O/T: Huricane Ike

[DanEpps]

I was watching the news about huricane Ike yesterday and saw what has to be some of the best storm video ever. They were showing rescuers walking through waist-deep water pulling small boats to place rescuees in. The camera panned enough to show the front half of one boat and there, riding right up front, was a snowy-white domestic duck!!!

I sure hope seeing a shot like that means the rescuers have done a tremendous job of rescuing PEOPLE first!!!

[Michael Kowalczyk]

Hey Dan,
Rescuers have done a tremendous job here and it is a shame that they have to put their lives on the line for those that ignored the mandatory evacuation but I do Thank God that there are men and women who are out there saving lives because those are irreplaceable.

We did OK. No electric at the home, lost 2 sides of fence and a 5" limb in the front tree. The shop was unharmed other than some wind driven rain in all the dried up seals in the front entry door area so the carpet was wet but we are fully operational. We had electricity the day after I guess because of minor damage in that grid or more likely because the hospital is close by.

Still hard to get supplies. Many of my local vendors are still down with out electric but got some ply yesterday and the paper work was hand written. LTL people are almost back up to speed. The gas lines have gone down and are getting to be more readily available. Over the last few days people waited 1-2 hours in line and police were called in on some because of line cutters. This morning I was in line for about 10 minutes and everything was done in an orderly fashion. Hopefully we will get electric back, at our homes, in the next few days. Many of the newer subdivisions that have underground utilities had power up quick. maybe the utility companies will get the hint and start putting some of the older lines underground. Just think of the millions they are losing each day and the millions it cost them to bring in over 11,000 lineman, treemen and extras to help restore power.

Here is a link of some of the aftermath of IKE.

http://deepblue.smugmug.com/gallery/599 ... XF2#P-1-20

[DanEpps]

Wow Mike! I'm glad everything turned out well for you.

I like what the mayor of New Orleans told folks just before Gustav: If you do not heed the mandatory evacuation order when it comes, you are taking your life into your own hands and we will not be responsible for what happens to you. Finally a politician that said what really NEEDED to be said instead of pandering to the village idiots.

You and all of your fellow Texans have my sympathies and hopes that everything gets back closer to the norm quickly. From some of the pictures I've seen, Galveston was demolished. That will take some time to recover from.

Best of luck to you in these trying times.

[Jeremy Schiffer]

Dan, you wouldn't believe how much damage ol' Ike has done here (in Dale Indiana) and on the way here. Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri... it plowed a huge path! People are still without power right here.

BTW, "here" is Dale In. for me because I've been at machine training all this week, tomorrow is the last day ... I sure have had a great time. But I also can't wait to get my (now properly trained) hands on that little CS41 sitting in the shop at home.

[DanEpps]

...BTW, "here" is Dale In. for me because I've been at machine training all this week, tomorrow is the last day ... I sure have had a great time. But I also can't wait to get my (now properly trained) hands on that little CS41 sitting in the shop at home...

I would be beside myself (of course, some of the meds the doc has me on, I'm beside myself and myself anyways).