Hi friends
So many of you have contacted me to send me offers of assistance, good wishes, thoughts, and so forth.
Thank you.
We have evacuated to an area just west and south of Houston, where we will get hit by Hurricane Ike but are safe from the storm surge. They have said to anticipate power outages of about 18 days, so I thought I'd put in this update while I can.
Our town had a mandatory evacuation on noon Thursday. We left at noon on the dot, which is good because the police literally began a neighborhood check. Our dedicated little police force.
It took about twice as long as usual to get here, which frankly we were extremely grateful about. When we evacuated for Rita, we never made it past Columbus, slept in our car for three days, got no assistance from locals or local authorities, and saw horrors that made us think next time drowning in a storm surge was preferable.
However, this time, the authorities swore they had learned their lesson.
We put our faith in that and I'm glad we did. I think they have. First, the media implored people who were not in evacuation zones to stay put, and I think they must have done because the evacuation was smoother than anyone could ever recall. Second, they triaged the evacuation in a way that worked very well. Third, I heard reports that they did random stops and checked that evacuees were truly from mandatory evacuation zone.
In short, we were able to reach our safe evacuation destination with relatively little trouble.
As we left our home, I knew we would return to it damaged. I accepted it. We storm-proofed as best we could: boarded up windows, moved as much as we could upstairs, and packed essential items into the car.
And here we are. Obsessively checking all reports about the storm and our area.
At this point, by 1 p.m. today, with Ike still offshore and scheduled to hit our area at about 5 a.m. tomorrow, the advance surge has already flooded a good part of our town, making many key roads impassable. I received a report with photos that the local bayous and lakes have already breached the levees and banks, flooding the local parks we play in frequently, and moving up the street we drive down every day. Our favorite special treat destination, the Kemah Boardwalk, was flooding before noon today.
Based on the speed (slow) and fact that Ike will hit at high tide in the morning, storm surge predictions leave us little hope for a good outcome for our home. My husband and I have already begn second-guessing certain decisions in a truncated way:
Him, "I should have done it, should have just taken those drawers upstairs. Putting them up on the coutners just wasn't..."
Me, "I know, it was the optimism, it's okay, we still don't know..."
or
Me, "I should have moved the china and crystal upstairs, should have made the time, even before the evacuation..."
Him, "We didn't have time, they called it so late, the storm changed track late, nothing to do..."
Me, "My cookbooks, all my recipes, I bet they are all ruined.."
Him, "There are more cookbooks..."
We did the best we can. It looks likely we will suffer flood damage. But there's no way to know.
Our area will be devastated, that much is sure.
But we will be okay and once we get our feet under us, this thing behind us, we will start relief to help our community.
We really appreciate your care and good wishes. I'll keep updating as I can.
Julie and Family
So many of you have contacted me to send me offers of assistance, good wishes, thoughts, and so forth.
Thank you.
We have evacuated to an area just west and south of Houston, where we will get hit by Hurricane Ike but are safe from the storm surge. They have said to anticipate power outages of about 18 days, so I thought I'd put in this update while I can.
Our town had a mandatory evacuation on noon Thursday. We left at noon on the dot, which is good because the police literally began a neighborhood check. Our dedicated little police force.
It took about twice as long as usual to get here, which frankly we were extremely grateful about. When we evacuated for Rita, we never made it past Columbus, slept in our car for three days, got no assistance from locals or local authorities, and saw horrors that made us think next time drowning in a storm surge was preferable.
However, this time, the authorities swore they had learned their lesson.
We put our faith in that and I'm glad we did. I think they have. First, the media implored people who were not in evacuation zones to stay put, and I think they must have done because the evacuation was smoother than anyone could ever recall. Second, they triaged the evacuation in a way that worked very well. Third, I heard reports that they did random stops and checked that evacuees were truly from mandatory evacuation zone.
In short, we were able to reach our safe evacuation destination with relatively little trouble.
As we left our home, I knew we would return to it damaged. I accepted it. We storm-proofed as best we could: boarded up windows, moved as much as we could upstairs, and packed essential items into the car.
And here we are. Obsessively checking all reports about the storm and our area.
At this point, by 1 p.m. today, with Ike still offshore and scheduled to hit our area at about 5 a.m. tomorrow, the advance surge has already flooded a good part of our town, making many key roads impassable. I received a report with photos that the local bayous and lakes have already breached the levees and banks, flooding the local parks we play in frequently, and moving up the street we drive down every day. Our favorite special treat destination, the Kemah Boardwalk, was flooding before noon today.
Based on the speed (slow) and fact that Ike will hit at high tide in the morning, storm surge predictions leave us little hope for a good outcome for our home. My husband and I have already begn second-guessing certain decisions in a truncated way:
Him, "I should have done it, should have just taken those drawers upstairs. Putting them up on the coutners just wasn't..."
Me, "I know, it was the optimism, it's okay, we still don't know..."
or
Me, "I should have moved the china and crystal upstairs, should have made the time, even before the evacuation..."
Him, "We didn't have time, they called it so late, the storm changed track late, nothing to do..."
Me, "My cookbooks, all my recipes, I bet they are all ruined.."
Him, "There are more cookbooks..."
We did the best we can. It looks likely we will suffer flood damage. But there's no way to know.
Our area will be devastated, that much is sure.
But we will be okay and once we get our feet under us, this thing behind us, we will start relief to help our community.
We really appreciate your care and good wishes. I'll keep updating as I can.
Julie and Family
Comments
You did what you could and you did the best thing, because you are safe.
De
~*
All of this has left me in tears. If I can help in any way let me know.
Keep us posted and we'll keep you guys in our prayers.
And when you know what you need, you'll let us know. I have more cookbooks than any one household needs.
Big hug to you and yours.
I will be hoping for the best.
You, by the way, should have been a news correspondant - you covered all the questions!
The grilling going on tonight, to use up the freezer supplies sounds like a grand idea - I'll be thinking of you guys - be safe!!
and, as you said, you know that you have what is most valuable to you with you. Times like this bring that all into perspective.
Praying for your peace...
Take care!
Charles
Fingers crossed that this is easier than it looks.
xoxo
My thoughts are with you.
Don't sweat the stuff (easier said than done I know) and don't hesitate to let us know here if there are things we can help replace.
Canada is a good ways off but I hear the mail still goes as far south as Texas.
Take care. Be safe.
In all seriousness, I hope that it passes your house with minimal damage. Take care, and I am glad that you and your family are somewhere safe.
hoping good things for your return home.
Let us know how you are doing and if you need anything.
Much love.
And I have a whole little girl's wardrobe for P2, anything you need just say it.
I hope the damage is less than you expect, and much less than you were prepared for.
Most "stuff" can be replaced, which I know you know. It doesn't make the prospect of having to do so any better though.
I can only imagine. Anything that I can do for you (from way over here) I am up for.
Maybe you will be with Ike.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If you need anything......say the word! :)