Hurricane Ike- Day 4 Aftermath
The death toll from Ike rose to 34 in nine states Monday and counting. Much like mayor Nagin told New Orleans residents after Katrina, the mayor of Galveston pleaded with residents not to return, saying the city’s resources are “stretched to the max” by Hurricane Ike’s devastation. There’s no room at the inn- nor water, nor sewage, no gasoline- NADA!
The bridge to Galveston Island is littered with yachts, kitchen tables and a large drowned dog. One couple flees to the Texas mainland on foot, their belongings stuffed into a baby stroller. Despite living in a place known for a legendary hurricane in 1900 that killed 8,000 people, residents of Galveston are stunned by what Hurricane Ike has done to their lives.
As one family reported, “The water filled up so fast, everyone tried to go to higher ground, but it seemed the higher you got, the higher the water went,” said Celestine as tears ran down her face. “It was hell. We climbed on to the table, deep freezers, anything we could get on and then we prayed.” Evidently prayer worked. They’re safe.
Electricity is still a major headache for more than a MILLION customers of Centerpoint Energy. Areas hit hard with lines down, poles severed and down, etc. will take days, and some weeks. There’s just no simple or fast solution for such a huge hit as hurricane Ike administered.
Ike’s bitter legacy is likely to linger for months. Much of the region is covered in debris, 2.5 million people in three states lack power, the water supply has been threatened and a key center of the nation’s oil and gas industry has been knocked off line. Gas prices jumped in Ike’s aftermath though the price of a barrel of oil dropped to $96- from a high of $147 a few weeks back. Fifteen Gulf Coast refineries were shut down Sunday, including ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Texas, facility, the nation’s largest refinery.
More than two days after Hurricane Ike slammed the Gulf Coast, rescuers flew for the first time Monday into areas cut off by the storm and found a scene of devastation, with whole subdivisions obliterated, and began evacuating survivors.
On Monday tensions were rising in Houston from people waiting in line for gas — only to be turned away — to those who took shelter in the city’s convention center who complained they couldn’t get information about how to get food and clean clothes. There’s just no way to make things better over night, but maybe within a week to ten days. For some who lost their homes, and a loved one, things will never be the same again.
But life must go on and for families, getting kids back in school is the big question.
HISD schools likely will not re-open for a week to 10 days because of Hurricane Ike, said Superintendent Abe Saavedra today. “The electricity will be the major problem,” he said. “Without the electricity, we can’t check the mechanical systems.” Athletic events were canceled for this weekend. Saavedra said he is unsure whether the HISD schools will resume holding atheletic events the week of Sept. 22-28.
HISD’s 290 schools mostly sustained minor damage, including leaks and minor roof damage. No estimate of damages has been made. The district’s insurance policy will require that it pay a $2.5 million deductible. Now that’s one huge deductible that we tax payers will cough up! :-(
Other ISD’s are coming back on line Wednesday, some Thursday. If you can help out or want to CLICK HERE.
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