Never ask "What Else Can Happen?" It Could be a Hurricane.
It has literally been weeks since I have been able to work on my website daily. One situation after another has occurred. One after the other after the other.
From finalizing a divorce, to finding out my health insurance had been wrongfully terminated, to meeting with occupational therapists and speech therapists concerning evaluations and treatment for my son for the new school year, arguing with insurance claims adjusters and filing appeals to make sure my son gets the treatment he is entitled to, to finding out that my son has been exposed to my ex's new girlfriend in a manner not appropriate (and caring for him in an adverse emotional state with no idea what was causing it). Not one of these situations extingushed themselves in a matter of days - it has been weeks. It was all business as usual in the grand scheme of life and just had be taken care of.
In the midst of seeing light at the end of the tunnel I asked out loud, "What else can happen?"
Then, last Monday, I heard there was a "disturbance" in the Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan peninsula. WIthin 24 hours it had upgraded to a tropical storm and was forecasted to reach the Texas coast. Within a matter of hours on Thursday it went from a tropical storm to a CAT 1 hurricane, and was definitely going to impact Corpus Christi, Texas.
By Friday afternoon the storm had developed into a CAT 3 hurricane, it was named Harvey, and just before bearing down on Corpus Christi, Texas the 125 MPH windspeed classified it as a CAT 4 hurricane and the first CAT 4 to hit the United States in over 18 years.
I live 250 miles east of Corpus Christi. I was born on the Texas gulf coast and I have been through many storms in my life. I knew we were going to experience adverse weather from the "backside" of this storm but absolutely no one could have predicted that Harvey would stall only 60 miles inland and just sit still unraveling his fury. After three days of one inch of water per hour, the now tropical storm has been pushed back into the Gulf of Mexico where it is rebuilding strength, with an anticipated landfall only 40 miles east of where I we have spent a week praying for everyone's safety,
Houston, Texas consists of 6.5 million people in about a 50 mile radius. Within 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights, we received 26" of rain. Right now (Monday evening) we have had in excess of 38" of rain and the hard rain and wind continues to beat down on
southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The authorities advise that it will continue like this through the night.
We have been told to expect a total of 50" of rain or more from start to finish. We still have two more days to go.
It is estimated that 3 million people have been displaced. I don't have the emotional strength to write about what is happening and what we have seen. It is on a catastrophic level and so severely heartbreaking - right before our very eyes.
This is real. Everyone is running out of energy. Please pray that we don't become weak in the coming days before this ends. We can't stop yet.
Recent Comments
39
I grew up on the east coast by the Atlantic ocean in a city that's below sea level and I can remember a few years ago while still living in Atlanta when the hurricane was expected along the coast many Savannahians evacuated and came to Atlanta.
Harvey could have easily hugged the east coast of the gulf and hit FL instead but instead, we got the tail end of strong winds and some bad tropical storms. At one time there were no codes for building homes here until after Andrew devasted South FL below Miami.
Now when you want to make improvements and upgrade you need to put in doors that are hurricane impact and windows that are double pained and they no longer make doors with jolicee windows
This area suffered a CAT 3 Hurricane in 2008 so what was rebuilt was pursuant to new coding. The structures withheld, it was all rising water. 51.88 inches and there is nowhere for it to go. Thank you.
the storm stalled and dumped too much water all at one location and the infrastructure couldn't handle it
I don't think I would want to be living there at the moment... I hope things will get back to normal soon.
This is home to 6.5 million people. The 4th largest City in the United States. It will take awhile to get back to normal, but we have help from all over the nation. Thanks, James.
The worst is over. I was blessed to have stayed dry and did not lose power, I just can't get in or out of my area.
Thanks, Carol.
Carole....you've been through many storms...thankfully you've survived them all. Continue to be safe and praying for all of you.
Debbie
Many storms of all sizes. Tropical storms (many), hurricanes (4) and as a small child living in Okinawa, Japan. several Typhoons. Most of them do not see their full forecasted potential. The forecasters were masters during this one. Unfortunately. Thank you for continued prayer as we have a long year or two to go,
I last spoke to my parents on the 25th when the got stuck in Houston trying to make their way to Prairieville somewhere just north of Gonzales. They were visiting friends southwest of Houston when they got stuck in Houston on their way to Prairieville. I still have not heard any word but I do know they did not make Prairieville. It's not their first hurricane as over the years (I grew up living on a sailboat travelling around the world just myself I have been in Hugo, Floyd and Andrew, they have seen even more including Katrina) So I know they will have made the best decisions, Most likely held up in a Howard Johnsons as they always host the best hurricane parties lol but you just never can control the situations. I pray for the safety for all that have been affected and even more so that live there as my parents will get to return home which right now is on the Rio Grande. As New Orleans people were made stronger by Katrina, I am sure Harvey will do the same to southern Texas. I do hope after all the storms you have weathered Clbrooks57, that your sunny morning comes bringing sunnier days ahead.
This storm beat all storms ever. It was worse than Katrina. They are watching the levee right now because they believe it is weakening. I hope you have contacted your parents. If not I can try to help if you will give me some additional information in a pm.
I just got an email from them today, they are in New Orleans and it's not that bad there, they are no worse for wears. I was right, they were held up in a Hotel in Houston for a Hurricane Party. As the eye came over the NG came in and shipped everyone out as they knew the back end would be worse, especially how it headed back out over the gulf and started to build again. The NG moved them to some place then onto school buses into New Orleans. So I gave my mum some bars to check out as I worked there for awhile and pretty sure I drank at every bar there within 6 months lol at least what I remember. They fly out on the 4th back home to the boat down on the Rio Grande river. Thanks for your kind words, you just concentrate on getting your life back to a norm, I send my positive thoughts and energy down to you on angelic wings. Stay blessed my love. Stay in touch.
WOW! Caroie that is quite a sight. I hope and pray for your safety for all. I hope this storm will pass soon. Be safe and pray for you and your family.
The worst part passed out just a few hours ago and we actually saw a few rays of the sun. Thank you for your prayer as millions of people have been affected.
Sending my prayers down there Carole. I have family that lives in Dallas moved up from Houston4 months ago! I hate storms that stall. We are having more and more of them!
Thank you so much. They got out just in time. I saw a tropical storm stall once for three days, but not a CAT 4 hurricane. That is just unimaginable. I will try to update with the path it took over five days - t looks like a spirograph design.
I can't imagine the effect that will have on people's lives and businesses there. It looks like Houston is at a stand-still. There will be many stories of devastation. There will also be stories of human compassion and support. This will become a source of strength in the coming days. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected.
It has already started. People from all over Texas and Louisiana arrived to today with supplies. Even the NRG stadium where the Texans play football has been converted into another shelter. It is hard to wrap your head around what has to occur to begin recovery. Grocery stores are flooded, major roadways are still flooded. They have closed the schools until further notice. Whole Citys have been evacuated.
Thank you for continued prayer as we start recovery (as soon as the water dries up - could be another week).
This is terrible, Carole! I live in Brisbane, Australia and, back in January 2011 we experienced the worst flooding in over 30 years. It was catastrophic! Recovering from that kind of a disaster takes years and years.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Let's hope this is the last of the deluge!
I have never seen anything like this in my life, and I have seen a few things. It has taken the 800-year position. Unbelievable.
The rain total at the end of today was 52.88, or 1 Trillion gallons.
With an 800-year flood plain. This was a historic event for the United States.
See more comments
Good afternoon Carole,
I had no idea that you happen to be in this ghastly hurricane, sending you my heartfelt thoughts, hope you will be coming out of it soon.
Wishing you all the best, Taetske
Thank you. Continue to keep us all in thought. We shall overcome. This is Texas!