Run-in with Ike

preparations
You think they knew a hurricane was coming!? No way, they spent the evening exerting lots of energy per usual.
And they thought it was WAY cool to use their batman and princess flashlights ALL NIGHT!
oh, and sleep in the closet too.
I have to laugh at these pictures I took around 1am, when I thought the winds were kicking up. I was getting excited...HA! NOTHING compared to the winds at 4 am - 6 am...sheesh! I didn't even leave my hallway during that time for fear my windows were going to blow in, truly, I was scared! So there are no pictures of serious hurricane winds!
Of course, no hurricane could stop our enthusiasm for breakfast! Its amazing how good hot food tastes when there is no electricity! :)
Our apartment grounds were littered with shingles, trees, branches, metal roofing pieces, fencing, and all sorts of other debris.
Trees took a major beating, that is, if they were even standing when it was over.

A building in our complex. Luckily, our particular building did not experience THIS much roof damage. These poor people had tons of water damage.
These next few photos are businesses that are within walking distance from our home. Damage and flooding.
And remember THIS little tree outside my bedroom window?...
she didn't fare too well.

I'm going to admit it. I wasn't nervous in the least about hurricane Ike. I figured that growing up in Missouri with severe storms and the chance for tornadoes, had prepared me for anything a hurricane could do (at least do to someone living 50 miles inland). I guess I likened people's hysteria to my experience living in other states when a "thunderstorm" would roll in... and people would talk about it for days. I'd turn my head to snicker thinking, "pah-leese, it's not a thunderstorm unless the thunder actually KNOCKS pictures off your wall, and having random trampolines and swing sets show up in your yard is just a part of a spring shower!" So...I'm a bit humbled. And while I still consider large tornadoes to be supremely frightening with their unpredictability and 200-300 mph winds, I've learned that hurricanes have some things going for them too. For instance the sheer SIZE of Ike was incredible, and the length of time that the violent winds blew was amazing as well. And honestly, I think I'm good now. I don't need another hurricane experience...
It's been a long week. But we are so lucky to have power. Only 40% of people in the 4th largest city have power. I'm sure the national news is mostly done covering the hurricane, but living here is another story. I am so intrigued by all this hurricane clean up and aftermath. Just the other day I went to pick up some groceries from a nearby store that had reopened. It was 7:20pm, I walked into the store (past the guards they hired to keep the peace) and there were no more shopping carts. I walked back out to get one from the parking lot, and as I approached, 15 ft from the doors, they closed them and said they were done selling groceries for the day. shoot. Also, did you know the roofers begin their day at 5am? Its actually not too difficult to sleep when you get used to the hum of generators and the pop pop of roofing guns...just minor annoyances. The memories I will take from this storm are pretty cool. It was so crazy to drive around that first night after the hurricane and see NO lights...anywhere. weird. And what about the mile long line for the ONE McDonald's drive thru that had reopened...crazy. I am looking forward to the lifted curfew, no more gas lines, working stop lights and just "normalcy" in general...but until then, I have to say, I am impressed with Texas. I don't know how long we will call this state home, but I think I've "bonded" with the idea of being a Texan through this crisis. Lots and lots of good people live here!