Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Evac-u-too late?
Hi friends~
I am back, with power and amenities that we all probably tend to take for granted.
Ike came and went and now the city of H-town is cleaning up.
My area (NW H-town) was not hit as hard as the most obvious places, like the ones by the coast. The biggest concern in H-town right now seems to be power and fuel. We are no longer under a "boil water" warning. Stores are slowly opening and their shelves are beginning to fill up with fresh food.
Lines for gas continue to be ridiculous. Yesterday, people camped outside a local gas station waiting for the next fuel tanker. It isn't uncommon to hear stories of waiting a long time, I mean HOURS, for fuel. Everyone around the world seems to be complaining about high gas prices. Well, at least you have gas.
I have friends who have lost their homes. I believe that the emotional toll is greater than physical damage.
After being in the ice storm and having lost power for 12 days in the freezing cold, IKE was easier to me. I hate to say it, but nothing, at this point in my life, will compare to that ice storm.
So what happens in a hurricane? I'm no weather person, so all I can say is that the noise you hear is something that you hope to never hear again, kind of like the sound of branches from 60+ year old trees cracking and falling on your house. IKE was hard for a lot because it came in the middle of the night, 3am to be exact. I don't know what is worse, having a surprise attack or waiting for one all night. Either way, anxiety gets the best of you.
School is out until Thursday. Sadly, I am ready to go back.
Here are some other things that I've learned from IKE:
1. If the government asks you to evacuate, no, tells you to evacuate, it is probably in your best interest to EVACUATE. I realize many do not have the means to do so, but if they are offering you free transportation and lodging, DO IT! Don't get on the news and say that you bought your kids life jackets to protect them from the storm surges and that you called 911 during the middle of the storm because your house was flooding and you didn't evacuate from Galveston because you thought you could "ride it out." What???
2. If you happen to be at a donut shop on the Friday before the big storm (where there is a line wrapped around the building) DO NOT buy EVERY kolache in the store. Don't say "I'll take everything you have." Selfish, selfish, selfish. Person #105 probably wanted something too.
3. Things are just that, things. I understand the value of pictures and important documents so that is why I have a box labeled "important items" in my closet. In case of any emergency, there is NO question what goes and what stays. In that box is everything I need. Many of you know that I sold ALL of my belongings before I moved. That's just it...everything is replaceable. We need to remember that our safety and the safety of our family and friends is what is important.
4. People are amazing. I can't speak for the entire city of H-town, but so many people helped in the evacuation of the elderly and those with special needs. Many men evacuated their families and stayed behind until an entire nursing home and Children's hospital were evacuated. Thank you to those who gave so selflessly.
5. I have amazing friends. Thank you for the endless calls, texts and emails. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Phil 1:3.
I am back, with power and amenities that we all probably tend to take for granted.
Ike came and went and now the city of H-town is cleaning up.
My area (NW H-town) was not hit as hard as the most obvious places, like the ones by the coast. The biggest concern in H-town right now seems to be power and fuel. We are no longer under a "boil water" warning. Stores are slowly opening and their shelves are beginning to fill up with fresh food.
Lines for gas continue to be ridiculous. Yesterday, people camped outside a local gas station waiting for the next fuel tanker. It isn't uncommon to hear stories of waiting a long time, I mean HOURS, for fuel. Everyone around the world seems to be complaining about high gas prices. Well, at least you have gas.
I have friends who have lost their homes. I believe that the emotional toll is greater than physical damage.
After being in the ice storm and having lost power for 12 days in the freezing cold, IKE was easier to me. I hate to say it, but nothing, at this point in my life, will compare to that ice storm.
So what happens in a hurricane? I'm no weather person, so all I can say is that the noise you hear is something that you hope to never hear again, kind of like the sound of branches from 60+ year old trees cracking and falling on your house. IKE was hard for a lot because it came in the middle of the night, 3am to be exact. I don't know what is worse, having a surprise attack or waiting for one all night. Either way, anxiety gets the best of you.
School is out until Thursday. Sadly, I am ready to go back.
Here are some other things that I've learned from IKE:
1. If the government asks you to evacuate, no, tells you to evacuate, it is probably in your best interest to EVACUATE. I realize many do not have the means to do so, but if they are offering you free transportation and lodging, DO IT! Don't get on the news and say that you bought your kids life jackets to protect them from the storm surges and that you called 911 during the middle of the storm because your house was flooding and you didn't evacuate from Galveston because you thought you could "ride it out." What???
2. If you happen to be at a donut shop on the Friday before the big storm (where there is a line wrapped around the building) DO NOT buy EVERY kolache in the store. Don't say "I'll take everything you have." Selfish, selfish, selfish. Person #105 probably wanted something too.
3. Things are just that, things. I understand the value of pictures and important documents so that is why I have a box labeled "important items" in my closet. In case of any emergency, there is NO question what goes and what stays. In that box is everything I need. Many of you know that I sold ALL of my belongings before I moved. That's just it...everything is replaceable. We need to remember that our safety and the safety of our family and friends is what is important.
4. People are amazing. I can't speak for the entire city of H-town, but so many people helped in the evacuation of the elderly and those with special needs. Many men evacuated their families and stayed behind until an entire nursing home and Children's hospital were evacuated. Thank you to those who gave so selflessly.
5. I have amazing friends. Thank you for the endless calls, texts and emails. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Phil 1:3.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Patience
In preparation for Hurricane Ike, I've learned that I am very impatient.
First, the majority of Houstonians are freaking out about Ike. I am sure they are doing so with good cause. Being a non-Houstononian and having lived through tornadoes, micro-bursts and a wretched ice storm, I feel like I can handle it...
#1: We are informed this morning around 11 that school will be canceled tomorrow and possibly on Monday. Yeah!? Not really. I'm so far behind from being out on Monday and Tuesday plus we will have to make it up in June. June....why are you so far away?
#2: I go to my safe haven, Target, after I sit through over an hour of traffic ON A BACK ROAD! Luckily, Target is the one place that makes me SO happy. I pilfered around and pretty much hung out for as long as I could. I got some snacks (some is an understatement). See picture below. Note the hair color, magazines and wine. And since when did I eat spray cheese????
#3: After being advised by everyone, I go to the bank to withdraw some cash. The ATMs are down. However, I discover this after sitting in line for 27 minutes.
**Yes, I did time everything I did today!**
#4: Time to get gas. This is where I needed to exercise my use of patience. Most of the gas stations are out of gas at this point in the day. It is important to note that I live on the NW side of H-town and people who are under mandatory evacuation are coming this way. So, I wait in line for, brace yourselves, 1 hour and 36 minutes. FINALLY, my turn at the pump.................
The only gas left is E85. You can picture my reaction in your head. The man behind me says "just fill up anyways." Are you kidding?
#5: I go down the street to the Valero. I wait in a small line for about 10 minutes. I get to the pump and the gas is OUT!
#6: I ended up not getting any gas. The gas tanks will be refilling the stations tonight as the weather and traffic allow.
Ike, I hope you don't make landfall and cause any damage. However, you have taught me a precious gift, to have more patience.
Now it's time to brace myself for what could be a very long weekend. Keep your prayers going. I'll talk to you all soon. That is if I don't overdose on cheetos, candy corn and spray cheese:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
