Ike Update

We are back home, I am back at work and life as we knew it is resuming for us.  But that's not the case for many close to us. As family members and friends get in touch with each other after the storm, we are learning the extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ike.  My aunt and uncle, who live near Moody Gardens, had 8 feet of water and sewage in their one-story home, obviously losing everything.  Thank the Lord they decided not to stay on the island.  My cousin and her 2 small children are unable to live in their townhome because the structural integrity of the building has been compromised. My Mom's house had a few tree limbs downed but no additional damage. 

 

According to some friends of the family, Mema and Pepa's house has minimal damage, with just a half a foot of water in one of the first floor bedrooms and a little into the kitchen and they live one block from the beach!  Praise God they left the island because they may have made it through the storm but the aftermath may have proven to be more difficult to handle - there is still no water, gas, phone, or electricity on the island and the mosquitoes are swarming.  FEMA is paying for them to stay in a hotel in Austin until mid October.

Our friends, Heather and Todd, live on the water in Bayou Vista and came by to pick up their car tonight.  Their entire first level was completely washed away by the storm surge.  The walls are bare down to the studs, even the stairs are gone.  The Tiki Bar was found several houses down with multi-colored martini glasses still hanging in place.

While this is easy for us to say since we are not directly effected, we have to learn from this event and from these losses, that these "things" are not what are important.  We will always have memories we can share and the love of family and friends to keep us going.

The last report I heard said that a large percentage of the residents STAYED on the island during the storm.  What is amazing is they have reported only FIVE fatalities in the city of Galveston.  We have to give praise to God for all the blessings amidst the heartache and devastation. 

Hurricane Tikes - Evacuation Planning

First - try to exit the front door

If the door is congested with toddlers, try exiting a window

Then, two of us will hop onto our car and two of us will push

We'll head for safer shelter with Penny our Penguin

Once things settle, we'll blog to let our friends know we're okay

And when it's all over - we play!