Hurricane season '08

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I think that it is interesting that there are taxpayers who feel it is "unreasonable" to ask a federal agency to do the very job they were formed and continue to be funded to do. If FEMA is not to deliver aid in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, what is it they are supposed to do with that big 'ol budget of theirs?

I ventured into Houston for the first time today. I had to laugh - you know how in college everyone asks "What's your major?". At the Houston Zoo today, everyone asked "Do you have electricity?". We are so thrilled to have something that is borderline "normal" - and to be able to fight the cabin fever and go to the Zoo (even though several exhibits are not yet up and running) was a real blessing. I saw lots of PowerPoint trucks out there, and my friend who lost his box actually got an electrician to show. Blue tarps dot the landscape, and fences are more likely to be down than up, about 40% of Houstonians have power now. Gas is a little easier to find - but lots of stations are still closed.

I don't think FEMA was formed to supply ice and I think that's the only thing that I inquired about being "reasonable" if you were addressing this to me.

Is it reasonable for the average person to expect them to do what they say they will do? Absolutely. Do I think it can actually be done? Probably not, mainly because our expectations go up all the time.

ETA: I'm all about cutting their budget for the services that they can't seem to provide.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I heard on the radio last night that a tiger had escaped from somewhere and was roaming around Galveston Island, hungry. They said they were avoiding him.

Is this real or a legends of the Super Dome kind of story, do you think?

[AGDee]

It was on CBS news radio, not some weirdo shock jock dj...

ETA: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline...ane-ik-24.html

[Kevlar281]

The tiger story is real. There have been conflicting reports about whether it is alive or dead at this point.

/sidenote: The tiger’s owner had barricaded himself in a Baptist Church with a lion. You can make this stuff up people.

Good Pic of the Lion

[SWTXBelle]

Lions . . .and tigers . . .where's the bear?

I'm thinking we may need to revisit the issue of exotic pets. Is there state legislation? I know there was discussion of it at one time, but then I moved away for 4 years, plus who thinks about this unless there is a tiger roaming around Galveston island?

Southeast Texas is a weird combination of the normal and the bizarre right now. I find myself able to forget about Ike for a minute or two, then something - a missing fence, store running on a generator, lines at the gas station - reminds me.

First alumnae meeting was cancelled. This is getting serious!

[AGDee]

This appears to be a pretty rare event:

Kyle, a Category 1 hurricane, is forecast to make landfall late Sunday or early Monday near the border between Maine and Canada.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

This appears to be a pretty rare event:

Kyle, a Category 1 hurricane, is forecast to make landfall late Sunday or early Monday near the border between Maine and Canada.

I hope that everyone will be okay!! Are people evacuating?

[AGDee]

Nope, it wasn't that big of an event. It missed Maine for the most part and gave Nova Scotia a pounding, but it was a weak Cat 1. I think they just said that people who may need medical assistance should leave (like maybe those on oxygen?)

[RU OX Alum]

Well that's good to know.

Is it just me, or did there seem to be a lot more hurricanes this year and stronger ones?

[Kevlar281]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Lions . . .and tigers . . .where's the bear?

Here he is...Hurricane Ike Bear

[carnation]

As Bonnie is approaching the Gulf, I'm wondering: Houston/Galveston people, has Galveston pretty much come back? I'm guessing that Crystal Beach is still a level prairie.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I'm in South Florida and nothing is even going on outside (although we did close the shutters out front). I going to go walking since it's so cool out. The Gulf is going to have to be having perfect storm building conditions to get this one to serious damage levels from what I understand. Even the islands are reporting very minimal damage. Although we shouldn't underestimate it, Katrina was just some rain when it hit here. I stayed in my dorms, I didn't even go home.

ETA: It is drizzling. No walking will take place today.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by carnation

As Bonnie is approaching the Gulf, I'm wondering: Houston/Galveston people, has Galveston pretty much come back? I'm guessing that Crystal Beach is still a level prairie.

Galveston is back - somewhat. Losing the trees and oleanders has totally changed the look of the island. Some obvious gaps amongst homes - I haven't seen Crystal Beach myself, but reports I've heard seem indicate that while there is some rebuilding, lots of other owners have either the Flagship Hotel is still an enormous eyesore, but there's talk of it being developed into a pleasure pier. The Balinese is totally gone - the spot is marked by a plaque. Shriner's Hospital will be reopened (hooray!), and The Strand looks pretty much the same as it did before.

[jennyj87]

I'm in Fort Myers and we've had rain and a tiny bit of rain. Nothing too bad here (yet?)