Here are a few pictures from our aftermath -- once again, we were VERY fortunate!!
Showing posts with label hurricanes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hurricanes. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Return to Normalcy
Hurricane Ike powered through and left a swath of devastation. Thankfully, we were extremely lucky having only minor damage to fences -- due to the neighbor's trees falling into our yard -- and lots of debris left behind.
Our power was restored last night about 10 pm and you could hear shouts of joy throughout our neighborhood! It is amazing how much everyone depends on power! We were being told it would be 3-4 weeks before The Woodlands would have power. This morning as I was able to watch the news and get on the computer, I was able to see the devastation throughout the city. Once again, I say our family was blessed!
The day after, we drove around our area and there were many houses with giant oak or pine trees laying in the middle of their homes, trees on vehicles, insulation and carpets already being dragged to the curb. Lines for gas in our area were miles long -- my neighbor waited three hours on Monday for gas only to be allowed $50 worth. Chris waited in a line outside Home Depot for six hours to get a generator and supplies. We went to Randall's to get a few more nonperishable foods and their generator lights only lit the outside aisles. People were using flashlights to see what was down each aisle. It left a spooky feeling.
However, this "event" has brought some positive aspects to our lives. School has been canceled for the week so the kids in the neighborhood are finding creative things to do to pass the days. Neighbors are helping neighbors. We are all cooking outside together every night -- so there was a crazy kid of sadness that came with the flickering of the lights last night -- real life is back. Kids will go back to watching movies, playing video games, being on the computer. Neighbors will go back into their homes and eat at their own tables for dinner. Why does "real life" have to be so busy and unfriendly sometimes? My wish is that I will make the effort to be more creative, more open and more laid back when all is normal again.
We do pray that those that were harder hit will soon be at their own tables having dinner with their families and that "real life" will occur sooner than later.
Our power was restored last night about 10 pm and you could hear shouts of joy throughout our neighborhood! It is amazing how much everyone depends on power! We were being told it would be 3-4 weeks before The Woodlands would have power. This morning as I was able to watch the news and get on the computer, I was able to see the devastation throughout the city. Once again, I say our family was blessed!
The day after, we drove around our area and there were many houses with giant oak or pine trees laying in the middle of their homes, trees on vehicles, insulation and carpets already being dragged to the curb. Lines for gas in our area were miles long -- my neighbor waited three hours on Monday for gas only to be allowed $50 worth. Chris waited in a line outside Home Depot for six hours to get a generator and supplies. We went to Randall's to get a few more nonperishable foods and their generator lights only lit the outside aisles. People were using flashlights to see what was down each aisle. It left a spooky feeling.
However, this "event" has brought some positive aspects to our lives. School has been canceled for the week so the kids in the neighborhood are finding creative things to do to pass the days. Neighbors are helping neighbors. We are all cooking outside together every night -- so there was a crazy kid of sadness that came with the flickering of the lights last night -- real life is back. Kids will go back to watching movies, playing video games, being on the computer. Neighbors will go back into their homes and eat at their own tables for dinner. Why does "real life" have to be so busy and unfriendly sometimes? My wish is that I will make the effort to be more creative, more open and more laid back when all is normal again.
We do pray that those that were harder hit will soon be at their own tables having dinner with their families and that "real life" will occur sooner than later.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
IKE -- I'm Ready For You!
I come from a town that is protected on all sides by mountains. Natural disasters are nil. Although, I do remember a tornado interrupting practice in high school causing the drill team and the soccer team to have to take cover in a classroom after school. There were some cute guys on the soccer team; so, I didn't mind!
We also lived in Oklahoma for a total of about 5 1/2 years; so, tornadoes became very familiar. So familiar that the alarms would start to ring, I would open the backdoor and our dog would head straight for the closet! The nice thing I have decided about tornadoes is that they are quick and usually unknown until right before they touch down. I say this is nice because if you have lived in Texas and have to prepare for a hurricane, it seems to go on for weeks!
Three years ago, Hurricane Rita was on her way. I, however, was on my way to Sam's Club to purchase a Christmas gift for one of the boys -- a set of Lincoln Logs! The parking lot was packed for a weekday morning. I walked on in and an employee greeted me with a, "Sorry, ma'am, but we are out of D batteries." "That's OK. They weren't on my list," I say with a smile on my face. Entering further into Sam's, there are hoards of people standing around an empty pallet and an employee telling them all to be patient and cases of water would be brought up soon. "Hmmm," I wonder aloud. "What is going on?" Well, yes, I had heard news of a Hurricane and Hurricane Katrina had just hit New Orleans so I wasn't THAT naive. But, The Woodlands? Honestly, were we really going to be affected?? By the end of my trip to Sam's, I had jumped on board and grabbed a case of bottled water and some other stuff that was not on my list. While standing in the checkout line, (I was the only one with Lincoln Logs in her cart however!) a lady picked up this small bottle of propane and asked me if I was going to purchase one. "Do you think we'll need some?" she asked. Well, sure! Pile it in. We can't be too prepared!!
We taped windows, brought everything that was outside inside, and then sat in our driveway with the neighbors waiting for it to hit. Rita came in the dark of the night -- the night before my birthday. We spent my birthday cleaning up the backyard that was littered with debris and branches, putting back the outside furniture, and untaping the windows. Kind of a let down -- all that work and hype and it passed without us knowing!
The worst of Hurricane Rita was the two weeks that followed. They implemented rolling blackouts, which occurred at our house everyday from 4pm-8pm. Planning meals around that was difficult. The other part that was a shock to me was the fact that grocery trucks couldn't get to our grocery stores -- bread, milk and meat weren't back on the shelves for at least two weeks.
This morning Chris called me from Canada and said I'd better stock up for Hurricane Ike. It does look like we are going to get the "dirty side" of this storm, which is the same side that Hurricane Allison struck Houston with about 8 years ago. According to neighbors, our street became a river. I also remember pictures of the inside of a downtown building that had deep water rushing past stairways.
I didn't want to be fighting anyone for water or bread or toilet paper, so I rushed to Walmart. Obviously, I am the only person ready for this storm! The few cars in the parking lot belonged to the "older crowd" who only had a few things in their baskets! I was a little embarrassed!
Anyway, we have enough stuff to definitely last a week. As Chris always says, "It's better to be lookin' at it than wishin' for it!" Honestly, if Ike doesn't make it to us, we will have a block party and cook burgers on the charcoal grill. As they leave, the neighbors will all be required to take a canned good and a roll of toilet paper!!
We also lived in Oklahoma for a total of about 5 1/2 years; so, tornadoes became very familiar. So familiar that the alarms would start to ring, I would open the backdoor and our dog would head straight for the closet! The nice thing I have decided about tornadoes is that they are quick and usually unknown until right before they touch down. I say this is nice because if you have lived in Texas and have to prepare for a hurricane, it seems to go on for weeks!
Three years ago, Hurricane Rita was on her way. I, however, was on my way to Sam's Club to purchase a Christmas gift for one of the boys -- a set of Lincoln Logs! The parking lot was packed for a weekday morning. I walked on in and an employee greeted me with a, "Sorry, ma'am, but we are out of D batteries." "That's OK. They weren't on my list," I say with a smile on my face. Entering further into Sam's, there are hoards of people standing around an empty pallet and an employee telling them all to be patient and cases of water would be brought up soon. "Hmmm," I wonder aloud. "What is going on?" Well, yes, I had heard news of a Hurricane and Hurricane Katrina had just hit New Orleans so I wasn't THAT naive. But, The Woodlands? Honestly, were we really going to be affected?? By the end of my trip to Sam's, I had jumped on board and grabbed a case of bottled water and some other stuff that was not on my list. While standing in the checkout line, (I was the only one with Lincoln Logs in her cart however!) a lady picked up this small bottle of propane and asked me if I was going to purchase one. "Do you think we'll need some?" she asked. Well, sure! Pile it in. We can't be too prepared!!
We taped windows, brought everything that was outside inside, and then sat in our driveway with the neighbors waiting for it to hit. Rita came in the dark of the night -- the night before my birthday. We spent my birthday cleaning up the backyard that was littered with debris and branches, putting back the outside furniture, and untaping the windows. Kind of a let down -- all that work and hype and it passed without us knowing!
The worst of Hurricane Rita was the two weeks that followed. They implemented rolling blackouts, which occurred at our house everyday from 4pm-8pm. Planning meals around that was difficult. The other part that was a shock to me was the fact that grocery trucks couldn't get to our grocery stores -- bread, milk and meat weren't back on the shelves for at least two weeks.
This morning Chris called me from Canada and said I'd better stock up for Hurricane Ike. It does look like we are going to get the "dirty side" of this storm, which is the same side that Hurricane Allison struck Houston with about 8 years ago. According to neighbors, our street became a river. I also remember pictures of the inside of a downtown building that had deep water rushing past stairways.
I didn't want to be fighting anyone for water or bread or toilet paper, so I rushed to Walmart. Obviously, I am the only person ready for this storm! The few cars in the parking lot belonged to the "older crowd" who only had a few things in their baskets! I was a little embarrassed!
Anyway, we have enough stuff to definitely last a week. As Chris always says, "It's better to be lookin' at it than wishin' for it!" Honestly, if Ike doesn't make it to us, we will have a block party and cook burgers on the charcoal grill. As they leave, the neighbors will all be required to take a canned good and a roll of toilet paper!!
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