Kevin's Watch

Ike appears to be headed in our general direction, though it's too soon yet to know where exactly the storm will hit.

Frankly, I'm done with hurricane season for this year. And I don't even live near a coastline any more. Is it November yet??

Oof. I hope it doesn't hit land.

Stay safe.

it tracks to hit about 15 minutes from my house. we are putting up window covers. i am on call - but off from work right now. we have supplies and it usually doesn't flood here. prayers would be nice.

We're praying for you and everyone in the path of the storm. Hang in there.

Hang in there, Sarge...

After just getting hit by Gustav, it is easy from our vantage point over here to keep on hoping for a westward track to keep it off of the central part of Louisiana's coast.

The tragedy of that is that while hoping that it doesn't come our way, we invariably wind up hoping that it hits somewhere else...kinda the anywhere but here mentality.

And then you realize that it is going to hit somewhere where you still have friends.

Believe me, I know what ya'll must be going through right about now. Good luck and stay safe.

we are boarded up. we have supplies. (food, candles, batteries, books - lots of books.) the mp3 player is wortha good four hours. and i am sure we can find something to do in the dark.

That to me is always the worst part.

You have done all that you can do...boarded up the windows, fueled up the generator, loaded up on supplies, etc. And then the waiting begins.

That is what I hate most about these storms...knowing that you have done all that you can do and now you just wait. These storms seem to materialize and get to the coast in what seems like a fleeting instance as you try to prepare, and then the last 4 to 8 hours or so before it hits is just agonizingly slow.

I like to go out into the street right before the bad stuff comes. The neighborhood seems all but abandoned and there are so few vehicles left around as all of the neighbors seem to have evacuated. And the winds before the storm feel so good...especially after we have been baking in the summer heat for months at that point. The winds have a tropical feel to them, even though we are far inland from the storm. You can almost smell the sea in the air as it whips by you.

Sooner or later good judgement prevails and you get your butt back inside before the bad stuff really hits. Gustav was a very very dry storm. I would go out in the middle of the storm to check on my roof or other structures around me and I would really not get that wet. The speed of the storm definately had something to do with that, I am sure. Hopefully Ike doesn't drop loads and loads of water all around you and moves on through rather quickly.

Look, all you folks in Texas have to do is get a big, inflatable Tina Turner. Then Ike will completely ignore you.......

Considering Ike's tendencies to frequently bitch slap Tina that may not exactly be a good idea.

First my mom's family with Gustav. Now my stepmom, brother, aunt and best friend are all in Houston about to get pummeled by Ike.

Man, I seriously hope everyone is prepared. Sending out good vibes to everyone.

Likewise!

Good vibes to all

Wow...Houston got nailed.

Sure hope Sarge made out alright.

jel...
I haven't been watching any news.
Can you link me to decent web coverage showing what happened in Houston?

Hurricane Ike news stories links.

The storm surge was less than expected, but there was still a great deal of coastal flooding and storm damage.

we are fine. in fact lost power for a total of 8 hrs. waiting for gas stations and stores to open again. the prison is just getting power back today. i worked the overnight again. lots of damage. a link here.

viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=43810277&albumId=2000439

parts of galveston, bolivar, crystal beach, surf sid3e - may never recover.

Glad to hear you're ok, sarge!