crazietalk.net

YmoBeThere wrote:Page 2k

ArkieDukie wrote:It's been a tough, stressful week. I've been watching from afar as a couple of friends, and at least one former colleague, lost their homes to flooding. One is a month away from having her first child, and they likely lost the contents of the nursery. One very good friend and former colleague was trapped on the 2nd floor of her home, with her family, as water entered the first floor (the water has receded now, thank God). A cousin in Baytown, whose neighborhood never experienced flooding, watched as water filled the street and inched toward her front door. Same for a friend and former colleague who lives in Friendswood. Flooding in Galveston worsened yesterday but was okay by the end of the day. My church in Galveston was set to house refugees but wasn't needed. Instead, they are serving as hosts for relief workers who have come to the area, and they are serving as donation centers for supplies that are being distributed to flood victims. I suspect that is the case for other churches in the area as well.

I'm not sure people realize exactly how bad things are. Since I lived in the area and have friends there, I see a lot through their status updates. I have multiple friends who have tried to make it out to work at shelters but cannot get out of their neighborhoods due to flooding. Complete areas of town are accessible only by boat. Other friends whose houses are dry have opened their homes to neighbors whose homes are flooded. One of my friends did end up moving to higher ground, staying with a neighbor. I see posts from both sides of the political aisle bashing the other due to their alleged lack of response. This really isn't the time for that. It is going to take the Houston metro area a very long time to recover.

windsor wrote:PET OWNER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

PLEASE Microchip your pet - and make sure the info is current!!!!

Include alternate contacts who are out of area. In a hurricane situation having your cell phone and your numbers might not help, but having Aunt Myrtle in Wyoming will.

windsor wrote:

ArkieDukie wrote:It's been a tough, stressful week. I've been watching from afar as a couple of friends, and at least one former colleague, lost their homes to flooding. One is a month away from having her first child, and they likely lost the contents of the nursery. One very good friend and former colleague was trapped on the 2nd floor of her home, with her family, as water entered the first floor (the water has receded now, thank God). A cousin in Baytown, whose neighborhood never experienced flooding, watched as water filled the street and inched toward her front door. Same for a friend and former colleague who lives in Friendswood. Flooding in Galveston worsened yesterday but was okay by the end of the day. My church in Galveston was set to house refugees but wasn't needed. Instead, they are serving as hosts for relief workers who have come to the area, and they are serving as donation centers for supplies that are being distributed to flood victims. I suspect that is the case for other churches in the area as well.

I'm not sure people realize exactly how bad things are. Since I lived in the area and have friends there, I see a lot through their status updates. I have multiple friends who have tried to make it out to work at shelters but cannot get out of their neighborhoods due to flooding. Complete areas of town are accessible only by boat. Other friends whose houses are dry have opened their homes to neighbors whose homes are flooded. One of my friends did end up moving to higher ground, staying with a neighbor. I see posts from both sides of the political aisle bashing the other due to their alleged lack of response. This really isn't the time for that. It is going to take the Houston metro area a very long time to recover.

It shouldn't surpirse anyone around here that I have been knee deep in getting dogs OUT and back to their owners. Also getting pet supplies (crates food etc) in to the area. A smart move this time vs. Katrina is the first dogs we pulled out were dogs ALREADY in shelters - that makes room in the shelters for dogs that a hurricane refugees and increases the odds they will get back to their owner.

ArkieDukie wrote:For the last few days, my news feed has been full of pictures of friends who are either cleaning out their own flood-damaged home or helping someone else clean out a home. One friend told a cool story: they were working alongside a couple from London who had been vacationing in Galveston (finishing up a tour of TX) when Harvey hit. They were volunteering before heading home. Lots of groups of students - both high school and college age - were appearing in neighborhoods and jumping in where help was needed. One friend was cleaning out his stepmother's house and, just when he was thinking he needed help to move out the furniture, a few guys from the local high school football team showed up. Another friend's husband is the pastor of a large church in Houston. They are serving as a staging area for supplies. She posted pictures of their gym, with row upon row of free cleaning, household supplies, clothing, etc., fir flood victims. My old church in Galveston is serving as a host facility for out-of-state first responders.

IowaDevil, how did your family in Houston fare during the storm?

windsor wrote:Irma be gone

ArkieDukie wrote:For the last few days, my news feed has been full of pictures of friends who are either cleaning out their own flood-damaged home or helping someone else clean out a home. One friend told a cool story: they were working alongside a couple from London who had been vacationing in Galveston (finishing up a tour of TX) when Harvey hit. They were volunteering before heading home. Lots of groups of students - both high school and college age - were appearing in neighborhoods and jumping in where help was needed. One friend was cleaning out his stepmother's house and, just when he was thinking he needed help to move out the furniture, a few guys from the local high school football team showed up. Another friend's husband is the pastor of a large church in Houston. They are serving as a staging area for supplies. She posted pictures of their gym, with row upon row of free cleaning, household supplies, clothing, etc., fir flood victims. My old church in Galveston is serving as a host facility for out-of-state first responders.

IowaDevil, how did your family in Houston fare during the storm?

windsor wrote:Irma be gone

IowaDevil wrote:

ArkieDukie wrote:For the last few days, my news feed has been full of pictures of friends who are either cleaning out their own flood-damaged home or helping someone else clean out a home. One friend told a cool story: they were working alongside a couple from London who had been vacationing in Galveston (finishing up a tour of TX) when Harvey hit. They were volunteering before heading home. Lots of groups of students - both high school and college age - were appearing in neighborhoods and jumping in where help was needed. One friend was cleaning out his stepmother's house and, just when he was thinking he needed help to move out the furniture, a few guys from the local high school football team showed up. Another friend's husband is the pastor of a large church in Houston. They are serving as a staging area for supplies. She posted pictures of their gym, with row upon row of free cleaning, household supplies, clothing, etc., fir flood victims. My old church in Galveston is serving as a host facility for out-of-state first responders.

IowaDevil, how did your family in Houston fare during the storm?

Their home was fine - ID Daughter the elementary principal's school took on some water but mostly had "roof rain". Many of their families lost everything. She & her staff have been taking donations and opening the school 4 hours a day for their families to come help themselves to things they need. They also have a teacher who graduated from Dunlap HS in Illinois who are putting together a huge donation for these families. They asked for a wish list and then went to their students/families/community. They will have a very large marching band trailer empty & filled with needed supplies. This will arrive on Thursday and on Friday there will be a huge BBQ (provided by an unknown group who just asked to do this) and give away. This has been so organized on both ends and such a huge undertaking by all. So much thanks to those who helped and EXTREMELY proud of our daughter & her organization skills! Proud Parents we are!