For those that refuse to leave the Texas Coast please ...

[merh]

Put all of your personal papers in a water tight container.

Be sure you have a life vest and/or other floatation device.

If you have family and friends that are with you, they need to have floatation devices too. Also, a rope is a good thing to have on hand as you may want to use it to keep everyone connected, a life line as you try to get out of the surge.

Put some dry clothing for everyone and some blankets in a sealed bag or container and put them in the attic (this can be used as a floation device).

Put the floatation device(s), the rope, the container with your papers, some food and water, your container/bag with your dry clothing in your attic. Oh, don't forget your crank radio and your flashlights (I only buy flashlights that float now.)

Make sure your entrance to your attic is accessible. Also put an ax or a shotgun in your attic, you may need one of them to shot/chop a hole in your roof to get out of if the water keeps rising.

Ike's surge is affecting the MS Gulf Coast and has been for two days now. The storm is over 300 miles to our SW and it is being felt here.

Take it from a Katrina Survivor that had to fight the surge to save family members - you need to be prepared and ready for anything. You cannot know what the surge will do and until you experience a surge like what Ike appears to be packing, you can't imagine how scarey and dangerous it is. Think of a huge bulldozer pushing the water to you, that is what you have with Ike.

I'm not making this shit up - Katrina surge videos I took

From the second floor window
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/determinedafterstorm/Katrina/?action=view¤t=Stormfrom2ndstorylookingout.flv

Inside the house
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/determinedafterstorm/Katrina/?action=view¤t=KatrinaWaterscomingintohouse.flv

GET OUT IF YOU CAN - If you can't, be prepared for the worse and then after the storm you can come back and make fun of me for being such a ninny.

:grouphug:

[Wheezy]

1. k&r

[babylonsister]

2. I have to bookmark this for later viewing. I so remember

what you went through. We're staying, but we are about 20 miles away from the coast, and we've been told to hunker down. Thanks for the tips, merh! :hug:

[malaise]

Be careful

:grouphug:

[merh]

9. Do you have any drainage ditches or small canals near you?

How about tributaries or rivers or streams.

I was well inland - I was 15 miles inland - there was this itty bitty creek that ran back of the house I was at. They don't build interstates in the flood plain, the interstate was an access road to the north of us. Katrina storm surge went over the interstates in many cases, covered the interstates in other.

With a surge like this every body of water becomes a raging river and I mean every little tiny trickle of water. That storm is pushing all the gulf at you and it has no where to go but into those streams and then they become the rivers.

Stay safe friend, get your life vests and the attic ready just in case. Humor me. :hug:

We were not prepared, my brother's house next door was gutted, we watched the water rise 9 feet in the house and were making plans to go out the roof if it kept coming. One of the elderly relatives with us just kept crying that we needed to leave her, she couldn't swim.

We had a 5 gallon container of water and no diapers for the kids. The liter of coke was handy for the relative with diabetes, to try to keep her sugar right as we sat trapped for over 6 hours. We came down to nothing but destruction and ate what we could get out of the overturned and battered frigerators. If it was sealed, we ate it (uncooked hot dogs and a slice of cheese.)

Thanks to the kindness or neighbors who did not have the destruction we had, we were taken in and given food and blanets and safety.

Be prepared and take good care of yourselves. :hug:

[babylonsister]

11. As a matter of fact, I do have a huge

flood control ditch behind my house, and thought that was a good thing. Hmmm.
I think I need to alert the husband and see what he thinks. According to the gummint, this area is safe to hunker down in, but now you have me worried.

[CoffeeCat]

14. Babylonsister...

I am worried about you, and I think you should consider leaving.

The worst of the storm search is supposed to hit at 2:00 a.m. That would be really difficult to
battle 20-foot storm surges in the middle of the night.

MSNBC just said that there will be 20-foot storm surges around I-10 in the Houston area.

They're talking about Houston right now. They said that interior Houston won't
feel the effect as much--but that you should take cover and go to an interior room
Did you hear this?

I'm not sure where you are in Houston, and you've probably heard all of this--but hopefully
that gives you some good guidance.

Please keep us posted about where you are, and what you decide to do--go or stay.

[babylonsister]

15. I just mailed this link to my husband. We are on the west side of

I-45, near Hobby Airport. We have never flooded since I've lived here (1995) but I've never seen a storm here like this one.
I just asked him about the flood control ditch; even after Allison which dropped about 30" of rain, it wasn't full.
I didn't hear about the interior room; the house is boarded up. The local weather is saying we're to expect only 50-60mph winds 'only'. That sounds better to me than 90+.
I'll see what he says. Either way, Monday can't come soon enough.
And thanks. :hug:

[rvablue]

52. I was in VA during Isabel with 50-60 degree mph winds

and was an hour inland, but because it had rained A LOT in the previous couple of weeks, many root systems on trees couldn't hold up to the combo of wind and saturated ground and there were many, many houses that were smashed with falling trees. If you have BIG trees on your property please take that into consideration as to where you ride out the storm in your house.

Just my pathetic two cents.

Praying for all of you! Stay well!

[merh]

17. I would rather worry you and have you prepared for what may come

your way than to have you hurt in this.

Be prepared - have your attic ready, just in case. If you have life vests get them now and put them up there.

Please, I pray I am wrong and you will come back later to tell me what an ass I am. But just in case, be ready. :hug:

[babylonsister]

20. I'd never call you an ass, for starters.

No life vests, but I'll make sure my husband has an ax ready (<= = I never thought I'd ever be typing that sentence).

I've sent Rick this thread and implored him to read it. It's a crap shoot, isn't it. We left for Rita and it didn't rain, we didn't lose power. But better safe than sorry, I know.
Thanks, merh.

[merh]

24. you and yours are in my prayers.

please do come back and call me an ass, I'll love to read that. :hug:

[intheflow]

27. If you can't leave, DO take merh's advice and be prepared.

The first time I went to Mississippi after Katrina hit, I was doing damage assessment for the Red Cross. I saw homes 20 miles inland that were on waterways that were completely washed away. My friend Derrick's mother was rescued by a neighbor who floated an air mattress by her home, 10 miles inland. Turkey Creek, a small creek, overflowed up to the rafters of her home due to storm surge. She's lived in Turkey Creek most of her life, was there for Camille and Betsy, but her house never flooded to the roof before.


Please be careful, babylonsister! I'll be worrying and praying for your safety! :hug:

[babylonsister]

29. My DH has been monitoring the local channels; they're still

not indicating this zip code needs to evacuate. He said if he heard that, we're gone.
But I'm going to find that ax! Thanks, itf. :hug:

[CoffeeCat]

59. It sounds like you are doing everything you can...

...to be prepared, babylonsister.

I hope you will check in with us this evening and through tomorrow, so we can keep tabs
on you.

Watching the news, it's so hard to tell what will happen and what areas will be hit the worst.
Ultimately, they know the general area, but they don't know specifics or exactly how hard the
storm will hit. You never know until it happens.

All you can do is prepare, and it sounds like you are doing that.

Again, check in with us throughout the evening.

[Solly Mack]

3. K&R

Worried sick. Please be careful everyone.

[CoffeeCat]

4. ...and PLEASE, PLEASE watch this video...

It's ten minutes, and it shows a real storm surge.

People think that a storm surge is just some standing water coming in to your house. What fun!

Actually, it's a gradual--but fast rise in ocean water that surges--into your home. It is the ocean...complete
with massive waves that crash into everything and will throw you around like a rag doll.

Look at this video of a storm surge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yd5WreHxPg

If you can't watch all ten minutes of the video--start at 5:35 and see how powerful a storm surge is. It's
a major storm at sea---all around you, with no way to escape.

This is why so many died in their attics during Katrina. The storm surge rises about 6 inches every 5 minutes.
By the time people realize it's a serious situation, they begin moving higher inside their home, until they
can't go any higher. They're trapped. People were so terrified of what they saw outside--25 foot rolling
waves with cars, street signs and trees in them--that they didn't jump out of their homes. These waters are
too frightening and are death traps.

You're right OP---get out NOW, indeed!

[intheflow]

32. Storm surge can rise much faster than that.

I met a woman in Mississippi who saw the water coming in from a small creek behind her house. She locked her dogs in her one story house figuring they could jump on the furniture if the water entered the house. Then she went next door to her sister's 2-story house, maybe 20 yards away. She said the water was to her knees by the time she got to her sister's house and by the time they got to the second floor, the water was already almost up there with them. It had completely covered her house by that point, drowning her dogs. The water got to about 3/4 of the second floor, as they all hunkered in a tiny cramped attaic crawlspace. It was hours before the water went down.

That story never ceases to make me cry.

[merh]

39. they need to know - this isn't a game

Ike is a monster with hellish storm surge.

[CoffeeCat]

56. That's just awful...

...and it's just awful to hear about loss like that. It is very sad to hear.

I'm glad that woman was able to find safety in an attic with her family.

So many people died in their attics, and you understand how that could happen. When people
say that an ax is important--it really is, isn't it?

[intheflow]

80. Yeah, an ax is important.

Other good things to have stashed in your attic are: water, dry and canned food, a can opener, and of course, a hand-crank radio.

[merh]

44. There is this video too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl8-dw27Z1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plRExrbdPhc

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Thanks, Merh!

We're hunkering down! :hug:

[merh]

26. be careful

you are in my prayers :hug:

[LSK]

6. K&R

[DCKit]

7. But if you were planning on voting Republican in November....

Just kidding. But it's only been 25 years since Houston got slammed, you'd have to be willfully ignorant to not know anything about the storm that hit Galveston in 1900 and Katrina/Rita seem like yesterday. Perhaps some people really are too stupid to live.

[arcadian]

8. Refuse to leave? Do you know how big a city Houston is?

2,208,180

It would be impossible to evacuate a city that large.

[EFerrari]

13. Not really. They do it in Havana just fine.

It's more that our government isn't interested in saving lives.

[arcadian]

19. You may be right about Havana

and you are definitely right about our government.

[EFerrari]

21. Here's an article on how Cuba does it. They're very resourceful:

Nobody Does Evacuations Like Cuba

By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 10, 9:03 PM ET

HAVANA - When Hurricane Ike struck Cuba, Ronald Matos didn't think twice about fleeing his one-room wooden house for a government shelter.

The 34-year-old construction worker and his wife, Emma Jean, got soft beds, free meals, the attention of a doctor and solicitous social workers — and the companionship of other friendly Cubans.

"We passed the night talking and telling stories, because Cubans never lose their smiles or their sense of humor," he said. "There is no electricity, but we are better protected than in our homes."

With an inefficient centralized economy and a U.S. embargo that has stifled trade, Cuba doesn't have resources to build new, hurricane-proof buildings. It doesn't have fleets of Humvees to charge through the floodwaters. Few of its people have cars to flee in, and fewer still can check on loved ones by cell phone.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080911/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_evacuations

[babydollhead]

66. Global links; Cuba's relief

Article ToolsE-mail ArticlePrint ArticleDigg Thisdel.icio.usStumble It!RedditFacebookMySpace
EmailPrintGlobal action: Hurricane relief, from Pittsburgh to Cuba
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In times of crisis, Global Links, the Garfield-based medical relief organization, understands how to get supplies to where they're most needed. Though it started locally, it has always operated globally.

With a record of service since its founding in 1989, Global Links received a rare federal license in 1994 that allowed it to bypass America's four-decades-old trade embargo against Cuba. Since its inception, the nonprofit group has sent relief to 70 countries.

In the last week, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike destroyed at least 100,000 homes in Cuba and put much of its agricultural capacity under flood waters. Post-Gazette staff writer Anya Sostek reported yesterday that the World Health Organization asked Global Links to be a conduit for emergency medical supplies to the island nation.

Pittsburgh's Global Links has been providing aid to Cuba for 14 years, enough to fill 75 sea containers 40 feet long. It will send at least two more containers to Cuba next week in response to the storms.

Donated supplies usually include syringes, medication and hospital linens. Despite the embargo against Cuba, donations to Global Links' work there is legally tax-deductible.

Pittsburgh should be proud of yet another organization that is doing its best to make a difference in the world. Financial contributions can be made through the organization's Web site at www.globallinks.org.

[AZ Criminal JD]

75. They didn't evacuate Havana.

[EFerrari]

78. But they do and they do it very well. n/t

[Ilsa]

71. It isn't really Houston that needs evacuating. There are some

low lying areas that have mandatory evacuation orders on the SE side iat low elevation. Many areas of the city will not be flooded from a storm surge. There are areas of Houston that might flood from heavy rains, though. Some people should leave because of trees hanging over their homes.

I'm glad they are concentrating on getting the special needs cases out first. But people on Galveston Island need to leave.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

89. About 4 million in the Houston metro area.

there's mandatory evacuation on the SE and S sides.

[CoffeeCat]

10. Wow...merh!

I just watched your video, and that is such amazing, frightening footage!

We had one DUer who said he was going to ride it out, in Galveston, but he left a couple of hours ago, I believe.

Hopefully, if anyone else is still hanging on they will watch your video and get out.

I posted the footage of a storm surge in your thread. I never knew what a storm surge was and
how violent it was until seeing that footage after Katrina.

Merh, I look at this footage and I'm so glad that you are here! I'm wondering how you escaped.
How did you get out of your house?

Was your house a total loss?

Thanks for sharing that footage...so valuable and eye opening to anyone who wants to stay behind
because they think they can outwit Mother Nature.

[merh]

16. I was at my sister's house. Fortunately it was 2 story but at the

time we weren't sure that would be high enough. The water kept coming and coming and rising.

My brother, his wife and 2 toddlers, his MIL and FIL and his SIL and her husband and child were in his one story house next door.

I had left my dogs in their kennels in my sister's greenhouse. They started to freak out and my BIL and I went out in the storm to check on them. We found them up to their necks in water and quickly grabbed them up and took them to the upstairs bathroom in the house. By that time the water was coming in everywhere. It wasn't seeping it, it was flowing in at the doorways and windows, it was lapping up on the windows. My brother called from next door and asked what was happening, I yelled into the phone that they had to get to us now, no waiting, they had to get out in the storm and out of his house to us so they could take shelter with us upstairs. So we had to go out in the storm to get them, I held the door open because there was no way of guaranteeing that we could open it once we let it close, the waters were swirling all around us by then. The windows had given way to the pressure of the water and it was just pouring in.

My BIL came around the corner with my 4 year old niece and handed her to me to take upstairs. I insisted he get my 2 year old nephew first and then I would take them both if he held the door. The faces of those 2 frightened angels still haunt me. He brought my nephew to me and I carried the both of them through waist high water to my other brother and niece in the stair well who bundled them in blankets and took them upstair. When I returned to the doorway, by BIL had left it, he thought he had blocked it off to keep it open but the waters washed away whatever it was he had used. I fought like hell to open that damned door, god let me open the door. I screamed and I cursed and prayed and I couldn't get the damn thing open. Suddenly it gave way and I stood there as each member of my family made their way inside.

The surge waters carry toxins and insects, snakes and critters. My left arm was covered in fire ants and the were as frightened as I was so they left their hundreds of marks.

We waited it out upstairs, the house swaying the waters rising. Every large piece of furniture and applicance became battering rams, breaking out the walls, weakening the structure. The gas stove was ripped from its brackets and the gas line, so we had a gas leak to deal with.

The water stopped before it came into the 2nd floor - after hours, when the water had dropped to about 3 feet high, my brother used pliars to shut off the gas. When he was down there a water mocassion went past him.

When it was all over, my brothers house was totally gutted as was the entire first floor of my sisters house. 14 cars were submerged, washed away.

My house lost its roof and collapsed in the storm, it blocked my street for days.

[CoffeeCat]

61. Wow, merh...

You truly survived a nightmare. It's like every horror movie, combined into one--floods, fire ants, snakes
and the damage to your home.

If you don't mind me asking...were you able to rebuild? Did your neighbors stick around and rebuild
as well?

I imagine you never, ever forget a traumatic event like that.

Thanks for sharing your story merh. Your message and advice to others dealing with this is very helpful. :hug:

[merh]

67. after 25 months in a fema travel trailer

I was able to move into my home - I built up, on 10 foot pilings, but looking at the Galevston Beach images, that wouldn't matter if Ike came this way. :(

None of my immediate neighbors came back, I'm the first house on my side of the road, pre-Katrina I was the 8th house.

thank you for helping me try to impress upon folks how dangerous this really is.

:hug:

[goodgd_yall]

83. What a vivid description of your experience.

I'm so glad your family got through it.:hug:

[merh]

86. it was a life changing experience

and I am blessed that I am around to share it - people need to hear it
thank you for your kind words. :hug:

[Hekate]

95. Oh merh. People just don't realize the sheer unstoppable power of water in motion.

:hug: You know. Thank God you are all still alive.

Hekate

[orleans]

96. i'm so glad that duer left. i was thinking about his post saying that

he was staying (and i couldn't remember his name) and i've been so worried about him. i'm sooo glad to have read this--and to read that he left. thanks for writing that.

[fla nocount]

12. And cash, empty the bank and put the cash in a front pocket.

In the aftermath money talks and bullshit floats.

[merh]

34. most definitely.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Get an indelible marker and write your name and SS on your arm so they can identify your body

Not trying to sound morbid but no sense making it harder on the body removal and identification folks.

They already have a bad enough job as it is.

Don

[merh]

23. It might sound ghoulish, but it is true.

After the waters receeded and the neighbors took us in, we sat around the table and tried to grasp what we went through.

A lady I had never seen before was sitting at the table, all shell shocked and tired. She told us, matter-of-factly, what she and her husband had endured. They were in their house and her disabled BIL was with them. The waters came in and they kept trying to get higher and higher, at one point they had the BIL on a chair on the kitchen table and she and her husband had punched a hole in the ceiling to get in the attic. They were in the attic and the BIL on the table and the water kept rising. They tried to pull him up in the attic with them but he was very large and unable to help. He looked at them and told them to let him go, that they needed to survive. They had to let him go.

When the waters receded, the fire departments came around to see if they could help folks, when they found this couple they asked if they knew of anyone that needed help or of any bodies. They took them to the tarp covered body of the drowned BIL that they had found on the back porch.

[lizziegrace]

54. I just heard that advice given on the news

get a permanent marker and put your SS# and name so your body can be identified. Don't forget to mark your children too if they're staying with you.

[LynzM]

22. Wow, merh....

That second video is scary even to watch, I cannot imagine what it was like to live through... :hug: Am so glad that you made it through. I hope people heed your warnings.

[merh]

36. There are hundreds on the Mississippi Coast that have similar

if not more frightening tales, tales of fear and near death and heroism.

I'm terrified that Texas citizens will know what we know - they are nightmares that are hard to wake up from.

thanks for the kind words. :hug:

[tpsbmam]

25. Adding if you have pets I hope you have life vests for them, too and

a halter so that you can also cinch them to you if you can. We have life vests and have the same for our dogs and we have carabiner clips and a clamp device to clip their life jackets to our life jackets. At minimum, if you have halters try to do the same for them using halters. Obviously don't tie them to you by their collars -- they'd likely strangle or break their necks/esophagi.

[merh]

31. yes, you are exactly right, but most at this stage won't have that

they need to come up with some type of way to keep the animals afloat.

[tpsbmam]

57. You're right.....

It wouldn't be too difficult to fashion a halter out of a torn sheet or pretty much any strong fabric. Sorry, I'm a HUGE animal lover -- I hate seeing these innocent creatures left to die in these situations. Your post is excellent and should be the focus.

[merh]

58. Oh, I appreciate your post, I've been googling "pet life vests"

I have 3 pups that are my babies, I need to get them life vests.

thanks for your support and kind words. :hi:

[Fumesucker]

28. Forget the axe and shotgun... A chainsaw is what you need..

Trying to swing an axe upward with any force is hard for those skilled in doing it, if you don't have a lot of practice it's hard to land a good blow that will actually do anything to something as rugged as a roof. Mostly what will happen is the wood of the roof will give a bit with the blow and no hole will appear.

If you really, really need to cut a hole in the roof you are going to want a chainsaw or some other kind of saw with you. Some means of putting a smallish hole in the roof to start sawing through will be necessary also, a cordless drill, hand drill or something that will cut a hole without benefit of electric power.

A cordless sawzall would be a good thing to have in this case. More than one blade is good to have too, it's going to be very easy to break a blade in your haste..

[merh]

33. You may a very good point - the important thing is to have something

to use to get you up on the roof.

[NNN0LHI]

38. I'd go with the Sawzall. Hit one nail with a chainsaw and it won't cut through warm butter

Just keep an extra battery or 2 for the Sawzall handy. A couple extra blades too.

Don

[Fumesucker]

51. A chainsaw will still cut through something like a roof after a nail strike.

It'll slow it down a lot but it will still _wear_ a hole if you keep at it hard enough.

You won't cut a 4" oak limb with the chainsaw but most roofs are only 3/4" thick these days.

They make carbide tooth chains for chainsaws also.

It's going to be dark in the attic, make sure you have a flashlight and extra batteries.

[redwitch]

30. Oh my God merh!

It is incredible that you came out of that ok. :hug:

[merh]

45. I fear for the folks in Texas

I'd rather make a fuss and be wrong and look stupid than to think I didn't do enough to make people realize how damned dangerous storm surge is and how dangerous Ike will be.

Katrina was during the day, these folks face late night - early a.m. hell.

thank you for the hug :hug:

[daggahead]

35. And if you own a business ... please make sure you've ...

Backed up your data! You may not have a business to go back to (I hope I am SO WRONG on that point!).

[intheflow]

37. Oh, merh.

The part of your video I remember most from the much more extensive footage you showed me in Mississippi was the car (was it you BIL's police car?) with the lights flashing as it floated. And your neice saying over and over, in her little baby voice, "House broke!" :hug:

And then I remember usedtobesick and I combing through debris in your yard. I pulled out all kinds of little things from the dried mud, but only two or three of the items had been yours before the storm, a bit of grandma's broken china, a penguin magnet. God, I hope people read this thread and leave.

[merh]

41. I would have never thought it would happen to me where I had

evacuated to and hunkered down.

I need to see if I can post the other video to photobucket.

If they can't get out, they need to be prepared and I mean really prepared to fight to live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl8-dw27Z1Q

[salin]

77. Mehr.... a kick and rec and many hopes that people read and 'hear' you

It's been a long time since we have crossed paths - sad it is under these circumstances... but it is a big reminder of why and how much I appreciate you - and that gigantic, compassionate and active heart of yours! :loveya:

And many prayers for those in the path of this storm.

[merh]

85. hello dear friend

it is so good to read your words. :hug:

[dddem]

40. God bless you for sharing your thoughts and advice.

You've probably saved at least one life today.

[merh]

42. God I hope so - folks just don't know what these things can do

:scared:

[coffeenap]

43. Hugs to you, merh--so many people will benefit from this.

:hug:

[merh]

49. aw coffeenap, it's always so good to read your words.

:hug:

thanks so for always being so supportive - I hope you and yours are doing well. :pals:

[LynneSin]

46. Hell anyone who watches your video and then decides to stay behind is nuts

Your life is way more valuable than any items you own.

They say this one is gonna be a killer and I don't think we are prepared whatsoever. But as I've said before - we don't have the RNC convention happening so the whole world isn't watching right now.

[merh]

48. If the people can't get out, they need to be prepared to survive.

I'm not making it up about having the attic prepared.

I built 10 feet up and still have made certain my attic entrance is accesible (I had a really cool ladder, like a fire escape ladder put in).

The only thing I didn't list in what to pack in the attic get away was the cigs and a wind proof lighter - alcohol does nothing during times like this - you just haven't the time or your adrenaline is kicking so much you don't feel it.

This is a "life or death" storm - the surge it is pushing is tremendous.

[DemReadingDU]

47. Merh, thank you for sharing your frightening experiences

Hopefully, whoever is in the path of Ike, will read and listen to you.

So thankful that you and your family survived.

[merh]

53. .

thank you :hug:

[Dem_4_Life]

50. My grandparents are in Houston and they are staying.

They tried to evacuate during Rita and we were all more worried when they were trying to evacuate. They live by the galleria and were in the car for 12 hours and only made it to the west side of Houston. They were getting so weak from the heat and all of the cars, they had to keep turning off the car to save gas. My whole family called them and pleaded them to go to my Uncle's house on that side of town since it was becoming more dangerous for them to be on IH10. After that whole ordeal they found out that the apt building they live in is built to withstand 200mph winds. They are on the 5th floor, they security gaurds helped them move all furniture off their balcony and they have lots of food, water, candles, battery operated TV & Radio and they building has a back up generator for the elevators and hallways so if the power goes out they can hook up fans with ext cords to the hallway. Of couse naturally I am worried however I do feel they are safe and in someways if you have a living place like that to be in during the storm then you are probably safer than possibly dying of a heat stroke on the highway.

[merh]

55. a belated welcome to DU, Dem_4_Life

It sounds like your grandparents are set and will be fine. I'm sure there are others that will stay that will keep an eye on them and help them out.

That's another thing folks need to do if they plan on staying. Know your neighbors that are also staying, put their cell numbers in your phone or on a piece of paper in a sealed baggie you tape shut.

The sense of community of events like this is so strong and neighbors helping and caring about neighbors is what makes it tolerable.

Your grandparents and everyone else that face Ike's wrath are in my prayers.

[Dem_4_Life]

63. Thanks. I appreciate your prayers very much.

They have been in Houston for over 55 years and they evactuated for some hurricane's before I wasn't born (I can't remember which) and then my whole family evacuated from Alicia to our family lake house north of Houston and ended up with tornado's but we all survived (obviously) with no too much damage other than the cat hiding under the bed for 2 days scared shitless. After Alicia, Rita was their next attempt to evacuate because of Katrina. I am relieved to hear how prepared they are and how well their building is built. They have very thick windows. When I talked to them this morning my Grandpa's biggest fear was being up at 1am because of the storm loosing power and not having lamps to read and then he said they could light candles and play card games. My uncle offered for them to come to their house but they too are in Houston so that is not better and he would be better off taking his family to my grandparent's apt. Oh well, we will see what happens.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers and they are very close to all of the neighbor's and I don't think any of their neighbor's are evacuating either. Houston is mainly just evacuating certain areas.

[Lorien]

62. Tell them to leave but stay OFF the highways!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3982759&mesg_id=3982759

[Dem_4_Life]

64. They are really stubborn

and even if I tell them alternate routes they won't leave. :shrug:

Thanks for the advice about the alternate routes though. That is a really good idea, since the whole evacuation for this hurricane is not very well organized.

[McCamy Taylor]

72. Houston isn't in the danger Galveston County is. It's people near the coast that are at most risk.

There will be scattered flooding in Houston, storms and wind damage, tornadoes etc.

But people who live in Galveston Co and along the coastal parts of Texas could easily die. The water could wash over their homes and wash them into the Gulf at any time. The Bay has risen to record heights and the storm isn't even there yet.

[lizziegrace]

84. MSNBC just reported that 90,000 people stayed in Galveston

and the entire city is without power now. Unbelievable...

[Lorien]

60. K & R! And here's an evacuation tip for those who are leaving:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3982759&mesg_id=3982759

Try to find secondary roads that are at least 10 miles or more from any major interstate. 20 extra miles of driving could save you ten or more hours on the roads!

[politicasista]

65. To those in Ike's path

Please stay safe and be careful. :grouphug:

[fed_up_mother]

68. And write your name on your forearm so we won't spend years trying to

figure out who you are after you're dead.

The money used for that could go to the living.

[Faygo Kid]

69. NPR said those staying in worst areas are advised to write their Social Security #s on their arms.

For identification purposes. Heard it in the car a half hour ago.

[McCamy Taylor]

70. My mom lives on Galveston Bay in San Leon (the mainland). Her pier is being washed away, water is

covering the road and approaching her house which faces the bay. That house has withstood hurricanes for many decades (since the 1960s) and has never flooded. This is a massive storm---and it has not even struck yet. All it has done so far is raise the water level in Galveston Bay beyond what anyone has ever seen.

She has moved inland even though she swore yesterday she would not.

Everyone on Galveston, Island (where I used to live) and on Galveston Bay needs to get inland. Once the hurricane actually gets there, the water is only going to rise more, all at once. And with the winds and storm, it is going to be so much worse than any of the hurricanes that people have experienced before.

This could be the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 all over again

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galveston_Hurricane_of_1900

[merh]

73. I'm afraid you are right about this one being Texas' big one

They all are in my prayers, I'm glad you mom got out.

[McCamy Taylor]

74. OMG! On CNN the waves are topping the sea wall on Galveston!

Do not believe them about any hotel being the tallest, safest structure. John Sealy Hospital Tower is the place to go if you are on the island and need to get to safety. The only place that does not evacuate completely is the hospital---it has generators and it has withstood hurricanes--so far.

[merh]

76. I've been watching the weather channel and I can't believe the

images of Galveston - the mother is still something like 6 hours out.

[sakura]

88. Good luck to your mom...

And good thoughts to you and yours. I lived and taught in Galveston for a while-- I remember how the area around the older homes would flood with each rainstorm. I loved that place and the people. I hope people are able to stay safe, or are able to get out once they reconsider their decision to stay put-- a reprise of the 1900 hurricane would be horrible.

[DevonRex]

79. And a knife, just in case you have to cut the rope that's got you tied

to something or someone.

[merh]

87. Actually, one of those all in one pocket tools is ideal

the leatherman my brother gave me one christmas was what he used to turn the gas off. I had it in my back pack that I had grabbed and brought upstairs with me. It has a knife, a knife is definitely necessary.

thanks for the addition to the list

[goodgd_yall]

81. What horriic videos

For me, the idea of flooding is the scariest thing I can imagine.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

82. K&R!! A must read for Texas Gulf Coast DUer's

:kick:

Be safe y'all and thank you for this merh :hug: :hi:

[merh]

90. thanks

:pals: :hi:

[merh]

91. kick

[geomon666]

92. Outter edge of eyewall is hitting Galveston.

Sustained hurricane force winds will hit within the hour.

[Tindalos]

93. That must have been awful

I'm glad you're ok. Hopefully your videos saved some more lives today.

[dysfunctional press]

94. it might be a good idea to write their name in laundry marker across their chest.

so it'll be that much easier to identify the body(ies)

[Hissyspit]

97. It's bad: Weather Channel - Six Feet of Water at Galveston Courthouse

[uppityperson]

98. Best wishes to you, and all surviving hurricanes.