URNotAlone

Surviving Ike

September 29th, 2008 9:07 am MDT

2 weeks after Ike battered SE Texas and after a week offshore I'm finally back home and it is nice to be somewhere that practically can't get hurricanes (only if it is a very rare southern one).
I have to say it was an experience to weather out a hurricane and especially a direct hit.  Thankfully I was on the western side of Houston so we didn't get hit by the full ferocity of the storm but still had a hell of a clean up.  No water for 2 days and no power up to the point I left for the rig a week after.  I feel sorry for those still without power.
Definitely glad I wasn't in Galveston or on Bolivar.  From what little I saw in the aftermath these areas got hammered.  The official death toll I fear is far too low considering the damage.  I hope that it really is low but instinct tells me it will be much worse.  However, that said they were told to evacuate so if they stayed they only have themselves to blame.
That said Ike was an oddball.  It was a Cat 2 storm according to the wind speed at ground level but had a Cat 4 storm surge and Cat4 to 5 winds at about 100ft.  And it's shear size made it an abnormal storm in that respect.  At 600miles across it practically filled the Gulf of Mexico.  So you did have to think if you evacuate where the hell do you go to?
Anyway, it's finished and the clean up/repair is well underway.  Really hope everyone gets back to normallity as soon as possible and people can get home and rebuild.  i for one will not be sticking around next time if I can help it.
 
Hugs to all affected by Ike
xxxx