The last hurricane dispatch
By John David Powell (09/25/05)
The wind is picking up here in Ruston, but nothing
alarming. Weather conditions back home are a bit
better than the weather here. Here: 74 degrees, 96
percent humidity, easterly winds between 23 and 36
mph. Back home: 70 degrees, 82 percent humidity,
westerly winds between 27 and 42 mph.
The lights are starting to flicker or dim. Don’t know
why because we don’t have lightening, strong winds, or
heavy rains. Things are just steady. Nothing really
worse than a light summer storm in north Louisiana.
In fact, a few minutes ago, I saw a guy jogging
shirtless through the neighborhood.
Houston tv coverage tells of irate motorists trying to
get back to Galveston Island. Police continue to
block the causeway because power is out and they
cannot assure the safety of residents.
Meantime, traffic north of Houston is picking up as
residents make their way home, again, against the
advice of city and county officials. Folks left their
homes, many not knowing if their homes would survive.
Daughter Hill and Kirk remain in place north of
Austin. It’s kinda like a nice weekend in the Hill
Country for them. No wind. No rain. No nuthin’.
Hill is antsy to get back, but should be convinced to
stay put another day.
High school and college students face a decision:
stay put or try to make it to school Monday, even
though there may not be classes until later in the
week. Public school and university officials
cancelled classes or closed campuses through tomorrow.
Some schools told students to be in classes Monday.
Others told students and parents to check web pages
for updates, although no one is around to post those
updates. As long as I have been in and around higher
education, I still can’t figure out why educated folks
have problems making educated decisions. Indeed.
Developing story at 11:30 a.m.
Nasty live pictures from Lake Charles. Pounding
waves, I-10 is underwater, and the water continues its
rise. Convoys of emergency and repair vehicles making
their way to the Lake Charles convention center. A
school bus pulling up with people aboard. The
reporter is not sure if they are evacuees or
officials. Folks in Lake Charles urged to seek higher
ground and safe shelter. Folks outside of Lake
Charles urged to stay away. Power lines and trees are
down throughout the city. Cars can make the trip from
Beaumont, but danger awaits those foolish enough to
attempt it. The reporter urging all traffic to avoid
I-10 to and from Lake Charles.
Lake Charles National Weather Service reporting four
to six feet of water at Lake Charles Civic Center, but
officials expect the water to recede this afternoon.
In Cameron Parish, Highway 27, five feet of water and
debris over the highway, about 30 or so miles inland.
Storm-surge flooding should also decrease, but water
could stay between five and eight feet above normal.
Keep in mind, Rita’s eye came ashore just south of
Lake Charles.
New information for Houston re: towing. On Wednesday
night, officials put gas in abandoned vehicles. About
150 drivers drove off, another 150 didn’t and had
their vehicles towed. The owners of those vehicles
must pay ransoms to liberate their property.
Galveston city and county officials now holding
televised news conference. Seventy-five percent of
the city without power. No ideas when they can fix
downed power lines. Streets cluttered with power
lines, trees, and limbs. Curfew remains in effect
countywide. Islanders told to stay away until further
notice. Police have closed the causeway. However,
residents of all the other cities and town can return
to their homes.
Hill says power is out at her house because the
answering machine does not pick up. Power ok at our
house because Shade’s answering machine picks up.
With that kind of intel, who needs eyes on the ground?
7:00 p.m.
Power in Ruston came back about twenty minutes ago.
Been out since around noon, about the time I wrote
that last sentence about intel. Ruston started
purchasing its electricity several years ago, because
it was cheaper than self-generation. Then storms come
along and knock down limbs and trees on top of power
lines. Of course, downed limbs and trees, and the
occasional curious squirrel, knocked out power before
the town started buying it. Oh, well.
Before the power went out, Hill told me that Austin
had gridlock because of all the Houstonians jumping
into their vehicles at the same time and trying to
make it home. Normal Austin traffic is gridlocked on
a good day. So, they’ll wait a day or so before
risking life and luggage.
We’ll head back Monday morning for a couple of
reasons: I have to liberate the cat and give road
crews time to clean off the highways. We’ll be going
down the same route as Rita came up.
Unless something unexpected happens, this will be my
last dispatch. In a few hours I will join the Big
Return, thankful for coming through unscathed,
thoughtful of those who did not, and better prepared
for the next Great Skedaddle.
Heartfelt thanks to those who kept us in their
thoughts and prayers and for those Internet sites and
newspapers who shared our travels and travails. And
most important, my deepest gratitude to our hosts who
opened their home and their hearts to us on a few
hours notice, who put up with a disruption in their
lives and routine, and who provided emotional shelter
in our real and metaphoric hurricane.
(Printer friendly version) Email: John David Powell
