My Hometown, Houston!

So, my beloved hometown, Houston, was abused by Hurricane Ike. Streets are flooded, trees are down, power is out, there's no drinking water, and windows are busted.

Houston got slapped around by Ike just like Tina Turner! Here are some pictures taken after the storm.

All of our friends and family members are accounted for. Thank God! Most are fine but don't have power. Lola and Lito (Husband's Parents) live near the University of Houston. They lost power and several homes and cars in their neighborhood were heavily damaged due to downed trees. Lito spent the afternoon with his chain saw removing downed trees, so that first responders could get to their neighborhood. The main streets into their subdivision were blocked with downed trees. He said the whole neighborhood was out working together to clean up the mess.

YaYa and PoPo, who live in Rockport, Texas, experienced a REALLY high tide. The water came up to the palm trees in their yard. PoPo said he was shitting bricks when he saw the water rising higher and higher. Thankfully it stopped. Tonight they are going to a friends house in their neighborhood to have a "Thank God We Didn't Have a Hurricane!" party. It never even rained at their house.

Praise the Lord that no one we know was injured during the giant storm.

Husband's Uncle has a summer house on Galveston Island. No word yet if it's still there or not. And, Grandma lost her car port...she lives in League City, but came to stay with Husband's parents in Houston because of Ike.

Almost every one we know in Houston or the surrounding communities is without power. And, now they can't drink the water due to low water pressure. They say it might take a week or longer to restore power.

My beloved Downtown Houston also took a hit. Windows were busted out of the high rise buildings I used to stare at when I worked in Downtown.

But, my hometown is the best their is. I'm sure in no time the city will be back up and running. Remember, we are Texans....better than the rest (No offense to you others out there that aren't from the greatest city in the greatest state of the greatest country in the world!!). Texans and Houstonians are resilient. We can recover to become bigger and better.

Even though I live in Tokyo, Japan....Houston, Texas, is still in my heart. Every thing I know and love is in or comes from that great city. It has made me who I am today!

So, Texans....unite to clean up the mess! Help your neighbors! Get the city moving again!