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.