Ike has left the building…
Okay, so many of you know that I almost did not leave my wonderful H-town during the hurricane warning. I was like, yeah, yeah, been there, done that, own the Rita t-shirt. BUT, after much persuasion from my in laws, I decided it was the thing to do. Besides, electricity is worth the drive.
My friends and neighbors chose to stay behind. If is was not for them, I would not have had so much foresight on what to expect and do before we came back home. My wonderful friend and neighbor,Susan, kept me updated on the whole situation, plus watched over our home. My friend, Laura, cleaned out my refrigerator for me! It was sparkling clean when I came back home. Everyone informed me what was for real on the news and what to do for sure before coming back home. Weezer and Papa took great care of all us while we took refuge in their home. All in all, we were very lucky. Others, weren’t.
Coming back home, I was not sure what to expect other than to be sure to fill up hours outside of Houston, because gas is scarce here. Also, to buy groceries, because most stores are stilled closed, and if they are not, then they sell out quickly. I guess Weezer said it best when she said how it was hard to believe how such a big city could be made immobile. Then, my friend, Linda E, said another best, that next to electricty, gas and groceries were a hot commodity.
Here are some videos that Savannah took while we came in. Video One is of two lines (North Bound and South Bound) of utility workers in a caravan on the Sam Houston Tollway. Video Two is some of what we encountered driving near our subdivision; gas lines (Chevron), packed restaurants (Johnny Carino’s) and closures (McDonald’s). While our area did not suffer as greatly as Galveston, it sure took a beating. Trees were uprooted. Roofs torn off. Fences blown into other yards (our back fence fell and some shingles stripped from our roof). I went running today and saw pile after pile of debris lined up around the neighborhood yards. I have never seen anything like it. Like with Rita, I will never forget the grid lock on the highway and the chaos and mad panic at the grocery stores. Ike will hold new memories. Like encountering signs on I-45S saying that the town had no gas or food, move on. This time, I came in and saw areas pitch dark spotted with areas of light, just to hit more areas stretched out into the darkness. Normally when I drive into Houston, all I see are bright lights. I will also remember seeing lines of cars stretched out for a mile into the streets just waiting to gas up. I will also remember seeing giants closed, like McDonald’s and Wal-Mart, and unusually packed restaurants that reopened, like Burger King and Denny’s, with lines and jammed parking lots, people just waiting to get some food, any food. I saw all of this driving in on a Tuesday night.
I will also remember that the people of Houston once again all pulled together to help each other out and that today on my run, people were going out of their way to say hi to everyone.
So tomorrow, I will venture out with my hubby to see if we can buy some food at a recently opened HEB. We are working on slim pickings at the house. We have no meat! Slowly, but surely, businesses are reopening. People are starting to trickle into work. Most ISDs are out until next week. My kids see this as an adventure, as many others do. As I write this, 1.3 million people are still without electricity, with no assurances of having it turned on any time soon. Gas is at a reasonable price, considering. The Dallas Cowboys are 2-0. And my hubby is on his way home!
God Bless Texas!
They’re especially helpful when they buy me and the family dinner at Lupe Tortilla.