Riding Out IKE 3, My Island Home...

[JeffreyWilliamson]

...or, my home the island...

Hello Everyone,

First of all thanks to those in yesterday's thread that posted Google Earth images of my block in Galveston. They did appear to be "after" shots.

We got word that we could get onto the island from 12 - 6 and waited in line for 2 hours to cross the causeway and get to my house. Friends started calling and texting and we made a list of about 10 houses to check.

We stopped at my house first. Lots of garbage in the yard and looked like the water level was high. I unlocked the door and braced myself for it, opened my eyes and almost passed out at what I saw--MY HOUSE WAS DRY, AND EXACTLY AS I LEFT IT!

Not one drop got in. It smelled as if I just mopped, (which I had the night before we left). I went around to my back porch, where I had left food and water and propped the door open for a stray cat that had 4 kittens under my house a few weeks ago. I stepped onto the porch and was greeted by the mom and all 4 babies--well and playing!

We poured a shot at my bar and toasted our luck before heading on to other homes on our list. Sadly, mine was the only one dry. One was almost totally destroyed, the rest had varying degrees of water. The stench in those houses is something I'll never forget...

The city IS DEVASTATED.

More later when I have time.

Jeffy

[crispini]

1. Thanks for the update

Wow. What good fortune.

[JCMach1]

2. You were so lucky!

and so was the kitteh

[Blue_Roses]

3. good news to hear...

I live in DFW and have been following this almost minute-by-minute. I was just in Galveston in July...so sad. I read that the Balinese Room and Murdoch's Bathhouse Gifts was destroyed.:(

Is there anything I can do to help?

Oh, and so glad to hear the kitties made it through:D

[myrna minx]

4. You are very fortunate. I'm glad that you and yours are safe. n/t

[dweller]

5. amazing !

and very lucky cats too.

dp

[dgibby]

6. Glad to hear your good news!

Thanks for taking care of the kitties--you're a kind soul.

[tandot]

7. I am so glad that your house and kitties are ok. Thanks for letting us know, Jeffy!

:hug:

[nichomachus]

8. So happy for you -- and sad for those who don't have similar stories to tell n/t

[cobalt1999]

9. I remember that stench

My home didn't stay dry after Hurricane Opal.

Congrats on getting through it without much damage.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. Awesome news!

Now get those kitties spayed and neutered when you're allowed back in fulltime!

[DangerousRhythm]

11. Wow, you are extremely lucky!

Go play a Lotto ticket! :rofl:

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. Get any pix?

[pacalo]

13. So happy to hear!

I know the feeling you had when you opened the door. Our house was in the 3% that had electricity after Gustav, with not a shingle or fence plank out of place. It's a good feeling, let me tell you.

Glad you're safe, but my heart goes out to you in dealing with the aftermath.

[MadrasT]

14. Oh YAY!

Big hugs!!! So happy to hear the great news about your house! And the mommy cat and kittens are even safe! :bounce: :cry: :bounce:

I know you are a far way from "life as normal"... but thanks for the good news.

[intheflow]

15. Great news, JW!

I'm sorry to hear about the other homes you checked on. But glad to hear about the cats. Those kittens are already down to 8 lives! :)

[malaise]

16. Thanks for the update

Love the story about the cat and her kittens.

[cabbage08]

17. Thanks for the update

[Festivito]

18. I cannot be happier to have been wrong.

You could have stayed. Glad you didn't just the same.

[slackmaster]

19. That is wonderful news for you

Glad you made it through OK.

[uppityperson]

20. That is good news. Thanks for posting and please keep us updated on how it's going.

[renate]

21. I'm so happy for you (and the kitties!)

I was really worried and I'm so glad your house is standing and dry.

I'm very sorry about your friends' homes. You seem like the kind of person who'd be as upset about their misfortune as if it were your own, so this must be hard for you despite your own good luck.

I'm so relieved you're safe! :hug:

[aquamarina]

22. Thank you so much for the update. Much relieved to hear that

you and your home were spared. I am a cat lover so I am especially happy to hear that momma and the kittens made it through as well.

[bvar22]

23. Congrats on your good fortune.

I had much the same experience returning to New Orleans after Katrina.
Our house suffered very little damage (the "dry" side of the 17th St Canal),
while most of the neighbors were seriously damaged or destroyed by flood and wind.

I suffered some bouts of "Survivors Guilt" during the following months of clean-up and rebuilding. You may watch for that.

[chknltl]

24. Is it safe to assume that one of the kittens will be named IKE?

Hurricane (or Her-acane) and Lucky are two other suggestions.... perhaps Molly Brown for the mother kitty??? Good to hear of your good fortunes and thanks for the very heartwarming news about the kitty family. Just a thought: those particular kittens might be easily adopted out to DUers at some point if you should need to find them homes.

[Arugula Latte]

25. I'm so glad for you and for the kitties! I was so worried about them!

[jannyk]

26. Yay, first good news I've heard in days!!!