I was trying to imagine…

Seeing images of completely devastated neighborhoods and towns in Hurricane Ike’s wake, I was trying to imagine what people do in this case?

I thought about the little town I live in and tried to apply that scenario here. What if the entire town were destroyed, all houses gone, all jobs gone, all that remains are piles everywhere. What would I do? Stay and build my little house again? With what? I live and work in this town, so both would be gone, and I certainly could not afford to rebuild. Sure insurances kick in and pay some, but not all, and what about those who were not or could not afford insurance?

I can’t quite wrap my head around how one gets started again after something like this.

Fortunately, I can call family and move in with them until I find a retail job or some other temporary situation just to get some cash coming in again. What about the bills? Those still come in, whether you have a job or not. Things quickly accumulate. Then it’s another black hole that’s impossible to crawl out of, on top of everything else. It’s a long road ahead.

I was truly horrified for the people who’s live has now been altered in a way that will never be the same.

Hurricane Ike and Rain

After all the anticipation and build up here in the outskirts of Austin, TX, I have to admit I was looking forward to a good down pour over the weekend. After watching the latest on the hurricane Ike’s path Friday evening, I was expecting to wake up to the sound of rain over the roof… not a drop… Such a let down.

I even had a couple candles on my kitchen counter in case of power outage, had a tank full of gaz, and a fridge full of groceries. Filling stations and groceries stores were packed full thursday after work when I went.

Now before anyone gets offended, I’d like to add that I am in no way diminishing the experience of anyone who has come in direct contact of this storm. Nor am I forgetting the thousands of people who’s homes have been destroyed, or had to evacuate, or anything of the sort.

I am simply stating that for my part, up here on the far reaching perimeter of this event, yes, I was looking forward to much needed rain.

As for the hurricane itself, watching sea level predictions over Galveston a few hours before Ike’s land fall, this thought was running through my mind. Knowing the danger, knowing the wide reaching scope of this storm, its strength and potential destructive power, who in their right mind would choose to stay?

Granted, each person has a right to choose for themselves. Each adult has command over their own lives. But what about common sense? If everyone is telling you your city is going to be underwater in a couple days, would you stay?

What gets me mad, is people who make that decision and place their family in danger, then get ovewhelmed because they did not listen to the warning, get themselves (and their family) in dire situations, and then need rescuing. Now not only have they endangered themselves and family members, but now recue team are putting their lives on the line to get them out when they should have left in the first place!!!!…..  THAT makes me really mad just thinking about it.

My heart goes out to these recue teams and these people who will unselfishly do anything they can to assure safety for anyone they encounter. Kudos to them.

And shame on those who forgo common sense and then expect others to endanger their own lives to recue them.