Ike/normality

[Texasbelle]

As of yesterday 80% of the homes in Houston had electricity. Amazing how the 20% are expected to "get back to normal." We are grateful that our power was restored last Tuesday afternnon, but we understand the "have nots" can't just go on as usual. In the grocery stores, one can tell who has and who has not. There is some guilt and some envy. We were glad that several people we knew had power early as they had health problems. Centerpoint told us to get a form from our electic company for our doctor to fill out because DH is on a CPAP machine at night. If anyone has a real health problem, consider this. I thought of the areas of the country that have ice storms--at least we were not in danger of freezing to death. Many of the suggestions to prepare for a hurricane would apply to any storm.

 

[chellej]

Our power was out for 4 days, my office was closed until Friday of last week and it is still hard to get back to normal. I work for the state and my boss is in Austin. She just doesn't understand the effect here that is ongoing. I can't believe how terrible the traffic has been going back and forth to work. The neighborhood near my office was still without power as of Friday and the streets were piled 3-4 feet high on the curb with branches. It seems hard for me to believe that there was so much there to come down.

Our neighborhood is pretty much back to normal - stores are open, no gas lines , grocery stores fully stocked - but it really is comparmentalised - if you have power or not.

The mosquitos coming out are the largest I have ever seen - I am glad they are starting the aerial spraying.

 

[Hophop4]

We just got back from grocery shopping. It looks like our area is back to normal. Lots of traffic on Hwy 6 as usual. lol. DH says the traffic going to and from work has been bad especially when he gets off the freeway and the traffic lights are still not working around the Galleria area where his office is. Schools are back in session which means more traffic too.

 

[jschmidt]

We just got our power on yesterday evening at 6:30 p.m. It was off about seven hours short of two weeks.

The water, sewer and natural gas were no problem and the temperature dropping into the sixties at night sure helped. Three couples on the street, my wife and I included, ate together every night be the light of a Coleman Lantern. We cooked on the gas stoves and grills. A lot of wine and beer was consumed while we shared the day’s happenings and speculated on when the power would be turned on. Then, two days ago electric company trucks from all over the northern states showed up in the neighborhood to cut trees, replaced poles and put up fallen lines and yesterday threw the switch. My power was on, but the neighbors that we ate with live across the street and are on a different circuit and still don’t have power.

One thing you do is go to bed early when you don’t have lights, TV or a computer!