Hey All
I suppose a lot of you are wondering how I’m doing since hurricane Ike passed through. Well to bring you up to speed. Friday night I ended up working since I’m on the disaster team at work. Seventeen plus hours I must add. A lot of folks didn’t take this to serious and figured it was going to be a walk in the park. One should never a take a hurricane lightly as a native of Houston I’ve had my share of them, however we have never been hit directly with one like this since 1983, twenty plus years ago. For those of you who know I work in juvenile probation so we ended up evacuating the kids from our facility as it was in the direct path of the storm. Around Midnight the storm started rolling into our area. Folks on Galveston Island lost power around seven. We lost power around one thirty. By this time the storm was rolling pretty well. Good thing the county has generators to supply power. However the air started going out in certain areas of the building and it started getting hot for sure. I didn’t get much sleep and it wasn’t due to the storm but the regular staff not having respect for others who were trying to get some sleep. Then again we were visitors in their building so I really couldn’t complain. I was really staring to feel my body shut down as we rolled to five o’clock. At this point we were receiving the back side of the storm. I couldn’t hear to much as the building we were in is pretty solid and sound but we could see the wind and rain whipping and whirling the trees outside so we knew it was pretty bad at that point. The only place in the building that had air was the gym. There you could really tell how bad the weather was as it rattled the window with water leaking. Mostly everyone was so exhausted by this time they didn’t care if the roof came off. The kids were hunkered in and we were riding the storm out.
Eight ok finally rolled around and reports were saying the eye was over the Conroe area. I evaluated the situation to see if I could make it home and after seeing two staff leave earlier and not return well I figured I would chance it since I only live twenty minutes away. Besides I was ready to go and nothing was going to hold me back. I was literally exhausted. On the way out there was hardly anyone on the roads as the rain and wind were still going but no hurricane force. I could see power lines down and toppled trees as I adjusted my course to make my way home. My biggest fear was something flying through the air and striking the vehicle. I took my time as there was a lot of water on the roads and the last thing I needed to do was spin out on the highway. The few vehicle that were on the road were flying passed me but once they hit high water they quickly hit the brakes to slow down. I’ve been trough hurricanes before but as a young person you don’t think of the danger they can pack. Now that I’m much older one doesn’t take things for granted. I finally made it home and the neighbor hood didn’t look so bad, a few tree, fences and roof shingles lying around that’s about it. I did know we were out of power as my brother called and told me so around four that morning. At that point I was so exhausted I just closed the door to my room pulled off my clothes and went to be. That was around 9:00 AM. I didn’t wake up until 5:00 PM. Since we had no power I knew it would get dark around seven or so which meant I needed to get a shower before night fell. Once I did that our local television station has been broadcasting on one of our local radio station for those two million folks without power. The Mayor of the city placed curfew on the city until next Saturday. Nine O’clock no one should be on the streets. I can understand as there have been over thirty five arrest from looters. One thing I can say about Houston finest, they are on their jobs.
Sunday I survived the heat of the night as we still had not power. Second storm rolled in and knocked out a cell tower in my area so I had no cell service until five that evening. You really don’t realize how miss something until it’s taken away. We take so many things for granted that my brother was really having a hard time of it. He started off with a full tank of gas, by Monday he was a little less than half a tank cause he was riding around trying to stay cool from the air in his vehicle. Problem is gas has been hard to fine and when you do fine some your sitting in a long line for it. It’s been along time since I’m seen lines looking like 1977. Well Rita too. Still Houston Finest was doing and excellent job on getting fold in and out. Lots of gas cans being filled for the electric generators. Not to mention folks going to the hospitals from poisoning as they have placed their generators in the house. How stupid can one be know that thing will put off vapors? Families have been hospitalized in critical condition over this. Good news a front came through to give us that natural air condition and I slept like a baby. Well I want to thank all those who have been concerned about me as I’m doing ok. Still no power in the area as I’m using the computer at work to take care of my computer needs. Help is on that way as the city has been on it’s job. I can’t say when I will chat with all again as we have to get power first. So until fingers meet keys all take care and I will be in touch.
P.S.
I wrote this in a hurry as others wanted to use the computers so I haven’t had time to edit most of it. Hugs guys.
I suppose a lot of you are wondering how I’m doing since hurricane Ike passed through. Well to bring you up to speed. Friday night I ended up working since I’m on the disaster team at work. Seventeen plus hours I must add. A lot of folks didn’t take this to serious and figured it was going to be a walk in the park. One should never a take a hurricane lightly as a native of Houston I’ve had my share of them, however we have never been hit directly with one like this since 1983, twenty plus years ago. For those of you who know I work in juvenile probation so we ended up evacuating the kids from our facility as it was in the direct path of the storm. Around Midnight the storm started rolling into our area. Folks on Galveston Island lost power around seven. We lost power around one thirty. By this time the storm was rolling pretty well. Good thing the county has generators to supply power. However the air started going out in certain areas of the building and it started getting hot for sure. I didn’t get much sleep and it wasn’t due to the storm but the regular staff not having respect for others who were trying to get some sleep. Then again we were visitors in their building so I really couldn’t complain. I was really staring to feel my body shut down as we rolled to five o’clock. At this point we were receiving the back side of the storm. I couldn’t hear to much as the building we were in is pretty solid and sound but we could see the wind and rain whipping and whirling the trees outside so we knew it was pretty bad at that point. The only place in the building that had air was the gym. There you could really tell how bad the weather was as it rattled the window with water leaking. Mostly everyone was so exhausted by this time they didn’t care if the roof came off. The kids were hunkered in and we were riding the storm out.
Eight ok finally rolled around and reports were saying the eye was over the Conroe area. I evaluated the situation to see if I could make it home and after seeing two staff leave earlier and not return well I figured I would chance it since I only live twenty minutes away. Besides I was ready to go and nothing was going to hold me back. I was literally exhausted. On the way out there was hardly anyone on the roads as the rain and wind were still going but no hurricane force. I could see power lines down and toppled trees as I adjusted my course to make my way home. My biggest fear was something flying through the air and striking the vehicle. I took my time as there was a lot of water on the roads and the last thing I needed to do was spin out on the highway. The few vehicle that were on the road were flying passed me but once they hit high water they quickly hit the brakes to slow down. I’ve been trough hurricanes before but as a young person you don’t think of the danger they can pack. Now that I’m much older one doesn’t take things for granted. I finally made it home and the neighbor hood didn’t look so bad, a few tree, fences and roof shingles lying around that’s about it. I did know we were out of power as my brother called and told me so around four that morning. At that point I was so exhausted I just closed the door to my room pulled off my clothes and went to be. That was around 9:00 AM. I didn’t wake up until 5:00 PM. Since we had no power I knew it would get dark around seven or so which meant I needed to get a shower before night fell. Once I did that our local television station has been broadcasting on one of our local radio station for those two million folks without power. The Mayor of the city placed curfew on the city until next Saturday. Nine O’clock no one should be on the streets. I can understand as there have been over thirty five arrest from looters. One thing I can say about Houston finest, they are on their jobs.
Sunday I survived the heat of the night as we still had not power. Second storm rolled in and knocked out a cell tower in my area so I had no cell service until five that evening. You really don’t realize how miss something until it’s taken away. We take so many things for granted that my brother was really having a hard time of it. He started off with a full tank of gas, by Monday he was a little less than half a tank cause he was riding around trying to stay cool from the air in his vehicle. Problem is gas has been hard to fine and when you do fine some your sitting in a long line for it. It’s been along time since I’m seen lines looking like 1977. Well Rita too. Still Houston Finest was doing and excellent job on getting fold in and out. Lots of gas cans being filled for the electric generators. Not to mention folks going to the hospitals from poisoning as they have placed their generators in the house. How stupid can one be know that thing will put off vapors? Families have been hospitalized in critical condition over this. Good news a front came through to give us that natural air condition and I slept like a baby. Well I want to thank all those who have been concerned about me as I’m doing ok. Still no power in the area as I’m using the computer at work to take care of my computer needs. Help is on that way as the city has been on it’s job. I can’t say when I will chat with all again as we have to get power first. So until fingers meet keys all take care and I will be in touch.
P.S.
I wrote this in a hurry as others wanted to use the computers so I haven’t had time to edit most of it. Hugs guys.
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