Hurricane Ike – Katy, Tx update 6:30 p.m. 9/12/08

Kids and neighbors at 6:30 p.m. 9/12/08

Just at this very moment, we have lost our electric power in Katy. We are in Grand Lakes so I do not know if this is area wide or just our street. I would appreciate reports from other areas in West Houston.

At this time, the gusts have increased but there are still periods of calm. The skies are cloudy and you can now feel the effects of the first wave of outer bands of hurricane Ike. The still shots do not really show the movement of the vegetation but we are starting to realize that a storm is truly coming our way.

As you can see, there are a few kids riding bikes and parents watching closely but for the most part, all is quiet in Katy, TX. I will make another update within the next two hours as I expect our conditions to certainly deteriorate quickly. I will keep my updates short as I will be working off of limited battery power. I just heard that Mayor White is predicting that there will be over 125,000 homes damaged or destroyed and over $ 81 Billion dollars in damage. Many are feeling that the warnings being issued from the Homeland Security offices as well as the Hurricane Center are the most dire in decades so we must be very mindful that this will indeed be different from Rita and more recently, Gustav. 

Katy home at 6:30 p.m. 9/12/08

I would love to hear how others are doing in the Great Houston and Galveston areas. Please keep us informed as to the storm affects in your area.

One last minute reminder to you all:

• Fill bathtubs for extra water
• Locate candles and matches or lighters
• If you power is still on, charge all cell phones, laptops, Ipods, etc.
• Locate all flashlights and batteries
• Keep battery operated radio on for urgent messages
• Place all important papers in safe place
• Locate a safe place within your home that you can hide from any hurricane or tornadic debris
• Keep pets indoors
• Be safe and know the nation is praying for your safety