Hurricane Ike Sucks!

[MIbarra]

I'm so glad aharris could get a hold of Twirl! I hope she gets power soon.

Kidney4Traci, I got my transplant at Methodist. I did not list at UTMB, but if I had to do it over again I probably would have just to have both chances.

[willieandwinnie]

MIbarra  how are you holding up? Do you have phone service and cable? Are you able to get food and other things you need? Having been through these, I know that some things are harder to get then others. Please, if you need something, let me know and I'd be happy to send it. That is assuming the mail or others can get to you. Wish we'd hear from twirl.... 

[okarol]

PHOTO: Dozens of utility repair trucks stage at a fair ground near Lone Star Executive Airport in Montgomery County near Conroe, Texas and north of Houston Monday morning, Sept. 15, 2008. Two days after Hurricane Ike battered the Texas and Louisiana coasts before striking Houston, the death toll rose to 30 in eight states, many of them far to the north of the Gulf Coast as the storm slogged across the nation's midsection, leaving a trail of flooding.

[okarol]

Gas Frenzy Hits Bryan/College Station     

Posted: 8:48 PM Sep 15, 2008

Reporter: Meredith Stancik
Email Address: stancik@kbtx.com

Over one million Texas customers are without electricity. It's the unfortunate norm in the Houston area and for a big portion of the Brazos Valley.

Since there's no power, there's also no fuel. That has brought hundreds of hurricane evacuees and residents from surrounding areas to Bryan-College Station.

So, if you're looking to fill-up, you'll need luck. Monday night News Three found that many gas stations in B-CS are out of gas.

Jason Taylor made the trip from Conroe to Bryan for fuel.

"There's no gas in Conroe," Taylor said.

Taylor and his family have been without electricity since Ike hit

"We have a generator and we're running power in the house with a generator and we're filling up the truck also," Taylor said.

Taylor is not the only one making the trip to Bryan and College Station to fill-up. Dennis Ferguson came from Richards for a hot meal and a tank of gas.

"There are long lines there," Ferguson said. "We're not getting any gas over that way."

Dozens of motorists lined up, some even went station to station before finding the right spot.

"We had to follow the tanker," one Houston resident said. "When he made a stop, we followed him."

That turned out to be a good idea.

News Three went around Bryan and College Station looking for gas. Most stations we found were out of fuel. Some stations had fuel, but the lines were long

"It's crazy, absolutely crazy," Ferguson said.

If the gas frenzy continues, you'll probably see more "out of gas" signs.

"It makes you realize what you have when you have power and gas, the luxuries of life," Taylor said.

Gas stations weren't the only hot spot in town Monday night. Restaurants were also full.

We're told those without power are heading to Bryan and College Station for a hot meal and a cool room.

[paris]

Our Progress Energy has sent employees to the area to help get power restored.   Our gas prices went absolutely crazy, just on speculation.  We went from 3.51 to 4.79 overnight.   The Attorney General is looking into price gouging (do you think?).  Some stations have gone back to 3.99.  A majority of stations only allowed you to buy 10 gallons.  We live in NC!   Fortunately, we have gas in both cars, and maybe the prices will stabilize before we need more.     Still saying lots of prayers for all those dealing now with the clean up and starting life over. 

[flip]

Still many thousands here without power. All the motels are full and shelters have been set up. Our big gas shortage was Friday and all stations have reopened with prices still at 3.99.

[MIbarra]

WillienandWinnie, my husband was able to find meat, milk, and other foods today at the grocery store. Before that we could not buy ANY cold stuff. He said the supermarket was almost bare and people were grabbing items off of the shelf as fast as the employees could put them on the shelf. We bought a bunch of stuff for the neighbors too since whenever they are out and find something we might need, they buy it for us too. It is definitely great to have wonderful neighbors during this time.

I heard on the news, that one of the power companies in this area will not have Conroe's power up until the 29th of September! I hope Twirl does not have to suffer that long!

[willieandwinnie]

Manuela, I have been listening to news in your area and twirls. I am so glad that you can at least find the necessities. I'm so concerned about twirl, it's not just about her dialysis treatments, but they have a grandbaby that is due soon also. I sure hope we hear something from her soon. My offer stands that if you need anything, please let me know and I'll get it to you as quickly as I can. September 29th, that's like weeks. I keep all you Texans in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated. 

[okarol]

Gay bar becomes a haven

Tue Sep 16, 1:28 PM ET

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - As Galveston told its remaining residents Monday to leave the Texas island devastated by Hurricane Ike, Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar, was planning a pre-curfew drag show and Tina Turner sing-along.

The first of two bars to reopen after Ike's onslaught on Saturday, Robert's Lafitte is a haven in the storm -- for gays, straights, anyone who needs a place to drink and find comfort.

"You can see there's not too much worry and stress on people's faces," said Dixie Monroe, a transgender barmaid who wore a tiger-print cowboy hat and a low-cut top.

Outside, Black Hawk helicopters clattered overhead and emergency teams searched for people stranded in the flooded city of 60,000 people. Up the street lay a huge field of splintered wood.

Big Mouth Robert, the establishment's owner and a former female impersonator, said the bar took 3 feet (1 meter) of water and closed when Ike's fury blew out the windows. But after a mop-up the next morning, Robert's Lafitte was back in business.

"All of our customers kind of demanded it," said Robert. "It's their bar and they kind of dictate what's going on. We're survivors."

Tina Turner is the artist of choice at the bar, given that she survived another Ike -- her abusive husband Ike Turner.

The bar is setting out food donated by locals for people in need. Some 20,000 people are thought to be still on the island and food and water are scarce.

"It's more than a life saver. This is like the Coast Guard," said Brian DeLeon, a straight restaurant worker who had not visited the bar before.

"These are the people who take you up out of the water and make life livable. Once I get back to work, I'm coming back here."

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by Chris Wilson)

[okarol]

How you, rescue groups can help animals victimized by hurricane

From staff reports

Friday, September 19, 2008

Best Friends Animal Society, a rescue organization out of Utah, sent a team to Galveston, Texas, to find countless dead companion animals, left behind when their owners fled Hurricane Ike.

"Many pets were just left behind to fend for themselves," said Paul Berry, chief executive officer of Best Friends Animal Society. "Any pet owner who willfully left their pet behind, chained up outside or left in crates, after advanced warnings of catastrophic flooding, should be charged to the fullest extent of animal cruelty laws in Texas."

Best Friends search and rescue personnel have been in Galveston since Monday night, Sept. 15, following a request for help from the Galveston County Health District Animal Control Shelter.

In 2006 President Bush signed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which was designed to ensure that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans met the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following major disaster or emergency.

"It's shocking that after all the advance warnings and new legislation that people aren't better prepared to remove their animals when a storm approaches," Berry said. "The evidence of animals left behind cannot be denied. To see a dog who drowned at the end of a chain for no good reason is heartbreaking for animal welfare volunteers and government officials alike. Such careless, thoughtless neglect for another life is absolutely inexcusable."

Following is a list of hurricane-hit shelters, and their individual requests for help, and more information, including a video of rescue operations, can be found at www.bestfriends.org:

Montgomery County Animal Shelter

(not ready for individual adopters, rescue groups only please)

8535 State Hwy 242 Conroe, TX 77385

Contact for more information: Maile S. at (281) 465-0570 or maile1@sbcglobal.net

Need to move 200 animals to other rescue groups so they can clean the shelter and be ready for more animals. Unfortunately they will have to euthanize beginning Saturday, Sept. 20, but may hold off if groups are willing to help.

Halfway Home Animal Rescue Team

Santa Fe, TX

Contact for more information: Kathy B. at (713) 751-5252 or halfwayhome@comcast.net

Hurricane Ike took off half the roof and destroyed the fencing. Need to place nine dogs and 31 cats with other rescues while rebuilding.

Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary

1112 6th St. North, Texas City, TX 77590

Contact for more information: Lynette B. (409) 939-4328 or whiskerville@sbcglobal.net

Have 300-plus cats that could not be evacuated. All dogs are in foster care and OK. Could really use a large generator, volunteers and monetary support. Please call (409) 939-4328 to volunteer; please use the Web site, www.whiskerville.org for monetary donations.

Pineywoods Animal Welfare Society

(Individual adopters and rescue groups welcome)

Woodville, TX 75979

Contact for more information: Nancy H. (409) 283-7733 or tx_paws@yahoo.com

Hurricane Ike destroyed the shelter and the usual foster homes have evacuated; about 15 dogs need to be placed in other rescues to prevent fights and the spread of disease.

[okarol]

Here's the link donnia sent me - amazing photos in the wake of Ike http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html

[kidney4traci]

The pictures of Seabrook, Galveston and Crystal Beach are so sad especially for me as I went there often.  Thanks for the link Karol.

[twirl]

it is devastating
we go there often and have been for years
I hope Benno's is coming back - their seafood was so good and we could sit right across the beach
did you see the before and after picture of one of the beach neighborhoods
there is nothing left
looks like match sticks