I survived Hurricane Ike

[Spazz]

I have just survived my first hurricane. And with that comes a huge sigh of relief. For two full days, it was the most brutal winds and horrific rain I could ever imagine. The rain fell so fast from the skies and would pierce into the ground like bullets. The earth around you would shake for only a second, but only to be followed by an excruciating crash of trees and power lines. Sparks would fly through the air as transformers would crash into the roofs of houses or on the streets. And it would be at this moment that you feel lucky that you didn't live 10 feet in either direction... yet somehow... nature always has a way of putting things into perspective. We may have dodged the agony of trees, but the water was still rising on the streets. The power lines that fell turned the streets into rivers of instant death for any who dared. With all hope lost and the gut feeling inside telling you that your time has come, you grab your cellphone to make one last call to your loved ones... and the storm has torn any line of communication from you.

Finally... a glimmer of hope! A single bar of reception! You quickly grab your phone and try to call someone... anyone.... Even though the cellphone towers were being ripped and dragged from the ground, the ability to hear even one word from someone you love somehow brings a smile and tear to your eye.

Ike has since past and yet the worst is still yet to come. There are entire neighborhoods still under water and the number of people who lost their lives are still being counted. In a lot of areas... for every 10 houses, there is only 1 left standing. Gas stations are completely out of fuel and Grocery stores are completely empty. Fresh water is scarce and electricity will not be back on in the greater part of Houston for another 4 weeks.

Just keep in mind that I appreciate the all the prayers... But please, do not stop the prayers because of me. This terrible storm has left so many people worse off than I am.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

Spazz I'm so sorry you had to endure that but I'm very happy that you are ok. No hurricanes here but we have lots of tornados and I've survived a few of those in my years. I will certainly keep you and your neighbors in my thoughts.

[Feba]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

f. For two full days, it was the most brutal winds and horrific rain I could ever imagine. The rain fell so fast from the skies and would pierce into the ground like bullets. The earth around you would shake for only a second, but only to be followed by an excruciating crash of trees and power lines. Sparks would fly through the air as transformers would crash into the roofs of houses or on the streets.

Dumbass.

[Spazz]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

Whats a dumbass???? Me??? For not being able to get out because the streets were so packed and there were people panicking to get out that there was accidents all over the place. Some people had to ride out the storm in their cars because they were stuck. I actually had plans to get out and go up to Colorado... but I couldnt because of everything.

Im sorry... but before you call someone or something a dumbass, maybe you should think about all the possibilities.

[Feba]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

There's a lot more to it than just getting the hell out.

[Spazz]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

I have no clue what your trying to say.... so please ... enlighten me lol. Otherwise, whatever! LOL =)

[DrakenDame]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

I for one think you are a very brave person, staying in a place hit by a hurricane. I don't know what I would've done. I have never had to make that choice. I live in the Netherlands and as far as I know the last hurricane to hit us was in 1950-something.

It must have been terrifying, not knowing what will be the outcome...brrrrr....I'm glad you are still here...

[Skoal]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

You are not brave staying in a place that is hit by a hurricane.

I learned from Katrina that anytime there is a storm in Caribbean, I have my shit straight in case I had to leave. I was 3 hours north of Katrina and we still had winds that knocked down trees and power lines. Katrina was so bad, it blew off roofs and downed trees 6 hours away from the coast.

I am glad you are safe. Having been threw a few now, they suck bad. You have to have plans for this stuff. I had 3 routes to take in case something snuck up on us.

I keep hearing that people have no choice but to stay sometimes. I haven't experienced that. A friend of mine started driving at 3 a.m. on Thursday morning to get here.

Do you have power already? Or are you posting from some other device than a comp? We were 3 hours north when Katrina hit and we didn't get power for 2 weeks.

[Jarre]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

I designed my house I know how strong the roof is tied to my stout brick walls and all the bracing in the brickwork, every tile is nailed down, everywind well secured and 3 years ago in 100 miel an hour winds and torenchall rain we had here on the east coast, my hosue is high widn proof, flood proof (sockets above a certain height, all moisture resistant skirtings, flooring etc. plus tanking to the walls up to 1m above ground level and the floor level 450mm (18") above GL.

I'm glad you survived it Spazz, i hope your house didn't take too much of a beating, the problem you hve in the US is that your construction are mainly timber, lightweight and cheap to build, this unfortunately can;t withstand what nature is now throwing at us. as global warming (depending on if your a sceptic or not) makes the weather more violent (more flooding, more and more hurricans and extreem wheather, we certainly have noticed it over the last 5 years here in the UK) these extreem event will happen more and more.

Spazz, I hope you know what your forum name is in English, I would honestly change it if either you.

[Skoal]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

the problem you have in the US is that your construction are mainly timber, lightweight and cheap to build, this unfortunately can't withstand what nature is now throwing at us.

This. Along our coast, they are mandating that certain areas have IZ4 windows and doors and be at a certain height. People still get away with not doing it though. Until the insurance companies will not insure a house with the proper construction, it won't really change.

[Armando]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

What Jarre said.

I've been through like 3-4 hurricanes that I can remember. It was no big deal here, the suckiest thing was having no power for like a week (which was in a way kind of cool, because all the kids would go out and play 24/7.) Most Puerto Rican middle class houses are made of cement.

[Mhurron]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

You are not brave staying in a place that is hit by a hurricane.

It was a Cat1 storm, not all hurricanes are created equal. Do you run like a little girl when every thunderstorm goes your way?

The only people that were in any real danger were those who lived right on the coastline. This *EVERYBODY PANIC* with every stupid thing mentality of late is why its so easy to convince people every little thing should raise gas prices and pass asinine laws.

[Tsrwedge]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

It was a Cat1 storm, not all hurricanes are created equal. Do you run like a little girl when every thunderstorm goes your way?

The only people that were in any real danger were those who lived right on the coastline. This *EVERYBODY PANIC* with every stupid thing mentality of late is why its so easy to convince people every little thing should raise gas prices and pass asinine laws.

Ike was a strong category 2/3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (110 mph sustained winds, category 3 is 111 mph), and was in reality much stronger than that. Ike carried a storm surge typical to a category 4 storm. Furthermore, on the Integrated Kinetic Energy scale recently proposed by NOAA HRD's Dr. Mark Powell, Ike was damn near equally powerful as Katrina at landfall (5.0 v. 5.1). Too, this storm had the largest footprint of tropical storm-force and hurricane-force winds anyone has seen for quite some time.

This was not just a spring shower or some poncy borderline hurricane. SHUT THE FARK UP until and unless you get your facts straight.



Spazz, glad you survived, but in the future you probably ought to have better plans for evacuating successfully.

[edit]
Sources:
Ike makes a direct hit on Galveston, Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog
Category 2 Ike is larger and more powerful than Katrina, Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

[Spazz]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

Lol I know what my name means in english ... trust me... I have people remind me all the time.

I have been posting from my work because the building I work in has power and internet. My house, however, does not. We were told it would not be on for another 3-4 weeks. So, it kinda sucks but whatever...

My house took some damage but nothing that killed me obviously lol.

I did have plans to evacuate and go up to Colorado... but 2 days before Ike hit the roads were slammed and it actually took multiple days for some people to get from Houston to Dallas (which normally is about a 2-3 hour drive).

I was not near Katrina when it hit... I was in Colorado. I know there is a time to run and there is a time to stay. My girlfriend and I didnt have alot of options this time around. But all will is going back to normal. I was actually able to get gas for my motorcycle last night as well =)

[Skoal]

Re: I survived Hurricane Ike

It was a Cat1 storm, not all hurricanes are created equal. Do you run like a little girl when every thunderstorm goes your way?

The only people that were in any real danger were those who lived right on the coastline. This *EVERYBODY PANIC* with every stupid thing mentality of late is why its so easy to convince people every little thing should raise gas prices and pass asinine laws.

I wasn't referring to Spazz in this one incident. When you live on the coast there are people who think that nothing is going to happen to them because they have been through a few small storms. They also insult people who do leave just like you did.

I am going to leave when there is a hurricane. I won't be working, I won't have power, and there isn't shit for me to do.

Katrina really changed things for us. People don't stand there with their chest poked out thinking they are invincible anymore. People realize that this stuff is serious.