Hi all!
Finally, I am one of the lucky ones who has power, so I'm back online! Centerpoint energy is predicting next Tuesday for most customers to have power again but our lights came on Wednesday night at 6 pm. This city post hurricane is so different that I just had to make some comments.
"Do you have power" has replaced "how are you" as a standard greeting.
The city air is filled with the hum of generators and the buzz of chainsaws.
Grocery stores have had lines all the way around the building, accepting only a few people at a time, with few supplies inside
Ice is a precious commodity
There is a nightly curfew
People have been arrested over starting fights at gas stations, although most stations are up and running now
Many restaurants and businesses are still not open, mostly not because of storm damage, but because they lack power
Favorite running paths are lined with branches and debris
Many traffic lights are either blinking or just not working at all, turning major intersections into 4-way stop nightmares
I don't know what I expected, but this is not it. I'm not complaining - I was very lucky, with no damage to my home, all family and friends safe, and the power (and cable!) coming back on in only 5 days. We never had to resort to eating canned tuna or peanut butter. =) My workplace never lost power, so all the animals were safe and cool, and I could go to work for some diversion from the chaos. However, if a Category 4 or 5 storm is ever headed this way, I'm out of here. We were up all night feeling our house shake and listening to the screaming of the wind and rain, and this was barely a Cat 3.
Jana, if you read this, I hope you and your family have power and are doing well!
Finally, I am one of the lucky ones who has power, so I'm back online! Centerpoint energy is predicting next Tuesday for most customers to have power again but our lights came on Wednesday night at 6 pm. This city post hurricane is so different that I just had to make some comments.
"Do you have power" has replaced "how are you" as a standard greeting.
The city air is filled with the hum of generators and the buzz of chainsaws.
Grocery stores have had lines all the way around the building, accepting only a few people at a time, with few supplies inside
Ice is a precious commodity
There is a nightly curfew
People have been arrested over starting fights at gas stations, although most stations are up and running now
Many restaurants and businesses are still not open, mostly not because of storm damage, but because they lack power
Favorite running paths are lined with branches and debris
Many traffic lights are either blinking or just not working at all, turning major intersections into 4-way stop nightmares
I don't know what I expected, but this is not it. I'm not complaining - I was very lucky, with no damage to my home, all family and friends safe, and the power (and cable!) coming back on in only 5 days. We never had to resort to eating canned tuna or peanut butter. =) My workplace never lost power, so all the animals were safe and cool, and I could go to work for some diversion from the chaos. However, if a Category 4 or 5 storm is ever headed this way, I'm out of here. We were up all night feeling our house shake and listening to the screaming of the wind and rain, and this was barely a Cat 3.
Jana, if you read this, I hope you and your family have power and are doing well!