Ohmystinkinheck

This is how big Kenny was when the last set of evacuees were pouring into our hometown. It really does feel like the event was much more recent than August 2005. THREE YEARS AGO. Isn’t it funny how events that ’seem’ like they happened yesterday can be quickly dated with a single photo?

The winds had been strong and we were gathering large sticks and branches that had been blown from the trees - he was being a ‘big boy’ and trudged along with the biggest ones he could manage.

Katrina and Rita served as two very big lessons to our smallish town. I believe we’ve managed more successfully to be prepared this time around, but I’m not so sure we are ready to sustain the brunt of what it takes to be the major evacuation point for Galveston, Houston, and the surrounding areas. Even with all our schools, churches, and public areas stocked and prepped, a new coliseum SPECIFICALLY BUILT to house evacuees, and fairgrounds serving as a pet shelter, we are bursting at the seams with the influx.

It may be hit or miss in the next few days. Though we are 100+ miles inland, we are still in Ike’s path. We will experience rain, winds, possible hail, tornadoes, flooding, and of course, the inevitable power shortages/losses.

I was 11 the last time a hurricane of this caliber hit Galveston and Houston directly; it was Hurricane Alicia. She was the 2nd Hurricane of that season - the first one had everyone fleeing inland for no reason as it fizzled out quickly. As a result, when Hurricane Alicia showed up, so many stayed put - not wanting to spend hours in stop-and-go traffic trying to get further inland. Plus, everyone assumed the same thing would happen - nothing. Everyone was wrong; Hurricane Alicia was a Category 3 Hurricane when she hit land and she did some MAJOR damage.

At that time we lived in Clear Lake, which was half the distance I live now, if that. I was only 11, but I’ll never forget the screaming sound of the wind, the way the pressure made the glass rattle in the window, hearing shingles rip off the roof, having my bedroom window burst through in the middle of the night, knowing my dad was somewhere out in the storm with a large piece of plywood - trying to board up my window, listening hard for signs of a tornado, and then, during the eye of the storm, seeing the mad dash as everyone took what time they had to repair or put ‘band-aids’ on areas they’d have to tend after the storm. It seemed like the second half of the hurricane took twice as long as the first to pass us.

Once it passed the damage was awesome (and I don’t mean that in a good way). Tornadoes had spun their way down the blocks of our neighborhood, taking out homes, roofs, or second stories as they pleased. There were many homes with next to no shingles left, others with bricks missing from chimneys, debris everywhere, missing animals, missing ANYTHING that wasn’t strapped down or brought inside, lots and lots of broken windows, major flooding, and the list went on.

Hurricane Ike is expected to be a Category 3 by the time he hits and so many that evacuated for Hurricane Rita in 2005 are not leaving for Ike. No one wants a repeat performance on the highways. I’m worried they may regret it.

24 Responses to “Were Rita and Katrina really 3 years ago?”

1. ashpags

   Good luck. We’re still digging out from Gustav in BR, and we’ve started getting rain and wind from Ike, but it’s not too bad, and hopefully won’t ever get bad for us. We’re sending lots of prayers and good thoughts towards Texas!

2. hana

   Here on the left coast, we can see the fires coming, but not the earthquake. And if someone just spits on the sidewalk, the TV stations start talking about “storm watch!”

   As we watch y’all from wherever we are, we each need to remember to be prepared for these things.

   Praying for you in the City of Angels.

3. Jody

   I am one of those who evacuated with Rita. I live about 30 miles from the coast, just inland of where they say Ike will come in. We’re staying. Our house is boarded, we have water, food, a generator. My husband is essential to hurricane prep at the large plant where he works, and by the time he gets through it is too late to leave.

   I, too, was here during Alicia. We had 2 small children, and I remember saying I’d never stay again during a major hurricane.

   There’s a lot of anxiety here. I keep remembering “God is my refuge, my safe harbor in the storm.”

4. chocolatechic

   Oh. My. Stinkin. Heck.

   In 1983, my dad decided that he needed a college education to be a pastor. We moved to Houston so that he could go to Bible College.

   We were moving INTO our home the day Alicia hit. I was 13. (can’t believe I am older than you, for some reason I thought that you were my age or a year older~~anyway)

   I will never forget standing in the living room, watching trees blow down the street.

   I will never forget laying on the floor, huddled with my sister in sleeping bags with her shaking in fear asking ‘is it over yet’.

   I will never forget the kindness of complete strangers giving us water and food, because we had none.

5. mamalang

   Here in our little area, we feel safe. We hardly ever evacuate, and we’ve been very lucky. The paths of the hurricanes usually bounce around us, so that we only experience the “tropical storm” effect at most. I am worried that one day, we’re going to really get hit and no one will be prepared. We live about 10 miles from the ocean, but we don’t realize it. (Hard to explain, you would have to liver here to understand.)

   You will be in my thoughts and prayers this weekend.

   And that Kenny? He’s too Stinkin CUTE!

6. Angela Tippets

   WOW!! I hated earthquakes growing up in California. I was there for the big Loma Prieta, and I remember it taking me 4 hours to get home from a job interview, when I only lived 20 minutes away. It was crazy! I can’t imagine staying “knowing” what is about to hit. I guess it is the uncertainty of it though. Maybe the hope and the faith that keep people there. For those that are leaving, I applaud you. For those that are staying, be safe!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.

7. Bryssy

   We had a triple hurricane year in the fall of 2004. I was pregnant with my daughter and we had Charlie, Francis, and Jeane all pass over our house within 8 weeks. Even now, when the wind whistles through my window panes, I get that panicky feeling in my stomach. We went 12 days with no power and schools were closed for 2 weeks after Charlie. The other 2 closed schools and took power for less time. Having lived in Central Florida for most of my life, we had been lucky until then. I knew it was bad when the Red Cross fleets set up about a block from my house to feed our town. How blessed we were to have them!

   I’ll be praying for you! Bryssy

8. Mrs. Wilson

   I’ve definitely had your family and my brother (in Kilgore) in my mind these last few weeks and now especially with Ike. I’m praying for your safety!

9. OMSH

   Jody - If you need a place…get on I-45 and head North to Huntsville *wink* I’ll be praying specifically for your family…God IS your refuge. :)

   chocolatechic - OLD LADY! Nah, just joking. heh heh Now, now…be nice.

   Thank y’all for your prayers!

10. karen

    Little Kenny is SO CUTE!

11. JackieW. transplanted Okie (Buried in Legos)

    Hurricane rain is getting on my nerves here in Kansas.

12. Gayle

    Heather, that is so scary. I don’t live in an area of the country that is typically hit with large category hurricanes. I’m hoping and praying that Ike will fizzle out. My thoughts are with everyone in it’s path. Be safe.

13. DaisyCake

    We evacuated for Rita, and are staying here for Ike. That was the recommendation over and over — if you’re not in a mandatory evac zone, stay put! So we are. My in-laws are in a mandatory evac zone, and have already left for higher ground.

    We have two kids (one is a month old today!!!!!!), and I’m freaking out a bit. So if any of you think about it, please say some prayers for my family.

    Thanks!

14. MMM

    He was so tiny! That’s so amazing!

15. mommyknows

    I forgot! Awww Kenny … they grow up so fast.

16. Ike is Packing a Punch! | mommyknows.com

    [...] buddy Heather @ ohmystinkinheck is blogging about Ike as well. She’s has flooding in her area, only it’s NOT water but [...]

17. Katie

    Good luck Heather! If you need a laugh, check the weather.com forecasts for Houston and Galveston. They include phrases like “showery rains” and “strong gusty winds”. Come on! Couldn’t they put a little more oomph into it, kind of how the National Weather Service said “certain death” for people staying in Galveston?

    Anyway. . . all the people I personally know are out of the storm surge zone, so most of them are following the recommendation to stay, but I’m still a little worried. Good luck to everyone!

18. Katie

    Oh, to answer your question — were they really 3 years ago. . . I know! Time flies! It seems like we were just there. We stayed for Rita, but only because we found out about the roads before we got going. Otherwise we would’ve gone. Most of the time I miss the Houston housing prices, but I am so glad not to be there right at the moment :-)

19. Kate

    I’ll keep you in my prayers Heather, that you and your family will be safe. Along with all those that have landed in your town.

    I can’t imagine living somewhere where you KNOW disaster is headed for you. Too scary for this West Coast girl.

20. bethany actually

    I’ll be praying for you all! Stay safe.

21. Josh

    Isn’t it funny how our kids’ personalities are forming and evident even at young, young ages? I see the same driven-ness and determination from 3 years ago, even down to the look on his face. Of course kids mature, but isn’t his personality essentially the same?

22. Michelle

    Man, that sounds awful. Hopefully it’ll calm down before it does too much damage.

23. Nancy

    We’ll be praying for you and your family. I’m sittin up here in GA at 12:15 a.m. watching the weather and sending up prayers for all in Ike’s path.

24. Eve

    Be very careful about going outside. There will be powerlines down and limbs could hurt you, falling from trees.
    As a katrina survivor I feel your pain and you are in my prayers.