I am glued to the television this morning with this hurricane. I am a huge weather nerd, and I also think I may have died in a storm in a former life. Really. For the last few days, all I have been able to think about is the book called
Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson, which is an account of the hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas in 1900. If you have any interest in history and the curious ways of human nature, I highly recommend this book. I may even go find my copy and reread it. An estimated 8,000 souls may have perished in the storm surge, and it remains the deadliest storm recorded in the US.
Yesterday, the news coverage of the people of Galveston who insisted they would remain gave me chills. All I could think was how crazy that is when you have options.
This morning, I again turned on my television, and I hear Bill Weir of ABC News saying that the Manager of Galveston Island has asked the media not to record what may be floating in the water. So I will now try to get the word "hubris" out of my mind and start hoping and praying for them.
21 comments:
I stayed up too late watching the coverage last night, and then turned it on first thing this morning. I'm not sure why people insist on staying...
Oh my. I haven't tuned in yet because my husband told me it was more wind damage than water. I thought to myself...good,,,then what happened in New Orleans won't be repeating itself in Texas. Maybe I was wrong....
Ugh it's bad, I love Galveston and it's just so hard to imagine that water coming across that massive beach and into the streets.
...Hi MPM, yes - I remember watching a documentary on the hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Incredible and so sad... And once again, what is happening now is incredible and so sad... And I can't imagine for the life of me why people insist on staying, it just floors me.
...And strangely enough I got a giggle out of this post when you said that you're a weather nerd...lol... So far we know that you are:
1)a hair geek
2)a weather nerd
3)sports a third buttock
...It just keeps getting better and better *giggle*... ;o)
...Sayin' a prayer for the unfortunate people in the path of Ike...
...Blessings all...
My husband and grown daughter are weather nerds, too. Honestly, if I let him, he would watch the weather channel 24 hours a day during a hurricane. After experiencing Katrina via CNN and Fox News, I found it to be so alarming, disturbing, depressing, and sad. It appears that some good came out of the Katrina catastrophe as FEMA and the government are taking precautions prior to the onset.
Let us not forget the souls that have lost so much.
I hope everyone stays safe .. 'they' were saying get out or get killed .. warnings dont get more clear cut
After Katrina there was a documentary about the Galveston storm .. fascinating stuff ..
:-Daryl
My brother was supposed to go to Galveston today for a week of vacation at his sister-in-law's beach house. Of course they canceled the trip.
Why anyone would stay in a beach town with a hurricane headed toward them is beyond me - do they not realize that things can be replaced but people can't?
I have family near Galveston. My Mom's first cousin I hope left for higher ground. My Mom was born not too far from there. I heard many a story from my grandparents about the big one that took so many people in 1900.
Yepper, my grandparents were young but the stories carried for generations.
I have not been able to get through so I will continue to try tomorrow.
I am a weather nerd as well. I have even chased tornado's, until I ended up in one, now I am scared of them, but still fasinated. I am going to get and read that book now;)
My sister is in Hempstead, TX, on the NE side of Houston. When I spoke to her this morning, they were getting terribly strong winds, heavy rain, and were under the threat of tornadoes. She fortunately still had power, unlike so many in the area. Downtown Houston looks like a disaster area. It's so hard to believe. (that was my hometown...)
Peace -D
I was thinking the same thing...I would have been miles away when they told them to leave...I was shocked yesterday looking at the news and the many people standing on the shorlines with their children looking at the waves beating towards them PURE CRAZINESS I THINK TO STAY AND TRY TO HANG IN THERE...BOY OH BOY..NOT ME...I'm a big ol' chicken!!!!
third buttock?????
I can't imagine how scary that would be. Best thoughts.
Maybe you were in Galveston around 1900 in your former life? I find that whole former life thing fascinating. I remember seeing a special once on people being hypnotized and talking about their past lives. I was riveted.
Oh my that is so disturbing. I'm a chicken, and I would have been out of there when it was over Cuba.
I would like to be a storm chaser in another life.
I am also a huge weather nerd and have been watching non-stop. Hubby & I have decided to go down to Galveston and help our friends who have a house there. That is, if there is anything left of it. No telling when authorities will let people in to start cleanups and rebuilding.
I'm going to try and get that book today. It sounds very interesting.
Oh, DEAR. I watched a lot of coverage yesterday morning and didn't hear that particular tidbit. Goodness. I'll be thinking of them, too.
I am a very compassionate person, but I have no tolerance for STUPID. You could see how MASSIVE this hurricane was going to be, and coming right for those poor people with beach houses. GET OUT. You were warned, what were they thinking, "If I survive I will write a book or make a movie"? What could posess a person to stay. I think the media influences them. Do you ? I think they say, if the media can tough it out here and have nothing vested in this community, then I can stay for my whole life is vested in this community. could that be part of it? Hurricanes you have warning, tornadoes you don't always. GET OUT OF THE WAY. I hope there are not many fatalities, but hope there is not just tons of handouts either. People have got to learn to think for themselves and make good decisions....man, am I in a sour mood today or what? I am not usually this harsh. Sorry! You know I am very loving towards people.
I read Isaac's storm several years ago-- couldn't get it out of my mind either!
I'm glad I don't get continuous coverage, I would be depressed.
Always interesting, the things I find out about you. And yes, when they interviewed one gentleman who said he didn't want to leave "because that traffic is just awful", well I just couldn't believe it. Is death better? My God. Yes. I think I will read that book. I also read one years ago about the Johnstown Flood and the levee there that broke. It was fictional, insomuch as the characters, but all the historic facts were there. It was a beautiful, haunting read. I would like to get the book you recommend.
My son and his wife and youngun evacuated the coast to get out of Ike's way. They just went back home today.
I am a bit of a weather watcher and a history lover too so I will be sure and get my hands on Isaac's Storm to read. Thanks for sharing about the book!
We have a friend who lives in Houston so have been watching carefully. They are ok but lots of clean up to do...no power or water.
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