Ready for Vacation

Hurricane season doesn’t usually affect us. Except for this year. Our vacation to South Padre Island was planned and booked back in April. Hurricane Dolly hit the island a few weeks ago and they are still recovering. Most of the resorts and hotels have roof and water damage inside the rooms and elevators. The management company called last Friday to say that our condo was ruined in the hurricane. They are sorry, but they will be shut down for the next two months. Their computers were under water, and they can’t even process a refund for a month or so. I found an alternative condo last Friday, but they called this weekend to say they may not be able to accommodate us due to water damage. That condo is on the 4th floor, and the elevators are out and won’t be repaired for quite some time. I don’t mind taking the stairs. They have blowers set up in most of the rooms, but it still sounds kind of iffy. I’ve been trying to find another condo on the beach, but it’s getting frustrating. One thing the kids really love down there is the water park, Schlitterbahn. I’ve been monitoring their web cams watching the clean-up efforts. They are making progress. Last week all the water was drained from the chutes, pools, and rides. It was asphalt city for days as the power washing and sterilizing took place. They have fresh water, and are now back in business. I can just imagine the water bill down there.

Rainmaker

We had a heavy rainstorm pass through our neighborhood early last night with driving rain and hail that bounced off the windows. It lasted about 20 minutes. Mayor Bill White requested that everyone stay home, if possible. This morning things were pretty quiet in the neighborhood. It was like a ghost town with no movement and no one in sight. I took Emma for a walk in the rain, but it was a light rain. As the morning has developed, we are being treated to a pounding rainstorm. We really need the rain. There is no sign of any wind or damage. Here’s what the radar looks like now. We are in the dark orange area where the rain is the heaviest. We are under a flash flood watch.

Edouard on Path Toward Houston

I had no idea a potential hurricane is heading this way. I found out this morning when I turned the radio on in the shower. On the drive into work, things looked normal other than the traffic boards were flashing, "Fill Your Tank. Hurricane Forming in Gulf.  Heading to Galveston."  Here is Edouard, out in the Gulf and heading our way. Schools are already closing early today, and closures for tomorrow are being announced on the hour. Most are predicting it will hit Galveston as a Level I hurricane in about 12 hours. Downtown Houston should begin to feel tropical storm-force winds shortly after 8 a.m. tomorrow. Winds above 40 mph should last until shortly before the sun sets. County officials are expecting most non-emergency businesses in Harris County to be closed tomorrow.  Galveston has already set up live web cams at several locations on the island. It should be pretty interesting watching it roll in.  We'll have lots of rain, wind, power outages, and downed power lines.  The timing isn't good because we are short-handed.  Just last week Houston sent hundreds of crews from the power company down to help restore power on South Padre Island after Hurricane Dolly.