Stories from the Storm: Hurricane Ike
This weekend, Houston was in the spotlight as Hurricane Ike bore down on Galveston and the Ship channel and flooded many parts of Houston. Many homes in Katy were damaged by falling limbs, wind, and rain. Local bloggers and reporters in the Katy area were on top of the storm and continued to write as Ike brought the rain and wind.
Mompaca at Kids Katy Family Pop wrote a detailed account of her experiences with Hurricane Ike in Katy. Her awesome 3-post account and photos give an inside look into one family’s experiences:
Morning of September 13, 2008: We made it through the hot night. The kids slept like angels. Power went out around midnight. We have a battery operated radio, a power inverter (does not work), battery charger (which is running our 8″ fan). Charged laptop before storm. Tons of water coming in through windows on west side of house dripping down sheet rock walls and onto wood floors. Luckily our piano did not get wet.
Afternoon of September 13: My husband got the power inverter working again so that I can boot up computer and wireless router. The little 6″ fan that my husband chided me for buying two years ago is doing its best to cool my hot skin.
Yesterday evening, we drove to the Chase ATM to take out a little cash and the bank had already discontinued customer access to deposits/withdrawls.
Our telephone land line is working but only because we are able to plug in the power unit to the power inverter. Looks like everyone should hold on to their old-fashioned telephone lines for the next 1,000 years. The power inverter is connected to our 12volt line in the minivan.
Houston residents have been told to boil water before drinking or not to drink water at all. Power is still not restored and Centerpoint Energy is reporting that close to 3 million residents have no power in the Houston area.
It is raining continuously and it is very windy. The storm drainage behind us is holding steady-not increasing nor decreasing.
September 14th: Everything appears okay. People are at least out in their yards being neighborly. Kind of makes me sad that we have to have a near disaster before we are forced to spend time with the ones we love. It is nice to see neighbors outside and kids riding their bikes. I guess on Sunday it will be business as usual. Everyone driving around in air-conditioned cars, not waving, kids staring at video games and retail stores open 24-7. All the things that distract us from being human.
I did drive around the Lakes of Bridgewater and noticed that there was a lot of roof damage in that area. Many people were trying to spread and secure tarps on their roofs yesterday. Little did I know it would rain all night. I really feel for those people with the damaged roofs. Our roof is leaking but just with a couple of 15″ wet spots.
House is so humid and dank. I lost most of the vegetables in my fridge. Trying to hold on to toaster streudal, blackberries and chicken.
Kids are squirrly. They are clueless about what to do with themselves. Thank goodness for Legos because all you need is imagination.
We are thankful that Hurricane Ike did not damage the city as much as people thought. Houston is currently under a curfew due to looting. Power is still out across many parts of the city of Houston, and some phone lines are down. Thanks to Mompaca for some excellent citizen journalism.
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I saw the damage around Lakes of Bridgewater too.. We actually own two houses in katy, but we stayed in the bigger one for the storm. Both of the fences are on the ground and weve got about 10 garbage bins filled with debris. My mom and her fiancé found a baby dove among all of the debris and I am taking care of it. It is incredibly cute and doing great despite it’s fall, the wind, and the crazy amount of trash around it.
The metal cover on the back patio tore off below my bedroom window during the storm, thankfully it did not get close enough to the window.
Thank God we have power and water in Sundown Glen.
Hugo – Good to hear everyone is OK (including the Dove). Send us a photo if you can.
I wanted to also share another Katy blog that has been providing regular updates on Hurricane Ike and it’s aftermath… Christi Borden, a Realtor in Katy has written a series of posts before, during, and after the storm. From the comments left, many have been reassured of friends and families safety due to her blog. Check it out:
http://christiborden.wordpress.com/
Thanks Christi for the updates!
Alpaca Mom
,
I’ve enjoyed reading your hurricane diary very much. As a New Orleans native, although I’ve been here for 29 years, I have a healthy respect and fear of hurricanes. Ike was not my first experience but I hope it’s my last!
Our worst damage was large pieces of the roof gone with the wind. The insurance company has us over the proverbial barrel, (can’t say what I really think of them), as the deductible for wind damage is $4500. Only one roofer has returned my call. Considering my neighbors, I am so grateful; they have caved in ceilings and massive water damage.
As my next-door neighbor said, “It looks like a Third World Country in here!”
We did okay power-wise, just a day without. Land line phone came back this morning; still no cell. It was so weird to have internet and no phones–this on a desktop with service through AT&T like the phones that didn’t work.
Take care, Julie Fuelling
Thanks, Carson for posting my blog posts on your site. I had a little juice left in my computer the morning after the storm and I decided to quickly write my thoughts down on electronic paper.
I really had no clue I would still be writing about electric outtages and fuel locations 3 days later.
Hopefully, some of the people who left comments regarding relatives they were not able to contact after the storm were able to get in touch with their loved ones.
Thanks for keeping Houston informed!
Positive thoughts to everyone affected by the storms.
My cat got through a faulty door and killed the bird..
I would advise everyone to take any found wild animals to a wildlife rehab. I am extremely upset with myself. It will save you the grief and remorse.
Hugo – Yikes, I guess nature took its course. Hope it wasn’t too horrific.
I had to clean it up..
I didn’t even get to go to Ooh La La this morning.. Bleh!
Carson – thank you for following and recommending my blog. I would like to have made it more thorough during the storm, but the lack of power and a dead laptop interfered with my plans;). I hope your readers are finding their lives returning (if not to normal) then to a new normal. We are all glad the kids are back in school. How much Rock Band can one mom stand?
I like what you are doing here as well and will keep up with your posts. How can I become a contributor? Take care.
Christi