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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.

 

Galveston, oh Galveston: More than a Glen Campbell Song

We have visited Galveston twice.  A newly built area called Kemah was interesting in that there were lots of galleries, restaurants, antique and craft shops and a boardwalk. 

This happened to this area before.  For the Galveston Hurricane of September 8, 1900 the official record shows 8,000 people were killed.  So, that was 108 years and 5 days before Ike. That made it the deadliest natural disaster ever to hit the United States.  A major seawall was built and it has been a wealthy resort area and tourist Mecca. 

The one place everyone will mention or recognize when you talk about Galveston is Guido’s. This is a family-run seafood restaurant where the family themselves apparently catches the fish they serve. Large scallops are my favorite, and Guido’s had the best ever.  From one visit, I recall our server as a decided senior, perhaps a family member or friend, who was such a gentle person. 

A Newfoundlander, eating with me in Toronto once said,  “I make it practice never to eat fish when I am inland.” I thought about that when I tasted Guido’s scallops! 

Hubby and I also rented a special foot-peddled cart which made me a bit nervous since there were plenty of automobiles there as well! Of course, I am not the maverick he is! 

We did not stay in the swankiest timeshare or resort and I do know people who love to vacation there and at Bolivar Peninsula.  The peninsula distinguished itself for me by the dwellings on stilts. I think I can post a picture of people being rescued from one and showing the value of that construction. Some of our family used to vacation in that area and the girls will have fine memories of there. 

I know of at least one family who has lost everything in Galveston and the damage and loss has not truly been counted yet. God Bless them all! 

This area, right on the Gulf is the area really hardest hit by Hurricane Ike. We are truly fortunate to be the place where people came to seek shelter as opposed to having to evacuate to somewhere else.

"Preparing for the Worse and Praying for the BEST!"

As Hurricane Ike threatens us, Gov. Rick Perry (see story from a couple of days ago) is really on the stick! His quote today is, "We are preparing for the worse and praying for the BEST!"

Here in East Texas, we are preparing for Evacuees from the Texas Coast (Houston & suburbs and Galveston Island especially). 

The local high school football game has been cancelled, so you know this is serious stuff. (Presume some of you know about Friday Night Lights in Texas.)

If Ike takes too much of a turn to the right, we will get some damage. Right now, extreme winds and possible tornadoes are expected. 

Still have the provisions from two weeks ago.

There are so many songs about Texas including Going Back to Houston, Galveston, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Yellow Rose of Texas but the one we need to remember now is GOD BLESS TEXAS!