Firsthand photos of Ike aftermath in TX (updated photos)

EagerBeaver · Postby **EagerBeaver** » September 29th, 2008, 6:34 am

I thought you all might want to see some of the photos I shot from my trip to Houston/Galveston so far.

I am here through the end of the day and will be headed back to Springfield tomorrow morning. I will be driving into Galveston shortly.

Photos here

Ilovebigcats · Postby **Ilovebigcats** » September 29th, 2008, 6:45 am

The boats in between the houses is so strange. You need the hive pic as your avatar. lol The dog pic is HILARIOUS!! I am so naming my next dog that! :lol:

Nice pics!

Pianoman · Postby **Pianoman** » September 29th, 2008, 7:45 am

I like the boat up in the yard with the "5 MPH Strickly Enforced"
sign propped beside it!

Chris - I thought I read through most of your blogs but
didn't see how you met your contact down there. Didn't
know if your were going down cold turkey - or if Mark
was an exisiting friend, net friend, etc?

Glad you were able to make the trek down & enjoying
the updates & photos!

scooter · Postby **scooter** » September 29th, 2008, 7:53 am

Doesn't look "all that" bad.

How far inland would you say the water came in?

EagerBeaver · Postby **EagerBeaver** » September 29th, 2008, 11:02 am

Scoot--

I think water came in a good five to ten miles...the water line on a lot of these houses is up to my chest, which would be a good nearly five feet or so.

Remember this is two weeks after the hurricane hit so people who returned right after it was over have been cleaning for over a week since I got here.

Pianoman--

The good man I am staying with is none other than Mark Hobson, Texas COGOP state youth director. I met him at IYC in 2002 and we've been friends since.

EagerBeaver · Postby **EagerBeaver** » September 29th, 2008, 4:02 pm

Drove to Galveston and Seabrook today and there are houses completely gone, lifted off their foundations, boats in roads, etc. I took more photos and they are available on my website once again.

Photos, Part 2

pastorables · Postby **pastorables** » September 29th, 2008, 4:43 pm

Chris,

Is the area pretty much open for traffic/cleanup now? Are there many areas guarded and restricted access by the police, etc?

pa

TW · Postby TW » September 29th, 2008, 4:53 pm

The links aren't working Chris. I viewed part 1 earlier but now that one doesn't work either.

TW

EagerBeaver · Postby **EagerBeaver** » September 29th, 2008, 4:56 pm

pastorables wrote:Chris,

Is the area pretty much open for traffic/cleanup now? Are there many areas guarded and restricted access by the police, etc?

pa

I would say 99% of the areas I have visited are completely open to traffic from a legal standpoint, but many residents have spray-painted plywood signs asking non-residents to stay off their street and I am more than respectful to comply.

The only areas I ran into that were guarded were on the western portion of Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. I was asked for my address and I told the policeman I needed a spot to turn around, which I was granted.

Many traffic lights are out in areas south of League City. In Galveston I only counted five working sets of traffic lights, out of around eighty that I passed. It was an absolute mess. Also debris litters right-lanes of some four lane roads, and many roads still have boats and houses in them.

Jude 2