At home, we still do not have power but it looks like Centerpoint Energy is getting really close. There is power to the homes just half a block north of us. FEMA came through yesterday with the delivery of supply trucks and resources to those that really need them. However, there was some mention that kinks in the supply chain which left some points of distribution (POD) sites without resources. I don’t know if that is absolutely true.
There are some amazing stories on the radio of the help that is going out to assist the elderly and other people in the surrounding communities. Some neighbors are going to these POD sites on behalf of their neighbors to collect food, water and ice. If anyone in Houston is reading this blog and wants to help out. There is a post on the KHOU blog indicating that they need volunteers to help out. If you want to help, just go to one of the POD sites and ask what you can do to help.
Today I needed to gas up one of the cars. The gas prices have definitely increased. Before the hurricane, we could get regular gas for $3.49 a gallon. Now it is $3.89 a gallon, but this appears to be normal throughout Houston and I’m sure across the US. The lines to get gas are very long. This morning I was fortunate and it only took an hour to get gas for the car. Some areas are reporting waits of 2-3 hours to get gas. The gas station I went to also imposed a limit to the amount of gas that a person could buy. $50 does go quite a long way in a sedan or a small SUV, but I guess the signs stating the limit did not stop the guys at the next pump station over from filling up five of their ten gallon cans (thanks guys!).
The Houston police are enforcing many of the safety laws pretty strictly and I’m glad that there are doing so. This morning I nearly got into an accident since some vehicles are going through four way intersections without stopping. Remember that an unlit four way intersection is just like a four way stop. Last night, just before curfew the police were hiding in the Memorial Park area under the cloak of darkness watching for those who did not bother to stop at the intersection. I assume they got ticketed and were sent on their way.
Lastly, I would like to send out a request to those reading this blog. As you I have highlighted in my previous blog entries, there are a lot of people out there that need assistance. The Red Cross and other organizations are doing a great job in aiding people on the ground. Unfortunately the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies are running out of funds. Please consider donating what you can to the Red Cross to help with the recovery efforts of Hurricane Gustav and Ike, but also any future events. Check with your company as well since many of them may also have an employee charity match program where they will match dollar-for-dollar or a percentage of the donation.
I had heard our gas was as high as $5 here in Ohio where Ike managed to be a cat 1 when it came through, but this morning I only paid $3.99… which is better than the $4.05 up the street or the $4.99 I was half expecting.
Just a quick note, Southern Baptist Convention is currently deploying (my f-in-law left today) with disaster relief (food services, clean up crews, etc.) in cooperation with the Red Cross. I would just like to encourage any would be volunteers to likewise coordinate with your local Red Cross as FEMA feeds need information to them and they are a major aid coordinator.
Here’s hoping your power is back soon, Andy. Ohio still has 1.5 million plus in the dark, which I never in a hundred years would have expected.
I feel your pain, I live in manvel about at highway 6 & 288, no power either. We left and are waiting for power to return before we come back. Hope things improve quickly for u
I hope that you aren’t serviced by Entergy. There is a timetable for service restoration floating around. The last customer is expected to be reconnected around 10/5. Still waiting for ETAs from Centerpoint.