Top Ten Reasons Hurricane Season Is Like Christmas
Number Ten:
Decorating the house (with plywood).
Number Nine:
Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season.
Number Eight:
Last minute shopping in crowded stores.
Number Seven:
Regular TV shows pre-empted for 'Specials'.
Number Six:
Family coming to stay with you.
Number Five:
Family and friends from out of state calling you.
Number Four:
Buying food you don't normally buy . . . and in large quantities.
Number Three:
Days off from work.
Number Two:
Candles.
And the Number One reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas:
At some point you're probably going to have a tree in your house!
*****************************************************************
Though the above sounds funny now, it is definitely not when one is bracing oneself for a hurricane. As I write this (Saturday noon, 13 Sep 2008), winds are gusting relentlessly. Our area is out of the projected path but the effects of Ike's fury has reached out to about half of Louisiana. We are currently under flash floods and tornado warnings and watches. Ike is not only lashing out at Texas and Louisiana, 'he' is going to leave his mark as he travels up north, then north east of the States. The devastation Ike left behind is still being assessed. From pictures alone, one can imagine the loss many people suffered (see examples below).
One thing I find ironic is that some people knew they were in the projected path (or just some miles off the eye of the hurricane) but did not leave. The Mayors of Houston and Galveston issued mandatory evacuation orders for residences in low lying areas. Individuals who chose to stay back to brave the hurricane must either be gamblers of life, love their possessions more than themselves or simply had no choice (their job required them to stay, too late to escape or no money to go elsewhere). I think it is rather selfish of those who had the choice, means and strength to leave but chose to ride out the hurricane. Some were seeking help when the hurricane was approaching but search and rescue people could not get to them because of the intense winds.
sigh (No, I am not going to say they deserve it. That is just too mean. I am just baffled. They could have helped themselves earlier.)
Anyway, here are some photos courtesy of
Houston Chronicle (taken in Galveston).
For more photos, go
here.
Update:
Here are before and after photos of another part of Galveston.
37 comments:
Hi JT,
Goodness! If not for the architecture and the news about it, one would have thought they are pics of the tsunami in Acheh!
Hi Cakapaje
It does look that way, doesn't it? I was awake almost all night watching the news. Those brave news people were all over the place. One reporter lost his footing during his report. I thought that was just crazy putting himself in harm's way but he wanted to show how bad it was. Finally, it got too strong for him to be out there, he had to take shelter in his mini van (with his camera man, of course).
Jac, begging your pardon.. can't help noticing your surname. Are you by any chance related to Bill Tegjeu formerly of NST? He's an ex-colleague of mine, the archetypal Mr Nice Guy.
I was wondering about you JT... glad to know you're not in the projected path (not that I'm glad others are!). Hopefully the only tree coming into your house will be during Christmas...
Hello Puteri Kamaliah
Welcome to my blog.
Yes, I am related to Bill Tegjeu. He's my cousin.
Mr Nice Guy? Well, judging from the very few times I met him (mostly during weddings and funerals), he is one. :)
Hello Pi
After going through and surviving the last two hurricanes, I am grateful that the only tree I will have in my house this Christmas is the fibre one I am buying from the store. :D
Thanks for your kind thoughts, Pi.
Hi JT
Hope all is well and u r not hit at all by any hurricane. My thoughts are with u.... take care and big hugs.
Mush
Hi Mush
I am good over here. The hurricane did not get us but we did have a lot of rain and gusty winds. Nothing damaging, though. Just another round of cleaning up the lawn (Gustav left bigger tree branches).
Thanks for your thoughts. You take care too. *hugs*
Saw the news yday abt Ike in Texas and the fibreglass like wall they put along the shore. Its frightening. Thank god your area is not in their path.
Abt the staying thing. Sigh.. i tot after katrina, ppl would take hurricanes warning more seriously.
JT,
Glad to know everything is OK over at your place. Nature has its way of showing its anger.
It is sad when despite the early warnings some people refuse to heed when they are in a position to move out of the way. Previous experiences should have been lesson enough for all to learn.
Hi Jacqui,
The devastation looks pretty bad but I'm glad you're ok.
The US has been getting a lot of nature's fury lately, hasn't it ...
JT dear :
I am so glad you are not on the area , I was watching the news about the hurricane in taxes , was worry , thank god you are in a safe area .
feeling so bad for those ppl who are in it .
hope there can get lot of help .
take care always thinking of you xxxxxxxxxxx pearly with love
Hi Jacqui,
Thank God you're not in the path of Ike. But it does look bad ...
The US of A has been getting a lot of nature's fury lately, hasn't it?
That is really devastating to happen to anyone. I hope you're well and safe!
Glad to hear that you are OK. It is sad to see those nice houses flooded.
We were wandering too why some folks refuse to evacuate.
Take care.
Hi Farina
I cannot believe the devastation. More pictures are coming out on news and Galveston and some cities by the shore look so torn up. About 1 million people (as of last night) still do not have power.
Yeah, I thought too that after Katrina (and Rita), they would heed warnings. Some people who were interviewed sweared that if another hurricane comes through, they are not staying anymore. It was scary.
Hello Zawi
You'd think they would but some chose to brave it.
Yeah, I am glad that our place was spared.
Hi Julie
It does look bad. It was even more shocking for me to hear that our first house (in Bridge City, TX) was under water. Luckily we sold that house in 2006 but I feel very sorry for the person who bought it. That area was apparently under 6 - 8 feet of water.
Mother nature has definitely been furious lately. Hurricane Ike and Gustav not only got the U.S. It left a trail of destruction in Haiti, Turks and Caicos, Cuba - to name a few. It is hurricane season anyway and it is always a gamble not knowing if it will make its way to the States.
Hello CC
I am well and safe, thank you. :)
I wouldn't wish this kind of devastation on anyone. The chance of facing one is higher when one lives by the sea or any bodies of water.
Hi Pearly
Thanks dear. I am glad my area was spared of any devastation. I would like to say that we were safe because we are living further inland but I cannot be too complacent because those hurricanes brought tornadoes too.
People inland faced dangers too.
I believe help is already being given to those who have been left homeless. Authorities are trying very hard to restore power so that people can go back to their homes, assess the damage, clean up and rebuild. They cannot do that without power.
Hello Aiyah Nyonya
Those homes in Galveston are beautiful... and expensive. When I first visited that place back in 1999, I thought that would be a lovely retirement place. Not anymore!
Maybe some did not want to leave because they thought they could protect their belongings or home. Maybe some just wanted to know what it felt like going through a hurricane. And of course, some faced unforeseen circumstances that stopped them from evacuating.
You take care too.
Wow! Didn't know you changed your 'look'. Shows how long I haven't visited your blog :)
Anyway, glad to know you're safe. Take care J.T! *hugs*
j.t,
Posted the story on Dr. Bates. Mentioned you as the reason to blog about him.
Hi Trueblue
Yeah, I changed it about a month back. I have not visited your blog in a while too. I guess we found another place on the internet to hang out. ;)
Thanks for your kind thoughts. *hugs*
You take care too.
Hi Zawi
Thank you very much for that post. Appreciate the trouble you went through to get the story out.
Cheers!
Hi JT, glad to see Ike did not redecorate or renovate your house.
Gosh, US this time the fung shui not that good, what with storms coming one after another.
Ahhhh, but I love that storm from Wasili, Alaska...have been glued to CNN which I normally avoid like someone having a cold, but Sarah sure facinates me...and who knows, the next US president....
Ohhhhh, why can't Canada have a Sarah too?
Our politicians none would be appreciated by Hollywood, maybe as extras in a Bud Abbot and Costelo re-make, ha ha.
I'm a Canadian....but psssst, a Republican, *wink*.
Stay young, JT and keep out of harm's way. Best regards, Lee.
Hi Lee
Yeah, this hurricane season has been bad for the States. A repeat of 2005 when Katrina and Rita hit. Although the hurricanes were not in category 5 this time, the destruction is no less. It is not only the States. I think feng shui around the world is bad.
Then again, if we look back in history, destruction of and by mother nature has been happening for centuries. It is just that we are in an age where we get more information quickly and can see destruction happening before our eyes. So it seems like we have been getting more than before. Back in 1900 when Galveston was hit by a hurricane, people did not know what was going to happen. They did not leave the island. That resulted in thousands dying.
On to politics - Sarah Palin is something huh? More interesting that Joe Biden on the democratic side. haha
I used to like Obama, initially. Long before he became over rated and started running for office. He is making promises just like any other politician running for the highest office in the land. :) He is also running more negative ads against McCain. I have this view that the more negative one is of his opponent, the less credible he looks. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. May the best man win ... or may the lesser of two evils win. hahahaha
Hi JT,
I know you are safe & sound as we have been in contact via facebook.
Yes I do agree with you in that it is baffling why people do not move away from the path of wrath so to speak.
Looking at the photos, it is cary indeed as to the devastation.
The last point of Christmas, I don't know to laugh or not. It is a black joke (is there such a term?)
You atke care JT.
JT - I hope you stay safe this hurricane season. It must be frightening hearing that almighty wind rushing past. It's quite windy here too at the moment but nothing like where you are!
Hi J.T.
My MIL thought Ike would come knock on their doors. Thank goodness it didn't.
I totally cannot stand the way Obama talks - he has an air to him when he talks whether to the crowd or the media. Even my mom in Ipoh is watching the politics and said Obama one arrogant fella!
BTW, how do you like Wordscraper?
Hey Jacqui,
How's things going on there? Hope the after-effects of Ike has quietened down a bit more. It's scary the kind of damage that Mother Nature can wreck on us...=(
And yet, despite all this, there will be people who will have a sense of humour and cheer others up! Now that's what I call spirit...
Hi Ruby
I have been so busy with Facebook (as you mentioned we have been in touch at that site) that I forgot to check my blog in the past couple of days. So, apologies for the late response (and to some others as well).
You know regarding the last point of the list, I actually laughed when I first read it. Then I thought, that is not so funny when you find a huge tree that has just broken through your roof. It is kind of dark, isn't it?
Speaking of trees, when we were driving to New Orleans in 2006 (a year after Katrina hit), we saw lots of trees along the highway that suffered through the hurricane. We did not see much of the houses because we did not go into residential areas.
Anyway, it was kind of scary looking at the huge uprooted trees just lying there (off the highway). Some were even bent out of shape. That got me thinking how bad the winds must have been to alter the landscape.
Thankfully we survived the hurricanes this year. I hope there are no more forming.
You take care too.
Hello Tunku Halim
I was not around to feel and hear how bad the winds were when Gustav came to town (the eye was closer to my area). But just reading reports and news of the wind speeds was nerve wrecking enough - I wondered if our house would be safe.
Ike was too far away from us but the outer bands of the hurricane did bring in some gusty winds, though not the damaging kind.
Thanks TH.
Hi Dawn
I am glad Ike did not knock on your MIL's doors. Where does she live?
Obama: I agree with you. Ever since he got very popular, I sense a change in him. I preferred him when he was an unknown. He was much more pleasant to listen to. To top it off, I don't care much for his wife! She too has some airs about her (in fact more than Obama himself). I heard advisors told her to 'tone down' to appeal to the masses. That is how we got the all-so-sweet lady at the convention. :)
Wordscrapper: It is interesting. I am not that good at it, though. Possibly because I seem to be stuck with a lot more consonants than vowels. haha
Hey Daphne
I am fine, thank you. Life is back to normal here. Most lawns have been cleaned up. :)
As for some who have the knack of cheering others, it is all about attitude - seeing the glass half full instead of empty.
You take care and hope you are enjoying your new place.
Wow, those are some pictures!! I watched the news, and even saw Geraldo fall down as a wave swept him off his feet! Haha.
Hi Puteri
Geraldo is one character that keeps us entertained. haha
I saw another reporter (from The Weather Channel) get down on all fours and his butt faced the camera as he fought the gusty winds pushing him. Reporter was laughing at himself when he got back on his feet.
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