...and THAT was "only" a category 2 storm.

I continue to be full admiration for the people of the great state of Texas. Ike has knocked trees into homes, pummeled the power grid and pushed too much water into neighborhoods and cities. Whole neighborhoods on the coast have been washed away.

Still, people band together to help one another. Neighbors help spread tarps over roofs, they chop up fallen trees, they bring food to first responders who have run short of supplies at their deployment points. They pull people out of flooded cars (what were they thinking when they decided they could "make it" through that underpass is another question.) They offer their generator power to neighbors to keep refrigerators and freezers running.
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Our block came out en mass to start the clean up Saturday afternoon. A neighbor we do not know began moving from yard to yard with his lawn mower and grass catcher to help "vacuum" up the leaves and twigs that carpeted the lawns. He saved us hours of raking time.



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We still managed to fill 16 trash bags with broken tree branches, leaves and debris. As we raked and shoveled-up the mess I noticed leaves from trees that are nowhere near my house. The sides of our home are covered with minute shreds of leaves that had been flattened against the siding.
The return of power to our neighborhood was greeted with a cheers and celebratory dances. Alas, I have heard from friends just a few blocks away who still do not have power. It is interesting to realize how patchwork the power grid is.

We have invited them here if they need it. Happily a cool front has blown in and lifted the humidity. School is out until Wed., that is IF they can restore power at those schools that are without it right now.

Still, we were soooo... lucky. Other folks between here and the Bolivar Peninsula are having a rough time. Help is on hand but to repair and restore will take time and so much work. Bless their hearts.