Note: Most recent reports are featured at the top of the page, working back to earliest reports. Also, there are some comments that follow these e-mail reports. To make a comment, scroll to the bottom of this page and fill in your name, then write your comment. no need to add your e-mail address or URL.
On December 29th I received an e-mail from Laura McNeil Burns. Here is an excerpt from that message that relates to Hurricane Ike: "...Still lots of need in Galveston, though the rest of the country has more or less forgotten us (same is still true in New Orleans, for that matter). We have rebuilt pretty much, in that the contractors are now finished with the house. It is now up to us to put finishing touches on what they did and to improvise around or replace what is lost.
Also waiting for the final check so we can get out from under what we had to pay out to fix it. Insurance and mortgage companies certainly want prompt payment, but it does not seem to work both ways. Our 95-year-old floors in the front of the house survived with just revarnishing. The vinyl floors in the new part (from the 1920s) in back have now been replaced with wood or with porcelain tile, so should last during another flood, should we be so unlucky..."
On December 31st, 2008 Herbert John wrote this comment on the blog: Well all of us on the coast are back in the repair mode. Hurricane Ike did a number on the coast that no one can even imagine. Pictures do not show the damage. Not even close.
100's of house and belongings are gone - I MEAN GONE - DISAPPEARED FOREVER - GONE. Imagine going to work or to the store and coming home and you cannot even find your lot because everything is gone (trees, signs, houses, cars, light poles, everything ). Nothing but a flat barren land as far as you can see. Nothing but dead cows and deserted auto/trucks. Everything that you worked all your life for is completely gone with no trace of it. No lumber, nothing! All of your keepsakes, pictures (ALL) GONE. No baby pictures or family pictures. It is BAD, FOLKS.
On 9/15, Herbert Johns wrote: “My daughter had her baby (boy 8 lb 5 and 20 1/2 inches) on the 9th. She got out of the hospital Thursday 12:30 and we left…” since then we have heard several reports from Herbert of the devastation he found in the Winnie area upon his return after the Hurricane.
However, Herb had not mentioned the mother and baby again and I pestered him for an update. Today, October 7th (almost a month after the birth) He reported, “Karla, Mother and baby made the trip just great and are continuing to progress absolutely fabulous. “Herb also gave this update on the status of his area, “Not a lot of damage to my house or barn. No water in the house (Thank God) and about 6 to 8 inches in the garage and barn. 13 trees (some 40 to 50 years old) so a lot of cutting and hauling and burning. It is all repairable and correctable. I have spent some time helping others that weren't as fortunate as me. If you can imagine there are houses that are totally missing (no lumber, furniture, nothing - just EVERYTHING gone). This in some cases includes the slab that the house was constructed upon (GONE) completely non – existent. NOTHING anywhere to be found. Two barges floated 11 miles and were resting on Highway 73. They had to be cut up to remove after they were able to find out what was in them and the contents were unloaded in the middle of the highway. Needless to say the main highway to Port Arthur had been closed (4 lane divided highway), but opened Wednesday last week. The smell is getting better, but rain brings it back fresh and we expect rain again tomorrow. Got to get in bed so I can get an early start tomorrow. Herb”
Laura McNeil Burns was the first to write to me to tell that she was evacuating Galveston, on 9/11 (see bottom of this post). She checked in again briefly a week or so ago. But now she has given a full report on 9/28. Very descriptive ~ it makes me want to cry. Laura's optimism and positive spirit - and yes, her intact sense of humor - humble me. Laura writes: "I just got complete Internet back. It was limited before. Came back to Galveston on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Damage to the house worse than John had first thought. Flooding came up about three feet on our first floor, the furniture basically ruined along with the AC/heating unit, John’s bicycle, lots of tools. Standing in salt water for so many hours does not appear to have done many of our plants much good, including the pecan and crape myrtle trees. Dead and dying trees all over the island, and rubble alongside all the roads, many buildings and houses completely gone. Ruined furniture in front of most houses and businesses waiting to be hauled off. Looks like a hurricane hit this place. So many people have to rebuild their homes, others have no apartments to go to, which is even worse.
Our house is covered in mold, of course. Gradually getting it clean, claims adjuster coming tomorrow. Our refrigerator is still operating, unlike most appliances in our house. I went to clean it out as soon as I arrived. I was unable to open the freezer, however. John was thinking we might have to throw it out right away, but he was able to open it and then I found out the problem. Household hint: If a hurricane is coming, throw out the frozen bread dough BEFORE it hits. During the power outage, my dough had risen, filling the freezer. Then it froze after rising. You can imagine how much fun that was to clean out!
No drinkable water. Some volunteers brought a case of bottled water Wednesday night. We had bought some on the way down to Houston, but glad to have more. Also, the Red Cross has been driving through the neighborhoods each night with free meals, hardly gourmet, but few people have cooking appliances and we are in the minority with a working refrigerator, I think. So it is helping a lot of people, especially the old ladies without transportation living around here. Nobody can wash clothes in this water either. Proctor and Gamble has a free laundromat by the Seawall which we plan to go to. Don't know how they got the water -- the commercial laundromats are all closed.
I used to wake up to the sound of white-winged doves cooing in the morning, but have not seen or heard the doves since I came back. Flown away? Blown away? Dead?
My neighbor has been trying to place people who have no homes. Evidently the Austin shelters closed down and sent people back here, but they don’t have any place to stay. Most of the hotels which would accept FEMA vouchers are full of contractors. So shelters are getting set up. My gas is not on because I’m on the waiting list for a plumber to come check it out and see whether it is safe.
No wind damage to speak of. The water (which you aren’t supposed to swim in) is high, but only up to the jetties out on the Gulf. I’m so grateful I had a place to go to during the hurricane and its aftermath, and grateful to have a home to come back to. I’m also grateful to have a bedroom on the second floor! And that Galveston built the Seawall after 1900. Laura"
Sunday, 9/28, John Echoff forwared this bit of Hurricane Humor:
Things Learned During Hurricane Ike and the Aftermath . . .
1. Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.
2. No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't work without electricity.
3. My car gets 23.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY (you can ask the people in line who helped me push it).
4. Kids can survive 4 days or longer without a video game controller in their hand.
5. Cats are even more irritating without power.
6. He who has the biggest generator wins.
7. Women can actually survive without doing their hair- you just wish they weren't around you.
8. A new method of non-lethal torture- showers without hot water.
9. There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.
10. TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.
11. A 7 lb bag of ice will chill 6-12 oz Budweiser's to a drinkable temperature in 11 minutes, and still keep a 14 lb. turkey frozen for 8 more hours.
12. There are a lot of dang trees around here.
13. Flood plain drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong..
14. Aluminum siding, while aesthetically pleasing, is definitely not required.
15. Crickets can increase their volume to overcome the sound of 14 generators.
16. People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.
17. When required, a Lincoln Continental will float, doesn't steer well but floats just the same.
18. Tele-marketers function no matter what the weather is doing.
19. Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the battery remains charged.
20. Twenty seven of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you, and they are quick to point that out!
21. Hampers were not made to contain such volume.
22. If my store sold only ice, chainsaws, gas and generators... I'd be rich.
23. Price of a can of soup rises 200% in a storm.
24. Your waterfront property can quickly become someone else's fishing hole.
25. Tree service companies are under appreciated.
26. I learned what happens when you make fun of another states' blackout.
27. MATH 101: 30 days in a month, minus 6 days without power ,equals 30% higher electric bill ?????
28. Drywall is a compound word, take away the 'dry' part and it's worthless.
29. I can walk a lot farther than I thought.
Tuesday, 9/23 - Mary Frances (Shepherd) Ginsbach wrote…"Ten days after Ike and we still have no electricity. Other than that, we are fine. We had lots of large limbs fallen from our trees, and a few leaks in the house. Nothing too bad.
I am at my daughter's, whose electricity came on Sunday. We keep hoping any day now. The first few days were not too bad as a cool front made it to Houston - temperatures were in the low 80's and 60's. All in all, we have been very blessed, but would like to have power!!!!! Mary Frances"
Monday PM, 9/22: Herbert earlier wrote that a picture of the road his house is on was published as the front page lead story of the San Antonio Express News on Monday the 16th. The link to that page was no longer active, so he sent that photo to me today as an attachment (now inserted here). He explained that one neighbor (whose house is pictured here) left to go to town after the storm had hit, with ditches not even full and very little water in the pastures, to return 3 hours later to this. She said it was mid thigh in her driveway and she was unable to drive her truck more than 5 feet off of the road due to the depth.
Of his own activities, Herbert wrote: “Going home today if I can find a room air conditioner that can run on my generator. I won't have access to internet for a while - no electricity or phones yet. The damage to the area where I live is real bad and the smell is totally unreal and almost unbreathable. They are hauling dead cattle out by the 18 wheeler load and still flying over looking for people. Fish are everywhere. The water has gone down about 5 feet and leaves everything BLACK. Ditches still have about 4 or 5 feet of water in them and very little flow.”
Herbert Johns sent this truncated message this evening, 9/20: Well I have been able to get to my house daily since Tuesday: water still covering most of yard and part of driveway but shop was semi dry so I began to start generators. 2 generators (1 is a 5250 watts 1 is 5500 watts). One will not carry my house and the well. They were both flooded and partially under water at one time so it took most of Tuesday 6:00PM curr . . .
I hope that Herbert just "sent" too soon – in the middle of a word – and not that something suddenly happened to him. Hopefully he will finish his message soon. J
(Lonita) June Sillings Priest wrote on Saturday PM, 9/20: “Happy to say we had no damage to our home. Only branches, tons of leaves to rake, and gutters to clean out. Our power was returned on Monday, Sept 15, and today we got our cable, internet, phone back! Thank God! How spoiled we become!
We left on Thursday before the storm and went to Lumberton/Beaumont where our sons live. We took our 5th-wheel just in case we needed a place to live after the storm. We stayed at John Pauls and then returned home on Saturday afternoon about 3 pm. It was a very eerie trip back home as we were some of the first on the highway. Some roads were completely shut off, thus, we had to make several detours but we finally arrived to find our home completely intact. The Texas City Dyke where we once owned a marina, is completely gone. Nothing standing but a few light poles. People familiar with the levy surrounding Texas City will be surprised that the water came within about 2 feet of overflowing! It is 18 ft high so you can see just how close we came to being in big trouble. Never again will I complain when they want money to maintain it, widen it, or make it taller!
As you have seen from all the media coverage, it is horrible and we will be many months, if not years, getting back to normal. The tv coverage really doesn't begin to show the devastation. Seeing if from afar and up close are two completely different things. And thank God we don't have "scratch and sniff" tv! The death toll climbs daily, and I am sure many more bodies will be recovered as the debris is cleared.
I know many of you would like to help..... and the best way is a contribution to the Red Cross (http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main) or the Salvation Army (http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf). They have been "Johnny on the spot" since the beginning. Their trucks are everywhere eager to render immediate assistance.
As Neil Frank said on tv, each hurricane has a life of it's own. It is hard to compare one storm with another as each carries it's own baggage. Some sport winds, others surge tides, and others rain. We have learned that "category" numbers really don't matter much..... beware of them all!
Jim and I appreciate all your calls, emails, texts, etc. Please keep all the folks in your prayers, make donations if you can, and hold your loved ones close. We were truly protected by God's grace and the levy! Love ya, June and Jim Priest”
"I don't like IKE!" Laura McNeil Burns entitled her message, Saturday, 9/20: John was able to see our house, still standing, ground floors damaged, AC/heating unit for downstairs shot, outbuildings flooded and John's power tools ruined. John was afraid of not being able to go see his mother in Wisconsin, for (probably) the last time. But Houston airports reopened and he went. Coming to Austin Tuesday and going back to Galveston Wednesday. Does not want me to go as electricity probably won't be on until at least Thursday and there is no sewage.
We contacted insurance folks ourselves as that was quicker (our agency also had to evacuate and is no doubt swamped, so I don't really fault them). So he is all set to go with the claims adjuster. Also we may be eligible for some FEMA relief, but from their web site, there isn't much point in applying until we get the word on insurance. Ike pretty farflung all right. In chasing down the insurance stuff I talked to a guy in Ohio, amazed at the 85mph winds it brought there. All could have been worse for me, so many totaled houses. Laura"
Sonny Jones sent this Saturday afternoon, 9/20: "Karla, Thanks for thinking of us. Elaine and I live in Pearland, but not too far from the Gulf Freeway. We stayed and rode it out, but I'm not sure we would again if another storm that size ever comes. We've been without power for a week, but it just came on again this morning. There was just so much distruction, it's hard to fathom. I believe much of it was due to small twisters as well as the winds and storm surge. We stayed up all night, and at one point, I'm sure we heard a short (20 seconds or so ) trainlike sound that I'm assuming took part of our roof, which eventually lead to a lot of water blowing in and there-you-go. I'm sure you've seen footage of Galveston
From Bob Neal on Friday Evening, 9/19: Thanks for posting Ike. I've missed living in that area ever since I left in 1977. Interestingly, I have talked about relocating back to some coastal area for the past couple years and recently downloaded some Real Estate info/pictures in Galveston. Having worked on the Mississippi coast for several months after the '04 hurricane and seeing much hurt, loss and destruction, it is even worse to see what has happened to areas where we once lived. It is also encouraging to hear from some who only experienced general hurricane damages. Bob”
Friday, 9/19, received this from Jerry Roark: “Hi, Karla. My son sent these photos from the Boston Globe. (Click this link) They are great shots of Ike and some of his damage. My dad still lives in Pecan Park, on Japonica Street. That part of the old neighborhood fared well. I am amazed that our forefathers seemed to find the high ground before settling an area like Pecan Park. Jerry Roark”
Larry Smith and Billy Carter also sent me the link to this website. The lead to the photos follows: In its brief lifespan of only 13 days, Hurricane Ike wreaked a great deal of havoc. Affecting several countries including Cuba, Haiti, and the United States, Ike is blamed for approximately 114 deaths (74 in Haiti alone), and damages that are still being tallied, with estimates topping $10 billion. Many shoreline communities of Galveston, Texas were wiped from the map by the winds, storm surge and the walls of debris pushed along by Ike. Though Galveston was spared the level of disaster it suffered in 1900.
Laura Striegler added a thought Friday PM (9/19)…”By the way, anyone living in a Manufactured Home, I have some contacts for replacement homes where necessary (both MH and Modular). Regards, Laura”
Billy Carter forwarded this e-mail to me this evening (Friday, 9/19). It is from Bill Adams, another of our classmates. Billy explained ‘Bill Adams just sold his home on the north side of West Galveston Bay. His twin brother, Pat and wife, Eileen, still live in that same West Galveston Bay neighborhood.”
Here’s the e-mail Bill Adams sent to Billy Carter 9/19:
|
“Sorry to reply so late. Just got Internet hook up through a satellite hook up. Devastation in the area needless to say...the trucks have been going into Galveston for the past 3 days we've been back from Boston. It's unbelievable really. Thank goodness I sold my home just a few days before the storm hit. My buyers don't seem to blame me and are good natured about it. The whole ground floor was washed away in every house on my former street. I had left my boat at Elaine’s. It ended up a half mile away under the I45 freeway, still on its trailer. I'm helping Elaine clean up. I guess I didn't escape the disaster after all. Pat and Eileen's house is destroyed downstairs as is everyone else’s. I'm going to help Elaine get things cleaned up the rest of the week and hoping Monday to get the hell out of Texas for awhile. Bill |
We feel very fortunate indeed. My office in League City had access to our offices and we were back at work on Tuesday by noon. I run an Insurance Agency and also manage the Insurance Division for the Parent Corporation, so have had our hands rather full. Hope others fared as well.
Good Luck to All. Laura (Striegler) Wilson”
Judee Utgard Schroeder reported in Thursday evening, 09/18: “Al and I were very blessed. We lost power about 3 am on Saturday, but got it back about 4:30 pm the same day. With the exception of a few tree branches and lots of debris, we had no damage at all. “
Herbert Johns reporting from Winnie, TX, Thursday AM, 9/18 (see John’s initial report below): “Well I got home today. My daughter (35 miles away) got electricity so we came to her house and I can drive back & forth to work on the damage. It is bad folks!!!! God spared me and my house to a great extent. I have some roof damage (holes close to the edge and shingles missing and siding missing or in the yard or neighbors yard 500 or so feet away). 7 or 8 trees down (non on the house or barn). The water has gone down enough to be able to start a generator, which will give my well working. It will take several days to get my house safe and then I will let the rest go and try to help my neighbors with more serious damage than I. When you live in the country your neighbor needing help may live3 to 5 miles away but you still go help. Electricity in maybe 2 to 3 weeks or longer. It is hot and smelly. The water which is everywhere is BLACK and stagnant and the ground smells (stinks). It smells a cross between dead fish and dead animals decaying. It is a real mess but fixable because we will repair and help each other repair (not like New Orleans) We aren't waiting on the Government to fix it for us, We are doing it the way Americans have always done it by helping each other.
We need lots of prayers folks - it is a REAL Mess. A lot of underbrush no longer needs to be cleared and trees no longer need to be thinned – just cleaned up. Gilchrist, Crystal Beach, Port Bolivar are almost non-existent. I would venture to say that there are no habitable buildings left that do not require extensive repairs to be livable. Some houses are ONLY a pile of broken 2 X 4's and etc. I will try to keep you informed as to progress. Herb”
Wednesday Morning, 09/17/08, I received this from Larry Bass: “Good morning Karla: What a great idea about sharing our experiences with Ike. For some of us, like Kathy and I, we have time to do so while we wait for our community to return to normal.
We survived relatively intact, thank God. We live in a small gated community which adjoins the Willow Creek Golf Club, just South of the Woodlands. Ike was much worse than we thought it would be. We probably had hurricane force winds for at least 5 hours beginning about 2 a.m. Saturday morning. Many trees down in our neighborhood and on the golf course. Debris everywhere. Fortunately, we did not lose any tress or have serious damage to our home.
Our entry/exit gates are supposed to default open in case of power loss, but failed to do so. So, while the hurricane was over us we had to find a way to open the gates to prevent a possible disaster if entry or exit were necessary. Through the efforts of neighbors the gates were opened.
We lost electricity at about 3 a.m. Saturday. I believe the western edge of the eye of the storm passed over our neighborhood for there was a lull then a wind shift. The wind was much stronger on the back side of the storm, for many of the tress fell from north to south. Something to keep in mind for future reference.
My 2 sons, their wives and my 3 granddaughters all live in Houston, but they left and stayed in Austin until Sunday, which was a wise move. Their return found no power, but fortunately no serious damage either.
We stayed at our home until Tuesday, when we lost water pressure. With no power or water, it was time to leave, which we did. I write this email from my Sister's home in Fairfield, Texas, which is about 140 miles north of Houston on I-45. FYI - on our drive to Fairfield, we noticed that there is NO power from Spring through to and including Madisonville. There are portable signs indicating that the first gas available north of Houston, is in Centerville.
Our community came together and the sharing and caring was wonderful. Sometimes it takes a disaster to find out just how supportive people can and will be. I was born and reared in Houston, leaving only for college and 3 yeas active duty with the USMC. I have been exposed to numerous hurricanes and I believe Ike will rank right up there with Carla.
We are just thankful that there were no known injuries to those we know and love. Our hearts go out to those that were not so fortunate. We will stay in Fairfield until basic services are restored to our home. Hopefully, that will be soon. I do hope that all of you fared as well as did we. Kathy and Larry Bass”
Here's an urgent question submitted by Mary Lou Allen Brewer, Tuesday PM, 9/16: "My mom and I have a house on the east side of Toddville Road in Seabrook We have not been able to see anything on the news about Seabrook and don't even know it we still have a house. I would like to know something if anyone knows, Mary Lou Allen"
Received Tuesday, 9/15/08, from Billy Carter: (See report Billy sent before the storm at the bottom of this page.) "These photos tell how lucky we were, avoiding serious storm damage. We live two miles West of I45, off FM 2920. Ike's eye passed approximately three miles East of I45. We never lost gas nor water. We could cook and take great hot showers. Books and visits with neighbors filled our idle time, as did the removal of limbs and making temporary repairs to fences. (click photos to enlarge)
Electrical power came back on at 4 PM Sunday, just in time to save our freezer full of food. Telephone/internet working at 8 PM Monday.
Our boat had no damage. Note the double dock lines. One original line did break. Amanda is in the boat picture. We recharged a Cell Phone battery on our drive to Lake Conroe.
We do attend Church at The Fellowship of the Woodlands. This had to have helped! Billy Carter"
9/15, Monday PM - "Herbert Johns here: My daughter had her baby (boy 8 lb 5 and 20 1/2 inches) on the 9th. She got out of the hospital Thursday 12:30 and we left after helping S-i-L board up house to New Braunfels (niece). We plan not to come back until she has electricity in Mont Belvieu. It may be months before I get electricity back at Winnie but I will be close enough to drive back and forth every so often for some A/C. Right now the water is still too high to think of starting a generator. Still 2 1/2 to 3 feet in the driveway, but a rancher doesn't think water got in the house or does he know how deep it got in the shop and garage. Generators are in the shop.
My road made the front page headline and 1/2 page picture in the San Antonio Express News. The picture shows my neighbors, and I am about 100 yards south of the picture which is the bottom of the picture. The road runs north and south. Lots of water and I am anxious to get back home to access damage and etc. and start to help clean up the mess so that all of us in area can start over. South to Winnie is bad and South to High Island is worse (dead cattle and destroyed houses) from other pictures that I have seen and talked to people that road it out Gilchrist, Crystal Beach, Port Bolivar are all but GONE very few houses LEFT. As I know more I will try to send more. I don't have the mental capability to send pictures over this thing even if I had them but TV is doing a pretty good job on pictures right now. It is BAD folks! Herbert Johns"
Ann Herman Beatty wrote on Sunday 9/14 PM: "We, here in the wild, wild West did fine. We’ve had some rain for the last two weeks. What was overlooked was that Lubbock (125 miles north of Midland) had over 7 inches of rain. My son said they by mid-night they had cancelled schools and Tech and Lubbock Christian College classes. They drained the water from the football stadium, then had to go through with pressure hoses to get the gunk out.I’ve been listening to the Weather Station. After mandatory evacuations in Galveston they estimated about 40% of people opted to ride it out. Big mistake. Can understand why police, fire dept. possibly national guard, a few doctors and nurses had to stay. Otherwise, get out of Dodge. On national news they said there was a big truck with ice and water. They have no phone or electricity, and it is anticipated it will be at least 2 weeks before electricity is restored in Galveston. They got some busses across the bridge and offered transport to San Antonio. Many were only too anxious after wading in higher than waist high water. Ike tore up parts of the seawall. They kept talking about Clear Lake and the damage there with overturned boats, sunken boats, etc. Big piers with hotel and restaurants in ocean in Galveston were torn apart. A lot of power was out in Houston . . . also phone service. AHB"
Richard Ybarra wrote on Sunday evening, Sept 14: “Thank God we came through this storm in good shape. We are all fine. We are doing great in Kingwood. We were only without lights for 17 hours. We must live next to someone who works for Centerpoint or has an elderly mother in our neighborhood. I went this morning and checked on my parents in the old neighborhood and took them ice and an ice chest. Even at their age without electricity they do not want to leave their home. Dad is 95 and Mom is 90 and they are still very independent. They are the essence of the independent Texas spirit.
All the news media is criticizing the federal response and not talking at all about what people can do for themselves. If anyone has an opportunity, call Channel 13 and KTRH and tell them that our country cannot be run from Washington, D.C. This is another example of how the federal government has once again shown us how inept the bureaucrats are. We need to run our own state and depend on ourselves. So much for the soap box, I hope everyone is safe and I am looking forward to hearing that you all came through this storm okay. God Bless. Richard”
Sunday evening, 9/14, Donald Veazey wrote from New Mexico: “One of the great benefits of living in the Land of Enchantment is our great barrier wall that prevents storms like Ike from coming here (note: we love women so we did let Dolly in briefly). And just in case anyone asks, yes, I'm responsible for the great barrier wall. :-)
It's fascinating watching the horror of killer storms from such long distances knowing that you're completely safe from the destruction and the aftermath with the total inconvenience of no services. I can recall riding out 3 or more hurricanes while a resident of Houston and environs and they weren't fun. So my thoughts are with those who rode out this fellow. As best I can determine none of my cousins who remain in the Houston area were harmed. Stay well, Don”
Sunday 9/14 afternoon, Gladys Marie Payne Bohac reported: “We have survived the storm very well. I prayed all during the storm's impact and know the Lord answered my prayers. All of my family did great. My daughter lost power for about one hour. We never lost power and had very little in our yard but leaves and tree limbs. We feel very blessed not to have much if any damage. My next door neighbor had a very large tree uprooted in her front yard and the top of the tree was over our driveway. She also had a large tree on the side of her house blow over and land on her roof. No one was injured. Houston was really hit very badly and a lot of people we know have lost power. Charlotte (Vann Casselberry) is without power and is staying here until power is restored. Please continue to pray for everyone that the power will be restored soon. So sad. Please take care and in touch. Love, Gladys”
Sunday morning, 9/14: Received this e-mail from John Echoff, who lives between Galveston and Houston: "Just a note to let all my extended family know that Linn and I survived the storm in good shape. We lost electricity Friday night around midnight. We are on a well, so without electricity, we have no water. That is until I got the generator running. Then - boy did that hot shower feel great. Of course, the electricity came back on about an hour after hooking up the generator. We managed to get a little sleep last night (Sat) before returning to work Sunday A.M.
Damage-wise, we were quite lucky. One tree hit the northwest corner of the house and damaged only the gutter. Sixteen (16) other trees either blew down or were snapped off. The yard looked like a virtual forest. The barn was hardest hit. We lost 3 of the 4 skylights, and the rear wall and the east wall were pushed out by the storm. The barn is where we keep the riding lawnmower, 4 wheeler, all three motorcycles, and our '48 Wyllis Jeepster Convertible. In addition to that, I keep all my power tools and hand tools there - what a mess!!!
Our 10mth old Shepherd (Tasha) sustained a serious cut to her left front paw on something in the yard. Ever try to get a 10mth old pup to be still?!?! Hopefully she will sleep long enough today for it to close. If not, then tomorrow she goes for stitches. That's it for now, will keep y'all advised. John"
REPORTS RECEIVED BEFORE IKE MADE LANDFALL:
Billy Carter reported prior to Ike's landfall: "IKE", Friday morning, 9/11. "Amanda, Cuddles and I are back home from Lake Conroe. Extra lines are in place on our boat - picture taken this morning. Right now it is absolutely perfect weather. The lull before the storm? At 9:15 AM, without a single drop of rain, Galveston is already starting to flood from rising Gulf of Mexico's waves. Billy" (click photo to enlarge)
Laura McNeil Burns reported on Friday, 9/11: "Left our home in Galveston yesterday morning (Friday), and an hour and a half later, evacuation was made mandatory. John has to stay--essential personnel at UTMB. Am at my sister Margaret's place in Austin for now. Laura "
With 20-20 hindsight, I have written some hurricane tips posted on eHow. Hope no one has to use them.
flood-damage.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4995012_ready-evacuate-hurricane.html
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | May 05, 2009 at 10:18 AM