Hurricane Ike - Still Causing Grief

For many in East Texas, Hurricane Ike is still very much on our minds. Traffic seems to be just about double what it would normally be. Fast food restaurants are jammed to capacity. (Sonic Drive-In's coffee machine was down this afternoon.)

Probably one-half of the people in this area are still without power. Some have generators but they just power up a few appliances. Crews are everywhere working non-stop to get things up and running. 

There are central depots to pick up ice, water and meal packs and the National Guard is still at work for these efforts.

Many areas are worse off than we are. We are truly blessed to have our power. 

At the beauty shop, where power had just come back this morning, I told one lady I was sorry about the problems with her beach house in Galveston. 

"Oh, there is no problem. There is no beach house!"

She was very brave to be making light of it, probably because it is not her permanent residence. When the insurance company told her hubby they would be out to assess damages he told them there was no need as there was nothing to assess at the property.

Most area schools are still out and some are still being used as Evacuee Centers. Many people have not yet been given the green light to go back to the Gulf Coast and of course, some have nothing to go back to.

So, our area is not out of the woods yet and we sure hope and pray our power stays on because down the street, they are without.