Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?

--
Froz...

FrozenNorth wrote:
Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?

Just did look at strip charts of various locations -- Galveston airport
not reporting, Houston pressure bottomed at 4AM, wind of 49mph, gust
95mph at roughly 6:50AM CDT, windspeed ceased reporting at that time.

Heavy rain, obviously...

--

"FrozenNorth" wrote in message
...
: Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?

I fled to our house in Floresville, Texas about 30 miles SE of San
Antonio and 190 +/- west of our primary domicile in NW Houston. Not
even a drop of rain here in Fville and not much more of a breeze.
We have spoken to our neighbors and, of course, power is off. They
had not ventured outside a/c the wind was still kicking pretty good.
Just got off the phone with my sister who spent the night at my
mother's (Mom is with me) in SW Houston. No power there either. Limbs
and debris pretty much everywhere one looks. But Mom's house is intact.
My dilemma now is to figure out how soon to head back to NW Houston.
Have generator at the ready to preserve my deep freeze and the house
'fridge. The news outlets are reporting we may be w/o power as long as
three weeks. That's gonna suck.

Dave [not] in Houston

I have been trying to get some updated information, but I can't get
any really current stuff. My sister lives there with her family, and
they decided to tough it out. I don't know if they are OK or not as
we can't get in touch.

The sad thing about this is with no electricity, no emails. With no
electricity, even if their phone connections work, their portable
phones will die soon. So we may not know for a while. Those without
electricity in the Houston/Galveston area range in the 3 million mark.

They haven't updated in a while, but here's what I am watching:

http://www.chron.com/

http://www.khou.com/

http://www.click2houston.com/index.html

There are others, but apparently their facilities are out as they
haven't updated since early morning, a couple of hours after Ike hit.

Robert

wrote in message
...
:I have been trying to get some updated information, but I can't get
: any really current stuff. My sister lives there with her family, and
: they decided to tough it out. I don't know if they are OK or not as
: we can't get in touch.
:
: The sad thing about this is with no electricity, no emails. With no
: electricity, even if their phone connections work, their portable
: phones will die soon. So we may not know for a while. Those without
: electricity in the Houston/Galveston area range in the 3 million mark.
:
: They haven't updated in a while, but here's what I am watching:
:
: http://www.chron.com/
:
: http://www.khou.com/
:
: http://www.click2houston.com/index.html
:
: There are others, but apparently their facilities are out as they
: haven't updated since early morning, a couple of hours after Ike hit.

KHOU has several radio stations over which they are broadcasting
their feed live. I'm getting it on my XM Roadie/Boombox here in
Floresville (XM 247).



Tracking Hurricane Ike from Channel 11, KHOU TV/DT


XM Radio's Emergency Alert Channel 247

Channel 11, KHOU TV/DT is broadcasting on XM Radio's Emergency Alert
Channel 247 (nationally). You do not need to be a subscriber. The
Emergency Alert channel is on all XM Radio-equipped cars.


Continuous Coverage on Houston Radio

Beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 12, the following radio
stations will be providing LIVE continuous Hurricane Ike coverage from
Channel 11, KHOU TV/DT:

..104.1 FM KRBE


Tracking Hurricane Ike on DirecTV

Channel 11, KHOU TV/DT is now being carried LIVE on DirecTV Channel 361
(nationally).


Tacking Hurricane Ike on Cable

Look for Channel 11, KHOU coverage on CNN.com.



Dave [not] in Houston

Not hearing anything is the toughest part of being an outsider to a major
event like this. If electricity is off for awhile, it may be some time
before we hear anything.

Hang in there Texas folks. You are in out thoughts and prayers.

"FrozenNorth" wrote in message
...
Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?


On temporary power momentarily (fired up the u-verse wireless RG and the
laptop with the generator)

I keep hearing that it was a Cat 1 storm from folks calling from around the
country. Don't know where they got that ... it certainly wasn't from around
here. Try 111 mph just 1 mph short of a Cat 3, 1 mile North of me, at 4:15
AM this morning, if they were gusts, they were the most unrelenting gusts
around.

I think the gusts were actually higher and perceive it to be the strongest
Cat 2 storm I've been in ... much higher winds than I recollect in Alicia.
We were just far enough to the West of the storm center to miss the lull,
but close enough to pick those really high winds close to the center that
just keep on keeping on and give you no respite, the worst possible place
for peace of mind.

The high winds started about 11 last night and around 4:30 this morning were
pretty damn awesome, even for someone who has spent 65+ years on the Gulf
Coast, and they really didn't die down to around 10 this morning.

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about an
hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is posted,
the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita machine!

Thanks for asking.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Sep 13, 5:23*pm, "Swingman" wrote:


A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about an
hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is posted,
the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita machine!

Best news all day.

In Dutch we have a saying that says: "onkruid vergaat niet."

roughly translated it means that it is hard to kill weeds... g. d &
r...

Now.. will that be salted rims?

"Swingman" wrote

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about
an hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is
posted, the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita
machine!

Good to hear. Can't you rig up a camping shower in the backyard. Or just
shower in the torrential downpours?

Swingman wrote:


A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about an
hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is posted,
the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita machine!

Thanks for asking.


Great to hear you and Leon are all okay. Enjoy you margaritas. You
deserve them.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

On Sep 13, 4:23*pm, "Swingman" wrote:

First, good news to hear you and yours are all OK. I finally got a
message from my sister telling me that they were OK as well (they live
about a mile from Reliant Stadium) but that some of their neighbors
were not.

I think the gusts were actually higher and perceive it to be the strongest
Cat 2 storm I've been in ... much higher winds than I recollect in Alicia..
The high winds started about 11 last night and around 4:30 this morning were
pretty damn awesome, even for someone who has spent 65+ years on the Gulf
Coast, and they really didn't die down to around 10 this morning.

My sister's experience was like yours. In her area, there are downed
trees everywhere, including many that have taken out electrical
lines. Even if they had power, there is no way to get it to the
houses.

Apparently for several hours it was like being at Hobby when they were
remodeling and you had to cross to different areas of the airport in
plywood tunnels. She said the noise was unnerving, and with the loud
pops and cracks (transformers exploding, 30" trees blowing over), they
were wondering if the made a mistake.

All their fences are down. No big deal. But they have their
neighbor's monster pecan tree on their house. No way to get out of
their driveway, and the tree is large enough they cannot tell how much
damage was done to the roof or its structure.

Electricity is out there too, and their radio is telling them that no
one knows how long power will be out. Local authorities are telling
them 3 - 4 weeks. That of course could mean three days in one area,
and 6 weeks in others. The water is the biggest issue for them now,
although my 6 year old nephew is liking the fact he doesn't doesn't
have to take a bath for a while. They don't have gas now, so they
dont' have any way to boil water. It was noted that they will not be
filling their toilets with their bottled water.

They are shaken, but OK, and for that I am thankful.


A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about an
hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is posted,
the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita machine!

Thanks for asking.

Looking at the devastation, once again, glad everyone is OK.

Robert

Swingman wrote:



"FrozenNorth" wrote in message
...
Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?


On temporary power momentarily (fired up the u-verse wireless RG and the
laptop with the generator)

I keep hearing that it was a Cat 1 storm from folks calling from around
the country. Don't know where they got that ... it certainly wasn't from
around here. Try 111 mph just 1 mph short of a Cat 3, 1 mile North of me,
at 4:15 AM this morning, if they were gusts, they were the most
unrelenting gusts around.

I think the gusts were actually higher and perceive it to be the strongest
Cat 2 storm I've been in ... much higher winds than I recollect in Alicia.
We were just far enough to the West of the storm center to miss the lull,
but close enough to pick those really high winds close to the center that
just keep on keeping on and give you no respite, the worst possible place
for peace of mind.

The high winds started about 11 last night and around 4:30 this morning
were pretty damn awesome, even for someone who has spent 65+ years on the
Gulf Coast, and they really didn't die down to around 10 this morning.

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about
an hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is
posted, the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita
machine!

Thanks for asking.

Take care, be good, and enjoy the margaritas. Hope your power comes back
soon and the cast iron is safe.
--
Froz...

"Swingman" wrote in
:



"FrozenNorth" wrote in message
...
Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?


On temporary power momentarily (fired up the u-verse wireless RG and
the laptop with the generator)

I keep hearing that it was a Cat 1 storm from folks calling from
around the country. Don't know where they got that ... it certainly
wasn't from around here. Try 111 mph just 1 mph short of a Cat 3, 1
mile North of me, at 4:15 AM this morning, if they were gusts, they
were the most unrelenting gusts around.

I think the gusts were actually higher and perceive it to be the
strongest Cat 2 storm I've been in ... much higher winds than I
recollect in Alicia. We were just far enough to the West of the storm
center to miss the lull, but close enough to pick those really high
winds close to the center that just keep on keeping on and give you no
respite, the worst possible place for peace of mind.

The high winds started about 11 last night and around 4:30 this
morning were pretty damn awesome, even for someone who has spent 65+
years on the Gulf Coast, and they really didn't die down to around 10
this morning.

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to
about an hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once
this is posted, the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and
the margarita machine!

Thanks for asking.

Great news, and I second Robatoy, "onkruid vergaat niet", it is indeed
impossible to kill hardy weeds like you guys!


--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

"Lee Michaels" wrote in
:


"Swingman" wrote

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to
about an hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once
this is posted, the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and
the margarita machine!

Good to hear. Can't you rig up a camping shower in the backyard. Or
just shower in the torrential downpours?




If they had any sanding to be done, maybe they could try water sanding! No
need to open up the pores with a spray bottle, the rain does it all for
you!

Puckdropper
--
If you're quiet, your teeth never touch your ankles.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

On Sep 13, 5:23*pm, "Swingman" wrote:
"FrozenNorth" wrote in message

...

Anybody got any power to give us a real situation report?

On temporary power momentarily (fired up the u-verse wireless RG and the
laptop with the generator)

I keep hearing that it was a Cat 1 storm from folks calling from around the
country. Don't know where they got that ... it certainly wasn't from around
here. Try 111 mph just 1 mph short of a Cat 3, 1 mile North of me, at 4:15
AM this morning, if they were gusts, they were the most unrelenting gusts
around.

I think the gusts were actually higher and perceive it to be the strongest
Cat 2 storm I've been in ... much higher winds than I recollect in Alicia..
We were just far enough to the West of the storm center to miss the lull,
but close enough to pick those really high winds close to the center that
just keep on keeping on and give you no respite, the worst possible place
for peace of mind.

The high winds started about 11 last night and around 4:30 this morning were
pretty damn awesome, even for someone who has spent 65+ years on the Gulf
Coast, and they really didn't die down to around 10 this morning.

A headcount shows everyone, including Leon who I finally talked to about an
hour ago, is safe and sound ... we all need a bath, but once this is posted,
the generator will go back to pulling the fridge and the margarita machine!

Thanks for asking.

--www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Good to know that you're OK and reasonably comfortable. The TV guys
were calling those 110MPH winds here.

wrote

Electricity is out there too, and their radio is telling them that no
one knows how long power will be out. Local authorities are telling
them 3 - 4 weeks. That of course could mean three days in one area,
and 6 weeks in others.

Fueled by generator, at 3.69/gal, the evening of 9-13-08:

Reinforced during times like these is the undeniable fact that technology
has its downside, and electricity to the home is no exception.

After the winds died this morning, and fallen trees covered houses, roads
and driveways in this upscale area (chockfull of doctors, lawyers, and
captains of industry, where any type of manual labor is generally "hired
out", and comfort reigns) folks poured out of their homes, young and old
alike, with "hand" saws in hand ("yuppies", as a rule, don't own chainsaws)
to check on neighbors. When it was apparent that everyone was safe, many
immediately started the tough job of clearing blocked streets and driveways
to make them passable for emergency vehicles and those in need. There was no
wait for "official government action", or "emergency management officials"
to come to the rescue ... just folks collectively helping themselves and
doing what obviously needed doing.

Throughout the day entire families were seen cleaning windblown debris from
yards and adjacent streets. It quickly became apparent, but unstated, that
you cleared the streets, sidewalks and gutters adjacent to your property,
and helped those who couldn't do the same. As Saturday evening approached,
families of walkers abounded on the mostly debris cleared streets and
sidewalks, driven from their homes by heat and availing themselves of the
cooling breezes leftover from Ike. Many families, eating the evening meal
outside at table and chairs hastily assembled on porches and patios, were
visiting with the walkers in the interim, while the smell of outdoor cooking
trumped the usual humid smells of a hurricane's aftermath.

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Swingman wrote:

Snip sense of community

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

It really is, we had a similar thing here with the great power outage in the
northeast US, southern Ontario area, (August 2003? I think), no actual
damage, but everyone was on their front steps/porch, or walking up and down
the street. I met and talked to people that night that are only four or
five doors down the street, never chatted since. Some of them became
friends, and we get together regularly, but a small percentage.

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, it was a good night. Truly a
shame...

--
Froz...

On Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:08:18 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:

wrote

Electricity is out there too, and their radio is telling them that no
one knows how long power will be out. Local authorities are telling
them 3 - 4 weeks. That of course could mean three days in one area,
and 6 weeks in others.

Fueled by generator, at 3.69/gal, the evening of 9-13-08:

Reinforced during times like these is the undeniable fact that technology
has its downside, and electricity to the home is no exception.

After the winds died this morning, and fallen trees covered houses, roads
and driveways in this upscale area (chockfull of doctors, lawyers, and
captains of industry, where any type of manual labor is generally "hired
out", and comfort reigns) folks poured out of their homes, young and old
alike, with "hand" saws in hand ("yuppies", as a rule, don't own chainsaws)
to check on neighbors. When it was apparent that everyone was safe, many
immediately started the tough job of clearing blocked streets and driveways
to make them passable for emergency vehicles and those in need. There was no
wait for "official government action", or "emergency management officials"
to come to the rescue ... just folks collectively helping themselves and
doing what obviously needed doing.

Throughout the day entire families were seen cleaning windblown debris from
yards and adjacent streets. It quickly became apparent, but unstated, that
you cleared the streets, sidewalks and gutters adjacent to your property,
and helped those who couldn't do the same. As Saturday evening approached,
families of walkers abounded on the mostly debris cleared streets and
sidewalks, driven from their homes by heat and availing themselves of the
cooling breezes leftover from Ike. Many families, eating the evening meal
outside at table and chairs hastily assembled on porches and patios, were
visiting with the walkers in the interim, while the smell of outdoor cooking
trumped the usual humid smells of a hurricane's aftermath.

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

Sure is. I remember with great fondness, those post hurricane feasts
as folks realized they were not going to get power in time to save
their freezer contents. Shrimp boils,fish fries, barbeque and those
veggies that were just "put up" a few weeks before. Any and all
welcome, bring something to eat if you have it but, if not, bring a
sense of humor and come anyway.

Frank

"FrozenNorth" wrote:

Swingman wrote:

Snip sense of community

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the
electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into
their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen
again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

It really is, we had a similar thing here with the great power
outage in the
northeast US, southern Ontario area, (August 2003? I think), no
actual
damage, but everyone was on their front steps/porch, or walking up
and down
the street. I met and talked to people that night that are only four
or
five doors down the street, never chatted since. Some of them
became
friends, and we get together regularly, but a small percentage.


Think block party, they work.

Lived on a short dead end street and other than the next door
neighbors, didn't know anybody else.

Next door neighbor got the idea to have a block party and organized
it.

Got a permit from the city to block the street, set up tables and
grills in the street and had at it.

Everybody had a good time.

Lew

Lew Hodgett wrote:


"FrozenNorth" wrote:

Swingman wrote:

Snip sense of community

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the
electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into
their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen
again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

It really is, we had a similar thing here with the great power
outage in the
northeast US, southern Ontario area, (August 2003? I think), no
actual
damage, but everyone was on their front steps/porch, or walking up
and down
the street. I met and talked to people that night that are only four
or
five doors down the street, never chatted since. Some of them
became
friends, and we get together regularly, but a small percentage.


Think block party, they work.

Lived on a short dead end street and other than the next door
neighbors, didn't know anybody else.

Next door neighbor got the idea to have a block party and organized
it.

Got a permit from the city to block the street, set up tables and
grills in the street and had at it.

Everybody had a good time.

I wish, I live on a street that leads to the public pool, tennis club (both
public and private courts) and a community hockey rink (both summer and
winter hockey).

It was tried a few years ago, no freaking way was it even considered on our
street, some others in the area have done it though.

--
Froz...

Gas in Rochester NY ranges from 3.66 to 3.89 or so. I hope you come through
OK, you've lost a couple weeks of work, also. Thanks for the field report of
team spirit and courage.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Swingman" wrote in message
...

Fueled by generator, at 3.69/gal, the evening of 9-13-08:

Reinforced during times like these is the undeniable fact that technology
has its downside, and electricity to the home is no exception.

After the winds died this morning, and fallen trees covered houses, roads
and driveways in this upscale area (chockfull of doctors, lawyers, and
captains of industry, where any type of manual labor is generally "hired
out", and comfort reigns) folks poured out of their homes, young and old
alike, with "hand" saws in hand ("yuppies", as a rule, don't own chainsaws)
to check on neighbors. When it was apparent that everyone was safe, many
immediately started the tough job of clearing blocked streets and driveways
to make them passable for emergency vehicles and those in need. There was no
wait for "official government action", or "emergency management officials"
to come to the rescue ... just folks collectively helping themselves and
doing what obviously needed doing.

Throughout the day entire families were seen cleaning windblown debris from
yards and adjacent streets. It quickly became apparent, but unstated, that
you cleared the streets, sidewalks and gutters adjacent to your property,
and helped those who couldn't do the same. As Saturday evening approached,
families of walkers abounded on the mostly debris cleared streets and
sidewalks, driven from their homes by heat and availing themselves of the
cooling breezes leftover from Ike. Many families, eating the evening meal
outside at table and chairs hastily assembled on porches and patios, were
visiting with the walkers in the interim, while the smell of outdoor cooking
trumped the usual humid smells of a hurricane's aftermath.

At some point today, tomorrow, the next day, or next week, the electricity
will come back on and all these folks will disappear, back into their
modern, air conditioned and TV equipped cocoons, not to be seen again ...
until the next time.

It's a shame ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/18/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)