :)
I'm praying for each and everyone ... I just wanted you to know.
Hugs&blessings ... ~Susan
We are counting our blessings as we only lost two large trees and part of a picket fence. We had some flooding and ruined carpet because of clogged drains from debris. This happened after the Hurricane when the cool front blew in and brought us a furious rain storm. We have most of it cleaned up and sitting on the curb. We never lost our water but did loose electricity for 5 days. That wasn't too much of a problem as we had a generator. Cell phone service was very spotty. Walking around the neighborhood I saw many downed trees but miraculously most of them fell away from the homes (as did the ones in my yard). Our beautiful golf course is littered with trees. Most of our damage was confined to the front and side yard so my flowerbeds which are mostly in the back were spared except for some wind damage. The cool front was a God send as otherwise it would have been unbearable with no air conditioning. People here have been wonderful. Neighbors helping one another, and people I encountered in lines at the grocery stores and gas lines were courteous, concerned and trying to smile and make the best of a bad sitution.
I saw that on the news, it was heartbreaking seeing the owners surveying what was left of their neighberhood.....nothing. Just a few boards.
Prayers to all, glad to hear people are helping each other.
My prayers go out to you all. The devastation there looks like our Midwest floods, twisters, & ice storms all rolled into one. Ike tore through our area last Sunday morning leaving more rain than our sewer systems could handle. Corn fields look like lakes. The Mississippi River raised to a level overnight that usually takes months of rain to create. I can't imagine what you all must be going through right now and may God be with you throughout your recovery period. I have faith that you'll prevail stronger and better than before Ike. Keep the faith.
I know....my sister lives in Valporaiso, Indiana, and they got 8-10" of rain. In one of her rooms the ceiling fell in, and she had to pull her carpet up due to flooding.
She had more internal damage than we did.
Hobart, Indiana, where I was raised is flooded. They were afraid that the dam might not hold. It is many many feet above the flood stage. It's really bad. At least two counties have been declared a Disaster Area.
There have been 60 deaths nationwide.
We are really blessed that it wasn't any worse here.
Jeanne
Checking in... And thanking you all for your prayers and good thoughts. The Woodlands is situated in the Piney Woods - a forest - and so there are many trees, of course. That's the beauty of the place, and the problem when there are high winds. We've had much damage with trees down everywhere - many on homes, but I don't believe there were any deaths. That's a "Praise God!" We've also sustained lots of flooding with homes totally destroyed in low-lying areas. But nothing like Galveston, Bolivar Peninsula, Surfside, and other areas located in the surge area. I hurt for those people.
Like others, our yard looked like a giant salad bowl. We were able to upright the downed loquat leafed oak with the help of friends. The Chinese pistache is at a rakish 45 degree angle and won't budge. Some of you might remember the Montezuma cypress that has bent completely over three times in various storms - one was Rita - and had to be righted and staked. It's about 30 feet tall now, and although it twisted and turned and bent and lashed about, it remained standing. Go figure. All of the branches on the plumeria were snapped off. I now have many "candles" to share. If you'd like one - dmail me. It's "Slaughter Pink". The fig tree that we just knew would be the first to go - it is shaped like a lollipop - is fine. Another go figure. The two huge weeping willow trees the neighbors planted just inside their property line - those two trashy trees that I have hated for so long - went down! One came down on our screened-in pool, causing structural damage. But that can be fixed. I am overjoyed. ;-) It could have come down on the house, on DH who was sleeping in the room next to it. The front windows all leaked when the seals were damaged by the winds and will have to be replaced, but we wanted to do that anyway. The carpet has dried out. So, except for experiencing the loss of electricity and having to toss food and clean fridges and freezers (which needed to be done anyway), we were one of the very fortunate. We ate well - all manner of grilled foods as they thawed - and by candlelight too. But the return of A/C, followed by the return of cable a few days later - were truly joyous occasions and celebrated!!! It was bad, but it could have been so much worse. I will never take electricity for granted again.
The total isolation was the worst part. We had no idea what was happening, and relied on our DD in Tennessee to tell us what she was able to learn there. She was able to tell us that our water was safe to drink. She found a generator for us in Humble, and our electricity returned just after we had filled it with gas and oil and were ready to turn it on. Well, I guess we're ready for the next one. But I was frustrated when she told me that there were areas where the water wasn't safe, and the residents were supposed to boil it before using. How were they supposed to know? And how were they supposed to boil it? I guess that's where a battery operated radio comes in, and a Coleman burner - neither of which we had. Lesson learned.
Annette - Are you still without water? We never lost ours.
So True, many plans were simply accelerated!
I have to say the cell phones while charged were a life saver and never went out except when the batteries died.
We never lost water..(naturally...I was very prepared)
We're still in the dark, but the next block up has power which is good because there are several neighborhood restaurants to choose from for dinner.
One year CVS offered a battery operated TV for $5. It is tiny but works. I think it was cheap because you had to charge it up first. Good thing that we thought to open and read it before needing it to know that.
We didn't loose elec. this year but have done without about three days before.
We're outside the Hurricane Zone so really didn't think to put together a 'Kit'.
WRONG! lol!
As I mentioned before the Solar LED Spotlights from Malibu worked Great!
Perfect for reading or just plain walking around light.
Also there are several Hand Cranked Radios and Flahlights as well as Solar Radios and I'd assume TV's.
The Handcranks have been around since the 1930's....
We have a Solar Battery Charger...
But this is actually what most Solar lights are anyway.
So you can put your rechargeable AA batteries in your solar light set to charge them up........
Ric
This message was edited Sep 21, 2008 9:44 PM
oooh..very clevah!
CeeJay, I'm glad to learn that you and your family are alright and sorry to learn that your yard was turned into a "salad bowl". It's amazing what weathered the storm. Have you been able to clear all the damage out of your yard? Was the plumeria planted in the ground?
You ask "How were they supposed to know?". By following the warning to "Be Prepared". My MIL has lived in Houston since 1950 and gone through a number of hurricanes, the latest was Rita. Still no generator, no chainsaw, no extra water, no battery powered radio, no extra canned food, no large buckets,.... She and my BIL, who lives with her, had several days to prepare, but didn't. Her neighborhood is full of huge pine trees and oaks. A neighbor's pine tree fell on her house and broke through the roof allowing the rain to enter the house. A smaller tree also fell on the roof, but didn't break through. Without buckets to catch the rain, the water flooded 1/2 the house. The driveway was blocked by fallen trees and branches as was the street. Fortunately, the neighbor took responsibility for the pine tree and arranged for it to be removed.
Around here, HEB often sells battery powered radios that also have the emergency channels. We're at the tail end of tornado alley. Central Texas has been through some terrible floods. My DH and I live beyond a low water crossing with no other way out so it helps to be prepared.
I add a wind up clock, screwdriver, hammer, an old hand twist can opener, instant coffee and of course candles with matches to my "emergency drawer". We did loose power almost everytime the wind got up, but due to the extensive tree trimming that has gotten better. I can't imagine being w/o as long as some of you have and needing to repair and cleanup the debris.
I'm not pushing this site but here's a few options.
http://www.hurricanestore.com/communication.html?gclid=CI2I18Sh7pUCFRUjnAodZhl5eQ
We watched TV on an old Sony Watchman....... 2" screen... LOL1
Ric
When Katrina, Rita & Gustav hit all we had was our rabbit ear TV's. Cable & internet were out and my old analog cell phone had the best reception. What are we gonna do after Feb, 2009 when analog doesn't work. We are gonna loose connection with the rest of the world until we are restored.
Thanks for the link, Ric. Printed it off for a great idea for Christmas presents. We have been through 3 tornadoes here and had no information for a day or two.
Just wanted to point out that there are lots of reasons to have the emergency store, even if you don't live in a hurricane or tornado zone. I know it's not very popular to think about, and I've never been a sky-is-falling type person, so I don't like to think about it myself. But I recently heard some commentary on things like avian flu. Those folks say it's not a matter of if, but when, such an epidemic will hit. Those of us in urban areas may need to quarantine for 2 to 3 weeks without much warning.
That's a lot of food and water to keep around just for emergencies, I know. But it sure beats standing in lines when 2 million other people are trying to buy the same unavailable stuff.
I got into that habit after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. Although our house, anchored to bedrock, suffered only minor cracks to the stucco, grocery stores in some neighborhoods were closed for a day or two because of all the broken bottles and litter on the floor. Many other stores were crammed with shoppers panic buying. We used part of the pantry in the garage to store emergency items and rotated out items on a regular basis and replacing them with new ones. We were only two houses away from pastures and grass fields so mice sometimes found their way into the garage. I learned the hard way to store the water containers inside coolers. I walked into a flooded garage floor one day. At first I thought it might be the water because water was everywhere, but it turned out to be our emergency supply of water. Almost all of the plastic water bottles has holes chewed into them.
CeeJay ~ We finally got our power back about 3 P.M. (Sunday) Thus,, power for the well. That shower really felt wonderful! Of course there are still lots of things to put away.
Glad to hear that you got rid of your neighbors trees! You need to go out next week and get one of those "wind up" radios. That was the only way we knew what was going on. DH misplaced the cord for our portable TV (he never puts anything in the same place twice). If we didn't have the generator, we would have lost a lot of food, but we took everything out of the freezer in the fridge, and put it in deep freeze, so we only had to power it. Be sure to only run one appliance at a time with a smaller generator. I lost both refrigerator and freezer during Rita. I can't replace them that often.
Now we think we are going to get a standby generator, one that runs on propane, so we won't have to go through this again. I think it will be worth it.
I have some extra plants if you need to replace any.
Annette
I agree with the lack of communications. Here during Rita even the local radio station went down. I decided then to have satellite radio for some contact with the outside world.
The most valuable survival tool during IKE was a rechargeable fan. O2Cool. It made the still, hot air tolerable and provided cover noise from the barking neighbor dog!
Woo Hooo I'm back! Orange and surrounding area had a good amount of water damage, but DH, DP (Darling Puppy) and I are fine. I took pictures the morning after but haven't uploaded them yet. Amazing how much damage water can do. I hope everyone is fine...I'm off to answer a million emails.
Araness ~ we are glad you have surfaced again! Did you stay? Or go?
Nope didn't leave, we had the generator, AC, grill and smoker so other than catching a cold we made out pretty well. Mother Nature gave the gift of cool weather so it really wasn't bad at all, much better than after Rita.
Excellent... glad to know it was not too grim. The cooler weather was a blessing for sure.