Breaking News: Possible Levy Break in Scarsdale, LA

[PamperedDor]

Please don't judge her, just pray for her. I've offered her room in my home. I hope she takes me up on it. There is still time to get on the road before it hits.

Wow - you are such a wonderful person! I hope she takes you up on it - Please everyone stay safe - know that you are all in our thoughts -

 

[Chef Kearns]

I'm talking with Kimmo now. She has her windows boarded up. Brandon is actually in good spirits and thinks it is fun. The city officials have told her that she is not in an evacuation zone and she feels safe. Her home is 3 stories tall so if the flooding does hit her she can seek higher elevation. She is not the only person in her neighborhood that stayed at home several of her neighbors are sticking it out also.

The news people and city officials are saying to hunker down. She's having a good time drinking a Rum & Coke before the bad stuff hits. She's got 1 generator and plenty of gas. So it sounds like she's got a plan. A cop lives next door to her and didn't leave. They have a support system for each other.

Sounds like things are good right now. Keep her in your prayers though.

 

[janetupnorth]

That's a slightly better outlook!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

Houston did put a stop to the people leaving yesterday so it might not have been her decision

 

[tlag1986]

I'm praying for safety during the storms through out TX. I also pray for Brandon to continue to enjoy himself and not realize the danger.

We need to take time to pray for all the rescue workers, DOT workers, Hospital workers, Policemen, and all the others who will be out in the storm helping others when they should be home taking shelter. They give without care for themselves, and we tend to forget their sacrifice.

 

[PampMomof3]

Gosh, I completely understand what they're going through. I pray for the safety and hopefully IKE isn't as bad as he looks although I'm starting to not believe it.:cry:

 

[sklay723]

Major prayers being lifted for everyone in Ike's path...I am so sick of hurricane season. Seems like we're really making up for the last two years, which have been pretty quiet!

 

[pcchefjane]

Blame the gougers for now! I know it may be affected somewhat but come on! Our gas went up nearly 50 cents in less than an hour yesterday! That makes no sense!

Praying for ya'll in TX. I just read Ike could be 600 miles wide...I can't even imagine that!

 

[chefmeg]

Please don't judge her, just pray for her. I've offered her room in my home. I hope she takes me up on it. There is still time to get on the road before it hits.

I am not judging anyone~I lived on the Gulf Coast for many years and have never understood the mentality of "we'll just ride it out". It would not matter what was going on in my world, if "experts" say get out, then get out! It cannot be good for anyone to be in the path of a storm like Ike. There are just too many goofballs hanging around the Galveston area that think they can beat Mother Nature. What irks me is that the "news" wants to talk to them and give them exposure on national TV for NOT doing what they are told.

I am glad to hear that ChefKimmo was doing well when you spoke with her! I do understand that not all areas are evacuation areas~like I mentioned above, my sister works for TXDOT and was telling me that the worst of the storm was going to be the Galveston area...not that Houston is that far from Galveston, but when an evacuation occurs, it is more important to get people out of the immediate danger area than those further inland. If everyone were to go, it would cause bigger problems!

 

[janetupnorth]

Well, the storm is STILL going strong - wind-wise. One death reported for sure of a 10-year old boy. Storm is 200 miles in diameter still - very wide. We'll know more as the sun continues to come up.I'm off for the day so stay safe guys!!!!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

a 19 year old in Corpus drowned

 

[tlag1986]

Continuing to pray for all in the path of "IKE"!!

 

[Brandi2007]

Kim is safe. She was thinking of others as well. The traffic leading out of the danger zone was terrible. Her thoughts were for those that MUST leave to spare their lives. That was a big reason why she stayed. Thank you all for your prayers for our friend. She truly is a wonderful person! We are so grateful that she is safe and the damage is very limited to her area!

 

[Ann F]

Heard from my DD and her DH yesterday. They're among the millions without power and water, but they're fine. They live in Willis, a couple of towns north of Houston on I-45. Her in-laws from Dayton (east of Houston) are without power, too, but all are grateful that's "all" that's wrong.

She texted (is that a word??) me this a.m. asking me to check to see if Conroe ISD is closed so she can know if she needs to go to work. They're closed Mon and Tues and will post more info Monday after 4:00.

Prayers going up for the citizens dramatically affected by this huge storm...

 

[chef_kimmo]

Please pray for Chef Kimmo. She's stubborn as a mule and still in Houston with her 15 year old son.

Sandra thank you for thinking of me and asking for prayers, Love you!

 

[janetupnorth]

Sandra thank you for thinking of me and asking for prayers, Love you!

...and for calling you as stubborn as a mule?!?!

Glad you guys are safe!

 

[chef_kimmo]

It just kills me when people do not evacuate! I mean, so what if you leave and it was a 'false alarm'? By staying, you put rescue workers lives at risk trying to come get your stubborn butt!

I am not sure if you are responding to Sandra's post or saying in general I feel the need to respond in case you are saying I did not evacuate.

Unfortunately with a storm like this, I had friends from San Antonio, Austin, Africa (who somewhat know the areas), Wyoming, Maine, Florida, Canada, Kansas and California all asking me if I was leaving and why not.

I did not leave because of a previous false alarm but based my leaving on what the official said.

First, I have never had a problem with water coming in my house... which was a request from officials - if you haven't had these type problems please shelter in place. If you get on the roads, you are now endangering others lives,,, and your own,,, if you get out and be one more vehicle on the road and cause more traffic problems.

Next, I also live far enough inland - I do live in Houston but you have to understand that if the millions of people all over Houston had evacuate it would have been incredible feat but would have been mass disaster - such as what happened 3 years ago with Hurricane Rita.

I had my house boarded up to help reduce possibility of problems of flying debree breaking the windows. I had a generator and had/have plenty of food as recommended by the local postings of officials in case we lost power for long periods of time.

In addition to having my house in what I felt was the safest I could have it. I also have essentially 3 floors to get up away from water coming in, if it did happen. I had a very safe area to go if a tornado were to come. I also was surrounded in the neighborhood by other people who did not leave. Personally, I felt more comfortable staying here than getting on a road where I might get stuck surrounded by strangers who could care a less about me. I was surrounded by people who I knew would help me out in a heart beat if something should go wrong.

Please do NOT judge me for not leaving based on a friend asking for my prayers and saying I am a Mule --- I may be a Mule, I won't deny that but I am a person who thinks things thoroughly and I did what was safest for me and my son.

Thank you for your concern

 

[chef_kimmo]

Southeast of DFW area here and it's looking like we're going to be getting tropical storm conditions with 60mph winds and LOTS of rainfall. Tornados could be an issue, too. We've already picked up all the stuff outside that could fly away. Scary stuff! I'm praying for everyone who is on the coast and getting hit with this stuff.
-Tara

Interesting, I had what I thought of as medium winds until well after 11:00 that night.. I almost was getting tired of all the hype - not getting rain until after midnight.

Don't get me wrong, I stayed up most of the night watching the news. I lost power permanently until at about 11:00 and fired up the generator and only plugged in the t.v., a light and a fan until morning - saving fuel because I wasn't sure how long I would be without power.

 

[chef_kimmo]

Not to mention I believe she has a special needs son...that has to be hard on him - stay or go.

We'll be praying for her, thanks for telling us!!!!

I do have a special needs son. He doesn't totally understand the potential problems that could come from it. Just so you know, if I thought for one second that he would be scared or would be hurt, I would have been one of those people on the road. I would have probably left much earlier and not done one thing to the house. He takes things in stride better than many people's "normal" children who were teary eyed of watching the stupid news of projecting that there could have been 1.5 million lives lost. Sometimes those children tend to blow things out of proportion based off of stupid predictions. That news was a good day before it even started to hit land. It is a shame that the news have to make those predictions which is just basic guess work just to fill air time since they went on 24/7 coverage starting Thursday morning.

On the note of my son, he is my life and I would never ever do anything that would put him in danger or put me in danger where I would not be there for him.

But I do thank you for adding us to your prayers

 

[chef_kimmo]

I hope she does too! We'll pray that she has a change of heart. I know she probably doesn't want to leave her home and comfort of what is familiar.

Sandra, you are so sweet. I did get your message but you have to know that receiving text messages were hit and miss and I didn't get your message till later --- we both spoke later in that evening. It wasn't about familiar but also following what the officials were asking of us. As we did speak you now know I do live far enough away from where the worst was expected.

Sandra you are one of my best buds... thank you so much for your concerns.

 

[chef_kimmo]

...and for calling you as stubborn as a mule?!?!

Glad you guys are safe!

Well, I can't change that I am.. I am sure you are seeing them but please read my other posts about why I didn't leave... not just because I am a mule but because I made a well thought out decision.

Some people were telling me that I didn't need to board up and in fact, I was one of a few in my neighborhood.

 

[chef_kimmo]

I'm talking with Kimmo now. She has her windows boarded up. Brandon is actually in good spirits and thinks it is fun. The city officials have told her that she is not in an evacuation zone and she feels safe. Her home is 3 stories tall so if the flooding does hit her she can seek higher elevation. She is not the only person in her neighborhood that stayed at home several of her neighbors are sticking it out also.

The news people and city officials are saying to hunker down. She's having a good time drinking a Rum & Coke before the bad stuff hits. She's got 1 generator and plenty of gas. So it sounds like she's got a plan. A cop lives next door to her and didn't leave. They have a support system for each other.

Sounds like things are good right now. Keep her in your prayers though.

Yep, I forgot you posted this while we were on the phone.

Like it was said earlier you are a truely good friend! Thank you!!!

Oh wait,,, I was having a rum & coke but not so sure it was a "good time" but it did help me to relax some so I could rest some before the noises got bad.

 

[chef_kimmo]

I have to add one thing to all this...

Sandra had told me about about the post about how someone had said I hate it when people don't leave when they were asked to. In my case I wasn't ask to leave and asked to stay.

I really laughed at that comment though because me not knowing others stories was yelling at this people being interviewed in Galveston and other communities in the coastal communities who weren't leaving. I am thinking are you stupid or WHAT!?!?!?

I don't know their story but if I lived down there, and I doubt I ever would, I would be gone in a heart beat. I would have a system set up and it wouldn't take me long to get the heck out of Dodge.

 

[janetupnorth]

Well, I can't change that I am.. I am sure you are seing them but please read my other posts about why I didn't leave... not just because I am a mule but because I made a well thought out decision.

Some people were telling me that I didn't need to board up and in fact, I was one of a few in my neighborhood.

I understood - you didn't have to explain further. You have to do what is best for you...and only you knew what that was at the time, not us.

Glad it all turned out well and it wasn't too much stress!

 

[chef_kimmo]

I'm praying for safety during the storms through out TX. I also pray for Brandon to continue to enjoy himself and not realize the danger.

We need to take time to pray for all the rescue workers, DOT workers, Hospital workers, Policemen, and all the others who will be out in the storm helping others when they should be home taking shelter. They give without care for themselves, and we tend to forget their sacrifice.

Absolutely! Those people who were working rescuing people, even before the storm hit since the water came in a lot sooner than expected. Some people were doing their last minute clean up and got caught in the early currents.

I give it to all the people who are still out there rescuing, cleaning, and recovering what they can fix. I give a HUGE kudos to the power company!! I had power back on by 5:00 p.m. yesterday and there were millions who were without... SHOOT, still without. I have no clue why I have power and others don't. There is sections in my subdivision that still doesn't have power and that makes me feel horrible.

 

[chef_kimmo]

I understood - you didn't have to explain further. You have to do what is best for you...and only you knew what that was at the time, not us.

Glad it all turned out well and it wasn't too much stress!

Thank you! I am very blessed recently - God has been here for me a lot lately and I am truely thankful

 

[chef_kimmo]

Kim is safe. She was thinking of others as well. The traffic leading out of the danger zone was terrible. Her thoughts were for those that MUST leave to spare their lives. That was a big reason why she stayed. Thank you all for your prayers for our friend. She truly is a wonderful person! We are so grateful that she is safe and the damage is very limited to her area!

Awww shucks, Brandi - you rock. Thank you so much.

 

[dianevill]

Glad to hear all is well, Kim!

 

[chef_kimmo]

Well, since I am monopolizing this thread I will share a couple stories... wait I think it is called high jack - right!??!

I got up very early on the Friday before it was to hit land and went to Lowe's hoping that since they didn't want me to evacaute that maybe I could buy a generator. I had spoke to someone there that told me to come early so I got there earlier than they had said. I got there at 6:00 a.m. and was about 20 others in line before me. Shortly later a manager came out and said we have generators and will allow each of you to buy only 2 and only 2 gas cans. I originally intended to just buy one for me but thought hmm maybe I can help someone else either before or after the storm if I pick one up now.

I got home and texted my neighbor to see if her husband could help me unload it. I am truely blessed with the neighbors I have, this neighbor is the police officer and has helped me on many occassions. He came over and unloaded (actually said You got a good one. that meant an atta girl).

He was helping me put it together when his wife was coming out to head off to work and we were discussing who was doing what of their family. She told me that her sister whose husband had just had back surgery on Monday (3rd one in 8 weeks) had been told that a friend was going to give her a generator to use but at the last minute must have found a better use for it -- some "friend" huh. I asked her if she had a generator and she said No. I told her you know I have an extra one and she didn't think I was serious. I said absolutely call them right now and see if they want it.

They bought it and Larry took it over and hooked it up for them. I heard this afternoon that their area may be at least a week till the have power. I knew God had me pick up that extra one to help someone, I am so glad it has been there to help them.

 

[chef_kimmo]

Last night I received an e-mail from a person at work (sent to everyone) saying I hope everyone is ok. I responded saying we were good and had gotten power back at 5:00. One person wrote back joking "who did you bribed to get power so quickly?"

I knew it was joke and dismissed it. I woke up this morning feeling like a shmuck. Why in the heck didn't I offer him my generator?! I guess it was ok, so that I made it through another night to make sure it wouldn't go out again at my house.

I did check with a friend who lives in a lower lying area and asked if she wanted to use my generator when they come back in town tomorrow. If she didn't, then I wanted to offer it to a co-worker. She called back and said loan it to him they would have a place to hook up their camper when they got back to town.

I e-mailed my co-worker and offered it to him and he came and got it this afternoon. I gave him a 3 gas cans that I already had full and a thicker cord for running power a longer distance.

A side note on his story. A few months ago this man's ex-wife committed suicide and left him with distraught daughters and confusion in his life. My heart broke for him and the daughters. I believe he had 2 daughters with the ex-wife and 2 with the current wife. Nothing like a quick combining of families. He is a good man and has always done right by the children through the divorce and I felt of all the people who did not have power this was one family that could really benefit from have some power running. No, they won't have AC like one to run on a big house but if they bought a window unit. It will be great that they can run their refridgerator, some plug in lights and other electrical equipment.

I pray they get power soon and all goes good for their family.