Ike is heading for the Gulf of Mexico

[Astronuc]

Sounds like chaos along I-45. Apparently people have abandoned cars, and others are dumping their trash on the freeway.

Houston is mostly without power.


My mom mentioned it could be weeks before electrical power is restored - and that's in the middle of Houston. About 2.6 million customers are without power. The economic loss to Houston is currently estimated in the range of $16-20 billion.

Houston has established a curfew 7 pm to 6 am. Many people are already stressed out due to lack of power and access to gasoline.


Meanwhile, Ike's trail of destruction stretches into Midwest
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/15/hurricane.ike/index.html

More than 340,000 Louisville Gas and Electric customers were without power Monday morning, WLKY reported.

Across the region, more than 1.3 million people were without power, AP reported.

"Over 90 percent of our customers are without service," Kathy Meinke of Duke Energy, which serves southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky, told AP.

 

[Math Is Hard]

My parents just got back - no power.

I have been looking at some pictures of damage that someone put up on flickr. It's quite surreal looking at the boats strewn across I-45.

http://flickr.com/photos/kaozrider/2854509095/in/photostream/

 

[Astronuc]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/storm_ike_dc;_ylt=AjX7EmptZ1r5PIe6b2ql9L.s0NUE

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas officials warned of a health crisis on Monday and urged thousands of people to leave Galveston, where relief supplies were scarce for hungry, exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

In Houston, millions struggled to cope without power in the U.S. energy hub.

About 2,000 people have been plucked from flooded areas by helicopters and boats in the largest rescue effort in the state's history as searchers scoured battered communities along the coast and Galveston Bay.

Galveston, a city of 60,000, was decimated when the hurricane made landfall there on Saturday morning and 15,000-20,000 people remained in quickly degrading conditions. . . . .

Recovery will go slowly.

Mobile morgue en route to Galveston as search continues
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6002679.html

Many people are missing.

 

[Gokul43201]

Ike passed through Ohio yesterday. Very little precipitation, but lots of 75mph winds.

Three roads on my way to school have been closed off due to fallen trees. About 2 million homes in Ohio have no electricity, and most are not expected to get in back in the next few days. It's been virtually impossible to eat out, get gas or buy groceries today.

And Ohio is at least 4 states away from Texas. I'm impressed.

 

[Andre]

My parents just got back - no power.

I have been looking at some pictures of damage that someone put up on flickr. It's quite surreal looking at the boats strewn across I-45.

http://flickr.com/photos/kaozrider/2854509095/in/photostream/

Hopefully they manage. Perhaps there are generators around or wind mills.

 

[Astronuc]

Hopefully they manage. Perhaps there are generators around or wind mills.

People are waiting in long lines for gasoline, water, food, and in some cases generators.

Hunt Is On For Generators, Gasoline In Houston
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94617088

Ike Leaves Houston Lacking Power, Food, Water
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94617085

Now people had at least 1 week to prepare for the hurricane, and apparently many, perhaps most, didn't.

 

[Astronuc]

Striking picture of Gilchrist, Tex on Bolivar Peninsula.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/16bolivar.html

 

[Ronnin]

I have never seen this town so crippled. Gas lines are 1-2 hour waits in some spots. I just got my power restored late yesterday and have never felt so much love for electricity. My office had its bay doors blown in and the suspended ceiling in the office collapsed. There is no power there either. Huge chunks of town are still down and cell phone service is patchy at best. Its a mess here but there is progress being made.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Where are you located?

 

[wolram]

Striking picture of Gilchrist, Tex on Bolivar Peninsula.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/16bolivar.html

I bet no one will build there again, the best thing to do is dig the road up and leave the land to nature.

 

[turbo]

I bet no one will build there again, the best thing to do is dig the road up and leave the land to nature.

You'd be on the wrong side of that bet, Woolie. The US taxpayers (financing low-cost flood insurance) have to foot the bill for these "unforeseen" disasters that happen with frightening regularity, and people rebuild, only to get hit (and bailed out) again. If I could make it happen, nobody on barrier islands or living below sea-level would qualify for Federal flood insurance. The insurance market would soon price these people out of coverage, and re-building rates would plummet.

 

[Math Is Hard]

http://hspca.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Hurricane_Ike_Updates

The wrath of Hurricane Ike left a site of mass destruction at the Galveston County Animal Shelter in Texas City. the Houston SPCA's Disaster Response team lead by Chief Investigator , Charles Jantzen stepped in on Saturday afternoon to rescue 77 dogs, 65 cats, one rabbit, some parakeets and a pelican along with other wildlife that sheltered in place with staff when the hurricane hit.

The Wildlife Rehab & Education is preparing for an influx of wild animal victims of Hurricane Ike. Executive Director Sharon Schmalz said that Ike’s high winds and heavy rain blew baby squirrels from their nests, knocked roosting birds out of trees and literally slammed coastal birds like pelicans and seagulls to the ground.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Hopefully they manage. Perhaps there are generators around or wind mills.

Thanks. Power is still out but Mom was happy to report that she got lunch and even ice at McDonald's today. They are still under curfew and have to be indoors by 9 PM. The police seem to be doing a good job keeping looters under control.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6003901.html

Ike passed through Ohio yesterday. Very little precipitation, but lots of 75mph winds.

Three roads on my way to school have been closed off due to fallen trees. About 2 million homes in Ohio have no electricity, and most are not expected to get in back in the next few days. It's been virtually impossible to eat out, get gas or buy groceries today.

And Ohio is at least 4 states away from Texas. I'm impressed.

This storm is like the Energizer Bunny - just keeps going and going and going.

 

[wolram]

You'd be on the wrong side of that bet, Woolie. The US taxpayers (financing low-cost flood insurance) have to foot the bill for these "unforeseen" disasters that happen with frightening regularity, and people rebuild, only to get hit (and bailed out) again.

Plonkers.

 

[Ronnin]

On a positive note, the weather was beautiful today. Those without power got a nice break.

 

[Astronuc]

My parents went looking for a camp stove today, so they can cook. They, and everyone around them have had to empty their refrigerators and freezers, except for those few who have generators. They might get power restored by the end of the week. Some parts of Houston may not have power for one month.

Then there are the neighborhoods that are totally wiped out.

And to think, it could have been worse! And also - it could happen again next year or sometime in the near future.

 

[Astronuc]

I just talked with my sister who is still without power, although neighborhoods around her do have power. It's pretty bad in parts of Houston.

Galveston is apparently mostly destroyed, and many 1 story houses are so heavily damage so as not to be habitable. One FEMA official told my sister that the devastation in Galveston/Bolivar and other areas is worse than Katrina.

My sister and husband have a house (2nd home) across one of the channels from Galveston, and the first floor was flooded and the doors and walls were knocked out. There were 6 stair cases from other houses wedged under their house. All those houses are built on pilings, so most houses only had flood damage to the first floor.

Now this still needs verification, but apparently the flood insurance (National Flood Insurance) will not cover them, and may not cover many others because it only activates with a 20 ft or greater surge (waves don't count). So, since the maximum surge was something like 12 and maybe 14-15 ft, flood insurance will not cover those whose homes were flooded. If your house was blown away, I guess your covered. The question will be, can one rebuild?


One of the downsides of the current situation is the theft of gasoline. Apparently some people follow others home from a gas station, then the perpetrators puncture the gas tanks and steal the gasoline.

There is a curfew.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

This storm is like the Energizer Bunny - just keeps going and going and going.

The CNN meteorologist was just saying that Ike either made it to, or will make it to Iceland as a weather system.

 

[Andre]

There is a curfew.

This is devastating Astro, my sympathy. Where are the help troopers. If this happened in any other country, the west would have open international air bridges and international rescue units doing what they are supposed to do. Where are they?

 

[BobG]

One of the downsides of the current situation is the theft of gasoline. Apparently some people follow others home from a gas station, then the perpetrators puncture the gas tanks and steal the gasoline.

There is a curfew.

I guess that's one downside of having a locking gas cap. The only thing locking gas caps are good for is when someone cuts in front of you at the gas line. If they don't have a locking gas cap, you can replace their gas cap with your locking gas cap, then leave. Takes some of the fun out of cutting in line.

 

[Astronuc]

This is devastating Astro, my sympathy. Where are the help troopers. If this happened in any other country, the west would have open international air bridges and international rescue units doing what they are supposed to do. Where are they?

The curfew is at night. It's basically to keep down the crime, which is likely to pick up because of the chaos.

Many banks are down, so lots of folks maybe short on cash. One can't use an ATM when it is without electricity (besides the fact that many toward the coast would be flooded) or if the bank's computer and/or network is down. Many people apparently did not heed the advice to withdraw 2 weeks of cash from the bank in the days before the storm.

The local grocery store near my parents was letting 10 people shop at one time to keep crowds manageable, and to prevent shoplifting. I'd think critical infrastructure would have emergency generators - well hospitals do and perhaps fire/police do also.

Some parts of Houston have power, but others do not. Apparently in the SW part of the I-610 loop, a big step-down transformer blew up, and that will take weeks to get a replacement. It was apparently a relatively new one which replaced an old transformer that had failed.

 

[BobG]

Many banks are down, so lots of folks maybe short on cash. One can't use an ATM when it is without electricity (besides the fact that many toward the coast would be flooded) or if the bank's computer and/or network is down. Many people apparently did not heed the advice to withdraw 2 weeks of cash from the bank in the days before the storm.

Phone books with the name and phone number of just about everyone in the city can be printed up and distributed by phone companies to every house in the city.

None the less, it would be unreasonable to expect a bank to prepare for an upcoming storm.

 

[Math Is Hard]

The CNN meteorologist was just saying that Ike either made it to, or will make it to Iceland as a weather system.

Geez! I hope it doesn't come back around for a victory lap.

My folks still have no power and are exhausted from clearing debris, but they saw 2 trucks from the power company come by today. Can't be much longer. (Fingers crossed.)

I want to buy them a generator for Christmas. I wonder how much those cost.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Geez! I hope it doesn't come back around for a victory lap.

My folks still have no power and are exhausted from clearing debris, but they saw 2 trucks from the power company come by today. Can't be much longer. (Fingers crossed.)

I want to buy them a generator for Christmas. I wonder how much those cost.

Get a Honda. They are probably as reasonably priced and reliable as any.

 

[Astronuc]

I want to buy them a generator for Christmas. I wonder how much those cost.

I've heard about $500-600 at Home Depot in Houston.

I suspect the price of generators has jumped.

Honda makes generators.

One can find generators at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, and possibly at some large hardware and home improvement centers. Companies supplying the contruction industry probably have generators.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/c_10153_12605_Lawn+&+Garden_Generators?sbf=Brand&sbv=Craftsman

The need about 2 kW min, but perhaps 3.5 or 3.6 kW would be desirable.


My parents had power for about 10 min last night, but then it went out again. Apparently a nearby transformer shorted out and blew. One problem will be a lack of replacement transformers, in addition to repairing all the damaged power lines.

 

[turbo]

Get a Honda. They are probably as reasonably priced and reliable as any.

The best deal is a generator from Northern Tool and Equipment. Decent generator head paired up with a quiet and efficient 5hp Honda motor. I start mine once a year or so, if it hasn't been used, and it always fires right up. Living out here in the boonies for the last couple of years, have convinced me that this is a REAL good deal. Luckily for me, this place has a dug well with a 120V pump motor in addition to the drilled well with the 240V submersible. By powering one leg at a time on the entrance panel I can make sure that our freezers, refrigerator, and (dug well) pump stay in operation. I would have had to go up to a more expensive generator with 240V capability except for the smaller pump feeding off the dug well. If this one ever dies, I'll get another from the same source, but with the capability to feed the entire 240V entrance box so that all the 120V loads in the building are covered.

In real terms, I don't mind being without power for a while. We have wells, and two ponds (and can boil water if we need to), and several camping lanterns that run off either butane or white gas, and we heat our house with a wood stove. We're not "off the grid" but could arrange that with little fuss.

 

[Astronuc]

If they get a generator, it needs to be outside or in a well ventilated area in order to avoid carbon monoxide/dioxide poisoning. If the generator is outside, then there is the risk is could be stolen, so anyone would need to chain it to a tree or something immovable.

 

[Evo]

You can rent generators at the rental supply here, but of course whenever there is a need for one, they are already all rented.

Where I used to live, we had a lot of extended power outages, the worst was a week in freezing temperature after a freak blizzard hit before the trees had started to lose their leaves. Several of my neighbors owned generators. Every winter someone makes the news for dying from running a generator inside the house, last year it was a guy that didn't realize that an attached garage is just another room in your house.

 

[Math Is Hard]

My dad is a chemical engineer. It is a pretty safe bet he knows not to run a generator indoors.

 

[Math Is Hard]

My parents had power for about 10 min last night, but then it went out again. Apparently a nearby transformer shorted out and blew. One problem will be a lack of replacement transformers, in addition to repairing all the damaged power lines.

That's too bad. I've heard about a lot of people getting power for just a few hours then it goes out again. :(