Hurricane Harvey coming at Texas

[missing]

I have already contributed to the Red Cross and an organization called Global.... (I forgot), but I feel so inadequate. I wish I could do more.

One thing I'm keeping an eye out for is library needs. Generally when there's flooding, public and school libraries lose a lot of books. My local Friends of the Library group runs a used bookstore that gets in many gently used children's books, and they can usually be convinced to send a carton or two to a library in need. I send spares of my more popular titles. Even if the books are used as filler until more current and popular books can be purchased, it still supplies the libraries with books they can use. And it's a donation that doesn't have to be made during the immediate time of chaos but can be held off until the libraries express a need. In the meantime, you can hold a book drive and know you're doing something that really helps.

 

[LKR]

Hi everyone, sorry I had forgotten to update. Around noon on Sunday my parents and I had flooding within a couple inches of our front door, but thankfully the rain stopped just in time before water got into the house. Over the next 24 hours it gradually receded, and while the street was still flooded on Monday, it didn't reach past our sidewalk so we were fine from there. No damage to the house and only minimal water got into our garage, so our cars are fine. Thanks to chlorine, even the pool looks relatively normal.

Given the water was so close, we moved most of the downstairs furniture to either the second floor or toward the middle (more elevated) part of the first floor. We suffered an accident today when we were trying to move our dining room cabinet back to its original position; it ended up leaning and the top half crashed. Fortunately, no one was hurt and we will see if it can be fixed. Alas, the only piece of furniture we lost cannot be blamed on flooding!

Most of the city at least around Braeswood Place/Bellaire/West University/River Oaks is still mostly shutdown while a few restaurants and grocery stores (Kroger, Whole Foods, Randalls) are open. I was able to go outside yesterday for the first time in three days. It is very surreal to see all these pictures and reports of how devastated the city is, but to basically have that impression limited to your own street and the exterior of your house, all the while worrying for you and your family's safety. You understand that this is a historic, catastrophic event, affecting millions in the 4th largest city in the country, but you can only face the danger that is right in front of you. For several hours it definitely seemed like "when" our house was going to flood, not "if." Miraculously it didn't happen. Others mere miles away were not so fortunate. And the fact that our property was virtually unscathed is but a small consolation when considering the harrowing ordeals this city and its citizens have endured.

I was only in town for the month; I was visiting my parents and am soon headed back to St. Louis where I now live. It will definitely seem strange to leave and pretend like nothing happened. Not that I ever doubted this, but Houston is a strong city with great people. The generosity people have displayed in such dire circumstances is extraordinary. And in terms of the city coming back, it's a question of "when," not "if." I have such faith in Houstonians like never before.

Photo and video outside our house during the flooding:

https://twitter.com/mrusskie93/status/901935958106546178
https://twitter.com/mrusskie93/status/902068084214771712

 

[Susan1]

dog people - http://abc13.com/weather/rescuers-help-save-21-dogs-during-hurricane-harvey/2352498/

 

[Sylvia]

This weekend's Skate Houston club competition has been cancelled: https://www.facebook.com/texasgulfcoastfsc/

Dear Skate Houston Competitors, Coaches and Families,

Harvey has proved to be quite determined and he has won this round. It is with great sadness that we must announce that Skate Houston 2017 is cancelled.

With the approach of Regionals and the uncertainty of recovery time needed, TGCFSC does not believe that postponing the competition is a viable option.

Texas Gulf Coast FSC will refund ALL fees from the competition. Please be patient as our board members have had to evacuate, have rescued evacuees staying with them or are flooded in and dealing with the wrath of Harvey.

We've had many messages asking how people can help. If you are interested, please consider donating the amount of your entry fees to Harvey recovery efforts.

Texas Gulf Coast FSC will be collecting items for club members affected by the hurricane. If you are interested in helping in this effort, please let us know and we will reach out to you as soon as a plan is in place.

Houston and the surrounding areas are devastated. The storm continues and we have not yet seen the end of the destruction. Please join us in praying for the safety of all involved.

Skate Houston will be back next year, bigger and better than ever.

Stay safe, Pray for Houston and Skate on,

Texas Gulf Coast FSC

 

[skatesindreams]

In Port Arthur, Drew Griffin of CNN; just saved a man from his sinking truck, live, on air:
"CNN crew rescues man from floods: "You're alive, sir"" http://cnn.it/2iInWL5

 

[ilovepaydays]

LIVE NOW: FEMA (with DHS & USCG) update on Hurricane Harvey.

LOTS of good information here.

 

[Susan1]

Here's another -

bestfriends.org/hurricaneharvey

When I flip over to HLN, they have more pet stories than other channels. I don't like the anchor who is on there in the morning, but she called pets "furry loved ones".

 

[Simone411]

Just reporting in. The rain got a little heavy at times last night, but nothing dangerous at my home, in the neighborhood or in town as of yet. On August 28th, the Desoto Parish Police Jury did declare a State of Emergency that's effective until around September 5th.

I woke up to wind gusts of about 25 mph. Saw on the local news where they could get up to around 30 mph by noon, and that's when the rain will be much heavier in Mansfield and surrounding areas to the west in Logansport, Shelby County, TX and south in Natchitoches and Winnfield. I think everything should be okay at my home and the 30 mph gusts aren't anything near that bad compared to the 85 mph winds my area received from Hurricane Rita. My cousin who is a retired deputy sheriff in Winnfield called me last night. He said that everything is okay there for now, and told me to call him if I needed anything. I told him to be careful, too, because he's under those same advisories!

I believe everything should be okay here, and I don't plan on getting out to drive anywhere. I'm staying put because we're still under a flood advisory and a flash flood advisory.

 

[Vash01]

Just reporting in. The rain got a little heavy at times last night, but nothing dangerous at my home, in the neighborhood or in town as of yet. On August 28th, the Desoto Parish Police Jury did declare a State of Emergency that's effective until around September 5th.

I woke up to wind gusts of about 25 mph. Saw on the local news where they could get up to around 30 mph by noon, and that's when the rain will be much heavier in Mansfield and surrounding areas to west in Logansport, Shelby County, TX and south in Natchitoches and Winnfield. I think everything should be okay at my home and the 30 mph gusts aren't anything near that bad compared to the 85 mph winds my area received from Hurricane Rita. My cousin who is a retired deputy sheriff in Winnfield called me last night. He said that everything is okay there for now, and told me to call him if I needed anything. I told him to be careful, too, because he's under those same advisories!

I believe everything should be okay here, and I don't plan on getting out to drive anywhere. I'm staying put because we're still under a flood advisory and a flash flood advisory.

Stay home. Be safe.

 

[skatesindreams]

I trust you have sufficient supplies and food for as long as you are "rained in", Angie?

 

[Simone411]

I trust you have sufficient supplies and food for as long as you are "rained in", Angie?

Yes, I have sufficient supplies, and from what I'm seeing on the news, this hurricane/tropical storm should be out of DeSoto Parish, Caddo Parish, what's called the ArkLaTex by sometime tomorrow. We should be seeing lots of sunshine by Friday and I'm soooo looking forward to that!

 

[Buzz]

So many heartbreaking stories emerging already. A police officer died while trying to get to work during the storm. Four children and their great grand parents died after their van got submerged. A man lost 13 of 14 pets including a momma cat and her eight newborn kittens. He looked devastated. My heart breaks for them all. But it is nice to see people doing their best to save all lives.

Stay safe Angie and all our other FSUers in harms way!!!

 

[TOADS]

I guess the looters are starting to rear their ugly heads.

It is really a two edged sword. If someone is "stealing" food or clothing because their family has lost everything and is hungry or need clothes, because of the magnitude of this disaster I would tend to look the other way. If they are hauling out a big screen TV, arrest them.

 

[skatesindreams]

Four children and their great grand parents died after their van got submerged.

A mother drowned while attempting to walk her baby to safety.
The baby was on her back, I believe, and was saved.

 

[Simone411]

I guess the looters are starting to rear their ugly heads.

It is really a two edged sword. If someone is "stealing" food or clothing because their family has lost everything and is hungry or need clothes, because of the magnitude of this disaster I would tend to look the other way. If they are hauling out a big screen TV, arrest them.

I couldn't have said this any better, my friend! <3

 

[TOADS]

Hurricane Harvey will likely be the costliest natural disaster to hit the US.

Preliminary estimates that this will cost about 160 billion dollars when all is said and done.

I have a feeling that this figure doesn't cover the disaster that is occurring in areas east of Houston where Harvey made a second landfall.

I think a better estimate is closer to a quarter of trillion dollars....

 

[skatesindreams]

You are correct, according to this:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/30/news/economy/harvey-cost-most-expensive-disasters/index.html

More updates:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/30/us/harvey-texas-latest/index.html

 

[Prancer]

One thing I'm keeping an eye out for is library needs. Generally when there's flooding, public and school libraries lose a lot of books.

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/08/public-services/texas-libraries-hit-hard-by-hurricane-harvey/#_

Glad to know our FSU people are safe!

 

[caseyedwards]

Red Cross, DCCC and DSCC are very important.

 

[Catherine M]

A friend of mine Mardi Gras marching group put together a bridal registry on Amazon for flood victims (hope its ok to share link). Anyway, even if you prefer not purchase, you can get a look at what kind of items are needed:

https://smile.amazon.com/wedding/da...vington-september-2017/registry/1Z5T2TGHUEK66

I'm going off the grid for 6 days as I'm heading to a family wedding in Colorado. Some in the wedding have lost their homes but we plan to have a memorable time. Take care everyone!

 

[TOADS]

Just looked at the 12Z GFS forecast model.

It is showing another tropical system to develop around Brownsville on September 6th and then move northeast then east and parallel the coast all the way to Apalachicola, remaining just offshore.

At first I want to say that this some model aberration and will be gone in the next model run. However, this particular model began to indicate Harvey was going to affect Texas 10 days before it happened....

It will have to be watched. I am not dismissing it entirely at the moment.

 

[skatesindreams]

(((((CatherineM and family)))))
Enjoy!

 

[BittyBug]

Arkema chemical plant expected to explode within the week.

https://twitter.com/W7VOA/status/902977709067915266

 

[quartz]

^^^ that's terrifying

 

[BittyBug]

It is terrifying, and equally terrifying is that the Republican controlled Congress is actually discussing reducing emergency aid in order to free up funds for Trump's substitute penis border wall.

GOP eyeing $1B disaster funds cut to help wall: https://www.apnews.com/83e6782d48e04993a741b834771c078b

 

[Susan1]

It's only going to be 61* and raining here in Ohio on Friday, thanks to Harvey. Kind of too early for flannel p.j.s, but at least I will be inside and dry and fed.

Bill's Donuts, a long time famous local donut shop, is working with a church ministry and asking for specific things they are going to take down there - mosquito repellant, underwear, child and adult diapers, and plastic tubs. That is a good idea to split up the supply needs so they don't end up with just water and nothing to wear.

Our local SICSA (stray animals) is awaiting word if they need to go down there and they have volunteered to take in pets up here too. A few years ago, wasn't there a caravan thing to transport pets partway and then someone else would take them another little way. I forget what that was about.

There was a guy on one of the channels earlier talking about global warming (hint hint to stupid) and these weather things getting worse and how the oil companies down there are a problem and stuff. Sheesh.

 

[Vash01]

It is terrifying, and equally terrifying is that the Republican controlled Congress is actually discussing reducing emergency aid in order to free up funds for Trump's substitute penis border wall.

GOP eyeing $1B disaster funds cut to help wall: https://www.apnews.com/83e6782d48e04993a741b834771c078b

How can they look at themselves in the mirror? It's blasphemous to even talk about that wall when people are dying or struggling to survive in Texas! Shame on them! They should be tarred and feathered and driven out of their public office.

I hope the republicans lose their seats in Texas in the next election.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Quick question, re Animal Rescue organizations:

Other than these listed in official media (SPCA of Texas, Austin Pets Alive!, Dallas Animal Services, San Antonio Humane Society) are there any other legitimate ones handling the rescue efforts? private or state-ran?

Pls give a link or a name, if you know.

 

[Susan1]

Quick question, re Animal Rescue organizations:

Other than these listed in official media (SPCA of Texas, Austin Pets Alive!, Dallas Animal Services, San Antonio Humane Society) are there any other legitimate ones handling the rescue efforts? private or state-ran?

Pls give a link or a name, if you know.

I mentioned this one up thread

bestfriends.org/hurricaneharvey

And just now on Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund's FB page, he posted the Austin Pets Alive link. (He lives in Canada, and they are currently traveling and making public appearances in Germany, and still posted a Texas link!)

 

[skatesindreams]

How can they look at themselves in the mirror? It's blasphemous to even talk about that wall when people are dying or struggling to survive in Texas! Shame on them! They should be tarred and feathered and driven out of their public office.

I hope the republicans lose their seats in Texas in the next election.

ITA!