A few observations in the dark...

Hello all. Sorry, no pics tonight. I will put some video up tomorrow of some of the cleanup (I realize I left the cable and charger elsewhere and can't get it as it is after curfew). At first there was a lot of debris, it was cleaned, then many came home and emptied / gutted their homes and the streets filled up even worse. The estimates are now coming in. 6 to 8 weeks for the hospitals, 3 to 6 months for individual houses (that were severely affected), 6 to 9 months for apartment complexes (many are repairing all units). I am gutting my ground level. The monstrous trucks that are clearing the debris will be here for 18 to 24 months.

Last night I spent the first night at home, here again tonight. We are having terrific weather. Warm, but not hot during the day and cool at night. Really nice to sleep without AC going. I have a generator going powering ventilation equipment and to run this computer (listening to veep debate on battery powered radio, will watch some website tv later). Today got a little buggy about working inside the house so raked and swept the dried muck and piled it up for collection. Back in the mine tomorrow.

At home the best things have been a small ac fan and a battery fan (the radio and fan are part of a product line that uses the same batteries a group of tools use. Rechargeable stuff works very well as there is usually power somewhere not too far away and you can recharge the batteries at least at night and get some work done with those tools (there is alot of manual labor to be done regardless). Another thing that is great is a headband that has three LEDs on it and with 3 AAAs it lasts 50+ hours. Very bright and easy to use as it is obviously hands free. Another thing that is more along the morale line is powdered diet drinks. The sweeteners dissolve even in cold water. You will drink lots and lots of water. Between working / sweating and meals there is a lot of water. A lot. I usually drink water and iced tea and occasionally diet sodas. Enough to give a bit of variety. Both the half gallon sized powdered drink tubs and the individual "sticks" give a little something of interest.

Having said that I am thrilled to be supported by a system that can swoop into a disaster area and support it with ice / water / food, free laundry (thanks Tide), medical services, communication services (Army National Guard - Signal Corps, Oklahoma), and many others. If I have left you / your group out, please leave a comment!

Last night and tonight there is a gorgeous waxing moon, and when travelling provides a wonderful accent to a dark island. The stars are amazing without the usual light pollution around.

Please remember now and in the future, you are not alone. Help yourself, help your friends and neighbors.

Yes, Galveston is really THAT bad...

Hello all again. I was talking with some friends (as we all shoveled mud out of the house and tossed couches molded over into the street) and there are people that don't believe it is really "all that bad." Well, this particular person was finally convinced when told that their church sustained damage in the millions (old wood features that have to be dried slowly because they are essentially unreplaceable, ruined wooden floors, destroyed organ, pews that need refinishing just to name the big stuff).

Port Bolivar essentially has one house standing each square mile. It was decimated. Galveston was flooded and covered in mud. Use your imagination - imagine your place with a foot of water for 12-24 hours. Where would the water wick to? Don't forget, no cheating - you are not there, can't get there for a day or two, have no power, no water, and nothing to start aerating the house for a few days. Do the same for 5 feet. Also realize that the muck (oily stuff in mud makes it sticky when wet and also makes it "waterproof") coated everything that the water touches. You cant walk easily for 2 or 3 days because it is wet and very slippery. Don't even think of walking poochie on anything but your dry porch - the toxic muck and the debris make it bad for you, just think if you walked barefoot and then licked your feet clean. Oh yeah, the vet clinic was flooded out also.

So eventually the muck dries out. Cars and trucks in the street stir up the dust. You sweep and rake the stuff into the street because the cleanup crews are taking all of the debris (and this stuff is not good for plants or anything else really). You stir up the dust from all of that. Parking your car (you may be living nearby, or you may be going elsewhere) is treacherous as all of the debris is incompletely removed. Glass and nails litter the ground and act as divining rods for rubber. Gas stations were destroyed or were small businesses who did not have a disaster plan so you had better be able to fix that flat (knock on flotsam, I have been fine).

Take a look at Galveston (city), a webcam or two, and a review of the storm.

"Green" debris from clearing downed plants / trees and those that died as well.

A life in perspective as someone's stuff is tossed from mold and water damage

A little hiatus...

Hello all, I am sure you have noted it has been a few days. Have been tired, helped some friends pack up their moldy belongings, chuck some of mine and otherwise take a deep breath and a warm shower. More pictures to come, I have been snapping and filming.
On a separate note, Happy New Year and have a healthy one too if you are one of the tribe.