Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080913/ts_nm/storm_ike_dc_78 Source: http://hurricane.methaz.org/tracking/data/todindex.html Source: http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/satellite.asp?region=gul&anim=1&type=ei&basin=atlantic
I rode out the storm on the very edge of the mandatory evacuation zone. We lost power for 2.5 days, and a section of our backyard fence. We were pretty fortunate though. Most of our neighbors lost shingles off their roofs, whole fences and many, many trees (Oaks with trunks almost a foot in diameter snapped in half). Closer to the coast, the situation is looking pretty grim. There appears to be a lockdown on the media right now, but rumors abound (see 6th post on that page) that something like 24,000 people did not evacuate Galveston island and a large percentage of them might be dead. I am hearing similar stories about Bolivar penninsula. The death toll from this storm is going to shock people when the media gets around to reporting it.
My gawd. The devastation is brutal and the number of people wiped out, relocated is enormous. It appears that FEMA is far more capable and prepared then with Katrina. It appears that the peninsula and galveston were just totally devastated leaving very little standing, no water, gas, electric. they are uninhabitable areas now. It is very dire.
Here's a link to the Galveston Daily News. A couple of interesting stories: Bolivar devastated, no longer a peninsula President takes tour of storm-devastated island
It is good to know that you're fine and your house suffered little damage. Media is not reporting much abut the death toll, coz they themselves know little. Their access to coastal towns is being severely restricted. If I could ask some questions... 1. Did you stock up sufficient food before the hurricane hit? 2. What is the situation around there like? Have may people moved out? 3. Is there a fuel shortage in the city? How much are you paying for a gallon? 4. Is there any kind of food shortage? 5. Do you see any major damage to city roads and interstate roads? Stay safe my friend...
1. Yes 2. It depends on how close to the coast you are asking about. Where I am (~60 miles inland), it's mostly a lot of wind damage - knocked down power lines, trees, fences and roofs. Probably 50% of people in my area evacuated and some of them have returned already. 3. There is a lot of fuel in trucks, but most gas stations don't have power, so they aren't getting the gas (because they can't resell it to the public). The stations that do have power are getting gas and there are long lines to buy it, but people can get gas if they are patient. I haven't had to buy gas yet, so I haven't paid attention to the cost, but I haven't heard any complaints of price gouging. 4. As with the gas, many stores don't have power, and thus, no perishable foods (bread, eggs, dairy, meats). As stores get power, they are restocking. Our local store is supposed to be almost fully restocked today (or so I've heard). 5. Most of the heavy damage is close to the coast. There are thousands of work crews clearing the roads of debris, but I suspect the greater majority of that clean-up work is being done by residents who didn't evacuate. I was able to drive around Friendswood and Deer Park without any problems.
Glad to see you made it through, Bernard. Hope your area recovers quickly. As to possible death totals, media control, etc.; one grotesque aspect is that there may be deaths wherein people were swept out to sea. Only time will find out about that possibility.
more from the peanut gallery: http://www.shaggybevo.com/forums/viewtopic...5569&start=1650 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6003905.html
Several hundred people still missing. The different authorities are so busy they aren't officially coordinating this number: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_re_us/ike_lives_lost What a horrible disaster.
Bush is incompetent. FEMA is incompetent. Now that there is an economic depression, I wonder how that area will recover? Will there be sufficient resources to rebuild all the damaged infrastructure?
I really don't feel all that sorry for the people that stayed behind. In fact, they were told that they should write their social security number on their arm if they decided to stay in Galveston so that they could identify their body when they found them. I feel sorry for those that stayed behind and the fact that the Presidential race and economy has overshadowed the situation the area continues to face. Hopefully they can rebuild the area. It was only last Spring Break that I was there. =/