Ike's Passing

Hurricane Ike was a Category 2 Storm, but it had a storm surge approaching that of a Category 4. Even though a little more than two weeks have passed since it made landfall, the effects are still there. Many traffic lights are still blinking red lights, some traffic lights are still not attached at all. Everyone I know suffered at least some damage to their house, and one of them lost his house completely. While the cities are cleaning up the piles of debris, there are still piles of branches, roofing, and fencing piled here and there by the side of many roads.

In Galveston, Bolivar Peninsula, and other places directly on the Gulf of Mexico, those whose houses have survived have mold, and thousands of people have to throw away almost everything they have. Raw sewage can be found in swimming pools and ditches, and animals are running loose. Disease is a huge concern.

Many people stayed behind because it was too late for them to get out because the city did not order an evacuation soon enough (thus making it legal for businesses to keep people at work). Others remember the evacuations ahead of Hurricane Rita and refused to leave. Many of those who stayed behind on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula are either dead or missing, but there are many survivors.

Houston and the surrounding areas showed a great deal of cooperation and generosity, and citizens donated and volunteered by the thousands at hospitals, shelters, and points of distribution (PODs). If one thing can be taken from this crisis, it is that the citizens of Houston, its surrounding areas, and places across the US showed a tremendous level of generosity.

There are still people who are in need, though. You can help by donating money or time to the following organizations.

Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund
Mayor Bill White has announced that a relief fund has been set up by the city of Houston. Donations in the form of checks can be mailed to:
Houston Ike Relief Fund
4550 Post Oak Place Ste 100
Houston, TX 77027

Red Cross:
Galveston County Red Cross Unit
Houston Area Red Cross
American Red Cross

Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund

Houston Area Salvation Army

Houston Food Bank

God bless, and take care.