You are looking at posts that were written in the month of September in the year 2005.
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Posted on September 24th, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
We just got back from another drive around town.
We hit the houses of friends who are out of town first: Andrea & J, Kenny, and Tiffin & family. All your houses look OK.
Basically we then went through Bellaire (power out in some areas), up 59 to Main, Down Main to Museum District (around St Pauls), Back up Main into and around Downtown, Out down 288 to 610 back to SW corner.
Overall most damage seems minor: some tree limbs, a few downed trees and signs, etc. There is a whole section (about 4 blocks by 6 blocks) of DT that is blocked off by police manning barricades. Reportedly the Chase tower loss some windows, but nonw were noticable from the car at the edges (we circled it twice), but it was raining just enough to not get out of the car.
Traffic seemed to be picking up and by about 11:00 the Pierce Elevated through DT was getting crowded like a normal day. About 2/3rds seemd to stay of 45, the remaining 1/3 exited to 59/288 with about half going each way. Looks like the reverse exodus is on.
I posted some pics in the album ( http://www.uebelhart.net/hurricane-rita-pictures/ ).
Fun part was when we were almost hme we noticed the Shipleys on Post Oak was open, so we pulled in. The line was medium length but we were going to get some donuts and kolaches anyways, then we noticed quite a few cars around Cues. Cues is a local joint in a strip center run by a sweet Vietnamese lady (Mama Cuc). Yesterday it was open only for emergency personel (you can almost always find cops in there). Today it was open for everyone. We got in, got in a line about 10 people long (usual for Cues on a weekend) and we heard her say that much of the menu was unavailable. All they had was Chicken strip baskets, Eggs (over hard only), Pancakes, Waffles, Tater tots, Bacon, toast & Croissants. I usually get some Biscuits & Gravy and Hashbrowns, but alas not today.
About then a group of cops came in, and Mama Cuc moved them to the front of the line and served them first (and did not charge). Her opinion is they are always there for her, so she is there for them. The lady is always giving to the community: kids, lions club, police, etc.
Well we waited and Dawn got a Egg Cheese and Bacon Sandwich, I hade pancakes, eggs, bacon & Tots (which Dawn had half of). Yum warm food we didn’t have to cook.
Well now I’m going out to take down some of the boards - mainly just the front of the house.
Posted on September 24th, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Back awake.
Well, we seemed to have dodged the worst of the storm. It’s still windy out there and lots of rain off and on, but seems mostly like a normal Texas storm with a little more wind.
Some branches down, etc. Nothing major. We may even take some of the boards off in the next couple hours just so we can see out better. (I’ll leave most of them up until tomorrow, I am just too sore to do that today).
Posted on September 24th, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Here it is 2:30-3:00 in the morning. We just woke up due to some of the wind gust and rain patterns (both heavy) and clicked on the TV. Looks like the eye is ashore right around the TX/LA border.
Looking out our little places where I made peep holes in the boards, you can see the strong winds and rain. Nothing truly frightening here though.
Posted on September 23rd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Around 4 PM we took a little stroll around our neighborhood. Very ghostly. What we’ve gathered is:
1) Only about 20-30% at most of the residents are still here.
2) Maybe at most 1 in 10 people boarded up their windows.
3) Another 10% taped windows, many inadequatly (like a single X of masking tape will do anything for a 6 foot picture window!)
4) Some people are idiots: We saw lots of garden gnomes, potted plants, wind chimes, etc still out.
I’ll posted some pics in a bit (check the Rita pic page) of some of the boarding efforts we saw.
At 6:20 I was doing our last trash trip and tying down and tying closed our trash bucket (it’s full - they did not do the scheduled pickup yesterday), when I felt the first drops. They were slow, maybe one drop every 30-60 seconds.
We ate fried chicken (Dawn made it) and Au Gratin taters. Yummy.
At 7ish we went outside and stayed out til about 7:30 when it started to really rain. The clouds are moving fast overhead heading mostly South. Watched a great sunset with some very cool looking clouds. I’ll also posted some pics of that.
Now it’s dark and rainign, so I guess we are in for the interim.
More later.
Posted on September 23rd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
We just got back from a morning drive. We drove down 610 to Main, took Main up through the Medcenter to St Pauls, hooked over on Bissonet to Kirby, Took Kirby down through the Village to Holcombe, Holcombe to Bellaire, the South on Hillcroft back home.
It was very empty - almost everything was closed aside from a few gas station marts (the pumps are closed/empty though). We did see an open Shipley’s donuts, but the line for drive through had at least 20 cars, and the line for the counter was real long and out the door. There was a police presence, not sure if it was to keep order or to place an order.
We did find an open independant donut shop (at Bissonet and Hillcroft). There were a few old timers inside drinking coffee and chatting. We went in and the cubbard was bare, except for one donut hole. As we got to the counter they brought out 4 breakfast tacos for sale (We could see them making them in the back), so I got all 4, then as they were heating them up out of the oven came a tray of Kolaches (about 1/2 normal size), so we grabbed 6. Yum warm store food.
Traffic was bare, kinds like an early christmas morning. Police presence was real good, we must have seen a dozen or so cars patroling.
Added a few more pics from this morning to the album.
Posted on September 23rd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
I got up about 2 hours ago - sore muscles woke me and wouldn’t let me get comfortable. And to top it off, all that work yesterday among the bushes and plants might have given me something. I hope it’s not poison ivy again, just a heat rash. We’ll see.
Dawn & I are getting ready to do a quick drive through the area to see what’s up.
Skies are fairly clear and it’s nice outside.
Will report more later.
Posted on September 22nd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Added the first pictures (only 4) of the Rita Adventure.
I made a page just for them, located in the Menu under “Pages” and called, strangely enough, “Hurricane Rita Pictures”.
Here’s a direct link too: http://www.uebelhart.net/hurricane-rita-pictures/
We just got back a little while ago from a quick drive through some of Houston. It’s eerie, everything is closed except for a few topless bars / mens club, a pizza parlor, a chines restaurant, a few middle eastern & Indian restaurants, and a few Stop & Go type places. EVen the 24 hour Walmarts & CVSs are closed. Traffic was light and it seemed like 3 AM Xmas day morning.
Well, I’m going to bed now, I am beat.
Posted on September 22nd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Woops, after that last post I tried to get a picture album running and accidently deleted the whole site. Fixed it now obviously. I’ll try to get the album done later.
We just got finished eating. As it got Dark I put away the tools and stuff and then took a shower (My clothes easily doubled their wait in sweat! Heat index was 104), while Dawn cooked dinner (Pasta).
All the windows are now covered. The breakfast room has some spots that still need partial covering (I am making us some spy holes).
We might head out in a bit to the nearest McD’s, as they have the “Red Box” where you can rent DVDs for $1/day. We’ll grab a few.
I’ll get some pics up in a little while of the prep.
Posted on September 22nd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
My goal will be to log in and post every few hours (3-6 hrs or so) for the next few days, at least until power goes out.
Obviously we decided to stay.
I’ve boarded up the East side of the house, the glass sliding door, the breakfast room and half the master bedroom. I have basically just the front of the house to do next and finishing the master bedroom. I’m sore and tired. Don’t know what the temp is outside, but it’s hot.
Dawn’s been working inside, organizing the kitchen and supplies, cleaning, etc. She also did the “pick up loose crap outside” task.
The storm looks like it shifted further east, good news for us, bad for N’awlins and Beaumont. But it’s wobbling, so it’s still a crap shoot.
News from my Dad: He made it to Crockett yesterday - took 6 hours instead of the normal 1.5. He said even that far north the Walmarts and grocery stores are madhouses.
Will post more in a few, including some pics of our preperation.
Posted on September 22nd, 2005 by Brian.
Categories: General.
Well obviously Rita will hit us. It’s just a matter of how bad it will be.
It was actually going to be a bit worse when it was projected to hit to the southwest of us, now that it is projected to pass just a few miles to the east, it might be better. Dirty sides and wind and whatnot.
Here’s the best source of info: NOAA
We will most likely (80% chance as of now) Ride It Out.
Our Preparation
Water: We looked for water Tuesday, and it was already gone (Krogers, Beldans, 99cents only, Sams, etc). We have about 7 Gallons of bottled water, 7 gallons of other beverages (juice, gatoraide, sodas), lots of medicinal beverages (case of assorted beers, gallon of rum, mixed other boozes), and containers for at least 40 gallons of tap water. So we are fine in the liquid department. I fear we will soon have more water than we need.
Building Supplies: We stood in line at 5:30 am on Wednesday outside Home Depot to be able to get some plywood that had come in over night. We got 12 sheets and got it home. We’ve also managed to get enough wood screws, masonry screws, duct tape, etc. I had to work Wednesday but am off (as is Dawn) the rest of the week. Last night I did the marking and measuring of the plywood for the main problem areas (sliding door, front picture and dining windows, breakfast windows). Today I will cut them out and finish with the other windows. I’ll also get Dawn to start taping inside (although taping does not do a heck of alot, it’s better than nothing).
Back Flooding: During real heavy/prolong rain our back yard drains into our patio. We’ve never had it come up into the patio door yet, but I fear that might happen this time. So in addition to boarding up the patio door, I have made waterproofing plans that includes extra wood reinforcement, sprayed expansion foam (it’ll be heck to clean up), and sand bags.
Food: We are okay for food for a couple of days. I might send Dawn out for more today while I am boarding. I’ll board, she can hoard.
Misc: We broke out our camping equipment (stove, lanterns, etc) so should be ready in case we lose power. We have enough propane for awhile, plus our BBQ grill.
Friends: As of yesterday, here’s what we know about various freinds:
My Dad: He left for Crockett yesterday. Dawn & I might head out there if we have a change in plans.
Chris & Lynda & Ben & Becky (Hwy 6 near Westheimer): Chris plans on staying home, there has been changing ideas whether the rest of them will stay or go.
Hef & Beth (Near U of H): They have a converted warehouse that they live in now, and it’s perhaps the safest structural place you could want. They are riding it out there.
Bob: We have not heard from.
Kenny: Has bugged out with his mother and Sister to parts west.
Carlton: He bugged out to Concan.
Tiffin & Lisa and the kids: Left yesterday.
Tom: He’s still in N’awlins while his wife and kids are in College Station.
David & Family (from work): They live in Pearland and left last night to stay with some friends in River Oaks.
Well, gotta go and start slaving.