No Crying Wolf

[mrdreamjeans]

Here in Southeast Texas, we're bracing for our third hurricane in six weeks. We prepared for Edouard and he turned out to be all bluster, no punch. We organized for Gustav and didn't get any rain at all in Houston. With Ike, I suspect that he won't be "crying wolf". The latest news for Houston is that Ike will impact us by late Friday/ early Saturday morning. Two coastal counties have ordered mandatory evacuations beginning tonight; there are several other counties (including Galveston Island that have issued voluntary evacuations. Because of the warm water temps in the Gulf of Mexico (87 degrees F), Ike could hit our area as a Category 4 storm and do some real damage. As with Edouard and Gustav, I don't wish other cities or areas to be hit, but I am hoping that we are spared the wrath of Ike. The latest coordinates put Ike closer to us ...

If the storm hits, I'll be required to shelter in place with the staff and residents of our building. I've taken tomorrow off from work to accomplish items that may be canceled if I was to wait for the weekend. I've got a dental appointment in the morning, as well as an appointment with the real estate agent with whom I'm listing my house (signing paperwork, listing with her for four months); finally, I'm accompanying my mother for her first experience with an acupuncturist. She's scared silly, but said she'd go if my sister or I were to go with her. I'm hoping she gets some relief from the pain she's been experiencing. We'll see ...

Back to the storm ... When New Orleans evacuated last week for Gustav, it was orderly and efficient. However, the storm didn't hit as predicted. I can't help wondering, during such an active hurricane season with evacuations ordered time and again, if folks will forget Katrina and its consequences, be annoyed at the inconvenience and and ignore the official warnings. Will human nature and a large urban populace feel that officials are crying wolf?