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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Before and After

Instead of trying to put every photo on this page, I found it easier to upload a sideshow.



The sunset images were from Friday night as the huge masses of clouds were rolling in. Ike hit us between 12:00 and 1:00 am (Friday night/Saturday morning). We lost power at 2:00 am and then had to start up the generator during the hurricane because it didn't start on it's own like it should have. B and JN the couple who had been up at the office with us said that if J had not been there, they probably wouldn't have gotten the generator up and running. That would have caused numerous problems. We're dealing with the generator issue and talking with the company/contractor now. It could have possibly cost JN his life.

I'm glad we were available to help them out. I know people may have a hard time understanding why we didn't leave, but there are many things and reasons why we stayed. Mostly to help out and because according to the emergency/evacuation team that J is a part of, a category 2 storm is not considered to be as dangerous this far north, away from the coast. Don't get me wrong, it is still very dangerous, but we were not going to get the storm surge like Galveston and other areas near the coast did. We had winds and rain similar to a tornado, but most times you don't leave your house for a tornado. You seek shelter and hunker down.

The people who evacuated were the ones who were told they must, and the others who were suggested to do so. Between J's work and people from our church, I can count on one hand how many actually left town. Some did because they had small children, and I don't disagree with them.

This storm was tricky because at first it looked like it would hit us, then it turned and moved away, only to turn back and come right at us at the end. That's the nature of hurricanes and why it's difficult to know whether you should stay or leave. If we had actually been told to leave, and early enough, we would have. Trust me, we would have just like last year with Rita. We may even have still been stuck in another city, because many people have not been allowed to come back yet. In some instances that may not be a big problem.

Here's some astonishing info for you: After Ike, 2.1 million people in the Houston area were without power. Yikes! So far only 25% have regained power (which is about 500,000 people), and the electric companies are still working to increase that number.

That makes me think of another thing. Why do people still move back to the coast when they know they may face another storm this year or an even stronger one next year? I don't have an answer, but I venture to guess that's because this is their home, they grew up here, they love it and they don't want to leave. Can't say I blame them. Home is where the heart is.

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