Gulf Coast States

[Army Wife'79]

I saw one online of complete destruction except for one lonely, bright yellow house still standing on stilts. It must have been newly constructed of Hurricane proof materials. It is the only house left standing.

[SWTXBelle]

BIG problem on Galveston now. They started letting residents return, but now there are MILES of people in line on I-45 - and in 19 minutes, no one else will be admitted. It could get ugly . . .

[AGDee]

They were saying on our radio stations that they were not supposed to go back to stay, but they said they could go look to see how much damage had been sustained and then leave again. They did say that the traffic jams were so bad that they had to end it again. I can see both sides here.. it's not really safe to have people living there with no water but to have no idea whether you've lost everything or not has to be an awful place to be.

[SWTXBelle]

The problem is that they can't manage the clean-up AND man the entry points. They were overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to come back - and they simply can't let them stay. They have had very little problem with looting, but once they let people back on the island it became a problem. It's tough for those who don't know what is going on with their homes, but they have got to let the police and civic officials secure the island, get basic services back in place, and then let the residents come back.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The problem is that they can't manage the clean-up AND man the entry points. They were overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to come back - and they simply can't let them stay. They have had very little problem with looting, but once they let people back on the island it became a problem. It's tough for those who don't know what is going on with their homes, but they have got to let the police and civic officials secure the island, get basic services back in place, and then let the residents come back.

It's too bad that they can't have some people in there with digital cameras taking pictures of neighborhoods and then post them somewhere (I don't know where, since people don't have power) so that they can at least know if they have a home at all anymore.

[srmom]

You can find photos on the Houston Chronicle website, the best are the photos that are taken by readers and submitted, there are many of my area, but it looks like the damage is really widespread.

We STILL have no power at home, with no end in sight. There are no utility trucks in my neighborhood any where, I guess we are pretty low priority I also have no land line phone service. My cell phone reception is ridiculously spotty, texts seem to work the best.

At least we have power at work, I actually looked forward to coming in this morning!

My major gripe of the day is that people need to learn how to do a 4 way stop at intersections where the power is out!!! Idiots either stay stopped thinking that eventually they're going to get some sign to go, or they drive through blissfully unaware that they are supposed to take turns!!!!!

I nearly got T-boned this morning by some jack ass who just breezed on through!!!

Can you tell I'm a little frustated today

[Kevlar281]

Originally Posted by srmom

My major gripe of the day is that people need to learn how to do a 4 way stop at intersections where the power is out!!! Idiots either stay stopped thinking that eventually they're going to get some sign to go, or they drive through blissfully unaware that they are supposed to take turns!!!!!

A lot more people on the road today; just got back from the Grace POD. The biggest offenders of screwing up four way stops...people on their cell phones. I'd love to know what service provider they have.

[SWTXBelle]

I have Verizon - and have had service pretty much all of the time. A couple of times all the circuits were busy.

I saw lots of PowerPoint trucks on I-10 and 45 - hope they were on their way to your neighborhood, srmom!

eta - where's epchick? I just saw an El Paso Fire department truck!

[srmom]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3047557...7607322360245/

This is my dad's boat on the roadway by the club.