Concern for our Houston sisters

[Rachael Leigh]

Just want to say that if you have seen the news Houston is having a virtual flood disaster. All areas of Houston are effected.
Please pray for the city and yes if you have contact with the many Houston gals that are here let us know how they are and are safe.
Blessings and prayers Rachael Leigh

[Daryl]

They have my prayers as well.

[Lydianne]

Yes, and from me as well. I heard something like 14'' of rain in 4 hours. Sounds horrific! Everybody try to stay safe.

- Lydianne.

[Dana44]

We had a lot of rain and some heavy wind. I hope all our Houston sisters are doing okay. It has been quite a storm and people to the east of us really got hit hard. The storm is projected to come through here on its way north and we are in for some more heavy rain. And it may have already done that, the tropical storm will go through Houston. This storm was so large it hit Rockport and flattened it. And it got Corpus Christie through Houston and the whole Texas coast. It was cat 4 when it hit and is now a tropical storm It still has some heavy winds.

[Tracii G]

My ex lives in Corpus Christi and she is fine.
I do hope all are OK .

[rian]

God bless them ...and help them to pass this ordeal ...hope every thing will pass safely ....

[T Gram]

I grew up in the Houston area, been gone now for maybe 5 years. I've seen pictures and videos of places that have Never flooded or been Impassable due to flooding. It's BAD!! And it's suppose to rain till Thursday and now I've heard Harvey is suppose to go back out into the gulf and head further east toward Lousiana causing more flooding. This isn't good for people and family back in my old hometown.

[ronda]

they are in my prayers also

[Erica Skifishski]

Yeah, its bad. Got word from f&f on the North side and they're OK. So worried about everybody down there. Some places still gonna get worse but I believe the bayous and the Colorado are predicted to crest today. Its gonna be a long process but they're still focusing on making sure everybody makes it through the storm. The water in most places doesn't move that fast, so hopefully they can get those in danger out quickly, then get out the other stranded folks. Seen this poor trucker get rescued from his tractor. WHo's boss sends them into a friggin hurricane? Somebody who's never seen Houston flood I guess.

[Jeri Ann]

I have talked to Brooke89, Lauri K, and Kelly Marie they are all ok. I live 90 minutes east of Houston and so far so good. Yesterday flood waters got up to my house. 6" more and it would have come in. Baytown is in the greater Houston area (Harris county) and they got 34" of rain according to the National Weather Service. I am 60 minutes from Baytown. This morning tropical storm winds were pounding rain against my house and the water started coming up again. It has slacked off for the time being and all is well for now. The heavy rain bands are to move east sparing Houston, as though they could be any wetter, but will bring more rain to where I am. Thank you everyone for your concern. We are going to make it.

Of the 6 million people in the Houston area, so far, 40,000 do not have a place to live. They are rescuing more all the time. There is no commerce at all. Employees can't get to work and deliveries can't be made. All roads are impassable.

If you would like to help, you can contact the Red Cross. We have been hit by four Hurricanes in the last 12 years, Rita, Ike, Humberto and now Harvey. The Red Cross always shows up to help.

P.S. As soon as I posted this my phone alarm went off with a tornado warning. I guess it is getting ready to start again.

[Dana44]

All storm data for central Texas is clear now. We are out of the storm and the clouds are still out there. fifty percent chance of rain. But the rain has stopped.

[Aunt Kelly]

You stay safe Jeri Ann. It sounds like you're getting a good dose of what we had Saturday night. Heavy rain, wind and one tornado or flash flood warning after another.
Still raining hard but not quite as steady. The big problem is the flooding. Jeri says thirty thousand victims. It was 30k just this morning. That number is bound to climb much higher in the days ahead.

Your prayers for our neighbors here in SE TX and SW LA are needed.

[Territx]

Well, it is Monday afternoon and we are at "30+" inches here at the house -- but we are dry so far! I heard that they have calculated that "500 billion gallons" have rained on Houston! From my house, I can hear the air boats going down the bayou. I live close to the Reservoir and now they have started releasing from the nearby Dam into the bayous that are already overflowing. Just watched my neighbor load his bags and dog and drive away.

I heard one of the news casters say something like "take the worst rain event ever (Allison) and then more than double it" -- that is what you have here; you just cannot plan for something like that. It is pretty much unbelievable.

Please, everyone be safe!

[Lana Mae]

Prayers for everyone in the state of Texas and anywhere else Harvey decides to go! Best wishes Hugs Lana Mae

[Alice Torn]

I always feel very sad, and depressed when such huge flooding occurs. The poor animals, too. So awfully tragic. I hope and pray lots of aid comes soon, for human victims and animal victims. I have said it before. When life comes down to sheer survival, humans can be quite adaptive, and change modes. Crossdressing is not even an issue, in such disasters. It is way back on a back burner. Survival is the issue, and blocks out anything else.

[GinaSkirt]

A prayer was said at church for them. My wife is from just south of there with family and friends there. Some are partially flooded. Praying for all our sisters and everyone to make it through safe and healthy.

[Michele14]

We made by one foot. Right now no water in street first time since Saturday. This is going to be a long time process to get over this. Thanks for.the prayers.

[Jeri Ann]

The wind is picking up and it is beginning to rain again where I am east of Houston. They predict winds of 30-40 mph with gusts to 60 and lots more rain for the next few days.

The latest estimate of rain quantity is nine trillion gallons, twice the capacity of Lake Superior.

[Aunt Kelly]

So you're saying that Texas now has the biggest lake in the U.S. About time we got around to that one. OK, ok... it's kinda spread out, but it should still count.

[Joni T]

There's no VIRTUAL flood. It's a FLOOD--period. Our daughter lives in Wiley, Tx. Luckily she's up in the northern end and is only getting light rain and no flooding.
Jon

[Jeri Ann]

The rain and wind have intensified in deep southeast Texas. We have had six inches in the last six hours. They are predicting 30 inches in the next two days. There is simply no place for the water to go. Voluntary evacuations are being called for areas that are low. Emergency responders have gone to help in Houston leaving skeletal crews here. The freeway between Houston and this area is impassable.

[NicoleScott]

So you're saying that Texas now has the biggest lake in the U.S. About time we got around to that one. OK, ok... it's kinda spread out, but it should still count.

If the bragging about the bigness of Texas continues, we're going to cut Alaska in half and make Texas the third largest state.

[michelleddg]

We were resigned to our 4th flood in 10 years but Harvey has shown mercy. Still dry. Rain threat has passed (although flood water got to within a foot of the back door Sunday night). Ground water is still a threat. They've shown Coast Guard evacuations from the South Fleetwood subdivision literally around the world. That is a quarter mile from us (but right on top of an angry bayou).

We've had no power since Sunday. Our transformer is under water so there's no end in sight. We evacuated to Austin where we're quite comfortable. Sandy Clifton and I went for a nice run this morning :-)

The outpouring of support has been beyond words. As one small example, my hair dresser just pinged. She's been doing my boy hair for 7 years but occasionally does my wigs and girl hair, and they all enjoy photos and when Michelle drops in. Wasn't that sweet? Hugs, Michelle

[Jeri Ann]

Tuesday night was intense. I never went to bed. I spent the entire night with a wet vac at the back door sucking up water is it came in the house. We got 27 inches of rain in 24 hours. The total rainfall for this area was 49 inches. That's about what we normally get in an entire year. I am fortunate. I have food, power and dry shelter. Four town houses across the street from me were flooded Today they pulled out the carpet and laminate floor. The family across the street had no food and no money. I invited them over and fed them steaks and a Caesar salad. Plus, they got to meet Jerry Ann.

Floodwaters still Cover all the roads in and out of this area. The city of Beaumont, population of about 80,000, lost its water system today. They don't know how long it Will try to make repairs and get the system going again. Grocery stores are out of food. Nothing can be restocked because this area is isolated. All roads are closed due to flooding. Restaurants can't operate without running water. Port Arthur, Texas, just a few miles to the south, is completely devastated. Every home still sits in 5 to 6 feet of water. Hundreds of volunteers with boats go into the area and extract people. Search and rescue helicopters are flying nonstop. Nursing homes and the hospitals have been evacuated. It will take many years for this corner of Texas to recover.

[Rachael Leigh]

As I have watched the stories and all the coverage, Jeri all you ladies have been on my mind. It's so heartbreaking to see
all of this. I can't imagine what your dealing with. Jeri you already had much on your plate, I pray daily for all of you.
It is great however to see how our state has come together to help everyone and begin this long term recovery
Just know we are thinking of you may you be blessed
Rachael Leigh

[Jeri Ann]

Conditions here are improving. Flood waters are receding, flood victims are being bused from ill-equipped shelters to the airport where they board C-130's and are flown to Dallas. A plea went out today for ice chests and blankets. I donated both of my ice chests, 5 sleeping bags, 6 pillows and 3 blankets. I'm hoping that tonight, at a shelter in Dallas, someone enjoys a cozy sleeping bag, a pillow for their head and falls asleep with a full stomach.

All roads but one are still impassable and it requires a very high clearance vehicle. At least one bridge has collapsed. People wait in long lines to get their turn in a grocery store only to find little to buy. Hopefully things will return to normal soon. I continue to feed the family across the street.

[kimdl93]

I'm glad to hear that so many of you have gotten through the storm, and appreciate what everyone is doing to work towards recovery. It was like being in a different world. Just 200 miles from Houston, and no wind, minimal rain. I feel so fortunate, and hope I can give something back to those devastated by these events.

[Dana44]

I am glad for you Jeri Ann. It looks like you escaped the flood. But had to work at it during the heavy rain. We had four days of rain here and some heavy winds. But nothing like he places that got hit hard. Rockport was nearly flattened. Hope you all recover well.

[Jeri Ann]

Today was the third consecutive day of sunshine. Yay. There are still some flooded areas but enough water has drained off that some recovery efforts have begun. I live only one mile from the airport here. Today I heard no search and rescue helicopters flying. the wait time to enter a grocery store is shorter today. I have heard reports of people finding bread if you're willing to look for it. Today the floodwaters receded off of Interstate 10 connecting us to Houston. That means that supplies will be coming into the area and hopefully we will be returning to normal soon. I would like to thank my sister's here on the Forum who have expressed concern and reached out here on the Forum and text message and email. I am blessed to have so many caring friends. I am also blessed to have escaped the tragedy that so many people in this area have faced. I'm also blessed to have had some resources to help those in need

[ginapoodle]

Jeri Ann,

Excellent to hear your area is recovering. Thanks for the update. We also have family in Vidor and Beaumont.

[Aunt Kelly]

Yesterday, I helped a friend in mucking out his house. It was one of hundreds in that part of town where you saw the Cajun Navy and others rescuing those who lived there. Those images, while tragic also communicated the nobility of our neighbors here. They replay in my mind with little pain. The things I saw first hand today though, will be things I'll always wish I could un-see. On my way in I passed a car, half up on the curb, that had been clearly hit, dead center on the windshield, by a boat, a big v-shaped hole torn through the windshield and the roof crunched down in a similar shape. It suddenly hit me that I was driving on a road that, two days ago, had been at the bottom of a large, shallow lake. It also hit me how close my own home had been to such a fate. Our street was a lake about two feet deep for hours. Another two or three and we'd have been in the same mess.
The houses in this upscale subdivision where I was headed were ruined, of course. Everything on their ground floors was now soggy trash. Furniture, appliances, flooring, drywall, books, family photos - everything, was being hauled out and dumped on the front lawns. The piles were continuous, literally for miles, but for breaks where the driveways were. I was tempted to pull out my phone and take pictures of this incredible scene, but I just couldn't do it. The images will be with me forever, so having them to show someone else just seemed perverse.
The work was hard, and my 60 year-old body reminds me today of that fact, but it was so worth it. It was a small contribution to a community needs so much more help, but that help is coming. Cars and trucks drove through the neighborhood all day, handing out ice, water, and meals to the hundreds of people in this first wave of the recovery effort. Yes hundreds, and that's just in the stretch of housing that I could see from where I was working. Surely they numbered in the thousands in that recently submerged neighborhood. And that image will also stay with me. It almost balances out the tragedy, so uplifting it is to see such selfless giving in time of need. Almost...

P.S. Let's not forget that things are much worse in places like Rockport (pretty much flattened), Beaumont (still without running water in most of the city), and Port Arthur (virtually the entire city of some 65,000 underwater). They don't get the news coverage like Houston does, but they are still in survival mode.

[michelleddg]

Our neighborhood is Houston's sacrificial lamb. We are nested cozily between the Addicks and Barker Dams, which have been having regular controlled releases to protect downtown. Alas this keeps most of our neighborhood under water and is forecast to continue to do so for may be two more weeks.

The mayor ordered an evacuation this morning. Our transformer is under water, no power for a week now and for two more weeks. Our sewage plants are under water so the same for discharging used water. Still can't get a vehicle into the subdivision. Unfortunately we've become rather notorious so there are armed police at the entrances to protect from looters.

In addition to losing everything having dirty flood water for weeks will cause many houses to be unliveable and ultimately condemned due to mold contamination. There goes the neighborhood, literally.

We are sooo fortunate to be in a small dry island in the corner of the subdivision. We evacuated 5 days ago and expect to be nomads the next two weeks. Stay tuned. Hugs, Michelle

[IamWren]

My house and neighborhood were very lucky despite being only six or so miles from the Addicks Reservoir. I haven't volunteered yet but plan to when most of them have to start heading back to work or simply run out of steam and need reinforcements to come in grab the baton.

I have a bit of survivor's guilt and have occasionally had emotional stalls seeing all the people who have lost so much. I am thankful though. And hope to get in there and start helping soon.

[Jeri Ann]

Survivor guilt is a very real thing. For many individuals who were in the midst of the chaos it can become Post Trauma Stress Syndrome. Not many people can even fathom what it is like to survive unscathed while being so close to total devastation. The stress of being under the threat of danger for yourself makes you very fragile emotionally. Then, to witness that danger played out in close proximity to you has a profound effect.

Just driving into an affected area can be life changing, as Aunt Kelly has described in her post. This is not my first rodeo. I have lived in deep southeast Texas my entire life, only minutes from the coast. I have witnessed this this kind of devastation six times now. You never get used to it.

The church I have been attending, and was able to go to yesterday (yay), offered a special activity yesterday afternoon for those struggling with SG. Lunch, counseling and group therapy was being offered.

Wanting to help is a healthy thing but needs to be acted on quickly. Flood damage must be dealt with as quickly as possible. Also, regret for not helping will only complicate Survivor Guilt. There are some easy ways to help. Resurrection MCC is taking donations of food, clothing and money to help victims in the community. The church, by the way, was flooded also but still doing everything possible to help those in need. Keller Williams real-estate is operating a huge recovery/ relief effort in Houston. They are providing, for anyone that needs it, all the equipment needed for mud- out, tear- out and cleanup. They also send out teams of volunteers to help. My sister, who works for KW, is coming to stay a week with me so that she can coordinate the opening of a relief center in Beaumont.

[Jillian Faith]

My wife and I live northwest of the city on 5+ acres. We were spared from the flooding and didn't even loose power through this event. Like Aunt Kelley yesterday we drove to a friends house on the Northeast side of town who flooded to bring a truckload of water, food and cleaning supplies. We spent the day helping with removing wet sheet rock and insulation, moping and other post storm cleanup. Our friends flooded for the 3rd time in 18 years but consider themselves lucky because they are the only home with flood insurance in their neighborhood.

[Territx]

I am just checking back in. We were lucky, you could have rolled a bowling ball into the flood waters from just across the street from my house. We spent a lot of to.ime the last few days looking at the intersection and the crown of the street in front of our house trying to gauge which way the water would flow if it got any closer. It is finally subsiding some -- talking about inches, but we will take anything we can get. I walked over to spot where they were putting boats in to go back into the neighborhoods - and I will say that the volunteers were amazing! I have power but the house is like a weird peninsula at this point -- getting out is no small feat of experimentation and backtracking. Gotta run as there is no internet service and it is difficult to work from this phone and service.